If I were going got a really portable MF camera (and would not want to get an old folder for whatever reason) I would end up with either GA645 or GS645 (this one may need service), or Bessa III or Makina 670 if I wanted larger neg.
When Size Matter... MF and Portability
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a somewhat rambling reply
I'll supply a bit of background about myself. I was once a pretty serious photography student. I have quite a bit of experience with medium and large format shooting. I'm also an avid hiker. I spent the summer fo '99 at the maine phtographic workshops where I exposed a lot of film. At the time I had Mamiya 645pro system. I carried that thing around a lot and liked it most of the time. mid way through the summer I had the chance to "borrow" a mamiya 6mf for a day. It changed my whole way of thinking. I loved it, and it is still my favorite camera ever. I sold the 645pro gear and picked up my own 6 with 2 lenses later on that year.
shooting square versus rectangle is an easily surmounted obstacle. If you have any tlr experience it will be an even smoother transition.
fast forward 13 years, and now I'm looking for the same thing as our thread starter. money is an object, otherwise I'd have a mamiya 6/6mf again.
Ultimately, for the way i shoot, I need multiple lens options. i really like the Fuji rangefinders, but I would be found wanting when in the field. Also, there are some really nice old folders out there, but still fixed lens. In my research, it seems like there is no wide angle option on any of the older folders; (ikon, ikonta, mamiya6, voigtlander bessa, perkeo, etc), unless I've missed something.
( I have zero experiece with the newer RF670, or the RF645 although both seem like they could be fine cameras)
If weight is the ultimate issue, and you're willing to live with some electronics, I'd say go for Fuji GA or GS cameras ( obviously GA means more elcronics) Then the Mamiya rangefinders, (Plaubel Makinas would mean more than one body), then a modular system ala hassy, Mamiya, Bronica, etc.
If zero electronics is the drving factor then you're into older folders TLR's, and some system cameras.
money; Lately, the cheapest Plaubel Makina 67 series I've seen was 1200. i've seen a supposedly working Mamiya 7 body for 500, Hasselblad stuff is all over the map.
lens sharpness; imho, this is beating a dead horse, and is a somewhat subjective issue. So not taking into account exacting tests done in a lab type atmosphere, if you are a competent photographer and understand basic exposure and depth of field principles, you can make a pretty damn sharp image with almost anything, and a pleasing image with even crazier things (Diana, Holga, star filters, etc etc) Conversely, if you have no medium format experience, your image quality will probably be the same whether you spend thousands on a Hasselblad full system, or hundreds on an old Mamiya or Bronica system.
I'll supply a bit of background about myself. I was once a pretty serious photography student. I have quite a bit of experience with medium and large format shooting. I'm also an avid hiker. I spent the summer fo '99 at the maine phtographic workshops where I exposed a lot of film. At the time I had Mamiya 645pro system. I carried that thing around a lot and liked it most of the time. mid way through the summer I had the chance to "borrow" a mamiya 6mf for a day. It changed my whole way of thinking. I loved it, and it is still my favorite camera ever. I sold the 645pro gear and picked up my own 6 with 2 lenses later on that year.
shooting square versus rectangle is an easily surmounted obstacle. If you have any tlr experience it will be an even smoother transition.
fast forward 13 years, and now I'm looking for the same thing as our thread starter. money is an object, otherwise I'd have a mamiya 6/6mf again.
Ultimately, for the way i shoot, I need multiple lens options. i really like the Fuji rangefinders, but I would be found wanting when in the field. Also, there are some really nice old folders out there, but still fixed lens. In my research, it seems like there is no wide angle option on any of the older folders; (ikon, ikonta, mamiya6, voigtlander bessa, perkeo, etc), unless I've missed something.
( I have zero experiece with the newer RF670, or the RF645 although both seem like they could be fine cameras)
If weight is the ultimate issue, and you're willing to live with some electronics, I'd say go for Fuji GA or GS cameras ( obviously GA means more elcronics) Then the Mamiya rangefinders, (Plaubel Makinas would mean more than one body), then a modular system ala hassy, Mamiya, Bronica, etc.
If zero electronics is the drving factor then you're into older folders TLR's, and some system cameras.
money; Lately, the cheapest Plaubel Makina 67 series I've seen was 1200. i've seen a supposedly working Mamiya 7 body for 500, Hasselblad stuff is all over the map.
lens sharpness; imho, this is beating a dead horse, and is a somewhat subjective issue. So not taking into account exacting tests done in a lab type atmosphere, if you are a competent photographer and understand basic exposure and depth of field principles, you can make a pretty damn sharp image with almost anything, and a pleasing image with even crazier things (Diana, Holga, star filters, etc etc) Conversely, if you have no medium format experience, your image quality will probably be the same whether you spend thousands on a Hasselblad full system, or hundreds on an old Mamiya or Bronica system.
Well, I'm no MF expert but having owned a few (Mamiya TLR, Horseman, Hasselblad) over the years, I'd have to say the Hasselblad 500CM is my favorite. Once I went out on the Gulf of Mexico off the west coast of Florida. I forgot to secure the drain plug and the back of the boat took on a few inches of water before I could fix the problem. The body got wet - salt water! I thought it was the end. I figured it couldn't get any worse so I washed everything in fresh water. Talk about taking a lickin'! 10 years later it's still making great images.
OP
OP
OP
OP
Ican't think oof a smaller package than the Mamiya 6
How about a Mamiya 6 Folding?
RR
With 6 folding you may not change the lens and so with Plaubel Makina. Otherwise, PM would have been the recommendation.
This thread is inspiring me to take my folders out for a walk.
But tell me, anyone have any problems with the red frame counter window fogging film?
I haven't had any problems but i never had em out in the sun.
Anyone have any experiance with this n how did you overcome it?
But tell me, anyone have any problems with the red frame counter window fogging film?
I haven't had any problems but i never had em out in the sun.
Anyone have any experiance with this n how did you overcome it?
I personally do not have any problem with Red window with my Isolette. After the film advance I normally pull the little shutter down.
A few people have, but it doesn't seem to be very frequent even in seriously sunny environments. Most later-vintage folders have some kind of cover for the red window, and it seems only prudent to use that to minimize the risk.
-NT
Most of my 120 cameras with red windows have a shutter to close after winding on, but one had no provision so I made my own out of adhesive backed Velcro with a hole cut in the bottom piece to allow inspection when I peel the top piece back for winding on. Then stick it back down after winding. No problems to date with the numbers etc. scorching through.
http://freepdfhosting.com/12d9697a5a.pdf
RR
http://freepdfhosting.com/12d9697a5a.pdf
RR
Ican't think oof a smaller package than the Mamiya 6
+1
I don't know what that is.
Once upon two careers back I worked on radio receivers listed as 'Portable' and weighed 85 pounds. Turns out the design was based on an Army definition stating that portable was 2 men with a jeep. Portable camera.. what a concept.
A Leica M with a few lenses and Rollei TLR is a great combo for general photography. Sorry to hear you got burned with a purchase.
Weight. Geez, stop whining. If it's all too heavy just use your iPhone and Instagram your crew. But, it you want to take some real photos, you gotta tote some glass and metal.
I have 2 MF cameras. My first was a Rolleicord, lightweight. Takes very good photos. Some of my favorite pictures were taken with it and I still use it. Hardest thing to do is get into a rhythm with it due to the separate shutter cock and film rewind. Once you do though, it works very well.
My other system is a Hasselblad. This was not an easy camera to start using. Loading the backs can be a little funky. The left handed grip under the camera did not feel natural. It is a camera that can be operated quickly, but, doesn't really want to work that way. But. Add a left handed grip with shutter release. A better screen. And chase the dogs around the yard a bit. And suddenly it becomes second nature.
I'm selling a Leica system because I couldn't get comfortable with it, so how a system handles is very, very, important to me. The Rollei hooked me real fast. My Nikon hardware is 2nd nature to me. I can use 2 different 4x5 setups without issue, but, the Blad really is growing on me. The more I use it the better it feels and the more I like it. I was afraid, after the first roll or 2, that it would go the way of the Leica. Wonderful system, but not for me. Now I can't get out of the KEH web page looking for my next lens, a prism would be nice, those ELM bodies are stupid cheap, ....
So, too heavy, shut up, take a lap, drop and give me 20. Show the world that your art is really important to you. Make each picture meaningful. Sacrifice a bit. Then, an espresso, with a nice slice of that cheesecake over there ....
I have 2 MF cameras. My first was a Rolleicord, lightweight. Takes very good photos. Some of my favorite pictures were taken with it and I still use it. Hardest thing to do is get into a rhythm with it due to the separate shutter cock and film rewind. Once you do though, it works very well.
My other system is a Hasselblad. This was not an easy camera to start using. Loading the backs can be a little funky. The left handed grip under the camera did not feel natural. It is a camera that can be operated quickly, but, doesn't really want to work that way. But. Add a left handed grip with shutter release. A better screen. And chase the dogs around the yard a bit. And suddenly it becomes second nature.
I'm selling a Leica system because I couldn't get comfortable with it, so how a system handles is very, very, important to me. The Rollei hooked me real fast. My Nikon hardware is 2nd nature to me. I can use 2 different 4x5 setups without issue, but, the Blad really is growing on me. The more I use it the better it feels and the more I like it. I was afraid, after the first roll or 2, that it would go the way of the Leica. Wonderful system, but not for me. Now I can't get out of the KEH web page looking for my next lens, a prism would be nice, those ELM bodies are stupid cheap, ....
So, too heavy, shut up, take a lap, drop and give me 20. Show the world that your art is really important to you. Make each picture meaningful. Sacrifice a bit. Then, an espresso, with a nice slice of that cheesecake over there ....
If you buy a Rolleiflex, especially off of Craigslist, you should assume that it needs to be serviced. That camera will be anywhere from 40 to 80 years old and anything mechanical of that age should be serviced.
I'm not trying to be mean, but I am trying to help all of those who buy older cameras that this is a reality.
However, once serviced, that camera will run smoothly for the next quarter century or longer, depending on how you treat the camera.
The Rolleiflex TLR was used by all types of photographers - Sunday shooters, well-heeled amateurs, serious amateurs, wedding pros, studio work and newspapers. Some of them have lived and easy life. Many have seen a hard life.
Hey, Jerry, love that last paragraph. Good advice.
I'm not trying to be mean, but I am trying to help all of those who buy older cameras that this is a reality.
However, once serviced, that camera will run smoothly for the next quarter century or longer, depending on how you treat the camera.
The Rolleiflex TLR was used by all types of photographers - Sunday shooters, well-heeled amateurs, serious amateurs, wedding pros, studio work and newspapers. Some of them have lived and easy life. Many have seen a hard life.
Hey, Jerry, love that last paragraph. Good advice.
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