35mm or 120? Advice needed

C

Charly

Guest
Hi everyone, I'm new to the forums but not to rangefinders.

I couple of weeks ago, whilst away in Cornwall, I had an epiphany, I hate my DSLR! I use a Canonet QL17 GIII which I get along very well with - however, I would find it most limiting as a main camera due to the fixed focal length - I need the option of 28 at the very least!

Since I love the digital workflow, an M8 would be the ideal replacement except for the fact that I could not afford it even if I sold my car! The solution will have to come in the form of a scanner and this will most likely be an Epson V700.

The question is what I replace the camera with. I've looked at a Bessa T, a Leica M2 and M4, a Bronica RF645, Fuji 645 and Mamiya 7.

The Bessa T and I did not get along. No one had an R2/3/4 to look at. I was concerned about the film door, it appeared to be very flexible and liable to leak light, have people found this to be a problem?

I did not like the M2, however, the M4 made complete and total sense to me (except the misaligned RF making it a lot less of a bargain.) I liked the idea of the Mamiya 7 but it was too big for me. I loved the Bronica 645 and, after some thought, I feel that I will be able to handle the vertical format very well, my biggest concern is the f4 lenses.

I have always had a couple of fast primes and f2.8 zooms in my bag recently - and used them there, sometimes at 3200. I fully accept that I am shooting less and less low-light stuff but f4 seems - slow!

The alternative is a film format that is much harder to scan. Darkroom printing is not an option - I've not used one since I was 14 and in rented accomadation in London, building one is impossible.

I'm interested in your opinions!

Charly
 
Well, a 28mm equiv medium format body isn't exactly cheap. You'd need the Mamiya 7 plus 50mm lens.

If you're in it for the long term and like wide angle I'd consider the Bessa R4 - i'm currently working up the commitment to buy one to replace my Bessa T. A good match lens-wise would be the Zeiss Biogon 25mm f/2,8. The slow lenses for both those medium format options are a big restriction for me, particularly now that I'm doing more people photography in available light. For faster MF you're looking at a Hasselblad I think
 
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