Portraits with a Voightlander Bessa III

[Henry Alive]

Hello every body: This is my first post is this Forum, so I want to thank you to allow me to become a member of it.
I meanly work with both SLR Nikon F100 and FM3a, TX400 film and HC110 developer. Eventually, I also take photos with a Mamiya 645.
In fact, I think Mamiya 645 is a very good medium format camera to take portraits. However, it is not comfortable for travelling, so I do not use to take neither landscapes nor street photos with this camera.
Some weeks ago, I borrowed a Mamiya 6 from a friend of mine and I enjoyed taking general street photos. The quality was very high if you compare it with the same picture taken with my FM3a at the 30 x 40 print size or more. However, I found that Mamiya 6 was not very appropriated to take portraits, since the shorter focus distance was approximately a meter far from the model.
I am interested in the new Voightlander Bessa III since it seems to be perfect for travelling. However, I would like to know your opinion about taking portraits with it.
Thanks again,
Henry.

 

[Henry Alive]

Thanks for your comment. I will continue looking for more information about this camera.
Henry.

 

[historicist]

You can get a close up kit for the Mamiya 6, and a short telephoto. Neither are ideal for close portraits but much better than the Bessa III.

 

[john_s]

You can get a close up kit for the Mamiya 6, and a short telephoto. Neither are ideal for close portraits but much better than the Bessa III.

The Mamiya's 150mm lens has a closest focus of 1.8m, and the maximum magnification is only about 10% more* than that of the 75mm lens, so it doesn't solve the problem of getting a head shot.

* the focal length is 2x the standard lens, 75mm, but the minimum focus distance is 1.8x that of the 75mm, leading to not much better magnification.

 

[dshfoto]

Have you tried a Fuji GS645S, They are very compact for travel, and have a vertical "portrait" orientation which is good for portraits.