slightly OT: MF SLRs - Best Bang for Buck?

JoeFriday

JoeFriday

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I've been hemming and hawwing over the idea of grabbing a medium format SLR now that there are some good deals to be found as pros switch over to digital format. But aside from recognizing name brands, I have no experience with MF SLR gear. The reason I'm gravitating toward SLR rather than something like a Mamiya 6 is that I need to focus under 2 feet.

I want great optics, and equipment that is easy for a beginner to get the hang of. Portability and aesthetics aren't much of an issue as I plan to use it mostly for 'studio work' or with a tripod in any case.

Anybody have suggestions about what gear I should look at... what I should stay away from... where I can get more information?
 
Kowa Super 66.

I guy I used to work with bought up 3 on ebay last year. He used to be a sales person at a camera shop in the 70's and had one then. These were his way of getting back to film.

The few images he had shown from earlier work were beatifully clear. He swears by the lenses and the durability of the camera.
 
I have a whole pile of Bronica 6x6 SLR gear in top condition that I will sell you cheap. Two bodies, lenses galore, all kinds of finders, hoods, and so on. Maybe we can work out a sale or trade if you're interested. I'm not saying it would be the best solution for you, just that I have it...and heck, I'm selling ever thang anyway...

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
Fedzilla_Bob said:
Kowa Super 66.

I guy I used to work with bought up 3 on ebay last year. He used to be a sales person at a camera shop in the 70's and had one then. These were his way of getting back to film.

The few images he had shown from earlier work were beatifully clear. He swears by the lenses and the durability of the camera.
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Isnt there one in classifieds?
 
lubitel said:
Isnt there one in classifieds?
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There is a six in the classifieds. I'm not usre about the differences in models.

One piece of advise the guy gave me was that the handle is hard to come by and if you can, get one as it makes a big difference in handling.

The other thing he said waas that the 80mm lens for these was a really nice piece of glass.
 
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How much do Hasselblad repairs run? A guy at a camera shop told me to skip the Hassy gear because so much can be wrong with them-the back, the body, the lens and if they're not all spec'd together, they're going to need repair. He didn't say how much it was, but he said "a lot." Was there any truth to this or was he just talking out of his butt?
 
ferider said:
One of the things I like about the Hassi is the double shutter which allows you to hand-hold down to 1/30 or so with an 80mm lens.
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I've never heard that before.. very nice. With my Bronica 6x7, I brace my body for the shutter release much the same way I do when firing a shotgun. I don't dare go below 1/125 on it which is a hinderance, especially with an f/4 lens.
 
that's kinda what I heard, too.. while the Hassy stuff takes great photos, you have to operate it just right.. and exercise it on a regular basis so it doesn't seize up.. very finicky gear
 
I think the Mamiya 645 is the best deal out there. I'm referring not to the 645 Super but the older M645, 645J and 645 1000s. These are very inexpensive these days, have excellent lenses, a variety of finders, and are really quite quick and easy to use. They do not have lens shutters, so if daylight fill flash is your thing you should be aware of that. Also, they do not have removable backs, so no mid-roll changes, but maybe that's not a big deal for you. They do require a PX28 battery to operate, but those are easily found.

I like the Kowa Super 66 a lot, but it's harder to find and more expensive. Lenses are great, but rather hard to find as well. I've become a fan of the Bronica S2A also, but these are a little older and probably could stand servicing before use. It does have quite the mirror slap, but it's actually kind of reassuring! Like the Mamiya, it's a focal plane shutter as well.

Bill, what sort of Bronica stuff do you have? I might be interested.
 
Regarding the finickiness of the Hasselblads, I think any design with an interchangeable lens shutter becomes more complicated to use. That would include the Kowa Super 66 -- you need to be sure the shutter is cocked before mounting and dismounting lenses (and the lenses also need to be charged before remounting). With the Hassy, likewise the film must be advanced in the film back before removing or reattaching. Adds complexity. This is not a big inconvenience, but you need to get used to it.
 
A Bronica etrsi is great bang for the buck. I used one daily for a year as a portrait camera with no issues. It's leaf shutter so you get sync at all speeds, and ttl modules are made for the metz flash system. All in all an inexpensive, flexible, capable system.

I've decided I liek TLRs better so i'm using the mamiya system now but if I needed an SLR I'd gor Bronica with no hesitation.
 
All MF gear is of high quality and the photography quality is great too, you can't go wrong with any of them. 645 stuff is almost free, the ETRS Bronicas and Pentax 645 can be had for very little $. Hasselblad lens prices remain pretty strong compared to the others.

If I were you I would be talking to Bill about his Bronica stuff.
 
You mention wanting an SLR because you want to focus close. The RB and RZ are great for up-close since they have built-in bellows just for that purpose. RB's seem to be awfully inexpensive these days. They have backs that can be rotated too. I am under the impression that the 6x4.5 and 6x7 Bronicas do not have revolving backs.
 
If you are not hauling the camera around the Mamiya RB67 is a good buy. they are relatively cheap on Ebay, the lenses are fantastic, you get a giant 6x7 negative and the revolving back is a great feature to go between landscape and portrait orientations. It is also very simple to operate and the bellows will allow you to get close without additional tubes etc.
I used a RZ67 and the chromes were fantastic but I needed something lighter I could backpack with.
Cheers,
Nick
 
ferider said:
My neighbor friend has a Bronica SLR. Compared to the Hassi it almost falls
out of your hand when you trigger the shutter ....

Roland.
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This has been my experience, as well; it's like holding a firecracker in your hand. I've got a used Bronica SQ-A kit, and I like it very much. It's really very robust, and I've never had a problem with it. Nice handling, although I think the ETRS/i gear tops the pile when it comes to "fitting in the hand" (at least for Bronica). I went with the SQ for 6x6, though. The ETR is 645, if you're into that.

I also find myself using the WL finder and the groundglass more than the prisms (including the metered/aperture-priority viewer); I think it's part of the fun of using these cameras.

At current prices, you can begin to consider the top-of-the-line stuff. I'm currently thinking about gearing-up to the SQ-Ai, which has nicer mechanics, finish, and a few features that make it more of a "carry-around" camera, IMO. Got any -Ai bodies, Bill?


Cheers,
--joe.
 
There's 1 RF option, a 6x9 Speed Graphics ( you can actually get a 6x6 or 6x7 or 6x9 roll film back). With the rear curtain shutter, you can even use a barrel lens.
 
KoNickon said:
Bill, what sort of Bronica stuff do you have? I might be interested.
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Bronica C - 2 bodies and about all the lenses, all the accessories with the exception of the uber-rare bellows set. Basically new-but-1965 gear. Extra stuff like chimney finder, slr finder, extension tubes, all that. I bought it all piece by piece after getting excited about MF and lens hacking - the Bronica C is ideal for that sort of thing, with the dual-lens mount and removable lens focusing helical (I have an extra of that, too). You could use barrel lenses and have a heck of a time. I just didn't get around to it.

Downside - The Bronica, as reported, sounds very loud when going off. Also, the C did not have removable backs, but film inserts (I see that as a plus, but still). And since it is circa 1965, no metering at all. Strictly external if you want to meter.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
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