Wide angle medium format on a budget

Grim Tuesday · Aug 15, 2019

Let's say I like the idea of the SWC but I don't like the price. What camera would I want to get that has a good super wide lens but isn't $2000.

Oren Grad · Aug 15, 2019

The Lomo LC-A 120 has a 38mm glass lens and makes 6x6cm pictures. Not without many quirks and limitations, to be sure, but there's nothing else that will offer the combination of very-wide-rectilinear-glass-lens-on-6x6 at anywhere near that low a price.

cramej · Aug 15, 2019

I was about to say something about good MF wide angle being pay to play for the most part. Then I checked current prices for the Mamiya 50mm C - they're far less than what they used to be so you could potentially get into a good 50mm, RB body and back for well under $500.

Now if you want super-wide, that's a different story. The good stuff is going to be pricey no matter what.

There are deals to be had... I picked up my Superwide-C with 4 backs at an auction for $675.

Oren Grad · Aug 15, 2019

If you don't mind lugging a medium-format SLR, look at the widest rectilinear lens for each of the major Japanese camera systems - M645/RB/RZ, P6x7/P645, ETR/SQ/GS, etc. But that's going to be a completely different experience from working with an SWC or a Lomo.

Alan Gales · Aug 15, 2019

Pentax 35mm f/3.5.

Great lens for Pentax 645 system. I sold mine a few years ago for $500. I don't know what they sell for now. It's a manual focus lens that works on all the Pentax 645 cameras including digital. There is also an autofocus FA version for quite a bit more money.

https://www.kenrockwell.com/pentax/645/35mm.htm

Dan Fromm · Aug 15, 2019

Grim Tuesday said:
Let's say I like the idea of the SWC but I don't like the price. What camera would I want to get that has a good super wide lens but isn't $2000.

Super wide? How wide do you mean? And what do you mean by medium format?

Camera? Are you open to a system camera or must you have a fixed lens camera?

Among system cameras, any of the bodies in the Mamiya Press line (Press, Super 23, Universal) with a 2x3 (6x9 in metric) roll holder and a 50/6.3.

Century or 2x3 Crown Graphic with roll holder (2 1/4 x 2 1/4, 2 1/4 x 2 3/4 or 2 1/4 x 3 1/4) and 35/4.5 Apo-Grandagon, 45/4.5 Apo-Grandagon, 47 Super Angulon (f/8, f/5.6), 58/5.6 Grandagon/Technikon (will have to be reshuttered), 58/5.6 or 60/5.6 Konica Hexanon/Omegon for Koni Omega/Rapid Omega (these have to be reshuttered), and then you're into wide, not super wide, angle lenses. The least expensive 65s for 2x3 are probably f/6.8 Angulon and Raptar/Optar, but they barely cover. 65/8 SA or Ilex or Fujinon SW or 65/5.6 SA are better choices.

Note that lenses shorter than 50 mm need a center filter if used on 2x3. I've sometimes got away using a 47/5.6 SA on 2x3 without a CF, but this really depends on the subject.

FWIW, I have 38/4.5 Biogon for my Century Graphic. From an aerial camera, not ex-'blad SW. Very hard to find nowadays.

A propos of 645, it is half frame 2x3.

Huss · Aug 15, 2019

I love my Lomo LC-A 120. Superwide, sharp, heavy vignetting, really saturates colours.

Kino · Aug 15, 2019

Kiev 60 with Zodiak-8 f3.5 30mm lens. With careful shopping on the auction site, anywhere from $350 to $500 for the combo.

Sirius Glass · Aug 15, 2019

Grim Tuesday said:
Let's say I like the idea of the SWC but I don't like the price. What camera would I want to get that has a good super wide lens but isn't $2000.

$2,000US??? I paid $3,200US.

Grim Tuesday · Aug 15, 2019

Sirius Glass said:
$2,000US??? I paid $3,200US.

When did you buy? Right now on eBay the last two CF SWCs sold for $2000. I see a chrome one that sold for $950 last month(!)

xya · Aug 15, 2019

another one for the lomo lca 120. I don't find it quirky at all. it's ideal for street photography and does very well with landscapes. I did a review on my 120 cameras site, mainly folders, but the lca 120 is smaller than most folders http://www.120folder.com/lomo_lca120.htm

a mamiya universal with a 50mm isn`t expensive. the lens covers even 6x9 which is ultra wide as well. there is a wide choice of film backs for whatever format you prefer.

if you happen to own a 47mm super angulon on a 4x5 camera (like a cambo wide which I have), any roll film back would do. I also have several graphics, but I would not recommend them for ultra wide.

Paul Howell · Aug 15, 2019

+1 for Mamiya Universal with 50mm, with 6X9 really is very close to a super wide. I have one, somewhat slow but nice and sharp at F11 to 16. Other option Kowa Super 66 with 35mm. Not too expensive well under $2000 but hard to find.

Hatchetman · Aug 15, 2019

One option: Pentax 6x7 w/ late version 45mm. Probably could get a nice setup for $700?

pressureworld · Aug 15, 2019

I agree you can get a older Pentax 6x7 and a 55mm for $600 or $700.

Sirius Glass · Aug 15, 2019

Grim Tuesday said:
When did you buy? Right now on eBay the last two CF SWCs sold for $2000. I see a chrome one that sold for $950 last month(!)

About 10 years ago when Hasselblad prices [Hasselblad 903 SWC]

Alan Gales · Aug 15, 2019

Sirius Glass said:
About 10 years ago when Hasselblad prices [Hasselblad 903 SWC]

Don't sweat it. You got to enjoy it for 10 years. That's priceless!

EdSawyer · Aug 16, 2019

Fuji GSW690 would be another option. Not crazy wide but pretty wide. The combo to beat is the Mamiya 7 / 43mm but as mentioned it's going to be the better part of $2k.

hsandler · Aug 16, 2019

Not super wide, but I have a Bronica SQ-A with 50mm -S (not -PS) lens and it's great edge to edge and uses 67mm filters. This combination would run about $350 US. I also have a Koni-Omega Rapid with Omegon wide 58mm lens and similarly great performance. This combination would run about $300 US, and you would almost certainly get the standard 90mm Omegon too in most kits sold. No one seems to want Koni-Omegas these days.

cooltouch · Aug 16, 2019

I bought a 45mm for my Pentax 67 system a while back. You could buy a nice Pentax67 with metered finder and a 45mm lens for substantially less than $2000.

Pentax 67 with 45mm, Tri-X, Developed in D-76. Scanned on an Epson 4990 at 2400 ppi. Nice and sharp with gobs of depth of field.

StepheKoontz · Aug 16, 2019

Mamiya M645 with a 35mm is a fairly cheap way to do it.

Gerry M · Aug 16, 2019

Grim Tuesday said:
Let's say I like the idea of the SWC but I don't like the price. What camera would I want to get that has a good super wide lens but isn't $2000.

If you are a bit on the brave side, maybe consider a 3D printed superwide. Mine is 6X14 and I think these go to 6X17. Body was ~$175, finder $75 and LF lens/shutter of your choice. FOV is ~28mm with a 90mm WA. As you can see, I have done some hacking on this one. My kit totaled under $500. PM me if you want specific info.

tomkatf · Aug 16, 2019

Brooks/Plaubel Veriwide... first or second edition. Plus you get a nice big 6x9 (more or less) negative. Oops, just checked and now they're pushing $2K too...

destroya · Aug 16, 2019

will you be using the camera hand held or with a tripod?

if tripod, the pentax 67 with the 55 or 45 lens would be great. this is my go-to tripod system. for handheld, I use the fuji GSW690 or the mamiya 6 with the 50mm lens. both are great handheld, portable and give great results.

Steve Goldstein · Aug 16, 2019

The Voigtlander Bessa III 667W offers a 55mm lens and either 6x6 or 6x7 format (choose when loading). It's not the widest or cheapest kid on the block, but it's compact and moderately lightweight.

Brendan Quirk · Aug 16, 2019

destroya said:
if tripod, the pentax 67 with the 55 or 45 lens would be great

I have great results with the 45mm hand held - at that focal length, it should be easy to get sharp pictures!

Wide angle medium format on a budget

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