What mediumformat camera should I go for?

AndersPS · Sep 2, 2009

I´ve asked I similar question in another tread. I asked what you people thought about the Pentax 645. I´ve been to a shop here in Gothenburg (Sweden), the only one, I think, in the city with so much analog photography accesories and cameras. I asked one of the employees what mediumformat cameras I should look at. He said that he used a Rolleiflex because it´s more streetfriendly than the Hasselblad 500 C/M. And the Rolleiflex are more sheaper than HB. He told me also to look after a Bronica.
Now, what Rolleiflex and Bronica models should I look for to buy?

dpurdy · Sep 2, 2009

Get a Rolleiflex 3.5F. A 75mm lens that has great dynamic feel for the street and is light weight and very forgiving in focus. Might as well start with the best.
Dennis

paul ron · Sep 2, 2009

Too bad you are so far away, I have several MF cameras I'd like to sell.

Get whatever you can afford n feels right in your hand. Once you've been bitten by MF, you'll develope a preference and will be upgrading like the rest of us MF junkies. You can always sell the camera or swap it in a deal on another. Just be sure you are getting a good deal on whatever you buy. Ask us cheapskates for price advice?

lns · Sep 2, 2009

I'd get a 2.8 Rolleiflex without an internal meter. In fact I did. Fast lens on a light camera. The Rolleiflexes are much cheaper and lighter when they are meterless. I personally prefer the -flex to the -cord.

That said, I also have a Hasselblad. I agree that the Rollei is more street friendly, but of course the Hasselblad is a more flexible system.

-Laura

Q.G. · Sep 2, 2009

Buy locally produced stuff!

frenil · Sep 2, 2009

Q.G. said:
Buy locally produced stuff!

In Gothenburg, that would be a Hasselblad!

Sirius Glass · Sep 2, 2009

frenil said:
In Gothenburg, that would be a Hasselblad!

Yep! You broke the code!

Tehy have a nice solid click. The Hasselblad SWCs are quieter.

The local service there should be good.

Steve

Q.G. · Sep 2, 2009

frenil said:
In Gothenburg, that would be a Hasselblad!

Exactly.

2F/2F · Sep 2, 2009

I find the term "street friendly" to be highly variable. Street photography can encompass so much. It can be rather laid back and give you plenty of time in some cases, or it can be too fast to keep up with using any camera in other cases. For me, the weight, bulk, and stealthiness is not the issue, but speed and accuracy of focusing and composition are. Therefore, I prefer SLRs for most street shooting in which the goal is to shoot people, probably in motion. I would be looking at Mamiya, Pentax, Bronica, or Hassy SLRs. I like TLRs, but not when I need to focus quickly. I like them for more static shots. It is all a matter or "feel" and how that relates to what you shoot and how you like to work. It is true that a TLR has some advantages, but I would say that if you are used to an SLR, you need to use one for a bit to see if it will fit the bill for what you do.

frenil · Sep 2, 2009

Altough I live in Gothenburg/Göteborg, I have to admit that I don't own a Hasselblad. I have a Pentax 67 and a Yashica Mat 124G. I am selling the Pentax 67 because I find it too heavy (2,3 kg). The Yashica Mat only weighs 1 kg. I know many photographers here who don't own Hasselblads. Maybe we should be more patriotic?

2F/2F · Sep 2, 2009

frenil said:
Altough I live in Gothenburg/Göteborg, I have to admit that I don't own a Hasselblad. I have a Pentax 67 and a Yashica Mat 124G. I am selling the Pentax 67 because I find it too heavy (2,3 kg). The Yashica Mat only weighs 1 kg. I know many photographers here who don't own Hasselblads. Maybe we should be more patriotic?

Don't worry. I know many unpatriotic photographers here who do not own Graflexes!

fotch · Sep 2, 2009

2F/2F said:
Don't worry. I know many unpatriotic photographers here who do not own Graflexes!

They don't make them like that anymore.

Bertil · Sep 2, 2009

Having several HB and like them very much, and some other MF too, but my latest MF really is something extra, a folder: Zeiss Super Ikonta Rapid 531/16 (6x6) with Zeiss- Opton Tessar 3,5/75mm. With the loupe on the neg I can't distinguish its negs from my HB Planar 2,8/80mm negs. The coupled range finder is marvellous, even better than on a Leica M2 I once had, and perfectly placed for operating with your left tumb. And you can put it in your pocket! I recently bought my at the Swedish ebay (tradera), roughly $200 (1500 skr) - my max bid was twice as much! They pop up now and then. Just a suggestion!
//Bertil

Q.G. · Sep 3, 2009

frenil said:
Altough I live in Gothenburg/Göteborg, I have to admit that I don't own a Hasselblad. I have a Pentax 67 and a Yashica Mat 124G. I am selling the Pentax 67 because I find it too heavy (2,3 kg). The Yashica Mat only weighs 1 kg. I know many photographers here who don't own Hasselblads. Maybe we should be more patriotic?

It being patriotic or not is a secondary concern. I wouldn't worry much about it.

You should buy Swedish because of the thing you then will have.

Nick Zentena · Sep 3, 2009

The OP doesn't give enough/any info on what sort of thing he is looking for. Tells us more -)

Philippe-Georges · Sep 3, 2009

Volvo (Amazon), Scania, Hasselbad, ProFoto, Husqvarna, Norma Precision, TNT... What do you want more?

JRJacobs · Sep 3, 2009

What type of shooting do you like to do? That would help answer the question.

AndersPS · Sep 3, 2009

2F/2F said:
I find the term "street friendly" to be highly variable. Street photography can encompass so much. It can be rather laid back and give you plenty of time in some cases, or it can be too fast to keep up with using any camera in other cases. For me, the weight, bulk, and stealthiness is not the issue, but speed and accuracy of focusing and composition are. Therefore, I prefer SLRs for most street shooting in which the goal is to shoot people, probably in motion. I would be looking at Mamiya, Pentax, Bronica, or Hassy SLRs. I like TLRs, but not when I need to focus quickly. I like them for more static shots. It is all a matter or "feel" and how that relates to what you shoot and how you like to work. It is true that a TLR has some advantages, but I would say that if you are used to an SLR, you need to use one for a bit to see if it will fit the bill for what you do.

I´ve not taking pictures with either a TLR or a mediumformat SLR. I´ve have a Pentax MX. I´m not gonna buy one yet, cause I want to learn to shoot good pictures first, and then if I find it fun to develop and enlarge I´m gonna buy a mediumformat.

What type of shooting do you like to do? That would help answer the question.

That I want to find out. As I just started to shoot with a analog SLR, I want to learn and see what type of photography I like, and then buy a meduimformat.

JRJacobs · Sep 3, 2009

AndersPS said:
That I want to find out. As I just started to shoot with a analog SLR, I want to learn and see what type of photography I like, and then buy a meduimformat.

Good idea, and the MX is a great SLR to learn with. Enjoy it and photograph what makes you happy.

AndersPS · Sep 3, 2009

It´s my dad´s old one. He do not photograph anymore witch is sad. So he said that I can borrow it as long as I want. Little offtopic; I have found a Pentax MV on Tradera (Swedish version of eBay) and I wondered if that is a camera to bid on. The bid right now is 150 SEK (approx. 20.12$). How much do you think I should go?

CBG · Sep 4, 2009

Depends upon what you want to photograph and how you like to shoot. You really have to look at the details to choose. The kinds of details that make a difference to me are:

RB/RZs:
The RB/RZ67s have great close up ability because of the long bellows built in.
The weight of the meter prism makes the RB very heavy.
The winding of the RB is a pain if you are in a hurry.
Basically a tripod camera unless you are a Russian weight lifter.
Almost all same size 77mm filters.
Good optics.
Interchangeable film backs make life easier.

Pentax 67
Handles like a huge 35 mm camera, but heavy.
The older P67 has a pretty clunky shutter.
The newer P67 II has a smoother shutter.
Loading film takes a while to get efficient at.
Good optics other than the 165 that seems a bit soft.
Basically a tripod camera.
Requires extension tubes for close work.
Different filter sizes mean you need adaptors or many size filters.
Incredible range of lenses out to 800 and 1000mm including super fast 600/4 and 800/4 monsters.

Hasselblad
Great optics.
Film loading is awkward for many people.
Camera can be finicky to handle.
Decidedly lighter in weight and more compact.
Best build quality.
Mostly a tripod camera but more easily hand holdable than the RBs.
Requires extension tubes for close work.
Interchangeable film backs make life easier.

And so on...

Sirius Glass · Sep 4, 2009

CBG said:
Hasselblad
...
Film loading is awkward for many people.

It just takes a few rolls and then it is no big deal. Much easier that loading a Leica thread mount camera.

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op6hDyMmkqA
but do not wave the film around as shown in the video.

CBG said:
Hasselblad
...
Camera can be finicky to handle.

Again experience helps. After a few rolls and a few lens changes, it forms a pattern. Stick to the pattern and you will have little or no trouble.

CBG said:
Hasselblad
...
Mostly a tripod camera but more easily hand holdable than the RBs.

Not true. Others and myself do almost all the photography hand held.

Steve

Q.G. · Sep 4, 2009

Sirius Glass said:
Not true. Others and myself do almost all the photography hand held.

It is true in a very general way: you get (significantly) better results with every (!) camera when you put it on a sturdy tripod.

Venchka · Sep 6, 2009

I have before me a Pentax 6x7 and a Hasselblad 501.
"Pentax
Loading film takes a while to get efficient at.
Good optics other than the 165 that seems a bit soft.
Basically a tripod camera.
Requires extension tubes for close work.
Different filter sizes mean you need adaptors or many size filters."

Reads like the "Sudden Xtol Death Syndrome" misinformation on the internet. What camera doesn't require ext. tubes for close work? A few, but they are the exceptions. A set of 3 Pentax tubes are less than $100. Cheap. Film loading is very easy relative to the Hasselblad or Leica M5. Filter sizes: same from 105mm to 200mm. The 45mm lens is reason alone to own a Pentax 6x7. WIDE and SHARP and LIGHT and CHEAP. The latest version of the 55mm lens may be even better.

Add a prism to a Hasselblad and the size/weight difference begins to disappear. Extra backs can be good if you switch films often. I don't, so the Hasselblad & Pentax are even there. OR, now that I have both, I can load two films at the same time and alternate.

Hand held works fine for either camera. Tripod works fine for either camera.

Bertil · Sep 6, 2009

What's the problem with film loading to the Hasselblad magazine? Could it be easier? Just don't understand!!!!
And O.G. about tripod: mustn't it depend on what kind of photography you are doing? Of course, if you could stop the world (in order to do the exposure) and put the camera on the tripod, it would be better, OK; (but on the other hand, If You can stop the world, why not put up a 8x10 or even more? (But I think we got your point! OK.)
//Bertil

What mediumformat camera should I go for?

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