Which Medium-format?

bn22my · Feb 4, 2008

Hello all,

I looking to buy a cheap (probably 2nd hand) medium format system- something simple ie- one body/back and an 80mm 2.8 lens. Budget wise I've probably got around $500 to spend. Not a huge amount, but I've heard there are some deals out there. Am pretty stumped as to what to go for- I'd like something that's fairly easy to use and can be handheld, I was thinking of a Mamiya 7 (or similar), but I'm hoping to shoot 6x6 as opposed to the wider 6x7 format. I'd mainly be shooting portraits and some illustrative work with it, all on location. Does anyone have any suggestions? I previously shot digital but realised it is definitely not the be-all and end-all.
Any thoughts would be much appreciated. If you want to see the kind of work I do to get an idea of what I'm about, my website is www.benmostyn.com

Cheers~ Ben

JBrunner · Feb 4, 2008

bn22my said:
Hello all,

I looking to buy a cheap (probably 2nd hand) medium format system- something simple ie- one body/back and an 80mm 2.8 lens. Budget wise I've probably got around $500 to spend. Not a huge amount, but I've heard there are some deals out there. Am pretty stumped as to what to go for- I'd like something that's fairly easy to use and can be handheld, I was thinking of a Mamiya 7 (or similar), but I'm hoping to shoot 6x6 as opposed to the wider 6x7 format. I'd mainly be shooting portraits and some illustrative work with it, all on location. Does anyone have any suggestions? I previously shot digital but realised it is definitely not the be-all and end-all.
Any thoughts would be much appreciated. If you want to see the kind of work I do to get an idea of what I'm about, my website is www.benmostyn.com

Cheers~ Ben

Hi Ben, welcome to APUG. There isn't an easy answer to your under $500 quest, only good suggestions. You can get a Kiev and a couple of lenses for $500, but I wouldn't recomend that as a primary MF system. In my experience they are finicky and unreliable. There is a group of people who are dedicated to using them, however.

Not sure why you are looking for only 6x6, as a 6x7 can happily crop to 6x6, and if you want a rectangle, you gain rather than lose negative area. The Pentax comes to mind.... You might squeek in a good one with a lens in $500.

The true budget 6x6, which is what I have, is a TLR. I have a Mamiyaflex... interchangable lenses, no mirror slap, and I got the camera with one lens for $100. For $500, you could have a couple of more lenses, and some nice kit.

There are quirks to working with a TLR, but you can't beat the cost vs performance, plus chicks dig them.

I'm sure other suggestions will follow.

keithwms · Feb 4, 2008

For $500 you can't get a mamiya 6 or 7. I am a huge fan of the 6 system, people probably have gotten sick of hearing me talk about it! But that'd run you $1000-1200 or so with a lens.

You might consider an older mamiya 6, the folder. Or you might look at the Fuji fixed-lens AF RFs, e.g. the ga645 series. They are 645s but they have very nice features and they are a very nice and gentle intro to the quality of MF. There are numerous manual focusing folders that can be had for a song, you just have to look.

Another thing you could do is go for an SLR instead of an RF; in that case there are many options in your range. You can get a complete rb67 system for your price, easily. If you like more auto gadgetry then you could go for a mamiya 645 system. I just picked up a 645Af with three lenses for $1500- an 80 f/1.9 (!), 200 apo, and 500 f/5.6, plus AFD body, all EX condition from KEH! Gotta love what digital has done for us "bottom feeders."

Best bang for your buck is, in my opinion, the rb67. It's not 6x6 but who cares. It's highly modular and the lenses and backs are great and almost free now.

david b · Feb 4, 2008

How about a Bronica? I am not up on the models but I think it falls in your budget.

David Brown · Feb 4, 2008

bn22my said:
medium format system- something simple ie- one body/back and an 80mm 2.8 lens. Budget wise I've probably got around $500 ... I'm hoping to shoot 6x6

Kowa Six. If you pay more than $250, you've done it wrong!

dpurdy · Feb 4, 2008

a TLR, but you can't beat the cost vs performance, "plus chicks dig them."

I need to start seeing a bit more evidence of this. You do mean the operator of the camera, right?

Terence · Feb 4, 2008

A Mamiya 7 will likely run quite a bit more.

With patience, you could watch the KEH website and pick up bargain-rated Hasselblad gear for about that much. Probably a 500CM body with waist-level finder, 80mm C lens and a back.

A good Bronica SQ-A outfit could be had, also from KEH. Bargain rated is fine for everything except back, where I would go for an "excellent" rated one.

A heavy option would be a Mamiya 330 TLR. Great beginner camera, but a bit of a pain to lug around, and no removable film back.

You could get a very good Rolleicord, or a user Rolleiflex D or E. Personally, I think this is a great way to start out. Keeps you from wanting more gear for awhile.

r-brian · Feb 4, 2008

You can pick up a Bronica SQA outfit like you want for $500 easily. $500 will barely get you a lens for a Mamiya 7. You might get lucky and find a Hasselblad in that price range also.

JBrunner · Feb 4, 2008

dpurdy said:
a TLR, but you can't beat the cost vs performance, "plus chicks dig them."

I need to start seeing a bit more evidence of this. You do mean the operator of the camera, right?

I'll post a pic of my next shoot with the TLR... If I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand....

dpurdy · Feb 4, 2008

JBrunner said:
I'll post a pic of my next shoot with the TLR... If I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand....

I understand. I just need to enjoy the benifit a bit more. Perhaps I need a hat to go with my Rollei!

JBrunner · Feb 4, 2008

dpurdy said:
I understand. I just need to enjoy the benifit a bit more. Perhaps I need a hat to go with my Rollei!

The hat seems to help........

TheFlyingCamera · Feb 4, 2008

Especially when the hat is hiding a bald spot

mgonzale · Feb 4, 2008

I have a Bronica ETRS system I can sell you if you decide you want to try 645. PM me if you're interested.

David Grenet · Feb 4, 2008

Personally I find the rb67 a little cumbersome hand-held. Another vote here for the Mamiya TLRs - although for ease of shooting get a c330 series camera so you don't have to manually cock the lens. More info on these cameras can be found Dead Link Removed.
Oh, and get a grip with a trigger.

Robert Budding · Feb 4, 2008

The Bronica SQ fits your budget. And, like the Hasselblad V series, all lenses have leaf shutters so that you can flash sync at all speeds.

papagene · Feb 4, 2008

TheFlyingCamera said:
Especially when the hat is hiding a bald spot

Oh man... I need a really big hat!!!
Back on track - I would recommend the Bronica SQA. As others have mentioned check out KEH.com for a good idea of pricing on the Bronica and other options.
Good luck on your quest... and welcome to APUG.

gene

vdonovan · Feb 5, 2008

I put a Bronica SQA system together for less than $500 through KEH, Ebay and Craigslist. In the end I wish I had just bought everything from KEH. They have the best quality for the price and you can return stuff if it's not right. I bought "bargain" components mostly, though I got an "ugly" prism finder for $12 that works just fine. I also bought an "ugly" back for $8 that works fine and didn't even need new seals! You can't find a Hassy back for less than $100.

geauxpez · Feb 5, 2008

As vdonovan suggests, you can find nice bargains if you look for a while. Over the weekend, a Mamiya c330 popped up on the Atlanta Craigslist for $100.

Adam

vickersdc · Feb 5, 2008

I've had a couple of Mamiya 645 systems before, which were OK (645J and 645 1000s, neither of which had removable backs, but inserts). I had a Mamiya C330 TLR camera for years - interchangeable lenses, vastly under-rated and some of my best images were taken with it. They are super (as long as you don't need to do close-up due to the parallax errors (although I realise there is an accessory to get over that)).

I've had a [Hartblei] Kiev 60, which was alright, but not for me.

Currently, I have a Bronica ETRS (but it's 6x4.5, so may not be for you). They are excellent value-for-money, have a whole raft of available accessories (for the GAS attack!) and come highly recommended. If you are looking for the 6x6 version, then the SQa it is.

Cheers,
David Vickers.

Edwardv · Feb 5, 2008

Visit KEH at Dead Link Removed to see the various medium format cameras and their cost. This should help some. I use a Bronica SQAi 6x6 and ETRSi 645 which I find reliable. Good luck

bn22my · Feb 5, 2008

Thank you all! Your thoughts are much appreciated. Ebay beckons..

jmxphoto · Feb 5, 2008

I recently picked up a Bronica SQ-A that I've been pretty pleased with. I got it, wl finder, metered prism, 80mm/2.8 S, 150mm/4 PS, 2x 120 backs, and a 220 back for $575. I think Bronica is probably the best price/performance MF option out there currently.

Richard Kelham · Feb 5, 2008

Any Hasselblad you could pick up for $500 would be seriously knackered. You would be far better off with Bronica or a Mamiya TLR. You'd likely have some money left over for an exposure meter and some film...

Richard

urals · Feb 7, 2008

I'm a bit naive so forgive the dumb question: How do Mamiya and Bronica lenses compare to the Zeiss lenses for Hasselblads and Rolleiflexes? Surely the quality wont be as high, but is the difference really that big? I'm sure it depends on the individual lens, too, but to generalize for a moment.

My Rollei just broke (or, rather, I just broke it) and I need a new MF, but I really want an SLR this time. I'd be willing to put up with something more cumbersome and "uncool", so long as the lenses were good.

Are the Zeiss P-mount lenses for Kiev/Pentacon very good? Kievs are pretty enourmous and awkward, but if the lenses are excellent I might go for one.

Uhner · Feb 7, 2008

urals said:
How do Mamiya and Bronica lenses compare to the Zeiss lenses for Hasselblads and Rolleiflexes?

I have some experience of Sekor C lenses for the RB 67 system. The ones I had had a nice, neutral colour rendition and worked well with B&W. Overall I found them to be good lenses. But I sold my Mamiya gear because I stopped using it when I got my hands on a Rolleiflex with a 2.8 Zeiss Planar. It is hard to put in words why, but I tend to like German glass better.

Which Medium-format?

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