6x9 options?

[ChrisN]

It just struck me that if I want to shoot 6x9 medium format and I want to be able to use graduated neutral density filters, I have very few options. Are there any 6x9 SLRs? I suspect the only option will be a large-format camera either in 6x9 or a 4x5 with a 6x9 roll film back.

 

[andreios]

How about Fuji GW690/GSW690?

 

[Luna]

Wasn't the National Graflex a 6x9 SLR?

Edit: And this http://www.lallement.com/pictures/Ritt.html

 

[ChrisN]

How about Fuji GW690/GSW690?

No good! I need through-the-lens viewing to let me position the grad ND accurately. This is for landscape photography, admitted that this isn't a frequent requirement around here! The Fujis are great otherwise.

 

[ChrisN]

Wasn't the National Graflex a 6x9 SLR?

Edit: And this http://www.lallement.com/pictures/Ritt.html

Don't know the National Graflex: googled it and found this.

The Rittreck looks nice - and pretty rare and expensive I think!

 

[divewizard]

I recently used a 67mm SUNPAK grad on my GW690. I used my DLSR with a SUNPAK grad to meter the shot. I just eyballed the rotation of the filter once the camera was set up on the tripod.

 

[kuzano]

If you can pull it off with 6X8....

If you can pull it off with 6X8....

The Fuji GX680 is SLR, with movements. It's a system camera with a wide range of lenses, bellows and extended bellows, removable film backs, Excellent Fuji EBC glass.

They are a glut on eBay, and sellers appear really proud of them, but they come up with low prices often. Right now there are two complete camera's at $699 and one at $799 and up from there with a lot of inventory to select from.

I'm thinking about giving up the one centimeter to get a system camera.

However, like you mentioned, I may just get a multi-format DAYI 6X12 roll film back to fit on my Toyo 45CF.

 

[raydm6]

The Rittreck looks nice - and pretty rare and expensive I think!

One just sold for $417 on the bay with 2 lenses.

 

[sevo]

Are there any 6x9 SLRs?

The only remotely recent (i.e. post WWII designed) ones were the Plaubel Makiflex/Pecoflex:

and the (elusive, outside Japan) Rittreck 6x9.

Delving a bit deeper into history, there are a variety of large format SLRs cameras whose smallest size version was 6x9. But their design dates back to the early days of the 20th century and by the thirties they were a dead end not improved upon any more - expect a wood/leather box construction about ten times the volume of a Hasselblad, shutters controlled by several knobs and levers labelled by width and spring tension rather than a time button, and enough mirror slap to bruise your brow. These cameras will generally require major DIY skills if you want to bring them back to operable state.

The Fuji GX680 and Mamiya RB67 (with 6x8 holder and rear frame kit) are 6x8 (as close as it gets to 6x9) and were made until a few years ago, and might be the only ones you can get in a state that needs no restoration. Besides being quite new, they are the only SLRs above 6x7 which can use wide angles (or indeed even a normal, in most cases) - the above are restricted to long lenses and usually will not hold anything shorter than a 135mm lens, due to their huge mirror clearance and restriction to non-retrofocal large format lens types.

 

[ChrisN]

Thanks all for the further suggestions. The GX680 looks very capable (and typical Japanese - feature rich). And I had not realised the RB and RZ could take a 6x8 magazine. More to think about!

 

[sevo]

And I had not realised the RB and RZ could take a 6x8 magazine.

The RZ can't. That is, it can attach 6x8 and 6x9 backs via the optional Graflock adapter, but it will only expose a 6x7 image area on it - the rest being obscured by the mirror box. While the RB can be considered a 8x8 body where only the rotating frame and back constrained the image to 6x7, the RZ lost that headroom and is 7x7 from the core up.

 

[ChrisN]

Good info - thanks.

 

[Nokton48]

Here's my Standard Makiflex w/150mm F2.8 recessed bd

Here's my Standard Makiflex w/150mm F2.8 recessed bd

Hi Chris,

I would second the Plaubel Makiflex, I have three of these myself, two Auto-Iris models, and one Standard model. With Plaubel Recessed lensboards ( and some I have made myself) you can use shorter focal lengths. I use mine frequently with the 120mm Imagon, on the Standard body. You can also shoot 9x12cm and 4x5" sheet film, which gives you a 9x9cm on a plate. Sweet easily portable (not heavy!) cameras!

 

[ChrisN]

Now that looks nice. I'll have to research that one.

Some others I thought of:

Mamiya Press with 6x9 back and the fresnel lens with focusing hood (ground glass focusing back). And there's a Dayi 6x12 Shift camera commonly found on ebay. That's really moving into large format territory, so as Kuzano suggested a 6x12 multi-format back for the 4x5 camera would make more sense. I think Shen Hao make a nice 6x9 field camera too.

 

[jbielikowski]

Press is nice.

 

[sevo]

Mamiya Press with 6x9 back and the fresnel lens with focusing hood (ground glass focusing back).

With sheet film holders and the reflex viewer it is almost SLR like in comfort, too. Swapping between ground glass and roll film holders is less than elegant though - you need a pretty heavy tripod or a studio stand to do that without changing the camera position. The ground glass options obviously were intended for sheet film only.

 

[Nokton48]

If you like front view camera swings and tilts, there is also the Plaubel Pecoflex. This one has sold, but I'm in touch from time to time with the buyer (he is also keen on the Plaubel Makiflex/Pecoflex and has several, too. Imagine that; two Makiflex collectors!). This one has the automatic iris and accessory Pecoflex front standard (best with longer barrel lenses).

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...akeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:de

If you want the world's finest 6x9cm view camera, it is called the Plaubel Peco Jr. Small light and precise to use. Wonderful little view camera.

http://cgi.ebay.com/PLAUBEL-PECO-JU...386146153?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item5194a44b69

 

[C_R]

For my GSW690III, I use a Formatt HiTech ND 0.6 Blender screw-on filter, with a step-up ring 67 > 77 (only available in 77 or larger).
This blender type screw-on has continuous grow of shading over the diameter, you dont have to fumble with holders, and no need to position the transition zone exactly.
This kind of grad ND is most often used in cinematography, and rarely used in photography. It is alwas on my Fujica, I find it very useful. Because it works so nice, I made a custom ND filter of this "wedge" type for my M9 lenses, also.

Carsten

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38068178@N08/sets/72157624361125930/