What Medium Format Cameras Are Members Here Using?

[test_realm]

Pentax 67

 

[Dwayne Martin]

I would love to see some examples of the aero ektar portraits?

I use the aero ektar most of the time I’m shooting portraits. Mostly on a speed graphic. Usually on a model shoot I will shoot 30 or so 4x5s and a couple of rolls with the Pentax. It does exactly the same thing only the format is smaller. The appeal of the AE is the super shallow depth of field which is easier to take advantage of in the 4x5 format but is still great in 6x7. You just need a bit more space if you’re trying to get the whole person on the frame. I’ll attach some examples. If anyone wants to adapt a P67 to an aero ektar it’s not that hard , you can find the parts to do it with on eBay. You have to look for a macro extension tube for that camera.

 

[braxus]

Devo,

That second pic that has extremely low depth of field is really a great shot.

 

[macrorie]

I use:
RB67
Rolleicord Va
Super Ikonta B 532\16
Kodak Medalist II
Fujica GW690

The Medalist and Texas Leica are currently loaded with film.

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

My go-to MF system is a C330 kit, but I also have a Rolleiflex (Tessar) and just added to it a Fuji GSW690III.

 

[Donald Qualls]

My first camera was a hand me down Kodak Duaflex 620. That is long gone, but I got another one a few years ago as a reminder.

The first camera I ever used (and taught my mother how to load, at the age of 7 or so) was a Duaflex II, the fixed-exposure version. Now, I own one of each generation (I, II, III, and IV), two of them with the focusing lens and three aperture settings, the other two fixed. Sure with I could still buy Verichrome Pan to load in them...

 

[test_realm]

Pentax 67 and 105

 

[mtjade2007]

In the progress of a project to shoot 46 mm on my P67-ii. I have lots of cold stored 46 mm 160NC 100 and 200 feet rolls. Need to build a film loader to have the film rolled on 120/220 film reels. I have lots of reels and leader paper from used 220 films. I modified the reels for the 46 mm films.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I modified the reels for the 46 mm films.

That's an interesting project. You'll wind up with, what, 4x7 cm negatives?

 

[mtjade2007]

That's an interesting project. You'll wind up with, what, 4x7 cm negatives?

Probably more like 3 - 3.5 x 7. I will not have and use a platform to flatten the upper and lower sides of the film behind the shutter curtain. I will have to crop it from 46 mm down to 30 - 35 mm. That's OK because my goal is shooting panorama anyway.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Okay. In my RB67, I'd just 3D print another frame mask (got one for 24mm wide on 35mm film already) and the film would stay flat, but the P67 is a different animal entirely.

 

[flavio81]

Devo

In the past this information has been suppressed, but now it can be told. Every man, woman, and mutant on this planet shall know the truth about de-evolution.

We're all devo!

Thus, all medium format cameras will eventually devolve into Holgas.

 

[african_jon]

I use the aero ektar most of the time I’m shooting portraits. Mostly on a speed graphic. Usually on a model shoot I will shoot 30 or so 4x5s and a couple of rolls with the Pentax. It does exactly the same thing only the format is smaller. The appeal of the AE is the super shallow depth of field which is easier to take advantage of in the 4x5 format but is still great in 6x7. You just need a bit more space if you’re trying to get the whole person on the frame. I’ll attach some examples. If anyone wants to adapt a P67 to an aero ektar it’s not that hard , you can find the parts to do it with on eBay. You have to look for a macro extension tube for that camera.

Thanks, those are great! I recently came across a projection lens modified to fit a P67 which peaked my interest in your aero ektar work. I might have to explore more

 

[flavio81]

Kodak Medalist II
Fujica GW690

The Medalist and Texas Leica are currently loaded with film.

How do you like the Medalist? Do you find it ergonomic and/or quick to use, as a rangefinder ought to be?

 

[mtjade2007]

Okay. In my RB67, I'd just 3D print another frame mask (got one for 24mm wide on 35mm film already) and the film would stay flat, but the P67 is a different animal entirely.

3D print frame mask? Interesting. I will have to make one for the 46mm film for my P67-ii. Will try without one and see how bad the flatness will be.

 

[greg zinselmeier]

I rarely use med. format these days. But I do own a Mamiya 645. It’s pretty good. I sold my Fujinon gw690iii. That was a really good camera. Sold it for an 8x10. I haven’t looked back. But my Mamiya has the 55mm,80mm, 150mm lens thing. For kickin around the neighborhood, so to speak , it’s alright!

 

[flavio81]

Well, just to reply again, this was my story with the MF cameras i owned... chronologically and ignoring cheaper machines:

Mamiya C330 and C220 -- I had almost all lenses. Good machine but bigger than I liked it to be. And not all lenses were good, some of them were not so good or unergonomic (135mm i'm looking at you). Sold it.

Mamiya RB67 pro-S: Well, that is almost the perfect camera for me, except for the size and moreover for the weight. Flawless otherwise. Had lenses 50, 65, 90, 127 and 180, all great. Three bodies.

Pentax 67 (6x7): That abomination. Best lenses ever put on a mediocre body. Hard to focus, and the shutter (not mirror: shutter) vibration was so strong that I could get blur when shooting handheld even at 1/125. And mine was in mint shape. Lol. Sold it after a few months for a ridiculously low amount of money to my cousin, went back to my RB67.

Bronica ETRSi: FInally what I wanted -- like the RB67 but smaller and lighter. Fell in love. 6x4.5 just fine for me (i was already shooting 6x4.5 with the RB). Sold all my RB67 bodies and lenses. Having a bad case of GAS. Now i have like 8 Bronica lenses (from 40 to 200mm) and various accesories including motor drive, several finders, backs, etc.

 

[Donald Qualls]

3D print frame mask? Interesting. I will have to make one for the 46mm film for my P67-ii. Will try without one and see how bad the flatness will be.

With the removable RB67 film backs, the frame mask comes off the front of the magazine with a bunch of tiny screws, so it's fairly easy to replace. I don't know how you'd install one like that in a P67-ii -- it would have to clear the focal plane shutter, and have rails and clearance for the film strip.

 

[macrorie]

How do you like the Medalist? Do you find it ergonomic and/or quick to use, as a rangefinder ought to be?

I have not used the Medalist very much. It is definitely awkward to hold in my opinion, but it is much easier with the original case, which I have. The biggest limitation for me is using the quite small viewfinder with glasses - the rangefinder is okay. It is not a problem when I'm wearing contacts, but is not ideal seen through glasses. I wonder if there were Voigtlander 6X9 Kontur finders, which I found was a great solution to a similar problem with a Voigtlander Perkeo II I once owned, and used with a 6X6 Kontur.

 

[flavio81]

I have not used the Medalist very much. It is definitely awkward to hold in my opinion, but it is much easier with the original case, which I have. The biggest limitation for me is using the quite small viewfinder with glasses - the rangefinder is okay. It is not a problem when I'm wearing contacts, but is not ideal seen through glasses. I wonder if there were Voigtlander 6X9 Kontur finders, which I found was a great solution to a similar problem with a Voigtlander Perkeo II I once owned, and used with a 6X6 Kontur.

Thanks for this info, you've saved me from the anxiety of not owning one.

 

[reddesert]

I have not used the Medalist very much. It is definitely awkward to hold in my opinion, but it is much easier with the original case, which I have. The biggest limitation for me is using the quite small viewfinder with glasses - the rangefinder is okay. It is not a problem when I'm wearing contacts, but is not ideal seen through glasses. I wonder if there were Voigtlander 6X9 Kontur finders, which I found was a great solution to a similar problem with a Voigtlander Perkeo II I once owned, and used with a 6X6 Kontur.

There is supposedly a 6x9 Kontur finder, probably for a 105mm lens. 6x9 is also the same aspect ratio as 35mm. The Medalist's 100mm lens is equivalent to a 43mm lens on 35mm, so you could also use the "50mm on 24x36" Kontur if you can mentally compensate for the extra field of view. The bigger problem is that I don't think either version of the Kodak Medalist has an accessory shoe.

The Medalist is interesting in that it packs a 6x9 negative into a small package - I think it's barely larger in dimensions than a Nikon N90. But the tradeoff is that it's sort of shaped like a metallic softball, vs the N90's ergonomic grip. The Medalist would be a good candidate for a 3D printed grip.

 

[MattKing]

The Medalist would be a good candidate for a 3D printed grip.

If I had one, I'd probably see if I could find one of these - preferably with strap loops on it:

 

[Donald Qualls]

I wonder if there were Voigtlander 6X9 Kontur finders,

Since the aspect ratio is the same, a finder made for 35mm with about a 40 mm lens should work with the Medalist, too -- given Argus, Leica, Contax, and their work-alikes, should be much more common. Watch out for the Argus one, though -- I have one, and the window is smaller than the one on my Weltini and my Kiev 4.

 

[flatulent1]

I recently unloaded a LOT of gear, mostly 35mm. I did retain the Yashicamat 124G, Fujifilm GF670, and a Mamiya 645 Pro TL outfitted with waist level finder and crank. I am still undecided about the Mamiya.

 

[Miquel Julia]

Currently my cameras are Bronica C2 and Bronica ETRSi

When i can i want to get a TLR, and it will try to build myself a large format camera