What Medium Format Cameras Are Members Here Using?

[Donald Qualls]

You guys do realize that this is a burglars shopping list if they can track your address (probably not too hard)?

Yes, and with my name it's easier (not exactly John Smith, is it?) -- but there's virtually always someone home, and we have multiple dogs (a couple large, and the Rotweiler is usually loose in the house). I'm much more worried about fire or natural disaster than burglary -- and as noted, if a thief is smart enough to find me just by knowing my name and what state I'm in, he/she is probably also smart enough to know that I only own a few cameras that are even worth coming inside to look for. Century old antiques and old Bakelite box cameras don't bring much at pawn shops. Pretty much any film camera doesn't, really...

 

[jay moussy]

Let the thieves learn how to respool 620!
How many of us have older cameras with the former owner's social security numbers engraved on?

 

[Cholentpot]

Theft? Well there's always this ...
View attachment 285340

(In an outbuilding next to a nearby restaurant.)

This home is protected by Burleigh and Stronginthearm.

 

[removed account4]

You guys do realize that this is a burglars shopping list if they can track your address (probably not too hard)?

I guess ? hopefully they have already got some film in cold storage because they will undoubtedly have trouble finding film.

John, I see what you mean. I currently have seven medium format cameras but I am having a hard time selling even one of them

yea I know the feeling (sort of).

 

[warden]

I would be more worried about posting information about owning lots of cel phones or digital cameras.

Or, just about anything else in your house. It would be needle-in-the-haystack rare to find a criminal that is both smart enough to track your identity and address, but also stupid enough to waste his time and risk his freedom on some lousy old finicky film cameras that would be easy to trace and risky to fence.

 

[4season]

If anyone's going to pilfer my stuff, I want it to be me. My specialty is finding value in cast-off items like my Bronica ETRSi which I pieced together from shards. To me it's as much an "art project" as a working camera. eBay prices on more popular film cameras are so high right now that the items I'm keeping for myself are the ones that no one else wants.

 

[mshchem]

I stopped the hoarding and settled on a Bronica SQ-Ai.

Great camera never failed me. I'm degasing so 5 Bronicas are history, now I'm getting rid of some RZ67 II stuff, keeping Hasselblad and Fuji 6x9 stuff, oh and Mamiya 6 mf

 

[mshchem]

You guys do realize that this is a burglars shopping list if they can track your address (probably not too hard)?

 

[etn]

What are you guys using and which is your favorite?

By order of use:
#1 Hasselblad 503CW (by far the most used)
#2 Rolleiflex GX
#3 Hasselblad SWC/M
#4 Hardly sees any use: Rolleiflex 2.8E, Yashicamat 124G

All great, hard to say I have a favorite here. The Hassy is the most flexible (also with various backs, digital back, various lenses), I like the small form factor of the Rolleiflex. The SWC is a category on its own.

A small format (either Leica M6 or Nikon F3) would be between #1 and #2 in terms of usage.

 

[abruzzi]

Sorry to ask this. It folks with a sh!ton of cameras …. Do you actually use them ? It’s hard enough using 2 or 3 of them, I can’t imagine using 6 of 12 of them….

Given the relative price of cameras, I have used the "acquire and try" method of determining what works for me. I'm moving into the "get rid of anything that didn't" phase now. With medium format, the two Bronica systems have worked the best for me (I'm sure I'd love a Hasselblad if I had one, since I like the box with lens back and finder approach, but its price discourages this approcah to camera testing.) So the Pentax will go when I get a chance, and the Fuji Zi just doesn't make me happy (too automatic), and the Yashica Mat will go because TLRs don't get along with me, but I'll keep the Pearl since it is so d@mn tiny. In 4x5, it too me 3 tries to find the right camera (Technikardan). I'll ditch the Shen Hao when I get a chance. I may keep the Technika, since I like that as well. In 35mm, I have a lot to get rid of. 8x10? I'm still figuring that one out.

 

[warden]

If anyone's going to pilfer my stuff, I want it to be me. My specialty is finding value in cast-off items like my Bronica ETRSi which I pieced together from shards. To me it's as much an "art project" as a working camera. eBay prices on more popular film cameras are so high right now that the items I'm keeping for myself are the ones that no one else wants.

View attachment 285364

That's cool!

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Yesterday, I had my RB out to test the 100-200 zoom. The Holga S came along with a roll of TMY in it. I wandered around China Town a couple weeks ago with the Bel-Air. My cameras are used as much as possible, especially medium and large formats.

 

[Agulliver]

Zeiss-Ikon 515/2 6x9 folder (1935)
Zeiss-Ikon 521/16 6x6 folder (1938)
Zeiss-Ikon 518/16 6x6 folder (c 1951)
Ensign Greyhound 6x9 folder (1933)
Kodak Pocket 1 Autographic 6x9 folder (c 1923)
Folding Pocket Kodak (1899) 116 with converter for 120 film
Kiev 6C (1970s)
Lomo Lubitel 166 Universal (1980s)
Kodak Brownie 2a (circa 1917)
Agfa Synchro Box (circa 1955)
Kodak Brownie six 20 model D (circa 1950)

Those are in my possession and used regularly, the first two frequently. In February this year my Zeiss-Ikon 520/16 from 1937 was stolen, leading a few months later to me buying three "replacements". I actually prefer the 6x9 it's a *beautiful* camera.

I own some more but they are currently with a friend....1960s Sinomax plastic/toy camera of the Diana type. I am the second owner, the first being my late grandfather. 1930s Voigtlander Brilliant pseudo-TLR.

I think that's it. Unless you count 127 as medium format?

 

[Dismayed]

Now:
Mamiya 7 II
Zeiss Super Ikonta 645

Then:
Bronica RF645 - sold due to fragile film advance
Mamiya 645 Pro - prefer leaf shutters
Zeiss Ercona II - just a fling
Minolta Autocord - still wondering why I sold it

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

RB67 is the only MF I have. I'm not a collector.

 

[flavio81]

Shout back to flaio81! I wasn't going to post, but I will

Two ETRSi bodies, AE-III metering prism, eyelevel prism, sports finder, right angle finder, 120 and 220 backs, 135 back, Polaroid back, bellows hood, 40mm 50mm 75mm 150mm and 250mm (all PE), 105mm macro E lenses, SCA386 TTL flash adapter, 3 extension tubes, 2X telconvertor​

Thanks Wilt! Which flash do you use the SCA386 with?

And do you find the bellows hood heavy/too heavy?

Do you like the rotating finder?

 

[flavio81]

If anyone's going to pilfer my stuff, I want it to be me. My specialty is finding value in cast-off items like my Bronica ETRSi which I pieced together from shards. To me it's as much an "art project" as a working camera. eBay prices on more popular film cameras are so high right now that the items I'm keeping for myself are the ones that no one else wants.

Stop competing against me!!

 

[flavio81]

Yesterday, I had my RB out to test the 100-200 zoom. The Holga S came along with a roll of TMY in it. I wandered around China Town

You are a bodybuilder, right? Marathon runner? Triathlon champion?

 

[Cholentpot]

RB67 is the only MF I have. I'm not a collector.

Nor am I, but I like to try different kinds of machines out. And why sell?

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

You are a bodybuilder, right? Marathon runner? Triathlon champion?

I took my RZ with 2 backs, the 50, 110 and 180 lenses with me to Mexico City and did "street" photography with it.

 

[Kino]

The Mamiya 645 is getting used the most right now. The others are awaiting film testing and thinning of the herd, but I can honestly say I won't EVER be hurting for a MF camera in my lifetime.

 

[4season]

why sell?

If someone wishes to pay me far too much money for one of my cameras, who am I to deny them?

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

You are a bodybuilder, right? Marathon runner? Triathlon champion?

No, no, and no But I do try to keep fit!

 

[drkhalsa]

Pentax 6x7 MLU

 

[Tom Kershaw]

No, no, and no But I do try to keep fit!

This is a bit off topic but I go to a local gym and most there are doing the bodybuilding type training, whereas I go in and do a few reps of compound movements for strength, along with 'farmer's walks' - i.e carrying a pair of heavy dumbbells. Deadlifting helps with carrying heavy camera gear etc.