Couldn't Resist!

Gid

Gid

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Just ordered a new RF645 with 65mm and the 45mm.

Got the 645 & 65 from Misfuds and the 45 from Commercial Cameras - both in the UK. £499 for the 645 and £285 for the 45 - IMHO the steal of the century. I have to say that the guy at Commercial cameras was a real star - he had run out of the body and 65 kit and looked up Misfuds price and phone number for me - really helpful and did a good deal on the 45 (I have no connection BTW).

This is a real departure for me - I've been digital for the last 5 years (RD-1 and Olympus E1). I shot some B&W for the first time in 5 years last weekend using my Canon F1 which got me thinking about film again. So after much research I decided on MF and RF (first MF BTW). I've heard a lot of good stuff about this camera and I'm really looking forward to using it and posting some shots.

I'll probably be using 400 ISO B&W (TriX or HP5) for street stuff and Velvia 50 for landscapes (any other recommendations welcomed). The question is where to get this stuff processed - can't do it myself. Any recommendations from the UK guys will be most welcome.

Regards

Gid
 
I think the guy at Commercial Cameras is called Paul. He is very good. I bought my camera and 45mm from him.

I use Peak Imaging for processing, usually for film developing and contact sheet printing (I do have access to a darkroom but very little time). The results are good enough for me.

Stephan
 
I've used Peak Imaging for processing (no problems - very efficient) but have been very disappointed with the quality of their scanning - uneven lighting across the scan and colourcasts. I was thinking about putting up a post myself asking for recommendations .
 
By the way - the camera is class. Probably the best handling camera I have ever used (apart from the pesky lens hoods!). With the way the controls are laid out top/back everything falls to hand. The vertical format took about five minutes to get used to - I have stoped using the 45mm finder and use the edges of the main finder. The metering handles awkward lighting pretty well - shooting straight into sunsets and long exposures by streetlights have all come out. Can't find a flash anywhere though...
 
hello boys, my bronica has arrived.what a beatuy!! i bought mine from misfuds as well,they opnly had two of the kits left.didn't bought the 45mm,my photography is street kind and therefore a 100mm would be better,that is if i can find one.i've never handled a camera that handled so nice in the hands,looking forward now for the result.
cofion!
 
Hello and welcome - you'll like it here.

If I'm lucky mine will arrive tomorrow, but Monday is worst case. May be better if it comes Monday as otherwise I'll get nothing done this weekend apart from photography - what a shame 😀

Gid
 
Gid said:
Stephan,

Thanks for your input.

What's your opinion of the camera?

Regards

Gid
Click to expand...

I love it. It's my "travel camera". I'm happy to chuck it in the bag for days out. I have it on aperture priority most of the time and the exposure is spot on.

The viewfinder is nice and bright. The rangefinder patch seems good to me but I more often set hyperfocal distance with the lense scale. It's all a bit slow and contemplative. My photographs tend to be architecture/landscape/inanimate objects. if I were after pictures of things that moved I'd be more comfortable with an autofocus slr.

The 65mm is a terrific general purpose lense that really seems to suit my view of the world. I've even thought of getting an equivalent lense for my Nikon FM2N. Problem is that I don't tend to use that camera too much any more! I have the 45mm and 135mm lenses as well but have barely used them.

Probably the biggest challenge with this camera is to learn to avoid smearing the viewfinder or rangefinder windows with finger prints! I think I managed to do this nearly everytime I picked it up in the first few months of ownership.

I did have a problem with the first roll of film that I put through. It didn't wind tightly enough - it was big and fat when I pulled it out and light leaked in the edges. I believe this happened to Shutterflower as well. Hasn't occurred since though.

Hope you enjoy your new purchase.

Stephan
 
Talisker said:
I've used Peak Imaging for processing (no problems - very efficient) but have been very disappointed with the quality of their scanning - uneven lighting across the scan and colourcasts. I was thinking about putting up a post myself asking for recommendations .
Click to expand...

Hmm, that's why I wanted to qualify the processing that they do for me - just film developing and contact sheets. The latter are from scans but of course quality is not so critical.
 
Stephan,

I was already like a kid at christmas, but your comments on the camera are making me even more impatient to get my hands on it. Thanks 🙂

Gid
 
Gid said:
Just ordered a new RF645 with 65mm and the 45mm.

Got the 645 & 65 from Misfuds and the 45 from Commercial Cameras - both in the UK. £499 for the 645 and £285 for the 45 - IMHO the steal of the century. I have to say that the guy at Commercial cameras was a real star - he had run out of the body and 65 kit and looked up Misfuds price and phone number for me - really helpful and did a good deal on the 45 (I have no connection BTW).
Click to expand...


Watch the RF from Mifsuds. I think a number of RFFers have had issues with the RF being out of alignment, among other issues, with the cameras bought new. I had two from Mifsuds, the first had a seriously out of vertical alignment RF which was returned to them at my cost. That was replaced with one that wouldn't focus on infinity. It took 2 phonecalls to convince them (they never returned the first one) that there was a problem with the second camera which I got them to collect. They then had to eat humble pie over the problem with it - it was obvious that the first guy I spoke to didn't believe me, he stated that RFs are never as accurate as SLRs. The second was replaced by the first one I had which had been fixed within a few days by Intro2020. That said, Mifsuds did get the problem sorted out quickly and admitted that they weren't aware of such issues prior to selling me the camera! Hopefully they will have checked their remaining stock correctly prior to despatch.

However, they are a great MF camera and I look forward to the better weather to go out and play!
 
Hi Gid welcome , I'm pretty new here too, Just wanted to say I think you will be very happy with your camera , I just had six weeks travelling in Thailand with mine and was very happy with the results. It was my first real; outing with the camera, I took my old Nikon F3 as well but that ended up staying in my bag most of the time , the Bronica was just as easy to take anywhere so there was no choice really. Every second person had a digi SLR and it was nice to not be "one of the crowd"

The results I was really very happy with (I havnt got them scanned yet but will be getting round to this soon ) the only warning I could give you is keep an eye on the exposure compensation dial as I accidentally moved it a few times whilst it was hanging against my body and as I was shooting slide I've got a few bad exposures, But this was my fault and not the cameras.

Enjoy!!

Paul
 
Re: Mifsuds - guess what? My camera arrived Monday with seriously off RF vertical alignment and infinity focus off. Phoned Mifsuds who didn't have any other cameras (I must have got the one you sent back 😡 ) and they suggested I call Intro 2020 (Bronica Agents) or send it back to them for money back. As I had bought my 45mm lens from Commercial Cameras, I gave them a call with the object of trying to get them to take the lens back so I could ditch the whole set up. However, Paul at Commercial Cameras calmed me down with reassurances that the Bronica service department is excellent and that contacting them was really the best way forward. The upshot is that i did speak to them, they were really apologetic, and I sent the camera to them - they received it yesterday. Hopefully I'll get it back by Friday and in good working order as all the reviews of this camera seem to be very good. Not a great start, but fingers crossed. I don't think I'll be doing business with Mifsuds again though. However, I will be doing business with Commercial Cameras at every opportunity - Paul is an excellent guy and I can recommend them to you highly.

Regards

Gid
 
Well, congratulations to gid and others with new Bronicas! Getting to be quite a few of us now on RFF. I have two of them, one with 135mm lens framelines and I'm looking for a 135mm lens for it.

I agree this is a great camera, and that the exposure compensation dial can get accidentally moved; it should probably have a push-to-unlock button. Also, in general, rollfilm cameras seem to benefit from a little extra tension on the feed spool as the film is started on the takeup, so that the film wraps tightly on the takeup spool at the start. I press my thumb on the feed spool until the arrows are lined up. Agreed that the vertical orientation is a non-issue, just typical of "half-frame" cameras like 6x4.5cm and 24x17mm when the film runs horizontally. I have to admit I just leave mine on the P setting!
 
Gid!!!!

Gid!!!!

Do not despair : the Bronica/Tamron service department IS fantastic. They fixed my RF645, free of charge (even without the US warranty), even though it was not "broken". And they did it FAST.

Trust in the system - at least their system. And for the love of all things divine, don't forsake the RF645 - it IS the camera you want. That truth will only become increasingly clear as days and months go by.
 
Doug said:
Also, in general, rollfilm cameras seem to benefit from a little extra tension on the feed spool as the film is started on the takeup, so that the film wraps tightly on the takeup spool at the start. I press my thumb on the feed spool until the arrows are lined up.
Click to expand...

Good point, I'd forgotten to mention that I've done this since my "fat film" incident way back.

Regards other UK sources for the camera, Ffordes (www.ffordes.co.uk) and Jonathan Harris (www.jonathanharris.co.uk) have a number of good quality second hand in stock. I've bought from Ffordes. They have a very good reputation.

Stephan
 
Gid: I do hope you get the kit back in time for the weekend. Once you do, just ship that E-1 over to me for a North American workout. I'll shoot it here in New York and in Ontario, two countries for the price of one! 😀
 
Trius said:
Gid: I do hope you get the kit back in time for the weekend. Once you do, just ship that E-1 over to me for a North American workout. I'll shoot it here in New York and in Ontario, two countries for the price of one! 😀
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Earl,

Any time you want to come to the UK for a holiday I'll gladly lend you the E1 for the duration and I guarantee that before you got back home you'd have bought one for yourself. You know you want one, just do it 🙂

Gid
 
Gid said:
Re: Mifsuds - guess what? My camera arrived Monday with seriously off RF vertical alignment and infinity focus off. Phoned Mifsuds who didn't have any other cameras (I must have got the one you sent back 😡 ) and they suggested I call Intro 2020 (Bronica Agents) or send it back to them for money back.
Click to expand...

The serial number of body of the second one I sent back was 1002857. Sound familiar at all?

Wouldn't put it past Mifsuds not getting it fixed prior to selling it again. The guy I spoke to on the Sunday (and I do remember his name) was sarcastic to a degree and somewhat condescending. Got me off the phone with the pretence of going to phone me back and never did, so had to phone myself again on the Monday. Spoke to someone else that day who was slightly more customer orientated. I got the feeling that they didn't want the hassle of having to get them fixed under warranty.

Considering the apparent lack of quality control on a number of these cameras, I feel sorry for anyone who has purchased a "new" kit from a dealer on Ebay, I suspect in those cases you would have to deal with Intro2020 yourself at cost. That dealer I mentioend is also based in Brixham; always wondered if they were connected with Mifsuds or whether just coincidental? He has the annoying habit of sticking automatic weekly feedback reminders against buyers who haven't yet left him feedback. I purchased a cheap item, hadn't got around to leaving feedback and then got the reminder - which I personally object to since feedback isn't compulsory. Had a rather heated argument with him last week after the second one (was being bloody minded about delaying leaving it after the first). :bang:

Intro2020 did a great job on straightening out the alignment on mine and judging by the paperwork in the box it was done very quickly so I'm sure you'll get yours back soon. Enjoy the camera, the few times I've actually been able to use it so far I've really like it!
 
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