Best sub-$300 6x7, or 6x6 120 metered camera?

[SimonSawSunlight]

If you try a Yashicamat 124 (NOT the 124G), you won't find the plastic you disliked in the 124G.
The meter is less likely to work though, the big improvement on the 124G's was better meter connections, but (in the later ones especially) the construction wasn't as good on the body. (Lenses are the same though.)

Aside from that, there's not much w/ a meter out there in that budget. I'll go along w/ some of the other guys, and say a rolleicord or a tessar-lensed rolleiflex and a handheld meter. (or even the mamiya TLRs)

-Brian

+1.
and the meter in mine does work 😀

 

[strangerbeat]

excellent suggestions, folks! many thanks. i'm definitely looking into the other alternatives. the diacord seems rather hard to find.

 

[Krosya]

Yashica 124 or even Minolta Autocord with meter can be found in that price range.

 

[PMCC]

Ditto for Ricoh Diacord L. It's a sleeping gem. You can have one for ~100US.

Very true -- mine was less than that. Availability seems to be feast or famine -- don't know why. For ages I also despaired of ever finding a Ricohmatic 225, then I had a choice of two very nice ones for not much more than the cost of an L. Now having both the L and the 225, I am hard pressed to choose between them, so I've kept them both. Strictly in terms of personal pleasure, I prefer them both to the pricier Autocord and Rolleicord.

 

[Wayno]

Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta IV?



A selenium meter, but I've found them surprisingly accurate down to quite low light levels.

 

[PMCC]

In the requested price range? Many more possibilities if one goes >$300.

P.S. Am assuming we're talking about cameras that are operational as acquired, not DIY reclamation projects.

 

[tic]

Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta IV?



A selenium meter, but I've found them surprisingly accurate down to quite low light levels.

+1 🙂

Or a Pentacon Six for the adventurous....

 

[Wayno]

In the requested price range? Many more possibilities if one goes >$300.

P.S. Am assuming we're talking about cameras that are operational as acquired, not DIY reclamation projects.

Just had a quick look at ebay and they do seem to be going for silly money. I have seen quite a few go for less than $300 in the past. My current SI IV was about $200 from KEH, but admittedly I had to service the shutter.

The previously mentioned Diacord is an excellent camera, but in this price range I guess you're better off with a decent hand held meter. That greatly expands your range of options for quality 6X6 or 6X7 cameras.

 

[DNG]

If you ebay search under medium format....there are plenty of 645 and 6x6 with and without metered prisms from under $450.00 A bit higher, but a prism VF on a 645 or 6x6 is lot easier to use. I even saw a Fuji 670 RF with a 90mm for under $500.00.. I may get one now....😱 My Wife would kill me since I just spent 5k on a Leica system 😀... Or I will get the 15mm or 21mm as what I told her.
Anyway...Check it out.

 

[Frank Petronio]

I just got a $53 Zeiss Ikonta Nettar 6x9 and a fellow RFF member cleaned and adjusted the shutter for only $31... and the first two rolls look great (will post soon).

Using government accounting, that would leave you $216 for a nice modern meter. Or use Frank accounting and forgo the meter, shooting color neg with the Sunny/16 rule -- and put $216 back in your wallet.

If you like TLRs but don't like plastic, get a nice Rolleicord. For a rangefinder try a Koni-mega or Mamiya Press. And for brute force get a user Mamiya RB-67 SLR.

 

[leica M2 fan]

I'm going to second the Rolleicord as an excellent possibility but you will need a hand held meter.

 

[ianstamatic]

Pentax 645 ? Iskra 2 ? Rb67 ? fuji RF 645 (maybe just outta price range).
Seriously a solinar lens isolette mkiii + hotshoe meter + travel tripod and you have a very compact, pocketable + simple setup that if you A-B'ed the negs with a rollie or blad many people wouldnt be able to pick correctly.
Also c-330 is a heavy but very underrated tank, oops i mean camera.

 

[strangerbeat]

i just got myself a nice analog sekonic handhelf meter for $7 at a camera fair 🙂

i am now open to meterless options!

i'm checking out Rolleicords as people suggested... and Diacord... and am currently looking at an Ikoflex... any thoughts on those?

 

[GaryLH]

I don't know anything about Ikoflex cameras but I recently came across this blog posting from a person who does repairs on cameras and his take on Ikoflex cameras.

http://www.ikonrollieflexrepair.com/page04.html

I found this blog from other blogger recommendation pages. Look at bottom left hand side of the page for the Ikoflex info.

Gary

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

hi. sorry about the mis-post.

I found something which is sub-300, correct at keh.com as of this morning:


Bronica SQ-A Body BGN: $109
120 Back BGN: $53
150mm/f3.5 BGN: $69
Prism BGN: $16

Grand total of: $247

Plus your $7 for the light meter.

 

[strangerbeat]

it's done! i ended up with a Bronica ETRS in great condition that came with...

1x Zenzanon MC 150mm 1:3.5 lens with Hoya 62mm UV[0] filter.
1x Zenzanon 75mm 1:2.8 EII lens with rear lens cap with 62mm Haze filter.
1x Zenza Bronica ETRS Body with "Brightscreen" Proscreen 20/20 focusing screen (Originally $295.00 for screen alone) with body cap.
1x Bronica ETRS Prism Finder E with base cover
1x Bronica ETRS Speed Grip E
1x 120 Zenza Bronica film back with dark slide.
1x 220 Zenza Bronica film back with dark slide.
1x 120 spare film insert (In its case).
2x Zenza Bronica ETR Belt Holster Cases.

for a grand total of... $270 including shipping

HEY NOW!! 😀

definitely not 6x6, but for this price, I dont really care 🙂

thanks to everyone that pitched in with suggestions. you're an incredibly helpful bunch. 😉

 

[kuzano]

HEY!!!... I'll start you on the GAS HUNT!!!!

HEY!!!... I'll start you on the GAS HUNT!!!!

Great camera and system... As long as 6X4.5 meets your goals, it's a great one....

There is a back you may want to keep your eyes open for. The Bronica ETRS has a 35mm film back that rolls the film sideways. It makes a horizontal panorama that's 24X56mm. I think that's the same as the Hasselblad X-pan. There is also another 35mm back that transports the film vertically, but the Pano back would be much more attractive to me.

Congrats on the purchase

 

[merciless49]

Congrats on the purchase! I was about to suggest, if weight/size isn't much of an issue, for a Speed/Crown Graphic with 120 roll film holders. Depending on the age/condition, you can get a fairly clean one with the appropriate accessories for $300. Add on $50 for the light meter, not so bad! Plus you can always go for 4x5 with the same setup.

Just my 2 cents, too late to the party I'm afraid...

 

[GaryLH]

Congrats 🙂 That is a great price .. Have fun with it..
Gary

 

[strangerbeat]

Great camera and system... As long as 6X4.5 meets your goals, it's a great one....

There is a back you may want to keep your eyes open for. The Bronica ETRS has a 35mm film back that rolls the film sideways. It makes a horizontal panorama that's 24X56mm. I think that's the same as the Hasselblad X-pan. There is also another 35mm back that transports the film vertically, but the Pano back would be much more attractive to me.

Congrats on the purchase

thanks! that film back sounds awesome. im definitely on the hunt for it now. so it's called a panorama 35mm back or something?