Help chosing a MF

mugent said:
If you can manage with the fixed lens, and it's an awesome lens, the GF670, if bought used, it's pretty affordable, and a pleasure to behold and use.
Rolleiflex is nice, but if you are used to RF, you may find the waist level operation a bit cumbersome, I know I did.
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If you compare the cost of a new GF670 to other new medium format cameras on the market today it is still very affordable. :)

And that lens is certainly drool-worthy.
 
Pioneer said:
If you compare the cost of a new GF670 to other new medium format cameras on the market today it is still very affordable. :)

And that lens is certainly drool-worthy.
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Yup, the GF670, even brand new I think is superb value. It's $1700 USD new, what do you get in digital or film land for that, really? It's just amazing value if you ask me.
 
Bruno Gracia said:
WOOOOOW Tareg and Brian!!!!

Tareg, those are the portraits I would live to do! But Brian, those yours... same way! gorgeus and amazing DOF!
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Thanks Bruno!

They are taken by Mamiya RZ67 ProII with Mamiya 180mm lens, this lens was made for portraits, do you want to see my daughters shot from Hasselblad too?
 
Thanks!

The thing is, there are a huge number of camera out there which may produce results you'd like. The trick is sorting out the parameters which most quickly narrow down what you want.

So a series of questions to think through which could help narrow it down:

- What format (square, rectangle, etc)?
- Can you make due with a normal lens?
- Can you make due with a normal lens and close up filters?
- How much does portability matter?
- Do you want to shoot eye level of waist level?
- How much does lens speed matter?
- How much does close focusing matter?

If you want something wider than a normal lens (50mm equivalent in 35mm), you can rule out a lot of TLRs and folders. If portability is a big deal, the Mamiya cameras TLRs and SLRs can get large (with the exception of the 645).
 
Brian Legge said:
Thanks!

The thing is, there are a huge number of camera out there which may produce results you'd like. The trick is sorting out the parameters which most quickly narrow down what you want.

So a series of questions to think through which could help narrow it down:

- What format (square, rectangle, etc)?
- Can you make due with a normal lens?
- Can you make due with a normal lens and close up filters?
- How much does portability matter?
- Do you want to shoot eye level of waist level?
- How much does lens speed matter?
- How much does close focusing matter?

If you want something wider than a normal lens (50mm equivalent in 35mm), you can rule out a lot of TLRs and folders. If portability is a big deal, the Mamiya cameras TLRs and SLRs can get large (with the exception of the 645).
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I think I don't want to carry too much weight I'm not tripod user.

DO You know some not expensive option, instead of rolleiflex and hasselblad?

What about the Yashica 124? or the C330/220? Rolleicord?
 
not to sound harsh, but to Bruno:

are you just getting into film altogether? You mentioned how you have picked out your 35mm film setup which involves a Leica MP and several Leica lenses...

that's quite pricey. and it seems you don't have many inhibitions to get whatever MF camera you would want to get.

I know I'm not anyone to tell you how to spend your money, but don't you think you should start off slow and small first to see if it's worth that much of an investment?

is this your first rangefinder and MF camera altogether?
 
You're right Raphael, because of that I want just one 35mm camera, probably the cheapest I have (T3 or M2 I will see) and some cheap MF camera.

I've realized that with my actual way of life (living between a small town in Spain and London) I have no space or time for a lab, so I must conform myself with a scanner.

Will probably pick a good 35 digital, x2 again, or rx1r and use the Film to enjoy the experience.

So, I won't put much more money in film cameras due to I can take the same pictures with a cheapest zorki than my MP.
 
Good luck Bruno. These things are personal choices at the end of the day, we are all different, for example I am from London, travel frequently and live in a small spanish town in Andalusia and use film almost 100% and develop and print my own work at home. By the sounds of it you are keeping that great Leica glass so no bridges burnt there, as you say the body is incidental to final picture quality anyway. Enjoy.

I hear those bessas a pretty dam good for the money!
 
You could try a Yashica TLR, Rolleicord or Autocord. All of them can be used with Rolleinars (or with their brands Bay 1 close up filters). Prices are regional. It you could probably pick up a CLA'd body and filter for $300 in total. They'll all give great results.

For a while, the Mamiya 645 line was really cheap around here at least. So many were made that the price was pushed down a ways. Prices are heavily regional though - no idea what they go for around you.
 
They are both TLRs with tessar lenses so optically they are in the same ballpark. The Autocord was made by Minolta and had focus via a lever. The Rolleicord was the 'cheaper' version of the Rolleiflex. If you search the forums here you will find a lot of info on both.

In practice, they are fairly similar to use and both produce great results.
 
If you are coming from a rf don't laugh but look at a Koni-omega with the 90... Yes it's all metal/heavy but the lens is very sharp. And if anyone tries to steal it you can hit them with it and keep on shooting it, as it will not harm the camera in any way. Advantage is the cameras are cheap/inexpensive but you may need to have the back overhauled do to frame overlap when they get old but that's about it. See Greg Weber about repairs or used in good condition cameras.

wbill
 
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I just got a Mamiya 7II along with 80 and 150mm lenses. The RF patch is high contrast, easy to use, and the build quality seems much better in person than the review sites suggest. I have been shooting it like crazy over the past couple days, assuming the film turns out it would be my recommendation.
 
Of course there is fine grained 35mm film that you could use for portraits done with a compact and reasonable 35mm camera... Might get you further along in the end.
 
Ansel said:
Almeria,... Mojacar!
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Lucky You!


Biran, thank You so much for the information.

Agfa100, seems to be quite heavy!

NaChase, probably best lenses ever in MF, but now I want something lightest and cheapest :)

Frank, Could You give me an example, please?
 
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