What other cameras do the TLR users here use?

[Josephine]

Hi!

The camera I use the most is a Mamiya C3, but I also use a Rolleiflex Automat IV. The others are a Holga, which I use a lot for portability and cheapness (in the case it's stolen), a Calumet 4x5 that I use mostly at home or when someone drives me to places (a little heavy), homemade pinhole cameras and a Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta that I almost never use, because it gives me headache.

I have a digital too, of course, for other kinds of work. It's a Nikon D80.

 

[cjbecker]

I have a rolleicord III that actually sees about half of my work, the other part is a 500cm. I really love the looks of the xenar for portraits. Plus I love using a tlr for all of the normal reasons.

 

[Ezzie]

Over the last year I've gone medium format almost exclusively, 6x6 for the most part, and over the last half year I can count the number of non-TLR pictures if I take my socks off. The cameras that see the most use these days in order of most first:
Flexaret Va
Rolleiflex 2.8E3
Kowa Super 66
Zeiss Ikonta 523/16
Pentax SP1000
Nikon D300
Epson R-D1
DIY 6x17

 

[Maudvm]

I'll be using my Mamiya C330 for the first time! With the 80mm lens

 

[spiritlake]

My TLR is a Yashica Mat 124G (It was my grandmother's, an aunt had inherited it and gave it to me shortly before her death -- amazing how this camera was used for years as an everyday camera for family snapshots!)

I also have a faithful Pentax K1000 and a borrowed Mamiya 7II.

The Yashica is my primary shooter. The timing worked out well -- shortly after I had it refurbished, the K1000 started developing problems (I bought it as a 17 year old and used it all through college -- I'm sure you can all imagine the beating that the poor 50-year-old creature endured) that my beloved camera man admitted were not particularly fixable. So that forced me to leave my 35mm comfort zone and start shooting with the TLR. The Mamiya rangefinder is great, but I've spent so much time with older, fully manual cameras that I must admit I've found it a bit confusing, and thus have used the TLR more by default.

 

[spiritlake]

"shortly after I had it refurbished"

The "it" there would be the Yashica.

 

[Ezzie]

Very soon to be the caretaker of a Yashica A, which brings the TLR toll up to 4, not including the Ljubitel. Great fun all of them, ok nearly all of them.

 

[Ralph Javins]

Good morning;

What else do I use? Lots ! ! !

It starts at 16mm (no, no Minox yet), and goes through APS cartridges, 35mm with rangefinder and SLR, 120 roll film in 6x6 and 6x7, and ends the film with 4 by 5. Then there are the digital things.

Do you think that a darkroom is time consuming? With a film scanner and PhotoShop Creative Suite 4, you can spend HOURS in front of a computer.

What is probably needed is a referral to a local chapter of Cameras Anonymous.

Ralph, Latte Land, Washington

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I use my Rollei some, my Canon FD system some. but I use my RB67 a lot.

Jeff

 

[whlogan]

I wonder if anyone has any comments, good or bad about the Minolta Autocord? Since I was in Japan in the Navy back in 1953 to 1956 I have always wanted one and now one is on the way fron K*H and should be here by next Wednesday. I don't have a neck strap fo it but will work something out. The Rokkor lens should be good with TriX, heck almost any lens is good with TriX, isn't it? But what are the secret tricks you guys must know about these fellows I need to know before I venture forth? Any help appreciated.
Logan

 

[matthew001]

Shooting Rolleicord VB 50% of the time.

 

[dxqcanada]

I have just picked up a Minolta Autocord (export), Ricoh Diacord G, and a Yashica-Mat ... I have yet to run any film through them, so I cannot say exactly how they compare.
From all my research the IQ of these are in the order that I have listed them. I have even read that some think the Minolta is as good as the Rolleiflex's.

 

[prumpkah]

dxqcanada: results of your testing of these 3 fine cameras would be of interest.

 

[Ralph Javins]

Good morning, Logan;

The only precaution I can suggest for your Minolta Autocord is for the focusing lever system. If it becomes stiff, do not just push harder. There is a fair probability that you will break it. Yes, it is a little bit "delicate" in that way. Instead, if it gets "stiff" or develops a "hard spot" at a place in the focusing arc, send it out for a CLA at that time. Do not force it.

That is the only curious point about the Minolta Autocord that I know about and observe with mine.

Enjoy;

Ralph
Latte Land, Washington

 

[vfalendysh]

Well.. Good question.. My first one was Lubitel 166.. I got back 3 broken lubitels from my last trip to Ukraine and made one working. After first successful 120 film developed, I immediately purchase Yashica A in like-new condition. That was start of my new passion. Next one was ugly broken Mamiyaflex that I fixed / partially restored. Then broken Zeiss Ikonflex with Novar and rusty shutter. I fixed that one, too. I really wanted to try zeiss "magic" lenses and I was not disappointed. Super sharp with nice bokeh. After reading few posts about Yashinon lenses and their possible relation to Zeiss I got Yashica 124 with broken meter that was fixed as well. At this moment I have 2 Zeiss Ikonflex TLRs, Yashicas A, E, EM, 124 and 124G, Lubitel 2, 2 x Lubitel 166, and my last purchase, Ricohflex Dia.
Few weeks ago on my trip to LA I met guy on Santa Monica Pear walking with his Rolleiflex while I was taking pictures with my Yashica EM.. Now it looks like I will sell almost all of my TLRs and will try to get that nice German camera..
So this is my story. Maybe it is important to add that I developed my first 120 film only 3 months ago...

 

[desertratt]

I used a Rolleiflex 3.5 professionally in the 1950s and 1960s and then a Yashicamat professionally in the 1970s. These days I don't shoot a lot of photos but am very involved in scanning 120 (and 35mm) negatves from the "old days" to make large prints for display in photo/art galleries. So I'm currently up to my neck in 120 negatives. I have images that I own of Elvis, the Beatles, Sinatra, Liz Taylor, etc.
By the way both the Rollie and the Yashicimat negs are equally sharp but scanning both types within a short period of time led me to realize the Rollei negs have a much more impressive dynamic range.
I am going to shoot some photos on an old 6x9cm Ansco Viking 45 folding camera as soon as I can spool a roll of 120 onto a 620 spool. I got a roll of 120 film at the only "real" old fashioned camera store within 50 miles of me, or more, and it cost me $8.

 

[ToddB]

I Have a Mamiya C220 I use too. It's a wonderful camera. Maybe a little more user friendly as compared to T Model Rollei. But I tell you.. Walking around with Rollei you diffently get a lot of attention, People come up to me all the time and ask about and comment what a beautiful camera it is. I absolutly love my TLR camera's there is just something about making an effort to take photos it just so awesome. I found too, that since I'm confined with 12 exposures. I come way with better pictures.

ToddB

 

[Ralph Javins]

Good morning, Todd;

An interesting observation. Yes, I have also noticed that when I go to 120 roll film or larger, there does seem to be a deliberate effort to slow down and take more time with the composition and selection of exposure. Yes, it is an interesting effect.

Enjoy; Ralph, Latte Land, Washington

 

[ToddB]

"Rollei negs have a much more impressive dynamic range". saw this quote two threads back. What a perfect statment. After scanning an printing in darkroom with the T. Thats what it is.. Dynamic range. It's like another layer of detail.

ToddB

 

[ajramirez]

I only purchased my Rolleiflex 3.5 MX-EVS about four weeks ago. As my first TLR (and first medium format camera) I am still getting used to it. I find that I tend to use it for shots that are more carefully set up and composed, and particularly for subjects that do not move. About 50% of what I have shot has been on a tripod or monopod. My main cameras are Leicas M9P and M6 TTL, and the shooting experience is night and day.

I must say, though, that the M9P has come out only once since I bought the Rollei, and the M6 not at all. Those 6 x 6 negatives are really something else.

Cheers,

Antonio

 

[agfarapid]

I have a C330 and C33 with 65, 80, 105, 135 lenses. I tend to use my TLR's in spurts, although I notice that I have the highest percentage of satisfactory photographs with them, particularly with the 65mm, a real gem of a lens. I find that I'm going through a 35mm phase right now, shooting with my Canon EF and Leica M3. I'll be out of that soon, returning to my MF gear which includes a 500c, Mamiya 645 (original) and 645 Super, an RB 67 Pro S and a Fuji 645 rangefinder. When shooting with my TLR's I get an incredible sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. I'll be posting some photos soon (I hope).

 

[DWThomas]

I exploited another TLR advantage a couple months back. I cobbled together enough fittings to go from Bay-1 to Series 7 on my Yashica Mat 124G so I could use an 89B filter I've had since my first IR foray circa 1965. It was cheaper and easier to round up old Series adapters and step-up rings (some bought, some in 'storage') than find a Bay-1 IR filter. There's a bit of ghosting at the lower edge of the ground glass from the large filter and shade, but it works pretty well. My previous recent attempts with IR used my Bronica SQ-A, which is a fine camera, but I thought I would wear out the filter threads (or my fingers!) taking the IR filter on and off for every new composition, a decided disadvantage of an SLR. A couple of the results are currently hanging in shows, so the results were good.

DaveT

 

[dxqcanada]

To get back to prumpkah ...

I sold the Yashica Mat and the A ... and I have run a roll through the Ricoh Diacord, and my wife shot a roll through the Minolta Autocord.
Sadly, I have yet to develop them.
Though now I am in the process rebuilding three Minolta Autocords (L and LMX).

I will say that I like the shutter cocking mechanism on the Yashica-Mat and Autocord better than the Diacord ... as I exposed the first frame 4 times before I remembered to advance the film. The focus lever on the Autocord is made with bittle metal and is prone to breakage ... which really makes it impossible to repair, just replace.

 

[selmslie]

Seeing some of the postings by (there was a url link here which no longer exists) inspired me last month to track down a Rolleiflex 2.8F at KEH. I had bought a Yashica TLR about 50 years ago for $80 (new) and used it for nearly 20 years until I moved on.

I was surprised by the heft of the Rolleiflex. It is a vastly superior camera. The Rolleiflex seems to have the same basic 80mm F2.8 as my Hasselblad but in a much more convenient package. I look forward to getting a lot of use from it.

 

[Toffle]

I see that I contributed to this thread a couple of years ago... (ok... way back in 2009) I am pleased to say that my Rollei is still in my every day bag and gets a lot of use. However, I have recently been shooting a LOT of 5x7 paper negatives on my B&J and keep an XA in my jacket pocket. For me, each tool inspires me in a different way.
Cheers,
Tom