What Medium Format Cameras Are Members Here Using?

[Bronson Dugnutt]

Pentax 67 MLU (6x7, SLR, focal plane) -- My MF go-to for handheld or on a tripod. The Super Takumars are deadly. My only MF body with a meter (in the prism). Flash sync faster than 1/30 in a pinch with the LS Takumars.
Koni-Omega Rapid M (6x7, Rangefinder, leaf) -- A whole different can of worms compared to a 6x7 SLR. The glass does not disappoint, however.
Mamiya C330 (6x6, TLR, leaf) -- Beware of parallax. Affordable lenses since they aren't all being adapted to digital mirrorless bodies.
Ciroflex E (6x6, TLR, leaf) -- Small, light, and dead simple. The triplet is sharp where it counts and renders like a swirly dream. Great option for a beginner's CLA.

I've got aspirations to own a 645N(ii) system or perhaps a Konica Pearl someday, for 'modern features' and portability respectively.

I use roll film adapter backs in LF cameras for larger formats.

Edit: Some ektar 100 out of the Ciro

 

[Chrismat]

645:
Kodak Duo 620-my only 645
6X6:
Certo6 folder (at Newton & Ellis for a checkup)
Balda Super Baldax folder
Yashica D
Minolta Autocord
Kalloflex
Rolleiflex 2.8C
Walzflex
Kodak Reflex II
Mamiya C33 (no lenses yet)
Super Ricohflex (not working)
Ciroflex-works, but scratches the negatives.
6X7:
Pentax 6X7, my favorite. The 105 2.4 lens is spectacular, I even bought an adapter so I can use it on my Pentax 35mm cameras.
6X9:
Kodak Medalist I, my only 6X9.
I do have some Kodak Autographics folders around a century old that I use 120 film in, the image size is larger than 6X9, haven't officially measured the negs though. I like using those cameras a couple of time of year.

 

[Down Under]

There must be at least a billion Rollei TLRs in the world - everybody I know has at least one, I have four, and several fellow shooters have a dozen or, in one case, 30-40. Not sure why. I mean, we can only use one of these beautiful beasts at any time, so in theory one is ample. That's the theory, anyway.

A Rollei is very Zen. Ideal for contemplative shooting - some call it "static" but there is something truly karmic about looking down into a TLR and aiming it at the world. So very polite. Unthreatening.

As I've written, I own four, but in the past I've had at least a dozen others, eventually passed on to fellow photographers who for the most part are still using them. A Rollei is for life. Fair enough, as most if well looked after will outlast their owners.

I started out in photography in 1962 with a Yashica D, another long-laster. Mine is, I believe, still going. It travelled all over the worl with me in the '60s, '70s and '80s until I gave it away to a friend in Ballarat (Australia), who when I last checked in 2010 or so still had it, altho it was more a shelf queen (or maybe "in retirement") than being used. Sadly, the cost of 120 film here in Australia is now so ridiculously high, this limits a lot of the enjoyable photography we do, all the more so as if one doesn't have a home darkroom or at least a tank, a few accessories for developing and of course the chemistry, finding a prolab to process the films without having to pay a kidney for the privilege is an exercise in, well, frustration. Melbourne has several, but paying $30 for processing and bad scans isn't really my idea of good economic sense. So I process all my own, and even mix my own chemicals to do so, as I have a lifelong supply of raw chemicals. So I'm right.

My firs Rollei was a 3.5E2, I bought it new in 1966 (it had been sitting on a shelf in our local pharmacy since 1962) and I still have it. In the 1990s I bought two Rolleiflex Ts which I now use more as I have 16 exposure kits for both. Also a Rolleicord Vb kit I picked up dirt-cheaply a few years ago in a deceased estate sale. The Xenar lens has heaps of "character" and the bits and pieces I acquired with this babe had 16 and 24 shot kits which ar fun to use as well as super economical. I also have a circa 1950 Rolleikin (35mm kit) which came with a separate back with a knife cutter, whatever for I've yet to figure out. But it works well and I sometimes shoot 35mm slide film with it.

That's my TLR story. I also have a Zeiss Nettar 6x6, a postwar model with an albada finder, and a Voigtlander Perkeo I, both of which can go into a coat pocket when I go bushwalking. Easier than carting along a Rollei kit even if both are much more basic to play with.

I was into Hasselblads when I had the money (rather the credit) in the late '90s-early '00s, at one time I had a 501CM, two 500s and FOUR ELs. Insanity, yes. Now I recall those times and wonder why ever did I... All fine machines but I didn't bond with them and I sold out after I retired and closed my architectural practice in 2012. We really didn't make much money in the profession - with all those 'blads and Rolleis I'm not at all surprised - but I had a great time of it for 20+ years and all those MF cameras did superbly good work at photographing buildings and interiors.

Happy memories and I'm still shooting, but my 'cord is so much lighter than an EL.

My abridged life story in photography. We won't talk about the Nikons (film and digital), the Contax G1s, and all the others...

 

[MattKing]

Clearly, the answer to the question raised by the OP is:
"All of them".

 

[hsandler]

Bronica SQ-A (honestly, I could really do everything just with this)
Ricoh Diacord L (for sentimentality; same model my Dad had when I was young)
Koni-Omega Rapid (I just have the wide angle lens now; mainly do infrared with it)
Moskva-5 (‘cause I felt lucky)
Zeiss Nettar 517/2
Zeiss Ikonta A 520 (incredible little jewel; just wish it had a shoe and strap lugs)
Kodak Autographic no. 1 Special Model A (so old, if anything comes out I’m pleased)

 

[jwd722]

Mamiya RB67 Pro S (!!!!!)
Mamiya 645 (blah format)
Mamiya C33 (much heavier than the C220)
Mamiya C220 (prefer it over the C33)
Bronica EC (a joy to use and gorgeous to look at)
Fuji GW690ll (HUGE)
Agfa Isolette ll (pocket size folder for traveling light)
Zeiss Ikoflex 1A (quaint but it has a Tessar)
Rolleiflex Automat (of the beater variety)
Holga N (depends on my mood)
Holga WPC (have had it for years and still have not shot an entire roll)

My favorite is the RB67 and I prefer the Graflex RH/12 6x6 back over the 6x7 back but use both.
Next is the Bronica and then the Fuji. 6x9 is magical but 6x6 is my favorite format.
Least favorite is Mamiya 645, never warmed up to 6x4.5
The rest get sporadic use.

 

[flavio81]

Present day:

Bronica ETRSi and ETRS, with many lenses (i got the 40, 50, 75, 105, 150, and 200) and accesories.
I also have a Daiichi Zenobia, which is the best folder MF camera i've had. And a Lubitel-2 awaiting to be sold.
Big hello to @wiltw who I know is an expert on all things Bronica ETR (i've read your posts on Monaghan's website). Also a RIP and salute to the sky to late friend Ron Mowrey aka Photo Engineer ("PE"). Every time i hold a Zenzanon PE lens, I think of him. He also was a keen ETR system user and had a picture made using the 500mm f8 lens plus a teleconverter -- what a badass!!

In the past:
- I was a big fan of the RB67 (see my profile picture) and got some lenses: 50, 65, 90, 127 and 180. But sold my three RB67 cameras to switch to the ETR system. The RB67 was for me a perfect camera, except for the weight. Now that i'm older, i needed something lighter.
- I was also a happy user of the C330 and C220, got lenses 55, 65, 80, 105, and 180. A versatile machine.
- I had a Ricoh Auto 66 (TLR) and that was a nice camera that I gave away to a cousin but I still miss it. Quick to use and the lens wasn't bad.

Besides those, i've have had many other MF cameras that i didn't like that much and thus sold:

- Pentax P67 (flawed design: shutter shock is strong)
- Rolleicord Vb (didn't like location of shutter release)
- Rolleiflex T white face (didn't like the focusing screen)
- Ensign Selfix 820 (difficult to get sharp negs)
- Zeiss Nettar 6x6 (same problem)
- Agfa Rekord III (same problem)
- Lubitel 166+ (my lens wasn't sharp enough, got a bad copy, otherwise I love the size and weight)

Of course i've handled other MF cameras too. I didn't like the Mamiya M645 series for example, compared to the ETR cameras.

 

[flavio81]

My favorite is the RB67 (...)
Least favorite is Mamiya 645, never warmed up to 6x4.5

The RB67 was my ideal camera but the 6x7 negative's aspect ratio was difficult to me. Difficult to compose for such a square-y aspect ratio. With 6x4,5 it's much easier for me. I switched to 6x4,5 when I got a 6x4.5 back for my RB67 and found composition was easier. Thus i sold the mamiyas (i had three of 'em) and switched to the Bronica ETR system. It was an easy switch since the ETR follows closely the RB67 in terms of camera type -- minus the bellows and the rotating back, of course.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Rolleiflex 2.8E
Tele-Rolleiflex
Lomo LCA-120
Lomo Belair X6/12
Mamiya RZ67
Vermeer 6x18 pinhole

I'm thinking about adding a Fuji Fujica Super 6 to the pool. It's really funky looking, and has a great reputation, but is a bit of an under-the-radar camera. It would make a good companion to the LCA 120 for a compact street shooter. But my go-to is still the Rolleiflex. They're bulletproof, they make great images, and they just get out of your way when photographing. I like my RZ67 - I like the bigger negative, I like the range of lenses, I like the rotating back, but it's not as durable or reliable as my Rolleis.

Oh, and I forgot- a pair of Holgas. I need to use them more, actually. I like the look I get with them.

 

[Sirius Glass]

You guys do realize that this is a burglars shopping list if they can track your address (probably not too hard)?

One of many reasons I use a pseudonym.

I started with a Brownie Hawkeye camera when I was 12 and got some 6x6 old TLRs from my father. I inherited his C330 with three lenses and every accessory in the known world. I never became one with the camera and traded it in for a Hasselblad 503 CX and lenses. Then I got the Hasselblad 903 SWC. I had a 6x6 Certo Super Dolly with a wonderful Zeiss Lens but a sold it off.

For years I have only used the Hasselblad, but one of these days or years I will shoot a roll of Verichrome Pan 620 film and start using 120 Ilford PF4 in my Brownie Hawkeye.

 

[flavio81]

and traded it in for a Hasselblad (...) Then I got the Hasselblad (...) For years I have only used the Haselblad

Amazing!! Who would've thought?!

 

[flavio81]

Apparently Koni-Omega and press cameras are not as rare as I thought!

Quite a successful camera, if you consider it's also perhaps the ugliest medium format camera ever.

 

[benveniste]

Pentax 645n, although I hope to get my Grandfather's Pre WW-II Rolleiflex back into service.

 

[flavio81]

And this is why I post direct links to images on my server, so I see your residential IP in my logs and see your street address on Google maps when you click on them. If I show up with a bottle of Baileys on your porch, don't be surprised. Helge's right, nobody's safe online.

Gentlemen, I think we have a winner here.

I think I once found Sirius Glass' real identity somewhere on the net. But I quickly forgot -- i don't want to hassle with Vlad.

 

[Sirius Glass]

And this is why I post direct links to images on my server, so I see your residential IP in my logs and see your street address on Google maps when you click on them. If I show up with a bottle of Baileys on your porch, don't be surprised. Helge's right, nobody's safe online.

Except I do not use this internet often when I am home. I use the internet elsewhere and the housing in that location is dense enough to keep you guessing for years.

 

[grat]

The amount of work required to track down most of the users on here isn't really in line with the sort of person who only wants a few thousand dollars worth of niche hardware that usually has serial numbers on every single piece-- and my serial number DB is backed up off site.

I'll throw in my list for fun:

Mamiya C33 (80, 105, 180, and a 135mm pile of haze)
Bessa I 6x9 (Vaskar)
Bronica SQ-A (80mm PS)
Yashica 12 (CLA by Hama)
Fuji GX680 (and a forklift)
Mini Speed Graphic (Anniversary with graflok)

Does a Graflex RB Series B (3x4) count if I found a 120 film holder for it?

 

[removed account4]

Sorry to ask this. It folks with a sh!ton of cameras …. Do you actually use them ? It’s hard enough using 2 or 3 of them, I can’t imagine using 6 of 12 of them….

 

[wiltw]

Present day:

Bronica ETRSi and ETRS, with many lenses (i got the 40, 50, 75, 105, 150, and 200) and accesories.
I also have a Daiichi Zenobia, which is the best folder MF camera i've had. And a Lubitel-2 awaiting to be sold.
Big hello to @wiltw who I know is an expert on all things Bronica ETR (i've read your posts on Monaghan's website). Also a RIP and salute to the sky to late friend Ron Mowrey aka Photo Engineer ("PE"). Every time i hold a Zenzanon PE lens, I think of him. He also was a keen ETR system user and had a picture made using the 500mm f8 lens plus a teleconverter -- what a badass!!.

Shout back to flaio81! I wasn't going to post, but I will

Two ETRSi bodies, AE-III metering prism, eyelevel prism, sports finder, right angle finder, 120 and 220 backs, 135 back, Polaroid back, bellows hood, 40mm 50mm 75mm 150mm and 250mm (all PE), 105mm macro E lenses, SCA386 TTL flash adapter, 3 extension tubes, 2X telconvertor​

 

[braxus]

I have a lot of cameras yes. I have ones I use more then others. Some get no use lately. I try to get a rotation going, where I'll use one model every once in a while. That said my medium format gear gets the most use, while 4x5 the least and 35mm in the middle.

My house has a security system and front camera, so that helps me here. Not to say it can't be gotten around, but Im surrounded by neighbors.

 

[MattKing]

I would be more worried about posting information about owning lots of cel phones or digital cameras.

 

[DWThomas]

Theft? Well there's always this ...

(In an outbuilding next to a nearby restaurant.)

 

[braxus]

One sign I saw at a customers place I deliver to was: I have a firearm, a shovel, and an alibi.

 

[macfred]

Sorry to ask this. It folks with a sh!ton of cameras …. Do you actually use them ? ...

Not simultaneously ...

John, I see what you mean. I currently have seven medium format cameras but I am having a hard time selling even one of them.
I sometimes think about selling my Bronica ETRSi kit with three lenses and some accessories but the prices for this camera are totally down and so I will keep the Bronica for now.
When I recently announced that I might have a buyer for my Super Ikonta III 531/16, my wife intervened: ''You don't sell something like that ...''. So I will keep this one as well.
I am very happy that my daughter has discovered an interest in film-based photography and so all cameras are used in turn after all. Last weekend we were on the road together - I with the Rolleiflex and the FUJI GW670 my daughter with both FUjI GA645 series cameras.
At the end of this month she will move to another city to study and I will certainly give her two of my cameras (and I would have room for a long envisaged Tele Rolleiflex ... ).

 

[David Lingham]

Mamiya C220 & C330
2 x 120 Holgas, one stuck on “B”.
Zero 2000 pinhole
Agifold
Agfa Isolette

 

[Jonno85uk]

Bronica ETRS,

Walzflex IIIa