Why did you choose MF?

Eric Rose · Jun 21, 2004

Unless you've used a Blad, you can't really comment on them. I have one and put it thru the wringer for years. I also had a Bronica S2A which I loved, but it became to hard to get it repaired, was to bulky and was heavier than the Blad. The optics on the Blad are better too (sorry David!). With the prices dropping thru the floor on used Blad equipment there really is no excuse not to buy one if you want the best.

For my Blad I have 50mm, 80mm, and 150mm lenses plus a 2X teleconverter. I also have a close-up tube for macro stuff. For my style of photography this is all I need. For backs I have 3, all of them A12's. I do a lot of international travel and my Blad goes 90% of the time. I use so little 35mm these days my Nikon's are packed away and I use a Bessa R with 35mm and 90mm Leitz glass.

I just came back from the cloud forest in Costa Rica and on that trip I took my 4x5 field camera. The only reason I took it rather than the Blad was because I knew I would need the movements the LF camera gives me.

Have fun!

PamelaHL · Jun 21, 2004

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Although I used to be more of the shoot and see what turns out kind of mindset, I am trying to change that. I see each exposure as an opportunity not to be wasted. Unless it's something I really want to capture, I won't be happy with the results anyway. I've also been learning a lot more about the technical side of things in order to achieve my visions more thoughtfully. That is one of the reasons that the MF intrigues me. Discipline could accomplish much of the same (the slowing down, valuing each exposure) with my 35mm, but I may (will?) not get quite the same level of result as in the MF. I find that it is worthwhile to take my time thinking, seeing, connecting, and then finally deciding on the exposures, etc. before shooting. Most of the time. There are times when an opportunity presents and I need to capture it with speed.

When I told my family (parents, sister, and brother-in-law) how much the 503CW was (there's one at a local store, used, for $2600, but it comes with a remote control, prism, and winder, which I don't think I necessarily need), they flipped and thought it outrageously expensive. But when I compare to the ebay prices, that seems about right.

Any thoughts on places to look? I looked at KEH, B&H, Samy's, Henry's. The prices don't seem any better there, if they have any Hasselblad equipment at all, except that I could piece a smaller system (and choose my own lend) if I bought at KEH (but there, the same system as above would cost $3100).

I'll start another thread asking about whether y'all use prisms and winders; perhaps I underestimate their utility.

Thanks again! This is very helpful to me.

jd callow · Jun 21, 2004

Everyone is entitled to my opinion -- thank you

EricR said:
Unless you've used a Blad, you can't really comment on them I have one and put it thru the wringer for years.

MF cameras are the most diverse of all formats. You can find folders, RF, SLR's, cameras with movements and others that are fixed focus -- producing negs from 6x4.5 to 6x17.

I can appreciate that you want or like the 6x6 size, but it might be better to buy the camera that fits your usage.

Less and David like lens selection and the fact they can swap films at a moments notice. Eric seems to have bought the Hassy lens hype and abuses his cameras.

I like a camera that is handholdable at very slow speeds, packs easily, takes 120 or 220, doesn't twist the film back upon itself, has the worlds sharpest lenses, doesn't have geologists checking their seismographs everytime i release the shutter, syncs at any speed, (when I was single) convinces those of the opposite sex to get buck naked at moments notice and it produces a 6x6 neg.

PamelaHL · Jun 21, 2004

mrcallow said:
I like a camera that is handholdable at very slow speeds, packs easily, takes 120 or 220, doesn't twist the film back upon itself, has the worlds sharpest lenses, doesn't have geologists checking their seismographs everytime i release the shutter, syncs at any speed, (when I was single) convinces those of the opposite sex to get buck naked at moments notice and it produces a 6x6 neg.

And what is your camera of choice? The answer eludes me, despite your clever, witty post.

Eric Rose · Jun 21, 2004

mrcallow said:
Less and David like lens selection and the fact they can swap films at a moments notice. Eric seems to have bought the Hassy lens hype and abuses his cameras.

You bet, after using Bronica, Yashica, Mamiya I really couldn't see any real difference so I went with what looked really cool. Kind of the BMW image of cameras. Also the Blad was better at wedging under the back wheel of the 4x4 so it won't roll down the hill.

mrcallow said:
I like a camera that is handholdable at very slow speeds, packs easily, takes 120 or 220, doesn't twist the film back upon itself, has the worlds sharpest lenses, doesn't have geologists checking their seismographs everytime i release the shutter, syncs at any speed, (when I was single) convinces those of the opposite sex to get buck naked at moments notice and it produces a 6x6 neg.

Now you really are describing a Blad, aren't you?!

jd callow · Jun 21, 2004

I use a mamiya 6, own a bronica 6x6, Minalta tlr and have used many others (including blads, and the mamiya 67 and 645's).

For me shooting hand held is very important. Otherwise it might as well have movements and a big neg. I haven't always felt that way -- I was pushed toward LF (David was of imeasurable help) For those who tell you that blads and other MF SLR's are handholdable ask them at what speeds and how much they can bench press -- me I drink to much to hand hold a mf slr.

127 · Jun 21, 2004

PamelaHL said:
This is a delightful discussion!

About the Mamiya's, etc. ... I want a 6x6, and from what I understand, only Hasselblad and Bronica make 6x6's of any repute. Rollei makes a TLR, but I understand that is a rather involved contraption to manage.

Don't write off the TLR - they have been given a bad rep. They're often smaller, lighter, and definatly QUIETER than an equivalent SLR (no mirror to worry about). They're more fidley that a 35mm SLR, but no more than many MF SLRs. Being a simpler mechanism they're likely to be more reliable.

You can't change lenses (on most), but I can live with that. The other problem is parallax error, but that's insignifigant for other than extreme closeup work. You can also pick up an old Rollei, or a Yashica for next to nothing.

Ian

jd callow · Jun 21, 2004

EricR said:
You bet, after using Bronica, Yashica, Mamiya I really couldn't see any real difference so I went with what looked really cool. Kind of the BMW image of cameras. Also the Blad was better at wedging under the back wheel of the 4x4 so it won't roll down the hill.

Blad's are great camera's, I was just having some fun.

scootermm · Jun 21, 2004

PamelaHL said:
I am wondering why y'all chose MF for yourelves?

because I love squares.

Eric Rose · Jun 21, 2004

mrcallow said:
Blad's are great camera's, I was just having some fun.

I knew you were. I was having fun too.

PamelaHL · Jun 22, 2004

OK. Since I cannot figure out how to edit my first post in this thread, let me just say, I appreciate that y'all were able to overlook the typo in my first post regarding your elves!

I have appreciated the rest of the humor here, as well as the sharing of experiences, information, ideas, etc.! And, looking forward to more, as always!

Cheryl Jacobs · Jun 22, 2004

Unless you've used a Blad, you can't really comment on them. I have one and put it thru the wringer for years. I also had a Bronica S2A which I loved, but it became to hard to get it repaired, was to bulky and was heavier than the Blad. The optics on the Blad are better too (sorry David!). With the prices dropping thru the floor on used Blad equipment there really is no excuse not to buy one if you want the best.

I'd have to disagree with a lot of this. I did use a Hassey 503CW for awhile, and I found it much MUCH heavier than my Bronica. I also found absolutely no appreciable difference in optical quality whatsoever. Although prices on Hasseys have dropped, so have the prices on Bronicas, which still make them far more affordable if you want more than an extremely basic set-up.

I know Hasseys are supposed to be 'it', but after a few months, I went happily back to my Bronica and have stayed with it. The only thing that may make me switch to another system is my terrible and worsening vision. I'm just praying for a 6x6 with extremely fast autofocus before I'm forced back into 35mm.

Les McLean · Jun 22, 2004

Cheryl Jacobs said:
I'd have to disagree with a lot of this. I did use a Hassey 503CW for awhile, and I found it much MUCH heavier than my Bronica. I also found absolutely no appreciable difference in optical quality whatsoever. Although prices on Hasseys have dropped, so have the prices on Bronicas, which still make them far more affordable if you want more than an extremely basic set-up.

I know Hasseys are supposed to be 'it', but after a few months, I went happily back to my Bronica and have stayed with it. The only thing that may make me switch to another system is my terrible and worsening vision. I'm just praying for a 6x6 with extremely fast autofocus before I'm forced back into 35mm.

Well said Cheryl, I agree with every word re Hasselblad. Sorry to learn of your vision problem, I do hope that a camera maker (not Hasselblad) comes through with a fast autofocus 6 x 6

wiseowl · Jun 22, 2004

Doesn't Rollei produce a (the only) 6X6 AF camera? I couldn't comment on how fast the AF is, I've neither seen, let alone used one, nor read any reviews on it.

I've used, in chronological order:-

Fuji 204g, NIce camera, sold to buy the Bronica etrs as I wanted a system. Sold the Broni for a digi (DOH!). Borrowed a Rolleifex T, very nice and this probably had the sharpest lens (Tessar) I've ever used. Bought a used Mamiya, a bit of a dog that one, probably a bad example as it was used and I think abused by it's previous owner, but it put me off Mamiya. Borrowed a Hassy 501CM, I was left a bit non plussed by this, good results but it seemed fiddly to use and not very intuitive. I also lost a lot of first frames because of the back cocked - camera cocked thing. (I still cannot remember how it's supposed to be before you fit the back.) I didn't like the shutter speed adjustment on the lens either, not it's position but pulling the ring didn't feel right. After that I decided to go back to bronica rather than buy a used Hassy. If it wasn't for the fact that I wanted a system I'd almost certainly have bought a Rolleiflex. (In fact I still might, but don't tell wifey!) I have a real soft spot for TLR's, love the silent shutter and wlf.

David A. Goldfarb · Jun 22, 2004

No doubt, the Hasselblad is a great camera mechanically and the Zeiss optics are outstanding (I love my 135/3.5 Planar for my Linhof), but if you want more than three lenses, most of that Wunderglass is out of reach for most people. One reasonable compromise that I've considered is to get a 500-series Hassy and two or three lenses and then just keep using the Bronica for all the other focal lengths and features it has, but I'd rather be putting the money into large format.

glbeas · Jun 22, 2004

Cheryl Jacobs said:
I know Hasseys are supposed to be 'it', but after a few months, I went happily back to my Bronica and have stayed with it. The only thing that may make me switch to another system is my terrible and worsening vision. I'm just praying for a 6x6 with extremely fast autofocus before I'm forced back into 35mm.

My vision is going like yours, but I found the newest prism finder Bronica made, with the compensation dial and metering selection, and it also has an adjustable eyepiece correction! Helps me see the GG perfectly! It was worth every penny of its hefty price tag.

jeanba3000 · Sep 2, 2004

I was learning graphic design 10 or 12 years ago, and wanted to start photography. A friend showed me his Lubitel 6x6 and explained me that it was a very cheap and totally mechanic camera, perfect to learn, with the advantage of having a larger film size. I bought it, then didn't quit the MF area. It's only recently that I bought my first 35mm camera, a Rollei 35 S, and only because it was a Rollei.

Tom Smith · Sep 2, 2004

I'm with David on this one. Large format makes more sense than an expensive piece of medium format kit. Some of my photography tutors advocate using one lens, so I got a fixed focus Yashica 124G. One used a Hasselblad 503CW with a CFi 100mm and nothing else; another had a Bronica Sq with 3 lenses; and both used large format trombone antics with a Linhof or Sinar.

Having said that, what got me into 6x6cm was seeing a few of their stunning fine art black and white square prints. Rectangles are everywhere; squares aren't. I got into a Yashica 124G without a ball and yarn, mainly to specialise in shooting infra-red photography, after using a Bronica ETRSi with a Wratten 87 to be fairly mind-numbing. I don't seem to use big apertures very much. Also doing line-etching on negatives is impossible on 35mm; spotting a neg. is also painful even with good eyesight, and doing polaroid emulsion lifts with 35mm just isn't funny, and printing is a lot easier with a larger neg.

Why the square neg? Sally Gall, Fay Godwin. Good enough reason to emulate?

I always wanted the Rolleiflex TLR, but the Yashica was just working in tip-top condition and absolutely mint, I couldn't pass it up. It's just superb. I still want the Rollei of course. Preferably a 2.8EX

rjs003 · Sep 2, 2004

While working as a Navy Photographer I was privileged to use a 4X5 Super Speed Graflex. I can still remember my reaction to seeing the prints from my fist large format shots. (Knocked my sock off. ) After leaving the Navy and starting out on my own in life; it was not possible to afford a large format camera so I went to the next best camera at a price I could afford, a 6x6 Yashica of which I have three that I use for most of my work. As I age and my eye sight deteriates from diabetes, I find the larger format help me focus and compose with little bother.

djklmnop · Sep 3, 2004

Peer pressure

Actually, rotating back, changable backs (different films), digital ready, and because I can't afford 4x5! Since it would require a new enlarger, and a new enlarger requires more space, and that I don't have.

unohuu · Sep 4, 2004

larger negative to work with. wanted to practice my B/W work and I think it could affect my color composition as well

tgb12 · Sep 4, 2004

I considered 4x5, but decided the MF was more cost effective and practical, while still providing excellent results. You pays yo money and yo takes yo choice....

valdez · Jan 30, 2005

Interesting thread. The reason I use 120 film is that, particularly with black and white film, the resulting prints are invariably much crisper, richer, and with nicer tonality compared to 35mm (even with Leica glass and slow film). My medium format road has been circuitous. I started out with a Hasselblad 503CW with metered prism and winder. I enjoy hand held photography and that set-up was a real beast. My biggest complaint, besides weight and bulk, was the lack of coupling between the meter in the prism and the lens. So then I traded over to a Rolleiflex FX. That is one fine camera - very portable, excellent meter which is coupled to the lens, and TTL flash. But I like spontaneous people photography and my vision is deteriorating, so that camera was not ideal (although I'd never sell it). Well, enter the Rollei 6008AF. What a jawdropper. It is the nicest camera I've ever seen. Although not light, it is more compact that the Hassy setup with winder and metered prism. The meter and winder are both in the camera body. The AF is excellent. I know that there are many who praise Hasselblad, and I agree that the optics and build quality are excellent. But the Rollei 6008AF has equally good optics and build quality plus a whole lot more.

cao · Jan 30, 2005

Well I haven't yet, but am considering it.

I've actually been pondering an RB67 setup for my foray into the world of MF, but the comments on failing vision and dim screens worry me a bit. Are any of us using Beattie or Maxwell screens? Can I have some noise one way or the other on these as to whether they are worthwhile or not?

Mongo · Jan 30, 2005

cao said:
I've actually been pondering an RB67 setup for my foray into the world of MF, but the comments on failing vision and dim screens worry me a bit. Are any of us using Beattie or Maxwell screens? Can I have some noise one way or the other on these as to whether they are worthwhile or not?

Before you write off the idea of an RB67, try one to see if the screen is a problem for you or not. My vision is far from perfect even with my glasses, and I use an RB67 without trouble. The GG isn't as bright as I'd like, but I have yet to lose a shot because I couldn't focus the camera. Given the amazing deals you can get on these cameras, it'd be a shame to miss out on one if it would work for you.

Also, you might find out if David from SatinSnow can make you a GG for the RB...I'll bet his solution would be a lot cheaper than a Beattie or Maxwell screen, and the SatinSnow glass I put on my Shen-Hao 4x5 is simply amazing.

Why did you choose MF?

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127

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