anaanda
Well-known
I've had medium format rangefinders like the fuji in the past but it was a long time ago. I am thinking about geting into medium format again. What do you think of this camera and the 65 Lens.?? Please Help...
sf
Veteran
Of course I'll bite on this one!
Love it. Obviously.
Go here :
http://www.shutterflower.com/RF645 review.htm
full of opinions and facts and images.
Enjoy. And don't fail to infer from my review that you should, clearly, buy the RF645.
Love it. Obviously.
Go here :
http://www.shutterflower.com/RF645 review.htm
full of opinions and facts and images.
Enjoy. And don't fail to infer from my review that you should, clearly, buy the RF645.
anaanda
Well-known
What scanner do you use?
sf
Veteran
Konica Minolta Dimage Scan Multi Pro
Most of the images on the site were scanned using that scanner. Some were with the Epson Perfection 3170 (cruddy flatbed scanner).
Most of the images on the site were scanned using that scanner. Some were with the Epson Perfection 3170 (cruddy flatbed scanner).
flipflop
Well-known
shutterflower nice review on the bronica! great pics
telenous
Well-known
I 've been thinking about a medium format rangefinder camera some time now. I got yesterday a minty Bronica rf645. I am really, really impressed with the overall built and finish. This is a lot of camera for not that much money and a great way to enter Medium Format photography if portability is a factor in your choice.
Shutterflower, your glowing review did a lot to persuade me to go for the Bronica - thanks, I am really happy with it.
Shutterflower, your glowing review did a lot to persuade me to go for the Bronica - thanks, I am really happy with it.
Many of the images in my RFF gallery were shot with the RF645 and the three lenses, though mostly the 45 and 65mm. This is really a go-everywhere camera.
Gid
Well-known
It is a lovely camera. I've had mine for a few weeks now and absolutely love it. It really is small for MF and so quiet. Shutterflower's review is spot on. At current prices this camera is the steal of the century. If you can run to it, get the 45mm as well - lovely lens and again a steal at less than £300.
regards
Gid
regards
Gid
rool
Well-known
I really like the concept of this camera and it seems really well thought and made.
My concern is how do you get use to the vertical framing orientation? I am afraid the camera becomes much less ergonomic when you turn it.
I usually prefer shooting horizontally and I am wondering if it is annoying with this camera or if you get use to turn the camera around. Maybe you just end up shooting more vertical pics!
My concern is how do you get use to the vertical framing orientation? I am afraid the camera becomes much less ergonomic when you turn it.
I usually prefer shooting horizontally and I am wondering if it is annoying with this camera or if you get use to turn the camera around. Maybe you just end up shooting more vertical pics!
sf
Veteran
yes yes, quite nice - and some people say it is a nice way to "enter" medium format. . . well, I have been through the MF gauntlet, and I've ended up at the RF645. It is the zenith, the fantastic grand finale of my medium format experience rather than a mere entry into the great world of tonal, super detailed images.
It is a beautiful example of the evolution of cameras, and is as user friendly for beginners as it is powerful and refined for the advanced user.
The Bronica RF645 is the best camera I've ever owned. You'd be shorting yourself to buy any other medium format rangefinder. The Fujis have nice lenses, but they sport little else and feel like toys. The Mamiya has amazing glass. . . .but I've heard the Bronica 65mm described as sharper than the 80mm on the Mamiya. And the Mamiya is not as well built, not as balanced, not as ergonomic. Best of all : you can buy the 65mm Bronica lens for $175 at KEH. The kit for $850. You could buy TWO full RF645 kits (one for backup and parts - which may be needed someday when Tamron lets go) for the price of one used Mamiya 7. Not even the 7II.
No way around it. You must buy the RF645.
It is a beautiful example of the evolution of cameras, and is as user friendly for beginners as it is powerful and refined for the advanced user.
The Bronica RF645 is the best camera I've ever owned. You'd be shorting yourself to buy any other medium format rangefinder. The Fujis have nice lenses, but they sport little else and feel like toys. The Mamiya has amazing glass. . . .but I've heard the Bronica 65mm described as sharper than the 80mm on the Mamiya. And the Mamiya is not as well built, not as balanced, not as ergonomic. Best of all : you can buy the 65mm Bronica lens for $175 at KEH. The kit for $850. You could buy TWO full RF645 kits (one for backup and parts - which may be needed someday when Tamron lets go) for the price of one used Mamiya 7. Not even the 7II.
No way around it. You must buy the RF645.
sf
Veteran
I found the vertical orientation to be not a problem. I just end up shooting more portraits than landscapes (I mean orientation), and it has actually helped my photography. I found, yesterday, that the vertical orientation was a wonderful thing when shooting portraits of my sister for her comp card. I had to turn the Contax 645 I was using the week before or nearly every single shot, and it was heavy. . . the RF645 is natively vertical, lightweight, and just nice.
I do find that I turn the camera on its side for many landscapes, especially when i think I might crop to panoramic. It is no more annoying than turning a horizontal camera sideways for portraits or whatever. I find that I am not turning the camera any more than I did before, but just turning it at different moments.
It is a blessing more than a hindrance. And that vertical frame is to thank for the wonderfully compact body of the camera.
I do find that I turn the camera on its side for many landscapes, especially when i think I might crop to panoramic. It is no more annoying than turning a horizontal camera sideways for portraits or whatever. I find that I am not turning the camera any more than I did before, but just turning it at different moments.
It is a blessing more than a hindrance. And that vertical frame is to thank for the wonderfully compact body of the camera.
rool
Well-known
Thanks for the answer shutterflower. Interesting to know that it actually changed a little bit your way of taking pictures, and that it was for the better.
I am doing mainly street at the moment and I don't think I can justify buying this camera right now but I'd like to try it one day and go shoot a little bit in downtown L.A... my favorite spot at the moment.
I am doing mainly street at the moment and I don't think I can justify buying this camera right now but I'd like to try it one day and go shoot a little bit in downtown L.A... my favorite spot at the moment.
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telenous
Well-known
This is a fantastic camera, there's no geting around it. BUT I think it is primarily intended for the rangefinder user that already has one camera. The big problem is that the lens, supersharp as it is, is quite dark. I bought the camera knowing full well that it is destined for daytime use. No matter what speed of film you use, this is not the camera you will take with in a club etc. In my opinion it's natural habitat is the street with daylight.
Now don't get me wrong - I am as impressed as everyone with this camera. But as I said, it is the best SECOND camera I 've ever had or ever will.
Now don't get me wrong - I am as impressed as everyone with this camera. But as I said, it is the best SECOND camera I 've ever had or ever will.
Exactly my experience as well. I think any camera becomes less ergonomic when held sideways. I probably turn my Bronica as much as I turn my Pentax 67. In reviewing my catalog thumbnails I seem to shoot verticals and horizontals in about equal numbers. The only way I could avoid turning the camera is with square format rigs, and I'm not fond of them.shutterflower said:
While it's fine in daylight, I find it also fine in lower light... at least down to office interiors, some of which aren't all that bright. Many of my gallery shots are in office and retail shop interiors, though certainly not as dim as some clubs or restaurants. There is still room for f/1 and EI 3200, but f/4 and EI 500 is good for almost everything I encounter.telenous said:
I'll attach a couple of examples of low-light conditions. First one is at night in Old Sacramento shopping area in of course Sacramento CA. Second is really dim residential interior at the dinner table with my sister-in-law and her family near Fresno, again no light from the exterior.
Attachments
sf
Veteran
I understand the argument against its "darkness", but F4 is not THAT dark. I mean, for a MF rangefinder, you aren't going to find anything much "Brighter" unless you buy the Plaubel Makina. I found that I could handle shooting at night in London and Paris if I brought out the Delta 3200 and shot at 1600 (max ISO of the camera). Just fine. So long as I stayed around 4-5.6
As far as using it for street photography, well, it is all I brought with me on my 2 week Euro-photo extravaganza, and I never once felt I was missing anything. It was all I needed and more.
I suppose there might have been one or two instances where f1.4 would have been nice, but You make up for grain increases at high ISOs with larger negatives!
Oh well, if you really want to shoot street, as much as this camera pleases me, you might be more comfortable with something smaller (though the Bronica is only larger than the M3 by height as it matters). If you really want to do the MF street thing, and don't feel like dumping $850 into it, buy a cheap, used Fuji GA645 or a folder like the Bessa II. The Bessa II is a camera I would love to have.
Look it up on the auciton site. They are marvelous folding 6x9 cameras with couplied finders. Coupled, am I right?
Good luck
As far as using it for street photography, well, it is all I brought with me on my 2 week Euro-photo extravaganza, and I never once felt I was missing anything. It was all I needed and more.
I suppose there might have been one or two instances where f1.4 would have been nice, but You make up for grain increases at high ISOs with larger negatives!
Oh well, if you really want to shoot street, as much as this camera pleases me, you might be more comfortable with something smaller (though the Bronica is only larger than the M3 by height as it matters). If you really want to do the MF street thing, and don't feel like dumping $850 into it, buy a cheap, used Fuji GA645 or a folder like the Bessa II. The Bessa II is a camera I would love to have.
Look it up on the auciton site. They are marvelous folding 6x9 cameras with couplied finders. Coupled, am I right?
Good luck
sf
Veteran
And downtown LA is a rich place to shoot. I live there on and off - approximately whenever I have nothing better to do and have money to throw around - probably never again - and the shooting is great. For people stuff, I love to hang out at the Farmer's Market on Fairfax and 3rd. If you haven't been, go there for a day. Easy to spend an entire day there, between the Grove and the market. DO the market during the day and the grove at night. Actually, start out at Samy's Cameras, bother them for a bit, then make you way over to the market/grove. That is my perfect day.
sf
Veteran
to those considering the purchase, listen to this shutter sound :
http://www.shutterflower.com/20060323 012346.wav
I recorded that. Now, doesn't that sound just make you want to buy the camera? I find it irresistable.
http://www.shutterflower.com/20060323 012346.wav
I recorded that. Now, doesn't that sound just make you want to buy the camera? I find it irresistable.
RObert Budding
D'oh!
Fantastic camera! And I was really lucky to find a 100mm lens to round out the set. The entire kit is compact and light enough that it is now my carry-anywhere camera (it all fits in a Domke 803 bag). And the verticle orientation is not a problem as I get a visual cue every time I look through the finder.
The larger neg is a huge advantage with slow film. But I do reach for the Delta 3200 sooner than I would with my Contax and f 1.5 lens. But the larger neg offsets using faster film. So I'm much better off in bright light and probably about the same in low light. I count that as a net advantage for the RF645.
The larger neg is a huge advantage with slow film. But I do reach for the Delta 3200 sooner than I would with my Contax and f 1.5 lens. But the larger neg offsets using faster film. So I'm much better off in bright light and probably about the same in low light. I count that as a net advantage for the RF645.