defconfunk
n00b
I only got into film last year. I spent most of the last year playing around and figuring out what I do and do not like. I picked up a Yashica Minister 700 to see what the RF fuss was about, and I love it - but I never use it. Whenever I want a daily shooter, I reach for my OM40 instead.
I wanted to try my hand at medium format, so I picked up an old Nettar folder (non RF). While I enjoy the camera as art, I find it a royal pain to use as a camera (no ranger finder, no light meter, limited shutter speeds, and a terribly tiny view finder). But the Medium Format film is a keeper.
I may or may not keep the Minister (hard to keep something you never use, but it is cool when I do). I will definitely be selling the Nettar and moving on to something easier to use. I like the idea of combining the two with a medium format RF. A Fuji GS546S recently came up for sale for $375 locally, and on paper it looks like what I want, but the fagility scare me (I plan on taking this thing hiking, so while it doesn't need to be a tank, it can't be fragile either). That's pretty much the top of my budget, which really limits my choices.
I'm hoping for some ideas and experiences on which way to proceed.
Must haves
-Manual focus
-Light Meter (I have a light meter, but I prefer using an in-camera meter)
-Fixed lens close to normal (35mm - 70mm in 35mm terms)
-Inexpensive
-120 back
Wants/Wishes
-Big bright finder (if RF, strong patch)
-Light meter that works on a scale (example: Canon AE-1, not just "over, under, good enough" ala point and shoots)
-Reasonably tough
-Fast lens
-Ergonomic
Do not care about
-Auto focus
-AE Lock
-Weight
-Power anything (other than light meter)
-which ratio it uses (645,6x6,67,69, all are fun)
Other than the fragility, the GS645S looks pretty much ideal to me.
Other options in the RF world include the later Fuji GA (no manual focus?), the fuji 67 and 69 RFs, the Mamyia 6&7, and the Bronica RF (all too expensive?)
Dipping outside of the RF world, There are the old MF Mamyias (645e,j,pro,super). There are an E and a J locally that are near my price range. They have the benefit of fast lenses (80mm 2.8), but these two lack light meters. The Pentax 645 system is also an option, but the view finder seems to always be called 'dim' and the light meter sounds like the type I'd prefer to avoid.
So, if you've used any of these cameras, what would you recommend? I know the low budget makes this thread lousy for vicarious-day-dreaming, but think of it as problem solving 😉
I wanted to try my hand at medium format, so I picked up an old Nettar folder (non RF). While I enjoy the camera as art, I find it a royal pain to use as a camera (no ranger finder, no light meter, limited shutter speeds, and a terribly tiny view finder). But the Medium Format film is a keeper.
I may or may not keep the Minister (hard to keep something you never use, but it is cool when I do). I will definitely be selling the Nettar and moving on to something easier to use. I like the idea of combining the two with a medium format RF. A Fuji GS546S recently came up for sale for $375 locally, and on paper it looks like what I want, but the fagility scare me (I plan on taking this thing hiking, so while it doesn't need to be a tank, it can't be fragile either). That's pretty much the top of my budget, which really limits my choices.
I'm hoping for some ideas and experiences on which way to proceed.
Must haves
-Manual focus
-Light Meter (I have a light meter, but I prefer using an in-camera meter)
-Fixed lens close to normal (35mm - 70mm in 35mm terms)
-Inexpensive
-120 back
Wants/Wishes
-Big bright finder (if RF, strong patch)
-Light meter that works on a scale (example: Canon AE-1, not just "over, under, good enough" ala point and shoots)
-Reasonably tough
-Fast lens
-Ergonomic
Do not care about
-Auto focus
-AE Lock
-Weight
-Power anything (other than light meter)
-which ratio it uses (645,6x6,67,69, all are fun)
Other than the fragility, the GS645S looks pretty much ideal to me.
Other options in the RF world include the later Fuji GA (no manual focus?), the fuji 67 and 69 RFs, the Mamyia 6&7, and the Bronica RF (all too expensive?)
Dipping outside of the RF world, There are the old MF Mamyias (645e,j,pro,super). There are an E and a J locally that are near my price range. They have the benefit of fast lenses (80mm 2.8), but these two lack light meters. The Pentax 645 system is also an option, but the view finder seems to always be called 'dim' and the light meter sounds like the type I'd prefer to avoid.
So, if you've used any of these cameras, what would you recommend? I know the low budget makes this thread lousy for vicarious-day-dreaming, but think of it as problem solving 😉