st3ph3nm said:
Wow! Love the photo with the Fujica and the RC! Hmmm, medium format.... Hmmmmm....
Cheers,
Steve
Ah, rangefinder medium format...
So many ways to turn. Leaving out the various Graflex and such 'press cameras', the ones that kind of resemble overgrown 35mm rangefinders (also often known collectively as 'Texas Leicas') are these:
Bronica RF645
Mamiya 6 & 7 (modern, not the older folders)
Fujica G-series 670 & 690's.
The Fujicas were only produced for a short time with interchangeable lenses (the G 670 / G 690 and GL 670 / GL 690). Thereafter, they became fixed-lens rangefinders, including a fairly fascinating zoom-lens, the GS645 series. There is also a folder in the group if you like pocket-sized MF with a modern couple RF to boot!
As far as I know, the Bronica and Mamiya lines are still being produced.
I wanted a medium-format rangefinder since my interest was stoked by the MF folders (Agfa Isolettes and Zeiss Nettars) that I played with. I ended up finding a great deal on a G690 on eBoy (seller was in Pretoria, South Africa and had like 1 feedback, so bidding was low and cautious). Fortunately, he was as good as his word, and I ended up with a good deal. I missed out on an even better deal from him later, though - he put an accessory 180mm lens up with an erroneous $10 BIN price and somebody snapped it up - he honored his mistake (ouch).
Mine has a problem right now - a fairly common one for this camera, I'm told. When I fire a frame, the lever-action does not want to advance - it remains locked as if I had not taken a photo. I have to press down and hold the shutter release firmly, and then I can advance the film - this is a drag and often leads to double-exposure or frame overlap. I am told it is a fairly easy fix, but I have been procrastinating.
I went with the Fujica over the Bronica or Mamiya for several reasons, primarily price. However, I also wanted to spend less, which I acheived, and the Fujinon EBC lenses are known far and wide as incredible - I have to agree! I also wanted 6x9 - if you're going to go MF, why not go all the way?
One thing - I have since found that with 6x9 format, there is not that much difference between 100mm and 180mm - in other words, we're not talking about extreme telephoto here! I might have been happier with one of the fixed-lens MF rangefinders. But it is nice to have the two big lenses, and later on I hope to get a 65mm. That's REALLY wide on 6x9!
Best Regards,
Bill Mattocks
