Lure of Medium Format

[RObert Budding]

I really love my Contax IIIa. I really do. But a sleek little Mamiya 645 has caught my eye, and I'm reaching for her more and more often. My Contax often sits home, alone, while I cavort around town with my Mamiya. Is it over with the Contax? Or will I eventually come back and beg for forgiveness?

Anyone else been lured by the siren call of medoum format?

Robert

 

[stephen_lumsden]

I have to admit I am using the YAshica-Mat a lot more these days. It seems to be giving better results overall. Its viewfinder definitely seems to aid composition. Funnily enough the Contax II used to be on the top of my shopping list, but I am thinking more about getting a Rolleiflex( for landscapes anyway)these days.

rgds

Stephen

 

[jon_flanders]

I just picked up a Ansco Speedex folder and a Ricoh Diacord.

I really like the results so far, but they both have limitations for everyday use,
I don't see myself giving up my 35mms any time soon.

Particularly when I get such good results from my Minolta Hi-Matic and SRT.
Not to mention all the other rangefinders I have accumulated.

 

[back alley]

enjoy both!

they certainly each have strengths. plus there is the unique fun factor for each.

joe

 

[XAos]

Ansco Speedex making its way to my house this very moment. Waiting with baited breath. I have been thoroughly enjoying the RB67 (largely responsible for me getting the Speedex) and eventually I'd like to pick up an inexpensive TLR, but I have enough toys of late that I need to learn to use. At first I chafed at getting only 10 shots a roll. Now - I would still take 24 or 36 if I'm going to an event but think I'll probably start loading 12 shot rolls of 35mm in the future (though I HAVE to fix the daylight loss at either end if I'm loading rolls that short.) I don't always do it, but my preference is to shoot an entire roll at a time. Go hike, use up the roll. Go to the park use it up. It does focus your shots a little more having to think abou thow many you have left.

 

[wlewisiii]

I currently use every format I can get my grubby paws on... from 135 to (all kinds of variations on) 120 to 4x5 so far and if I ever get the pennies I'll try sub-mini, half-frame and 8x10 as well. It's all fun goodness 😀 Use as many as you can and appreciate thier strengths and learn thier weaknesses and just when you want to throw all of 'em in the nearest dumpster, well, that's when you get that one image...

William

 

[XAos]

Indeed, if I ever get some coffee in the house I intend to pose the RB67 with the Minolta 16II

 

[Todd.Hanz]

I heard the siren call of medium format and crashed into the rocky shores big time, in the past months I've bought a Yashica 124G, and two Rolleiflexes: 3.5F and a 2.8E to go with my Yashica 635 and Hassy I already own. My latest was a Russian Iskra 6x6.

The tonal range and detail you get from medium format is amazing, and I actually prefer 12 exposure to 36, I slow down and think more now.

My wife and I were out of town the other day and I was packing up a TLR in my bag when she asked me if I was taking one of my Leicas, I had to stop and think for a moment..... now that's scary!

Todd

 

[wlewisiii]

Todd, if you're having that problem already, you do not want to pick up a 4x5. But there comes a moment when 2 shots makes even more sense than 12...

William

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

... I actually prefer 12 exposure to 36, I slow down and think more now.

What?? You mean to say you don't want fries with that?? 36 frames per second, mind-reading autofocusing, cameras don't cut it for you? Bah. 😉

I like my Rolleiflex in that respect too, you think about the photograph, how it's composed, looking at the highlights and the shadows, seeing how the exposure would make what areas come out best...

what's still painful for me is scanning the negative. I have an ancient Epson 2450, which takes 7 minutes to scan each frame. At least the workflow is consistent!

 

[GeneW]

I hear you, Todd. I've added a Yashicamat and a Hassy to the Rolleiflex I already owned. The detail and clarity is something else -- and grain is simply not a factor. It's funny -- I started with medium format (Ikoflex IIa) and find myself coming full circle.

Gene

 

[kiev4a]

It's possible to get great results with 35mm but every so often I get out the Mamiya C220 or my Koni-Omega Rapid 100 just to put things into proper perspective -- larger negative -- more detailed prints. A decent medium format camera will outperform a very expensive 35mm when the job calls for big prints.

 

[back alley]

i have to admit that i'm looking forward to the mat 124g, but as much for the change in work style as for bigger neg.

joe

 

[Doug]

That lure hooked me 29 years ago when I got the first of my two Pentax 6x7's. I've always preferred eye-level viewing over waist-level. But these days I mostly shoot with a pair of Bronica RF645's and 645 Fujis of the GS and GA persuasion. 35mm can be an attractive distraction, though. Enjoy that Mamiya, Robert, guilt-free! 🙂

 

[wyk_penguin]

I really love my Contax IIIa. I really do. But a sleek little Mamiya 645 has caught my eye, and I'm reaching for her more and more often. My Contax often sits home, alone, while I cavort around town with my Mamiya. Is it over with the Contax? Or will I eventually come back and beg for forgiveness?

Anyone else been lured by the siren call of medoum format?

Robert

Why buy the 645 when you can get the 6X6 and 645 mask for mamiya.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I shoot mostly Leica but sometimes I feel like something else -- so I use something else. Where's the guilt trip? I drive a car and ride a motorcycle; I cook on a barbecue and a gas range; I drink Scotch and Bourbon (never mixed...).

The whole idea that enjoying yourself in different ways is somehow sinful is a great puzzle to me. It's like those idiot recipes for 'sinfully delicious chocolate cake'. Remove gluttony and can you think of any sins involved?

Cheers,

Roger

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Shhhhhhhhhhhhh.... don't tell anyone... I shoot with a Canon T70 and a zoom lens.

Sometimes I'll get really nuts and I go out with my Canon Powershot G2 and a polarizing filter. Crazy stuff. Really.

I think most of the forum members shoot something other than their beloved rangefinders.

Go forth, Capture lots of light on phat philm.

 

[smiling gecko]

fedzilla_bob - who fondles metals and glass - you have gleaned a truth that ripples beneath the surface of our vast rfdr commnunity pond...i believe many of us do use , embrace, and employ "something other" when we are about our photographic quests ( please bear with the loquacity and expansive phrasing - I am re-reading "Don Quixote" and it's all I can do to keep from spouting proverbs ala Sancho Panza).

My latest "something other" is a FSU viewfinder 120 Skolnik...then there is my Rolleiflex SLX + 6002...Pentax6x7...Diana...Holgaroid... AGFA Isoly 120... Ricoh TLR ...and eeeek !!!! an Olympus Centurion APS ZLR... Casio Exilm..."different horses for different courses" an expression from a UK photomag...just remember to enjoy and have pfun on your pfotographic pforaging..."it's all good".

 

[RObert Budding]

This all started when I took a zone system class, which eventually led to 16x20 prints from my TLR. Now I'm even looking into 4x5, but I have doubts that I have the time to shoot LF (except, perhaps for a press camera).

Someone asked why not shoot a format larger than 645 and use masks. Just check the price of used Mamiya lenses and you will understand. I paid only $280 for an excellent + 150/3.5 "N" lens. And other Mamiya lenses are really cheap, too.

I did consider the Contax 645 and Hasselblad, but the lense prices are very high - mostly $1,000 plus per lense.

Anyway, I'll hold onto the Contax IIIa and see how often I use it. It is a beautiful camera! But I will clear out my shelves if it doesn't get used.

Robert

 

[Kin Lau]

Just finished cleaning up my Seagull TLR, still have put film thru my Ricohflex yet, but I'll do one of them today. The Salyut has been fun. Now I have a Busch Pressman & Baby Graphics (both 2x3, only 8 shots on a roll or sheet film) and an Anniversary Speed Graphics (4x5) competing for attention also.