MF camera for simple portrait orientation shooting

[menthel]

Right, I have some money burning a hole in my pocket and would like a MF camera. SLR style preferred with rectangular format. However, I want something that can easily change from landscape to portrait formats. I am happy with 645 as I would like to keep size and weight down and would also like one that stops me from double exposing (you should see most of my lubitel shots!). I would also prefer waist viewfinder and don't mind not having a built in meter.

I like the ETR cameras but they don't make shooting in portrait that easy!

What do you suggest?

 

[robbeiflex]

It sounds to me like you are looking for something more along the lines of an old folder, a Bronica RF645, or a Fuji GS645 rather than SLR or TLR.

Cheers.
Rob

 

[menthel]

It sounds to me like you are looking for something more along the lines of an old folder, a Bronica RF645, or a Fuji GS645 rather than SLR or TLR.

Cheers.
Rob

You may be right, I will have a google! 😉

 

[ChrisN]

Check out the GA645 also - very capable camera.

 

[menthel]

Thanks for the suggestions but they are all either fixed lens (I would ideally like to have a standard and a wide angle) and also a bit too dependant on electronics.

 

[sahe69]

In which ballpark is your budget?

 

[sniki]

Contax 645 AF

 

[menthel]

In which ballpark is your budget?

If possible £300 or less. Can always go a little higher though! 😉

Contax 645 AF

I really should have mentioned in the first post I am looking for something manual focus and as manual as possible, sorry!

 

[jamais]

ARAX-645? It's a modified Kiev 60 in 6x4.5 portrait orientation format.

 

[bidnez]

The Bronica RF645 is great, shooting portrait style as default.

 

[sevo]

Thanks for the suggestions but they are all either fixed lens (I would ideally like to have a standard and a wide angle) and also a bit too dependant on electronics.

6x4.5 was a (mostly scale focus, always fixed lens) Japanese folder format of the forties, and got revived as a electronic SLR format (followed by a few oversized professional folders/compacts) in the mid seventies. There is no such thing as a mechanical 6x4.5 camera with interchangeable lenses, short of attaching a 6x4.5 back to a Hasselblad or RB67 (where the Hasselblad would not be vertical and about four times the size of any of the Fujis, and the RB67 - flippable to vertical - would be twice its size again).

If you accept a compromise on electronics, and want standard and wide, the zoom GA645Zi, Bronica RF or any of the 645 SLRs would do. But that's it - the 645 market is limited...

 

[menthel]

ARAX-645? It's a modified Kiev 60 in 6x4.5 portrait orientation format.

Now that is a lump! Any details on the size etc- I can't see any on their site.

 

[jamais]

...I want something that can easily change from landscape to portrait formats....I would also prefer waist viewfinder...

On the (heavy and bulky) Mamiya RB/RZ series cameras you can comfortably change orientation while using a WLF.

 

[menthel]

6x4.5 was a (mostly scale focus, always fixed lens) Japanese folder format of the forties, and got revived as a electronic SLR format (followed by a few oversized professional folders/compacts) in the mid seventies. There is no such thing as a mechanical 6x4.5 camera with interchangeable lenses, short of attaching a 6x4.5 back to a Hasselblad or RB67 (where the Hasselblad would not be vertical and about four times the size of any of the Fujis, and the RB67 - flippable to vertical - would be twice its size again).

If you accept a compromise on electronics, and want standard and wide, the zoom GA645Zi, Bronica RF or any of the 645 SLRs would do. But that's it - the 645 market is limited...

Thanks- how 'electronic' are the ETR series of cameras? Sounds like I may have to think this whole thing over more carefully!

 

[jamais]

...Any details on the size etc...

Hartblei offers a similar modification ("456") - on their site you can see the weight and the dimensions: http://www.hartblei.com/cameras/kiev-60.htm.

 

[Austerby]

Mamiya 645? Lots around and cheap for older ones. Very good lenses. Choice of viewfinders. Have to tilt camera to change orientation of course.

 

[menthel]

On the (heavy and bulky) Mamiya RB/RZ series cameras you can comfortably change orientation while using a WLF.

These are just too big for me!

Hartblei offers a similar modification ("456") - on their site you can see the weight and the dimensions: http://www.hartblei.com/cameras/kiev-60.htm.

Quite large too but better than some. The only proble is the aesthetics of the whole thing! 😉

Mamiya 645? Lots around and cheap for older ones. Very good lenses. Choice of viewfinders. Have to tilt camera to change orientation of course.

I don't want to have to swivel the camera around really, sorry!

 

[randomm]

Fujica GS645, if its had new bellows fitted.

 

[sahe69]

What about a Hassie? No need to change camera orientation, just crop as you like afterwards. With a 80 mm the size & weight is not too bad either.

 

[ruby.monkey]

The RZ-67 with WLF and 110mm f/2.8 is light enough for all-day carry, despite the size. With the right bag and/or strap you might find it suits your needs.

Various Linhofs have rotating backs too, but they're a) rangefinders, b) expensive, and c) about as light and handy as your average supertanker. Even the Bronica will require you to tilt the camera over for portrait shots, for all that you can still focus through a waist-level prism finder.