Need help! Whats the best **medium format** Camera + Lens for portrait Photography

Well, I would suggest the Hasselblad 500CM or ELM, with the 120 Macro-Planar or the 150 Sonnar.

Another good way to go is the 180mm f2.8 CZJ Sonnar on a P6-mount body. I currently favor the Hartblei 1006M (which takes Hasselblad backs), and the Exakta 66. The bokeh of
the 180mm f2.8 Sonnar is absolutely first-rate. http://hassydan.tripod.com
 
shutterflower said:
well, yeah, these comments are all opinions, as everything knows.

For studio portrait work, if you want Manual focus, the RZ67 Pro II is the best possible choice . . . .from my perspective. AF, then the H1, and if handheld, then it gets complicated - but still the H1.

I say the Mamiya because you can get great lenses for decent prices, there are lots of cheap accessories on Ebay, and the bellows focusing is reall really useful in the studio and out. ANd hte revolving back too.

When I say "don't even bother with other cameras" because they won't compare - that is clearly a personal opinon. I tried the 4x5 for portrait work, much too slow. But some people are much better (most are) than I am with the LF gear.

Really, the RZ is the best choice according to many photographers out there, but I would choose something AF because I hate working on a tripod, in the studio, etc. Hasselblad H1 all the way.

Manual focus, in the studio : RZ67 with a portrait lens, maybe a soft focus lens

AF in the studio or out : Hasselblad H1 (but for your budget, try to find a Pentax 645N)

Manual focus out of hte studio : Hasselblads, Mamiya 645s. Mostly the Mamiyas for cost reasons, and because of the HUGE range of gear for the 645s.
Click to expand...

Look through some back issues of Professional Photographer magazine . You will probably find that most of the photos submitted by PPA members were taken with a Mamiya RB or RZ67.

R.J.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom