What Medium Format Cameras Are Members Here Using?

[Donald Qualls]

And none of these personalities are printing their work, they are just using them for social.

Well, 5-6 megapixel will produce a decent 8x10 print, but why would I care? Even at the time I strongly preferred my then-wife's 35 mm zoom P&S (DX coded film speed without manual override was its only major failing), but she took that with her -- apparently she could see it was a better camera, too.

 

[Jeremy Mudd]

Well, 5-6 megapixel will produce a decent 8x10 print, but why would I care? Even at the time I strongly preferred my then-wife's 35 mm zoom P&S (DX coded film speed without manual override was its only major failing), but she took that with her -- apparently she could see it was a better camera, too.

LOL, I wasn't insinuating that you cared, I was just commenting on the "trend" wagon that people have jumped on.

It will be something different a year from now when the "DigiCam" (as they call it) market has imploded. It's ironic that people moved from fully manual film cameras as being the "best thing", to low mpx digital P&S cameras from the 2000's that have dodgy electronics and sooooo many things to go wrong and fail.

Jeremy

 

[Donald Qualls]

I'm sure the recent price increases on those old mechanical cameras has a lot of do with that sea change...

 

[dave olson]

I have in my medium format lineup: Hasselblad 503 CW, Fuji's 6x6/6x7 folder, Pentax 6x4.5 AF, Rolleiflex 80 f3.5, Mamiya 7II. In the past, I used a Pentax 6x7.

 

[Pieter12]

I think the "they" is mostly "personalities" trying to create a new trend or ride the wave of one that's semi-started. I've seen quite a bit of that as well but I bet its because I've watched two or three of them and now the darn algorithm keeps pushing them at me periodically.

I have 2 ancient 6mpx Canon Elph's that a group of us have used for a "cheap camera challenge" that, I have to admit, was kinda fun. In a "how can I make some mediocre images that I'll never really do anything with" kind of way. That said, I can't imagine making something like that my everyday camera. And none of these personalities are printing their work, they are just using them for social.

Maybe I need to buy a dozen Nikon D1's while the price as cheap, and make a few videos promoting them as the next big thing.

Jeremy

I was just getting ready to donate my old Nikon D100 to Goodwill. Maybe I’ll hold on to it for a bit and see if it becomes hip.

 

[Roger Thoms]

Spent yesterday evening going through all my cameras and checking that the ones I’m using had fresh batteries and the ones that I’m not using have the batteries removed. Kind of a New Years thing to hopefully prevent damage from leaking batteries. This lead to the Fuji GS645S which has two 357 silver oxide batteries one of which was just starting to leak. I caught it just in time as there was no corrosion. The camera was also loaded with a roll of Portra 160 so I took it out today and shot the roll of film. I had forgotten how nice the GS645S is.

Roger

 

[Nokton48]

Fuji GX680 50mm f5.6 Seiko Shutter by Nokton48, on Flickr

My Plaubel Junior restored with New to me 50mm F5.6 Fuji GX680 lens, purchased broken, at a good discount, from Adorama in NYC. They also included the Gelatin Filter Holder/50mm Hood, it's worth some Dollars so a great deal. The view through the 50mm is AMAZING. Can't wait to shoot some test 6.5x9cm Makina Back Film. EVentually I will buy some type of Digital Medium Format Back. The Peco Junior has a Leica-like smoothness and feel. Plaubel advertised as "The Rolls Royce of Cameras" in the day. Works smoothly and tightly in a Leica-type of way. Also looked through my 4x5" Sinar Normas with this lens. It's amazingly sharp-looking and nice and contrasty view. This will get some use now, rather than becoming an interesting broken ornament.

 

[Guivd]

Stayed light with Mamiya 7II +65/150 and 210 lenses. My trusted set for landscape for 15 years.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Hmm - updated list of medium format:

Rollei 2.8E
Tele-Rollei
Kodak Chevron
Lomo Belair X6/12
Lomo LCA 120
Mamiya RZ67
Vermeer 6x18 pinhole (technically medium format because it uses 120 roll film).

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Why?

Interchangeable backs

 

[Kino]

I am mainly using the Pentax 645 at the present for its simplicity of operation and lack of drama.

But I do have these:
Mamiya 645 Pro 1000s
Kiev 88
Kiev 6c
Rolleiflex 3.5f
Multiple Rolleicords
Yashica Mat 124G
Ricohflex Diamond L
and a lot of other TLRs that are mainly display cameras. I bought these all long ago when the film camera market crashed when DSLR popularity soared. Probably one of the few good investments I have ever made...

 

[braxus]

Sold more gear and purchased a replacement for an old sold one. Here is my short list today:

Holga 120
Pentax 645
Pentax 67
Zeiss Ikon Nettar 517/2 6x9 Folder

I basically downgraded my two favorite Pentax cameras to older versions. Sold off the GFX and TLR. I'd like to get another Fuji GW690 again, but Im in no rush to purchase another one. My folder still needs to be looked at for its light leaks. So this is my basic system for medium format today.

 

[abruzzi]

I basically downgraded my two favorite Pentax cameras to older versions.

I understand downgrading from a Pentax 67II to a 67–repairers for the 67II are more difficult to find. What do you see as the benefit of a 645 over a 645N or NII. (I’m genuinely curious, I’ve never owned or handled the 645 line.)

 

[jd callow]

Mamiya 6
Silvestri SG612

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Hmm - updated list of medium format:

Rollei 2.8E
Tele-Rollei
Kodak Chevron
Lomo Belair X6/12
Lomo LCA 120
Mamiya RZ67
Vermeer 6x18 pinhole (technically medium format because it uses 120 roll film).

Oh, and I forgot my Holga and Holga Pan cameras.

 

[conyon]

I was using a GA645 ZI. Alas, it failed so I'm on the look out for another...

 

[braxus]

I understand downgrading from a Pentax 67II to a 67–repairers for the 67II are more difficult to find. What do you see as the benefit of a 645 over a 645N or NII. (I’m genuinely curious, I’ve never owned or handled the 645 line.)

My Pentax 67II was sold for two reasons. One was financial, as I was using it to fund another camera. Secondly- it wasn't a reliable camera. Didn't like cold weather. I got the version 1 a short while after and its been rock solid reliable. As for the Pentax 645N, I sold it mainly for financial reasons. I at the time was hoping to get a Mamiya 645AF camera to replace it, but then all the cheap options for that dried up. Its become too expensive to purchase at this time. So I've been without a good 645 camera for quite some time. I sold off a digital camera recently, which allowed me to get this older 645 camera for half of what I sold the 645N for. I don't love the older version as much, but it will do. Id rather use the N model.

 

[Sirius Glass]

My Pentax 67II was sold for two reasons. One was financial, as I was using it to fund another camera. Secondly- it wasn't a reliable camera. Didn't like cold weather. I got the version 1 a short while after and its been rock solid reliable. As for the Pentax 645N, I sold it mainly for financial reasons. I at the time was hoping to get a Mamiya 645AF camera to replace it, but then all the cheap options for that dried up. Its become too expensive to purchase at this time. So I've been without a good 645 camera for quite some time. I sold off a digital camera recently, which allowed me to get this older 645 camera for half of what I sold the 645N for. I don't love the older version as much, but it will do. Id rather use the N model.

Time to look into 6x6 cameras.

 

[braxus]

Time to look into 6x6 cameras.

I just sold a 6x6 camera. I dont really like the square format that much.

 

[Dusty Negative]

I just sold a 6x6 camera. I dont really like the square format that much.

I don't like it for portraits, but I do find it interesting to shoot 6x6 once in a while to practice different compositions.

 

[abruzzi]

6x9 is my favorite but there are very limited modern handheld cameras for the format. One of these days I’ll get one of the big Fujis. 6x7 is a little too close to square for my preference (and 6x6 is even closer…) so mostly I shoot 6x9 on a view camera and 6x4.5 on a handheld since I prefer stretched rectangles.

 

[GregY]

6x9 is my favorite but there are very limited modern handheld cameras for the format. One of these days I’ll get one of the big Fujis. 6x7 is a little too close to square for my preference (and 6x6 is even closer…) so mostly I shoot 6x9 on a view camera and 6x4.5 on a handheld since I prefer stretched rectangles.

I think the Fuji GW680 / GSW680 rangefinders are the real sweetspot. Most of them are found in Japan...but i've had great luck with them. I had a Beseler 6x7 neg holder enlarged to 6x8 too!

 

[Philippe-Georges]

I just sold a 6x6 camera. I dont really like the square format that much.

I am very found of the square format (and I sometimes think 'square').
It releases me from turning the camera from vertical to horizontal, or vice versa, what 'others' call "portrait" and "landscape", as a landscape couldn't be the portrait way, and vice versa (I sometimes 'observe' square)...
The equal proportions of the sides brings some kind of "peace" in the image's composition (I sometimes have square 'vision').
And, eventually, the dynamics in the image presentation can be brought in via the diagonal, which is more intense yet in a gentle way (I sometimes think diagonal too)...

Sine ira et studio!

 

[John Earley]

For me medium format equipment consists of;
Yashica-Mat EM
Mamiya RB67
Calumet C2 6x7 Roll Film Back
Horseman 6x12 Roll Film Back

Other than the Horseman Back I haven't been shooting much 120 film lately but since I recently purchased a few lenses for the RB67 I plan to use it more this year.

 

[Rexel]

Alpa 12 TC with 47 and 58mm lenses 6x9 film back.