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

flipflop

flipflop

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Hi,
Just wondering what the best portrait camera and lens are....Say the budget is 650.00

Im thinking mostly head shots or maybe head and shoulders.
Thanks
 
Can you get a hasselblad system for $650? Even with a WLF? A bargain kit from KEH with the 80mm is like $800. If you go up to a portrait lens, you're going to be around $500 for that, right?

I feel like a Bronica might be affordable. However, you might not want to go 6x6 for portraits. Perhaps a 645 system would work well. ETRS?

allan
 
what lens would you suggest for the bronica kit...and what about the GS-1...what do you think of that camera?
 
You might be able to pick up a Rolleiflex 3.5 Planar or Xenotar. Or possibly a Rolleiflex SL66 (I paid $625) with f/2.8 80mm Planar.

There also are a large number of Japanese medium format cameras in that price range -- can't help you with these, however, as I have no knowledge in this area.
 
A Hasselblad 500CM ($109) from keh can be had with a 150/4 T* lens ($286), wlv ($35), and A12 back ($84) for $514 if you buy it individually. I don't see how that would hurt too much. A non-coated lens would be about $65 less.
 
I think I need something longer than 80mm...I have a yashica with a 75mm and wish it was a tad longer for what I want to do. I want something in the range of 90mm-105 in 35mm
ThankS!
 
I just bought a Kowa Six and 150mm lens for less than $500. These are single coated lenses, with exc. center sharpness. But with anything like that you have to figure in the cost of a CLA. A modern camera for the purpose would be a Pentax 645. They have a portrait lens or two for that camera. There are lots of them on the market, but I have not checked the prices recently.

Richard
 
To duplicate the 90mm - 105mm 35mm focal lengths for medium format try these:

6x4.5: 145mm - 170mm
6x6: 165mm - 190mm
6x7: 180mm - 210mm
6x9: 210mm - 240mm
 
We are all going to have our preferred choices; for me it's a Rollei SL66 and the 120 Planar, 150 Distagon, or for a softer effect a 150 Schneider that was converted for SL66 mount.
 
My choice is the 165mm f/2.8 on Pentax 67; I got mine used from KEH for $265, and a decent body with non-meter prism should be around the same or less I think. Lovely fast lens with 30° angle of view, same as an 85mm on the 35 format.

Or if we want to stick with RF cams, there's the nice 100mm f/4.5 for the Bronica RF645, but that blows the budget.
 
I use a Mamiya 645 Pro TL with 150/3.5 "N" lens for portraits, all purchased from KEH. I have a Pro TL body ($225 in excellent condition and no PowerGrip), non-metered prism (I have one in Bargain grade that cost $50, you can have it for $30 plus shipping. Perfect optics, but a scuff on the outside surface). Add in about $100 for a film back and $175 for an Excellent Plus 150/3.5 "N" lens. You'll also need an extension tube for tight head shots ($50).

So that all totals a bit less than $600. But you'll need to pay shipping.

KEH seems to be bundling most bodies with a PowerGrip now. GIve them a call and they'll most likely unbundle.

Robert
 
There's also the Mamiya 645. A 645 with 120 insert, prism and 150mm lens can easely be found for your budget.
You could also buy a Kiev 60 (with 80 mm lens) and Zeiss Jena 120 and 180 mm lenses for your budget. But I don't know if I would qualify the Kiev as 'the best portrait camera'. The lenses could arguably qualify as 'best'.

Wim
 
You haven't said how you intend to use the camera. That is, will you be walking around the street, taking snapshots of the family, or in a studio. You have been given a lot of good answers already, mostly SLRs of some type or other. Nothing wrong with that.

Now if you have been around my posts long you know I am going to suggest the possibility of the Super Press 23. With a 150mm lens, it is in your price range and a good user for what you want, whether on the street or in the studio, especially if you get a focusing back for studio. Not an SLR by any means, but very useful for other types of photography too. And a rangefinder too (why would that matter here? lol).

Have you considered 4x5 if you are looking at studio? Of course, that brings in other aspects such as an enlarger or scanner that will accept that size film. But,

http://cgi.ebay.com/Calumet-4x5-Mon...569607012QQcategoryZ15247QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem - calumet

http://cgi.ebay.com/CALTAR-S-210MM-...573404289QQcategoryZ30076QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem - 210mm lens

are within your price range.

Finally, since you alredy have a Yashica, have you considered the auxillery telephoto lens for that? Especially since you want it for portraits, if there is a slight loss in resolution (and I think it would be slight), it should not matter, and will save you a lot of money.

Good luck in your choice.
 
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