6x6 folder good for portraits?

[dazedgonebye]

I plan to stress test my new folder for this application. (Balda super baldax)
I'll set it to f2.8 and minimum focus then just move toward my subject till I'm in focus then snap. We'll see what we get.

 

[David Goldfarb]

I often shoot the Perkeo II/Color-Skopar at its minimum distance of 3.5 feet--

I just set the lens and my shoe-mount rangefinder for 3.5 feet and move back and forth to be in focus. It has front-cell focusing, but it seems to work pretty well.

 

[iñaki]

I have done some portraits with my ISKRA and I like the results. It´s not easy to focus because it needs a CLA, but it works. This one was croped.

A low light portrait

 

[Uwe_Nds]

What about a Moskva 5 with the 6x6 insert?

Haven't tried mine for portraits yet, though.

Best regards,
Uwe

 

[Monz]

I have a Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 533/16 which is a 6x6 folder with an 80mm coated Tessar lens. I haver used it for portraits. the main problem is the ~5' minimum focusing distance. I ahve tried using a proxar lens to get closer but the quality deteriorates. Here are some examples (without proxar):

Hustlers
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=40974&ppuser=1882

Paco
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=41239&ppuser=1882

Farm Boys
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=41121&ppuser=1882

Izzie and the Horse
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=43061&ppuser=1882

and

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=43059&ppuser=1882

Two plus one
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=42482&ppuser=1882

All the best.
--
Monz

 

[Jacob]

Makes me think...
Would it be difficult to take a nice 6x9 camera, lika a Bessa II with a 105mm lens, mask it down to 6x4.5 and drill a new hole in the back for the 6x4.5 indexes on the film? 105mm on 645 at 1 meter sounds like a nice portrait combo. I'll put it on my "to do when I am retired or rich" list.
Jacob
edit: Just read that 6x9 Super Ikontas came with 6x4.5 masks... Seems like I don't have to retire, just get rich enough to buy a Super Ikonta

 

[Muggins]

Jacob,

If you view a Moskva 4 as a nice camera, then it is possible! I have a 4 that a previous owner has converted into a 6x9/6x4.5 shooter in just such a way. Modifying the viewfinder is harder - he used two little bits of card in the front glass, rather than modifying the little square pop-up.

Only problem is they made such a good job of modifying the mask that I can't disassemle it to use for 6x6, and Moskva 4 masks are like hen's teeth...

Adrian

 

[David Goldfarb]

The Bessa II also came in versions with the 645 mask and two windows. Most of the Apo-Lanthar models I've seen are this way, but they're also really expensive.

 

[DwF]

Some very nice portraits here. This (link below) is not a very recent one, but this seemed an appropriate place to test my new choice for avatar. So test test, I hope that comes up.
David
http://www.pbase.com/bitonal/image/76282884

 

[ruben]

I think there is nothing wrong with a folder, but I am not sure a square format of any kind of camera will be the best type of format for portraits.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[Todd.Hanz]

I have a Super Ikonta and an Iskra, both great cameras. Neither have "portrait friendly" close focus but both work well when taking pictures. It's interesting to note that when these were made in the 30-60's no one cared much about the close focus distance, they just took pictures with 'em and worked within their parameters.

Zeiss Super Ikonta with 80/2.8 at near closest focus at 2.8:

Todd

 

[Luddite Frank]

I can't think of much add that has not already been said on the subject...

Taking medium-format folders for what they are, I think they are probably best used for Group portaits or full-body portaits.

"tight head shots" are probably best done with an SLR.

For whatever reason(s), I've never been crazy about square format... although it's served Rolleiflex and Hasselblad well for well-over 50 years...

If I were to work with 6x6 ( I do have a couple of TLRs and a 6x9 folder w/ 6x6 mask), I would probably wind-up cropping to a rectangular print.

I prefer 6x9 on 120, but have just started taking pics with my Ikonta 521, which is a 4.5 x 6 cm format - rectangular image, but 16 shots on a roll of 120.

If you're really set on doing "real " portrait photography with a folder, you may want to consider a 2-1/4 x 3-1/4 Speed-Graphic, equipped with a 6x7 or 6x9 roll-film back...
This would give you the RF, interchangeable lenses, etc.

The blessing of MF is that you can enlarge & crop-down quite a bit before resolution / grain become a problem...

Good luck !

Luddite Frank

 

[Borghesia]

Portait with Agfa Isolette II, Solinar 3.5. Indoor shot taken wide open at the 3.5 aperture. I love to take portraits with this folder.

 

[Krosya]

I think there is nothing wrong with a folder, but I am not sure a square format of any kind of camera will be the best type of format for portraits.

Cheers,
Ruben

Hmm, what about all the wedding shooters that used and still use Hassys 6x6 ? Many pictures they take ARE portraits!

 

[Luddite Frank]

I guess I'm confusing "negative" aspect ratio with "final print" aspect ratio...

But the Hassie is an SLR, and has interchangeable lenses; so the photog doesn't have to worry about focus/parallax error, and can slap a long-focus lens on it for better perspective control / DOF effects, and so-on...

I still see wedding photographers shooting with Hasselblads, although they seem to be rarer these days.

I don't think anyone has suggested that a 6x6 folder is an "impossible" portrait camera; just not the most ideal tool for the job ?

It also depends on how serious the "portait" is: if you're taking formal portraits for hire, a different camera is probably in order. If you're looking to get shots of friends and family, then the folder may be fine.

I'm still shooting landscapes and steam locomotives; I'm not sure I'm ready for portraiture yet...
(although I intend to do so with my 5x7 plate camera ! )

Luddite Frank