What Medium Format Cameras Are Members Here Using?

flavio81 · Apr 20, 2022

Jman13 said:
Yeah, I've always enjoyed wide-angle shooting, and the 35/3.5 gives an angle of view that I particularly like. The lens is only OK..definitely one of the weaker optics of the Mamiya 645 system, but that's par for the course given the age of the lens. It's sharp in the middle and ok at the edges, but definitely notably softer at the edges and corners than in the center. The lens has a lot of field curvature, so if you shoot subjects that have close objects at the edges that move to distant towards the middle, it plays to the lens's strengths and it can show good sharpness to the edges. It also has a good bit of moustache-type complex distortion.

Oh... so now I understand why Bronica never offered such a thing. They were very conservative with their lenses and wouldn't dare to release a lens that was daring in its angle of view, yet with other problems. Yes, i can see the distortion in your pics, the 40/4 Zenzanon lenses (MC silver ring, MC, and PE) fare better, me thinks. However the distortion I see in your pics is not strong at all. Or this is after digital correction?

I guess 35mm is pretty extreme for a camera with such a long back focus, as is the Mamiya 645 (and the Bronicas too). But yeah -- who cares about optical nitpicking when the angle is so big!! It really feels wide.

Marcelo Paniagua · Apr 20, 2022

flavio81 said:
That's great! This should be one of the best performing lenses for the RB system. It uses the same optical structure than the Mamiya-Sekor 80/2.8 lens for the TLR cameras, which has a very good reputation.

Indeed, I use the 80 f/2.8 on the C330 often. Great lens. If it is something like that lens, it should be ok. Thanks.

Sirius Glass · Apr 20, 2022

Marcelo Paniagua said:
Indeed, I use the 80 f/2.8 on the C330 often. Great lens. If it is something like that lens, it should be ok. Thanks.

80mm f/2.8 for Hasselblad

bluechromis · Apr 20, 2022

braxus said:
That C330 I heard has some really good lenses on them for a TLR. My Yashica A lens is rather soft for all the TLRs they made. Not bad, but not as sharp either. The Mamiya TLR keeps up with the Hassy's I hear.

I think that the Sekor 80 mm f/2.8 and the DS 105 mm f/3.5 for Mamiya C series should be on the shortlist for having the best bokeh in medium format. The DS 105 uses a somewhat uncommon five-element heliar design which gives a smooth transition from the in-focus to out-of-focus areas.

bluechromis · Apr 20, 2022

I use:

Mamiya C330 f
Holga GCFN
Zero Image 2000 6 x 6 pinhole
Hawkeye Brownie Flash w/ flipped lens
Kodak Cresta II w/ flipped lens

I have a Pentax 67 and a Zeiss Sonnar 180 mm f/2.8 to go with it I should use more often.

Marcelo Paniagua · Apr 20, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
80mm f/2.8 for Hasselblad

Sorry Sirius didn't quite understood what you mean by that.

Regards

Marcelo

Marcelo Paniagua · Apr 20, 2022

bluechromis said:
I think that the Sekor 80 mm f/2.8 and the DS 105 mm f/3.5 for Mamiya C series should be on the shortlist for having the best bokeh in medium format. The DS 105 uses a somewhat uncommon five-element heliar design which gives a smooth transition from the in-focus to out-of-focus areas.

Agree on that. Those lenses are the reason why my Mamiya C330 kit has survived my multiple equipment purges.

Sirius Glass · Apr 20, 2022

Marcelo Paniagua said:
Sorry Sirius didn't quite understood what you mean by that.

Regards

Marcelo

The point is that several different MF cameras use 80mm f/2.8 lenses as their standard normal lens: Hasselblad, Mamiya C series ...

Marcelo Paniagua · Apr 21, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
The point is that several different MF cameras use 80mm f/2.8 lenses as their standard normal lens: Hasselblad, Mamiya C series ...

Understood.

guangong · Apr 21, 2022

My MF cameras, accumulated over a long time: Hassy 2000FCM, CM; Rollei F2.8, Pliable Makina 67, Fuji GF 670, Kodak Medalist, Super Ikonta B. For interchangeable lenses and ergonomics nothing comes close to Hassy. For portability Super Ikonta and Fuji. For 6x9 hand held, the Medalist.

Donald Qualls · Apr 21, 2022

Marcelo Paniagua said:
Just got my hands on a 127mm lens for Mamiya RB67.

I just got one of these as well, haven't even gotten it mounted on the camera yet.

The lenses for the RB67 are relatively slow because it was a studio camera, mainly, and would have been even heavier with, say, an f/2.8 90mm as the normal instead of the f/3.9.

flavio81 · Apr 21, 2022

Donald Qualls said:
I just got one of these as well, haven't even gotten it mounted on the camera yet.

The lenses for the RB67 are relatively slow because it was a studio camera, mainly, and would have been even heavier with, say, an f/2.8 90mm as the normal instead of the f/3.9.

And also because of physical constraints on the shutter opening size and the rear throat opening size (which was enlarged on the RZ67 to allow faster lenses)

flavio81 · Apr 21, 2022

bluechromis said:
I think that the Sekor 80 mm f/2.8 and the DS 105 mm f/3.5 for Mamiya C series should be on the shortlist for having the best bokeh in medium format. The DS 105 uses a somewhat uncommon five-element heliar design which gives a smooth transition from the in-focus to out-of-focus areas.

Not so uncommon, really, for example the 135/4 Macro for the Pentax 6x7 uses the same design.

As well as almost all the 100-105/4 macro lenses for 35mm cameras.

mudfly9 · Apr 21, 2022

Rolleiflex 2.8C
Kodak Medalist II

If I could only have one camera in the world it'd be my Rolleiflex 2.8C. Considerably cheaper than a 2.8F but with slightly nicer bokeh due to the 10 aperture blades. The Medalist is also an incredible camera and doesn't cost anything near what it should due to the 620 film, which I've never really found to be much of an issue.

BAP888 · Apr 22, 2022

Ricoh Diacord L
Ricohmatic 225

I recently made the jump from 35mm and figured I'd start with a TLR. Went for the Ricohs because they seem to be the sleeper choice: excellent Tessar-type lens, good build quality, 1/500 shutter, bay 1 accessories, full-featured. Nabbed each for ~$120, plus another $120 or so for a CLA.

The Diacord L and the Ricohmatic are basically the same camera, except the Ricohmatic has crank advance instead of knob-advance, standard shutter speeds (1/30, 1/60, 1/125, etc. instead of 1/25, 1/50, 1/100 etc. on the Diacord L), and the aperture moves in 1/3 stop increments (versus 1/2 stop for the Diacord L).

The selenium meters on both even still work (although the Ricohmatic is persistently about 2 stops under).

I'll eventually move onto a 6x6 SLR, I think (probably a SQ-Ai), but for now I'm happy.

flavio81 · Apr 22, 2022

BAP888 said:
Went for the Ricohs because they seem to be the sleeper choice: excellent Tessar-type lens, good build quality, 1/500 shutter, bay 1 accessories, full-featured. Nabbed each for ~$120, plus another $120 or so for a CLA.

Yes, often Ricoh cameras have very good lenses and construction. Only thing is, they're often ugly... lol.

I had a Ricoh Auto 66 TLR with a 3-element front-cell focusing lens. This camera is more or less Ricoh's answer to the "Rollei Magic". Well, the simple 3-element lens was very sharp once stopped down a bit. And the camera was quick to use. A nice little camera; i gave it away as a gift to a cousin, and I sometimes miss it.

BAP888 said:
I'll eventually move onto a 6x6 SLR, I think (probably a SQ-Ai), but for now I'm happy.

You'll love the SQ line. I'm a happy Bronica ETR system user, which is the 6x4.5 brother to the SQ system.

Disconnekt · Apr 22, 2022

Recently got a Kodak Special Six-20 with Kodak Anastigmat Special 100mm f4.5 lens & Compur Rapid shutter, and it's slight bigger brother, the Kodak Special Six-16 (with Kodak Anastigmat Special 127mm f4.5 lens & Compur Rapid shutter.

Havent used them yet, they both need the lens CLA'ed (focusing moves on both, and both fire but are slooow), and new bellows on both. Already found someone to work on 'em.

MrFus · Apr 24, 2022

After many years away from analog photography I returned and jumped straight to medium format, so far I have my little Mamiya C330 brick as companion... I don't feel the need to get another camera at this point because I don't go out to take pictures as much as I want (and i used to!).

I'm looking into getting some of the lenses for the C330 and maybe a spare one "just in case"!

McDiesel · Apr 25, 2022

@MrFus I hear you! Consider C220F as a spare. They are slightly cheaper, lighter and (in my humble opinion) more fun to use due to the rewind knob.

flavio81 · Apr 25, 2022

MrFus said:
After many years away from analog photography I returned and jumped straight to medium format, so far I have my little Mamiya C330 brick as companion... I don't feel the need to get another camera at this point because I don't go out to take pictures as much as I want (and i used to!).

I'm looking into getting some of the lenses for the C330 and maybe a spare one "just in case"!

I second the suggestion for the C220.

As for lenses, the ones with the best reputation are the 80/2.8, 105/3.5 DS, and 180/4.5 Super. Although my 65/3.5 was an excellent lens and my favorite one. I had the 55, 65, 80, 105 (early tessar version), 135, and 180 (super and non super).

The 135 is probably the weakest performer in terms of resolution but it has a wonderful, wonderful bokeh.

guangong · Apr 25, 2022

Early on in this thread I listed the MF cameras that I use.However, if I had to
be limited to just one camera, Hasselblad would be my choice. The most ergonomic of
all MF cameras.

jnamia · Apr 25, 2022

braxus said:
I did an inventory of all the cameras I have or will have available to me soon. I counted 23 cameras in total, which includes 5 digital cameras. My favorite format is the middle of the road format- medium format that uses 120 film.

The medium format cameras I have are:

Holga 120
Yashica A
Fuji GW690
Fuji GSW690
Pentax 645N
Pentax 67II
Franka 6x9 Folder
Zeiss Ikon Nettar 517/2 6x9 Folder
and my recent purchase of a Mamiya RZ67 Pro.

My two favorites out of this list are both of the Pentax units, with the Fuji GW690 a third. Reason the Fuji is third is because the lens is fixed focal length, and it doesn't have a light meter of some sort. Other then that its a great camera.

What are you guys using and which is your favorite?

HI braxus

I have a few box cameras/folders some I guess take 120, the one I use the most is a Agfa SureShot it has sentimental value, I have a roll film back (graphic23 KnobWind) that I masking tape on the back of a graflex series D (don't believe the hype I have no focal plane issues and it works fine), a Rollei of some sort and an Arax60MLU that I purchased from someone on this forum a few years ago. My favorite is the ARAX. Sad to say I haven't used film camera or any sort to make photographs since 2019, and even then most of it was with a paper negative.
have fun

Sirius Glass · Apr 25, 2022

MrFus said:
After many years away from analog photography I returned and jumped straight to medium format, so far I have my little Mamiya C330 brick as companion... I don't feel the need to get another camera at this point because I don't go out to take pictures as much as I want (and i used to!).

I'm looking into getting some of the lenses for the C330 and maybe a spare one "just in case"!

I recommend the 55mm and 250mm lenses.

Welcome to ~~APUG~~ Photrio!!

Fragomeni · Apr 30, 2022

I tend to circulate cameras a lot but one of my longtime favorites has always been the RB Graflex Series B 2x3 which I see has been mentioned a few times in this thread. Of source its quirky and antiquated and I would never say it competes on even ground with a Hassy or more modern cameras but over the years it's been my go to for use with homemade lenses and experimental mods. It's just kind of ideal for that kind of thing. I've even been using it to shoot daguerreotypes lately using a modified 6x9 pack film holder.

Here is a video I just made showing a detailed overview of the camera and how it works for anyone who has been curious about these but never had one:

MrFus · Apr 30, 2022

Fragomeni said:
I tend to circulate cameras a lot but one of my longtime favorites has always been the RB Graflex Series B 2x3 which I see has been mentioned a few times in this thread. Of source its quirky and antiquated and I would never say it competes on even ground with a Hassy or more modern cameras but over the years it's been my go to for use with homemade lenses and experimental mods. It's just kind of ideal for that kind of thing. I've even been using it to shoot daguerreotypes lately using a modified 6x9 pack film holder.

Here is a video I just made showing a detailed overview of the camera and how it works for anyone who has been curious about these but never had one:

Is there any advantage to using multiple cameras in a rotation?

Makes sense that if you have a collection of cameras you want to be sure that there are on working order so putting film and going for a stroll will ensure that they are free of problems, is it there any other reason?

What Medium Format Cameras Are Members Here Using?

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