Which Medium Format Camera should I buy?

RezaLoghme · Jul 21, 2024

Has the OP stated a budget? Maybe I have overlooked it.

It might be a good idea to look at total cost of ownership over a period of 5 or 10 years. Consumables, repairs, upgrades. Maybe (theoretically) a re-sale of the equipment, why not even some depreciation.

Looking at the overall numbers might put the somewhat higher initial investment for the camera the OP seems to want in a different light. If it is a hobby, the enjoyment should be as important as the technical details. If someone wants a 911, no Camaro or Alpine or Japanese car will make them happy.

RezaLoghme · Jul 21, 2024

2 things:

- The OP does own a TLR (Yashica, I always wanted to try one...not gonna happen anymore now) so reommendations for other TLRs probably not what he wanted

- In another thread it sounds as if he has now found a 645?

GregY · Jul 21, 2024

Alex Benjamin said:
Are you scanning, or printing in the darkroom? Makes a difference budget-wise.

If you are scanning, and have the budget for it, go with the Hasselblad.

If you intent on printing in the darkroom, or woud like to do so in the future, go with something cheaper, of excellent quality. Saying this because It's not only film that's expensive. Paper has gotten wildly so. That's the reason that for the urban landscape project I'm working on, I chose for 6x6 a Bronica SQ rather than the high-end Hasselblad. Solid body, and I can easily get a second one cheap for back-up just in case. Good variety of excellent quality lenses — enough quality, at least, for what I want and need. Leaves me plenty of money — well, OK, maybe not "plenty," but more than if I had gone with the Blad — for film (I shoot a lot of film!) and paper. Other savings I get from mixing my own chemicals.

I don't think that how you choose to print has any relationship to which camera you desire to buy. The OP has the urge to get a Hasselblad. Paper prices, real estate and/or gas prices don't have much to do with desire....

MattKing · Jul 21, 2024

RezaLoghme said:
Let's assume you bought the 503CW - are you ever going to worry "Oh, should I have bought the Mamiya 645 instead?". Think about it.

I would have. I've handled both extensively, and the Mamiya is far better suited to my needs.
If one has experience with both, they should use that experience to inform their judgment, because both are excellent, professional quality options, but they differ in many important ways.
Back in the day, I sold more Hasselblads than I did (the earlier version of) the Mamiya 645 options, but I dealt with customers whose needs matched one rather than the other of both options, and I had no qualms trying to match them up with what suited them best.
For those who don't have the opportunity to determine that suitability ahead of time, I'd suggest moving carefully, because investment in either option with the lenses you might want is a substantial cost, and you might find yourself unable to change your mind easily thereafter without it involving a substantial amount of lost money.
There are many people out there whose needs won't be best met by either of those two options - medium format SLRs are great, but the functionality and flexibility they offer come at the cost of weight, size, complexity and cost. If your needs differ - e.g. you are much better served by a rangefinder or a TLR or even a medium format view camera - try to match your needs, rather than buy because of the name on the front of the camera.

Alan Edward Klein · Jul 21, 2024

Paul Howell said:
If you print square 6X6 is an upsized format, on the other hand as I generally print 8X10 and 11X14 so in the end in my case 6X6 is really 645. What I do like about 6X6 is I can crop either horizontal or vertical no need to turn a camera on it's side.

Of course, the Mamiya RB67 or RZ67 with their 6x7 format do not have to be turned on their sides to switch from portrait to landscape view. The film back revolves around eliminating that problem. That's what the RB stands for - Revolving Back. They're heavier than the Hassie however. What kind of pictures does the OP shoot? Does he generally intend to use a tripod?

RezaLoghme · Jul 21, 2024

MattKing said:
I would have. I've handled both extensively, and the Mamiya is far better suited to my needs.
If one has experience with both, they should use that experience to inform their judgment, because both are excellent, professional quality options, but they differ in many important ways.
Back in the day, I sold more Hasselblads than I did (the earlier version of) the Mamiya 645 options, but I dealt with customers whose needs matched one rather than the other of both options, and I had no qualms trying to match them up with what suited them best.
For those who don't have the opportunity to determine that suitability ahead of time, I'd suggest moving carefully, because investment in either option with the lenses you might want is a substantial cost, and you might find yourself unable to change your mind easily thereafter without it involving a substantial amount of lost money.
There are many people out there whose needs won't be best met by either of those two options - medium format SLRs are great, but the functionality and flexibility they offer come at the cost of weight, size, complexity and cost. If your needs differ - e.g. you are much better served by a rangefinder or a TLR or even a medium format view camera - try to match your needs, rather than buy because of the name on the front of the camera.

Totally agree 100%

Luckless · Jul 22, 2024

Paul Howell said:
If you print square 6X6 is an upsized format, on the other hand as I generally print 8X10 and 11X14 so in the end in my case 6X6 is really 645. What I do like about 6X6 is I can crop either horizontal or vertical no need to turn a camera on it's side.

I print my work as a mix of square and 4x5, and at times even reframe negatives from my RB67 to square. Given that most of my subject matter is live action with limited time to capture a decisive moment, I'm a fan of shooting me edges wider than needed and leaving final decisions on crop and even format to the darkroom. There is only so much attention in the moment that can be given to fine edge details when photographing a bee or a humming bird, and starting with a square negative gives excellent level of flexibility.

Alan Edward Klein said:
Of course, the Mamiya RB67 or RZ67 ... They're heavier than the Hassie however...

And double as a nice workout to try lugging around.

I'm sure there are worse medium format cameras to take out of a studio setting than Mamiya's RB/RZ67s, but I've not found one. Won't stop me from still loving it as a walk about camera.

Which Medium Format Camera should I buy?

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