Bigger format than 35mm, with a lens equivalent to a 35mm lens field of view in 35mm?

Juan Valdenebro

Juan Valdenebro

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Hi,
Would you please recommend me some options for shooting with the common 35mm field of view of 35mm photography, but with a bigger format?
I'd prefer mechanical, compact cameras, no meter needed, and perhaps no rf needed, but as I want that specific field of view, I guess the options are not too much... I'm open to all suggestions...
I own a Hasselblad with 50, 80 and 150 lenses, but I'm thinking of a much more discrete and portable camera for travelling or street... Cheap would be great too... Asking for too much?
Thanks!
Cheers,
Juan
 
The only really cheap portable options would probably be either classic folders or TLRs. Both of them usually come with 50mm equivalents. The "modern" Plaubel Makina has a fov of about 40mm in 35mm terms but it is expensive. A Mamiya 6 (if you dont mind square format) or 7 with a 60/65mm might be your best bet (depending on your definition of 'cheap'). The Mamiya and Koni Omega press cameras are not really expensive these days - by no means 'discrete' but maybe better suited for street work than a Hassy.
 
I think your best bet is a 55mm lens on any of the 645 format cameras. That keeps the aspect ratio the same. I'm not sure you'll find anything very compact, though. Maybe the Fuji 645 series, GA, GS, and whatever they were called. Some have fixed 60mm lenses, others have 55-90 zooms. Both would be close enough, I guess.

Or, 75-90mm on 6x9 format. Some compact-ish rangefinders are available, options include the Fuji 6x9 format rangefinders, maybe Mamiya.

- N.
 
Are you looking for the same 2:3 aspect ratio as 35mm? That would be 6X9 in medium format. I think the Fujica G690 series has interchangeable lenses and I think the 65mm would be the closest to the angle of view, but there were not many focal lengths offered so you would not be able to get an exact match in angle of view to a 35mm lens on a 35mm camera.

I see some of these cameras available on e-bay and the prices don't look too bad if you opt for the camera with the 100mm lens and the cameras still work. That said, the 65mm lens is expensive and very slow with amaxium aperture of f8, yikes, that is slow.
 
As has been said - it depends in what you are looking for in the larger format.

Until you get up to 6x9 the formats are square or at least squarer (taller for the width) than 35mm. You would need to crop to get 35mm's 2:3 ratio.

I make it that, assuming the 2:3 crop, you would be looking for the following lenses for any given width of film:

6cm (6x6 or 645): 55mm
7cm (6x7): 65mm
9cm (6x9): 85mm
 
A Fuji ga645zi has a 55-90, I think. But is AF, not mechanical, and has a noisy motor. Great image maker.

The Bronica rf645 common lenses are 65mm (40mm equivalent) and 45mm (28mm, requires auxiliary VF). It is quiet/nearly discreet as an M, but is vertically aligned.
 
Juan Valdenebro said:
Hi,
Would you please recommend me some options for shooting with the common 35mm field of view of 35mm photography, but with a bigger format?
I'd prefer mechanical, compact cameras, no meter needed, and perhaps no rf needed, but as I want that specific field of view, I guess the options are not too much... I'm open to all suggestions...
I own a Hasselblad with 50, 80 and 150 lenses, but I'm thinking of a much more discrete and portable camera for travelling or street... Cheap would be great too... Asking for too much?
Thanks!
Cheers,
Juan
Click to expand...

Cheap? I'd get a Zeiss Super Ikonta, a TLR or maybe one of the older 80's Fujis.

If I didn't mind spending a bit more (i.e. sell some 'blad gear), then I'd be all over a GF670, it's probably the only camera I'd sell my Rolleiflex for. But you said you prefer mechanical, no meter etc. So I'd be back to TLR or a folder.

If you like/don't mind a WLF, then even some Rollei TLRs can offer good value.
 
The Rolleiflex T with 75mm lens can take a masking kit which changes the format but nt the spacing I think? Or, just use a grid screen, compose and crop from the full square. The Rolleiflex also has charm when working in public. Of course, the boxy ergonmics are love or hate.
 
If you're committed to a 35mm FOV, one option would be to simply build your own camera.
Take a 2x3 Graflex back (or similar film transport,) graft it to a chassis of sorts with a face made to accept a focusing helicoid. Then choose a lens about 65mm (there are a bunch out there,) set your registration at infinity to the film plane, load it, test it for light leaks then you're off and running.

You'll be limited to scale focus but the camera with a leaf shutter lens such as a 65mm f/8 Super Angulon would be pretty small in comparison to the other existing options (Fuji GW690 or G690BL with interchangeable lenses.)

This option would be pretty inexpensive as well. The problem you're going to find with lenses that wide on larger than 35mm format cameras is that they are all slow. The fastest optic you're going to find in that range will have a maximum aperture of f/5.6 and that is really for focusing on groundglass, not shooting. Those designs really shine when they hit f/8 - f/11, so you're limited to either shooting superspeed film or using a tripod.

Or you could get a Mamiya 6 with the 50mm f/4 lens (it's a 28mm equivalent) and have one of the best optics ever made for any format, by any manufacturer. The Mamiya 7 has a lens that is a bit closer to the 35mm FOV also.

Phil Forrest
 
I too was thinking of the GW690 until I re-read your original post - "much more discreet and portable" it is not :) Though being black and plastic-y looking and more or less like a "regular camera" (only bigger!) it would probably attract a lot less attention than the Hassy. For sure I only get the most casual of glances, if any, while out shooting with mine. It's quiet too except for the tinny "ding" of the shot counter. But it's not quite 35mm - more like 39mm. Unfortunately there's no "factory" combination of these cameras with the 6x7 frame and the "wide" lens. I suppose you could use the 690W (28mm EFOV) and crop about 8mm off either end of the negs but framing might take some getting used to.

The GS or GA645 have 60mm lenses which is also a bit tighter (again, ~39mm) but the GA while relatively compact and definitely fun to use is kind of noisy. I read somewhere that the later versions have quieter motors but I don't know what "quieter" means in this context.

The Fuji GF670W / Bessa III Wide come very close to ticking all the boxes - with a 55mm lens they have almost exactly the same horizontal FOV as 35mm on 135-format (except the frames are taller so you'd need to do some cropping), they are quiet, sharp, reasonably sized, and best of all from the reliability angle they are not decades old. Unfortunately they are both pretty pricey compared to the folding 80mm versions, but even so are probably going to be less expensive than a Plaubel Makina, and come with a warranty.

Good luck with whatever you decide!
Scott
 
I have experimented with the 65mm Angulon lens on old 6x9 folders and on an adapted 6x9 bakelite helicoid camera. But this gives a FOV on 6x9 that's closer to that of a 28mm lens on 135. (For my daylight use the comparative slowness of the 'old', compact, Angulon is not an issue.) Plenty of view on plenty of film :).

For the OP's desired f=35mm equivalent, compactness, and availability, the 90mm Angulon (not Super-) would probably be the best bet if 6x9 is wanted and if f/6.8 is not a limitation.
 
shortstop said:
A TLR with 75 mm to me is the best choice. In the attachment explain why Best TLR are Rolleiflex.
Click to expand...
The same calculation applied on 6x7 gives:
80 mm lens on vertical side (56 mm) in 6x7 corresponds a 34 mm on vertical side in 135.
The same 80 mm lens on horizontal side in 6x7 corresponds a 41 mm in 135.
Plaubel Makina 67 is a full 6x7 mechanical camera.
I have Rolleiflex 3,5F, and wish Plaubel too
 
My bet would be Bronica RF 645 with the 65/4. It has some limitations like not an ultra precise rf and 1/500 max speed, but otherwise it's all winners, and the lens is superb.


MF20133005 by mfogiel, on Flickr

If you'd be ready to forgo some compactness, then Pentax 645N with 55/2.8 is unbeatable quality/price wise.


MF20130113 by mfogiel, on Flickr
 
My vote would go to Bronica RF as well. All mechanical, rf and pretty small for a medium form camera. Outside of Bronica RF, the Fuji line of 645s is really your only other choice. They come in both RF and af styles. Check out Dante's site he has a good writeup on the Fuji 645s.

Gary
 
I truly love my Mamiya 7 with the 65mm. I debated between the 65 and 80mm lenses to start out with, but the 65 is an amazing optic, when I need to go wider I use the 43mm.
 
Black Holga 120 gn. Glass, 60mm lens. Cheap, ultra light and discrete comparing to any other MF.
:)
 
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