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Which 6x6 MF do you shoot?

Which is your favorite 6x6 brand?

  • Total voters
    140
A similar set up: I have had a Blad (500CM) for a few months now, and it is the most exciting camera system I have had for a very long time.

My very first camera (1958 when I was 12) was a 6x6 (Bilora Bella) and it was my only camera for 12 years until I bought a Voigtlander CLR 35mm. So I've come home, I guess. In the meantime, more 6x6s - a Zeiss Ikon, A Bronica EC, and I still have a couple of Rolleiflexes (3.5F Planars). The 'Flexes are superb - only limited by their being fixed lens cameras, but still used and loved - particularly when travel restrictions rule out the Blad.

I'm still trying to decide which marque to choose in the poll. Rollei or Blad? Blad or Rollei?

Decisions, decisions!
 
I shoot Hasselblad - I purchased a used 500 C/M. I have 2 lenses (80 and 150) and 3 backs. Overall, it is a very dependable system with a lot of flexibility. I previously utilized 6X7 (Mamiya RB). I actually believe that the 6X6 format is more difficult to use then the 6X7. However, I grew tired of the weight of my RB. The good thing about Hassy is that if you are willing to shop for used equipment, the market is flooded with equipment by photographers who are going digital. Having said that, if you have any plans to go to format, I wouldn't purchase any MF camera. I'd just own a 35mm and a large format. IMHO, large format is less expensive and far better quality in the long run. I plan to go large format. When I do this I not only have purchase a big box with boards and lenses, I have to change out my enlarger which only goes to 6X7. Hope that helps.
 
Hasselblad 500cm with 40cf 80cf 150cf, beautiful camera, beautiful format.
 
After shooting 35mm for a few years, I purchased a Lubitel 2 mf camera to try the medium format. A couple months after that I got a Yashica D TLR. Very nice camera. Unfortunately one day a huge honking piece of debris decided to settle at the middle of the taking lens. Fortunately I then came across a sweet Mamiya C220 with 80mm. It has been my main camera for the last year or so and have since added a 65mm and am now considering adding a 135 or 180 for it.

My Maxxum 5 only gets snapshot and family vacation shots now.

Roger
 
I'm a Rolleiflex sl66 user for my main camera - it is so versatile for MF. I cant afford lenses at the mo so I stick with the CZ 80mm planar standard - which is brilliant anyway.

I am a holga maniac too - have quite a few in various states of modification (as a holga should be) - oh and i have 2 lubitels, which i love for their simplicity (and cheapness)

 
Y'all are an amazing wealth of information and enthusiasm!
 
Hello Pam, I do most of my 6x6 shooting with a couple of Agfa folders. Since they are not on the list I didn't vote.

The one I use most is an Isolette III and the other an Ansco Super Speeex, a.k.a. a Super Isolette. The Super Speedex is for films that are pain to use with a red window film advance.

The 75mm Solinars are very sharp at f/8 to f/16, so I don't know about "urban legend" regarding the softness of German lenses. The Super Speedex has unit focusing. So it can be used as close as 4 ft with no problem.

Although, I have a Rolleicord V, I still prefer the Agfas. The Rolleicord and its accessories get a bit lonely in their camera bag, because an Agfa kit with lens hood, filters, spare film and light meter fit comfortably into an unobtrusive belt pouch.

Square prints open a whole new avenue of creativity.
 
I'm currently using a Rolleiflex 2.8f and a Hasselblad SWC. It's perhaps a quirky combination, but it reflects the way I see and makes for a fairly light and compact kit.
 
I just started using a Bronica SQ-Ai. It is taking a little getting used to a square format but when I shot 35 mm I was cropping to square format. Still don't know why I am having trouble composing.

Shalom,
Eric
 
Try this 6X6

You might consider trying a Kiev 88 CM. It is based on the old Hasselblad 1600F & 1000F that were discontinued by 1957. You will find the Kiev under several different names (Saluit) but the current production model Kiev 88 CM gives the least trouble. It suffers from all the design deficiencies of the Hasselblad 1000F. It is not of Russian manufacture, it is Ukranian and made at the Arsenal Plant. The CM has a Pentacon mount and will take all of the east German (ex Carl Zeiss Jena - now Jena) lenses some of which are quite good, comparable to the best Zeiss optics. Kiev markets a line of Ukranian lenes that are also quite good and inexpensive. Starting with a 30mm f/3.5 180 degree wide-angle (very sharp) right through to 1,000mm. They also market a very unique 45mm w/a with 8 degrees of shift AND tilt. Most useful and very sharp. All the lenses are fully coated and exhibit good contrast. The Kiev 88 CM is flocked inside. Contact Kiev USA for further details.

 
330s

Very happy with my 2 Mamiya 330s-you can buy a whole outfit for less than the price of one Hasslebald lens and the lenses are vg (make sure you get the later black ones).The bellows are handy for close focusing too.
 
I started photo 10 or more years ago with a russian 6x6 Lubitel which broke down because of the poor fabrication (the lenses lost their synchro so I couldn't focus). It was my only new camera, after that I only bought second hand cameras. A Mamiya C330F and different lenses from time to time when I could afford (I was student) : 55, 80, 105DS, 180 lenses. Very great camera that I resold in 1996 to get a second hand Rollei 6008 Pro with only the 80mm. Then I bought a 120mm macro. Actually I also collect 4x4 cameras like Baby Rolleiflex, Yashica 44 and Komaflex.
 
Bought a Yashica C on ebay a couple years ago. Got it cheap, paid cash picked it up in person. The seller even threw in a couple of rolls. No built in meter, the leather case was falling apart and the view finder is a little dirty, but the lens is some sharp! Wish my eyes were that sharp...
 
have YashicaMat 124G for 6x6 format. just purchased Mamiya M645J and also shooting with the Yashica 44. I like the larger negative.
 
Over a period of some 40 years I have used Rollei TLR's, Mamiya TLR's, Bronica, Hassleblad and Rollei SLR's. I got my first Rollei SL66 sometime in the early 1980's used if for around a year and traded it for a Hassleblad. The Hassie lasted a year or so and then I went back to the SL66 which has remained my 6x6 of choice since. It feels the best to me, has great flexability and great optics.

OTOH, 6x6 is the format I shoot least frequently in most instances; I shoot primarily LF. But there are some times when it is perfect. Two weeks ago I had to shoot a summer festival, antique car show, etc. The SL66 with a couple of lenses and backs did the eyoman work that day.
 
Rollei 2.8F Planar

I carry in a nice small bag with filters, lens hood, Weston light meter and film. Recently had the transport and shutter overhauled by Fleenor. When I get the exposure right the negatives are beautiful. It is one of my favorite cameras.
 
Hooray! Another person who loves the Yashicamat 124G!

Why this isn't in the polling list? Maybe too few users or something......but it's a bit surprising to see a Hasselblad there but not a Yashicamat! The Holga I can understand
 
There are a lot of MF 6x6 camera makes that were not listed.

Major omissions (IMO) include the Zeiss 6x6 folders, the Zeiss TLRs, the Minolta TLRs, the Mamiya TLRs, the Olympus TLRs and the Meopta Flexaret TLRs - to name a few. Then there are the Ukrainian 6x6 SLRs and the Russian 6x6 folders. Also omitted were the East German Pentacon 6 series of 6x6 SLRs.
 

...as well as the Graflex XL.

I use a Hasselblad. There are no better optics and the ergonomics make it a pleasure to use hand held. If I'm going to be bound to a tripod I'll use a view camera anyway. I do miss the lack perspective controls on the Rollei SL66, but maybe someday I'll get a Flexbody.
 
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