What Medium Format Cameras Are Members Here Using?

[braxus]

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?

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Holga S
Holga N
Holga Pinhole Wide
Brownie Target Six-20
Hawkeye
Bel-Air 6-12
Mamiya Six
C220
C330
RB67

I love using all of them, but my favourite would be the RB67.

 

[braxus]

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.

 

[Auer]

6x4.5 folders and a Pentax 645N.

 

[braxus]

Auer- Would it be a Zeiss 645 Folder? They seemed pretty common back then for the Ikon Nettar series.

 

[DWThomas]

Perkeo II 6x6 folder
Ercona II 6x9 folder
Bronica SQ-A 6x6
Yashica Mat 124G 6x6 (currently may be my most used medium format)

(I'll not really put my Kodak Brownie Target Six-20 in this list.)

 

[braxus]

Dave. I used the 124G camera back in my high school days, when I was taking photography classes. Its THE camera that got me first into (and the first one I used in) medium format. I see you like the 6x6 format.

 

[abruzzi]

Medium format only? Here we go:

Pentax 67 (soon for the chopping block)
Bronica ETRSi
Bronica GS-1
Yashica Mat 124G (soon to be sold)
Konica Pearl III
Fuji GA645Zi (soon to be sold)
Linhof Technika III 23
Bronica S (non functional)

I use the two Bronica system the most, and the Konica is super portable. Most of the rest will end up sold.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

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.

Yes, very sharp lenses. I love Mamiya glass! The C330 was the first medium format camera I owned. It belonged to my wife's great grandfather in Japan. He owned a photography studio. He bought the camera when it was first released in '69.

 

[braxus]

Fuji GF670. Fragile, imprecise, and ergonomically awkward to the point of uselessness. Sold it after a year for a small profit. Because of this camera I no longer believe in medium format rangefinders or folders.

Thats a shame, because Fuji does make good cameras, even today. I've had no issues (other then 2 blank frames which were probably my fault) on the GW/GSW690 rangefinders I own. They work good.

 

[gordrob]

Mamiya Press Super 23 or Universal with 6x9 backs with 50mm, 100mm f2.8 lens and 250mm f5 lenses.
Crown Graphic and Speed Graphic 2x3
Yashica Mat 24G - doesn't see a lot of use because I am not a big fan of the square format.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Hasselblad 500C/M.

 

[Nitroplait]

I never planned to build a Rolleiflex collection, it just kind of grew over a period of 12 years - but I enjoy rotating between them and they all have something special to offer:

• Rolleiflex Automat w uncoated Tessar (1937)
• Rolleiflex 3.5B Tessar (1954)
• Rolleiflex 3.5C Planar (1958)
• Rolleiflex T Xenar (1976)

I also have a Fuji GL690 which is really the one that gives me the most impressive results.

 

[campy51]

Hasselblad 500 C/M
Mamiya 6 non folder
Bronica EC-TL
Kowa Six
Rolleiflex 2.8E
Minolta Autocord
Kodak Medalist II
Koni-Omega Rapid M only had it a couple weeks.

 

[Horatio]

Bronica SQ & SQ-A
Rolleicord iii (just acquired)

I owned a Yashica 124 in my younger years. Always wanted to own a ‘blad, but I missed the period when they were dirt cheap.

 

[Rick A]

I've owned many Yashica and Mamiya TLR's over the years. Also Kowa Mamiya, and Bronica SLR medium formats, and still have a Bronica SQ-A that I dust off a couple times a year when I feel like just doing snap shots. Oh yeah, almost forgot all the 6x6 and 6x9 folders and Fuji GW690iii I used to own..

 

[Auer]

Auer- Would it be a Zeiss 645 Folder? They seemed pretty common back then for the Ikon Nettar series.

Bessa 46 and Pearl II mostly as they are pocketable.

 

[Tom Conway]

Bronica GS-1: system lenses are better than reputation; 6 X 7 format offers large negatives, and the right size for me. Less bulky than Mamiya RZ, which I sold due to weight and overall size. However, my preferred color film, Ektar 100 is suddenly difficult to find here in Ohio. If this continues I may have to reevaluate system.

 

[macfred]

- Rolleiflex 3.5F
- Fuji GW670 iii
- Fuji GA645
- Fuji GA645Wi
- Bronica ETRSi
- Zeiss Super Ikonta III

 

[Dan Daniel]

my preferred color film, Ektar 100 is suddenly difficult to find here in Ohio. If this continues I may have to reevaluate system.

(Blue Moon Camera in Oregon has 147 rolls in stock if mail order works for you
https://bluemooncamera.com/store/product/041778314098/kodak-ektar-100-film-120 )

 

[coa_lund]

Hasselblad 500c since 1964, also a 500cm since 2010. To a lesser extent super ikonta 6x9 and 6x6, and Rolleiflex automat 6x6

 

[PerTulip]

I stopped the hoarding and settled on a Bronica SQ-Ai.

 

[campy51]

I stopped the hoarding and settled on a Bronica SQ-Ai.

I wish I could stop hoarding.

 

[Cholentpot]

Yashica A
Yashica Mat
Mamiya M645
Ricohflex VII
Century Graphic (6x7, 6x9)
Brownie No.2
Bronica S2
Brownie Target Six-16


And I'm sure a few others scattered around. As for film, I slit down my own stock from 70mm. So far the cheapest way to shoot 120 but maybe not the most convenient.

 

[warden]

A couple of these should probably go, but won't.

Holga
YashicaMat LM (outstanding lens, purchased from @Rick A if memory serves)
Hasselblad (Despite my love/hate, I use it the most)
Makina 670 (all love, no hate)
Makina W67 (ditto)