Help me choose a 6X6 SLR

[Disaster_Area]

I've been shooting TLR's for a while and love square format MF. I'd like to pick up a SLR system, something like a Bronica or Hasselblad. My main reason for wanting one is I'm finding the fixed lenses of my TLR's a bit limiting sometimes. I thought about a Mamiya TLR, but if I'm going to invest in a bunch of new lenses I'd like to invest in a set I can use on my Canon 50D with a Mirex tilt shift adapter or other adapter... double the bang for the buck. So which system to invest in? I'd like to keep my initial investment around $500 if possible (body, lens, film back, waist level finder) but I could save up a bit longer if there's a convincing argument to.

 

[chrishayton]

Bronica SQ/A. Cheap, great quality, great lenses and well priced. hasselblads are great and a 500 isnt that expensive but lenses and accessories are.

 

[matthew J Shaw]

I Second Chris.

Go for the bronica, You'll find a good SQ/a well within your budget and if you look around there are bargains to be had on lenses and all those other bits.

I have a good system I've built up over a few years as I also love the square format. Theres also still a lot of people who will service the lenses (worth doing every now and again).

Best of luck finding one and enjoy using it...

 

[kuzano]

Bronica 6X6 without electronics...no meter

Bronica 6X6 without electronics...no meter

There is a Bronica 6X6, which uses all the same lenses, backs, and other accessories as the SQ/A. I had one to avoid battery dependent operation. The model is the SQ/B. It often sells for less. I used to use mostly manual metering, and cold weather shooting, hence the reason for the manual operation with no meter in the body.

I have no reservation about the metering in any of the Bronica line, having used SQ and ETR models.

Just a note about a little known late model Bronica square.

I also used Bronica S2 cameras, and Kowa Six for 6X6 and they are inexpensive and shoot images comparable to Hasselblad. The Nikkor 75 on the Bronica Zenza and Bronica S2 models is highly sought and shoots great images.

 

[shadowfox]

If you want to use the lenses with your Canon DSLR, one way to do that is by getting into the Pentacon Six system. And AFAIK, the only SLR that has that lens mount is some version of Kiev 88 (a quick online search reveals Kiev 88CM model).

Apart from that, I'd probably also go for Bronica SQ because of high price/value ratio and abundance of parts and accessories.

I have been very lucky when I build my Hassy kit, I got beat up parts, but none of them failed me, yet.

There are more things that can go wrong in a Hasselblad system than let's say a Mamiya 645 system.

I almost forgot about Kowa Six, but it looks like a compact and capable system.

 

[Bob Michaels]

Another Bronica SQ / SQA recommendation. Highest value / price of anything out there in photography. Very reliable and needing minimal maintenance. Good lenses at incredibly cheap prices.

Just be aware that some accessories like the WLF and SQA winding crank sell for much more than you would expect due to their scarcity these days.

 

[hks3sgte]

The Kowa Six is a great deal. Also, the Norita Graflex has the fast 80mm f/2 lens!

 

[eli griggs]

Hasselblad 500c or cm. Someone just bought one, a 500cm, with lens, back, finder, etc, for five hundred so it can be had, you'll just have to look around a bit but it is worth the bother.

 

[daveywaugh]

I'll six or seventh the Bronica 🙂 Great price/performance BUT... sold it when I finally could afford a Hasselblad. No snobbery... and I probably didn't need to do it, but have never regretted it. It's worth the extra $200-300 bucks in my opinion. The Zeiss 80mm standard is a class above the Bronica anyway you look at it IMO and the bodies ultimately more reliable (I have owned ETR, ETRsi, SQAi and the Hasselblad is definitely a better all round system.

 

[meven]

I am in the same situation here, I want to move from TLR (YashicaMat 124G) to MF SLR (6x6) and decided to go for the Bronica SQ-a.

Any idea what a reasonable price would be for the basic kit including body with waist level finder, 6x6 120 back and Zenzanon 80/2.8 lens (all in good working and cosmetic condition).

 

[Merkin]

If you think you might want a Hasselblad, I would go ahead and jump, as prices are starting to creep back up.

 

[Tracnac]

You can have a very good deal on Hasselblad (500 C/M), don't take an ELM. Rollei 6008 is the a very good alternative.

Regards.

 

[Krosya]

I hear Bronicas are good, but never used one. I do have a Kowa Six system and its a good camera with fine lenses that have leaf shutters, just like Hassy. Worth looking into.

 

[Seele]

Kuzano,

I think the SQ-B was a stripped-down version of the SQ-A, but the Seiko shutter in every lens still has to be driven electronically.

 

[Al Kaplan]

I loved the Zeiss Jena lenses on my Petacon Six cameras but they always seemed to develop a problem with overlapping frames. I had the 50, 80, 180, and 300mm lenses (but not the 65 or 120mm for some reason) back in the 1970's. They came with a free Pentax 42 adapter, but you'd have to recock the diaphragm after each shot.

I also had a Hasselblad 500C for a number of years. Films are much better now 35 years later and I'm happy with 35mm results. I only have a Minolta Autocord in 120 these days. With the SLR's I was shooting over 90% with the 80mm anyway. For a quick shot a 12 exposure roll is handy, hence the Autocord.

 

[35mmdelux]

For portraiture there is nothing like a Hasselblad and 100mm Zeiss Planar. Compact and easy to shoot handheld, works with precision. For wide, 60mm Distagon (35mm equiv in 135 format) for two lens kit.

With the 100mm I can get close for a good half body shot or I can back up and get a small group.

 

[Roger Hicks]

The 'junk' cameras can work fine. A lot depends on price. I have a KowaSix inherited from my father-in-law which works fine, though if it breaks, I'll probably give up, and a Pentacon TL which SO FAR has worked fine because I obey the slightly eccentric rules such as never letting the wind-on lever fly back.

Hassleblads are great with 80mm but fairly ill-balanced, hand held, with some other lenses.

Cheers,

R.

 

[35mmdelux]

Hassleblads are great with 80mm but fairly ill-balanced, hand held, with some other lenses.

Cheers,

R.

I can assure you that a Hasselblad with 60mm or 100mm is exquisitely balanced. The cam becomes unbalanced when 45/90 degree prisms are attached, then they become top heavy. The WLF resolves all of this and keeps the cam very compact.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I can assure you that a Hasselblad with 60mm or 100mm is exquisitely balanced. The cam becomes unbalanced when 45/90 degree prisms are attached, then they become top heavy. The WLF resolves all of this and keeps the cam very compact.

Yes, the 60 and 100 aren't too bad (though not as good as the 80, so therefore not 'exquisite' in my book) but I don't much care for wider or longer. My sole intention was to point out that the beautiful little 500/80 package can be misleading.

Cheers,

R.

 

[kenken]

Chinese Seagull 4B or Rolleiflex Mx