Today is my birthday, need some help

[bence8810]

So it's my birthday today. It's 7am so I have the full day ahead of me.

I want to surprise myself with a MF SLR camera. I don't have the budget for a Hassy so these are my options.

Mamiya 645
Mamiya RB-RZ67
Bronica S2A

I live in Tokyo so all these are relatively easily purchased. I made up my mind to buy one today. Please help!

Thanks,
Ben

 

[madNbad]

RB-67. Big negative, leaf shutter, plenty of lenses and a solid workhorse. Plus a rotating back and built in bellows extention for close focus.

 

[lxmike]

Firstly a very happy birthday to you, if it were me a Bronica S2A, why? well apart from its capabilities as a picture taker, it looks stunning, a beautifull camera

 

[Ken Ford]

Happy birthday! I'd go for the 6x7, too. I had a bad experience with Bronica back in the 70s and still don't trust them.

 

[Ranchu]

I always thought RB was a studio camera?

 

[Austintatious]

I definitely have GAS for a Bronica S2A 😀
They are getting a bit old now, are they still trustworthy ?

 

[nikon_sam]

Even though I own 3 Mamiya m645's and most of the lenses for it i voted for the Rb/Rz series...mainly for the larger neg...
I've heard good things on the Bronica lenses and I believe it's 6x6 format there could be issues with the camera mechanics and getting them serviced...
Good luck and happy birthday...let us know the outcome of today's shopping...

 

[burancap]

I voted for the 645. They don't handle as much like a studio camera as the others. I also like the economy of the format.

 

[Godfrey]

I've had Mamiya 645, Pentax 645, and Hasselblad 500 series cameras. Of the three, the ones I like the most are the Haselblads, but that Pentax 645 is a very good camera too. I prefer 6x6 over 645 or 6x7.

G

 

[zauhar]

I voted Mamiya 645, since that is what I am planning on as my entry to the MF world. I like that aspect ratio better, and the Mamiya is reputed to have good lenses.

Randy

 

[Swift1]

The Nikkor-P 75/2.8 on the S2A is amazing!


Zenza Bronica S2 w/ Nikkor-P 75/2.8 par Daiku San, on ipernity

 

[kyonthinh]

I have S2A and RZ.
RZ is big with bigger negative, so it is heavy and not fit for all day walk and shoot. The lens is however nice and sharp. I think it is a very good studio camera.
S2A is smaller, although it is still a little heavy. Nikkor lens is quite good but older than those sekor lens. The picture is not very sharp like from Mamiya, but it is smooth.

 

[jarski]

cannot help with gear decision, but happy birthday 🙂

 

[farlymac]

Happy Birthday! And buy the Bronica...Nikkor lenses!

PF

 

[oftheherd]

I have never owned any of the cameras you are considering. But I am inclined to vote for the 6x7 negative. I have that in a Mamiya Super Press 23. It's hard to argue with a large negative.

But with a larger negative comes a heavier camera. At my age, I tend to like lighter cameras if I anticipate carrying them for a long time. That is why I have my current love affair with folders. I still like the fact my Super Press if available to me, but I wouldn't be carrying it with all its lenses and back for any length of time ... say more than about 15 minutes. 😛

My next choice would be the Bronica. Still more negative, less critical composing, but unless you like square prints, you are only gong to get about 645 usable negative. If you get a 645, it will still weigh a bit, and you can't be loose in composition. When I shot with a TLR, I learned to appreciate the chance to accept different compositions. Not from laziness, but with the knowledge that I had more choices. It wasn't how I always shot, but when I wanted that, it was there.

 

[mfogiel]

Pentax 645N

MF20130104 by mfogiel, on Flickr

 

[Coopersounds]

I voted the 645 based on what I would buy myself of those 3.

 

[Lucadomi]

The Kowa Super 66 is also very nice. Something ro consider.

 

[bence8810]

Guys, thanks for making my day special with all the birthday wishes.

It's 10PM now, only saying it as I started the thread the same way.

I have held all 3 cameras at hand and bought none.

These are my thoughts.

From all 3, by far the Rx67 is the most impressive. The rotating back, the bright viewfinder and the bellows focusing system, it's perfect. But it's a studio camera, needs to live on a tripod. I don't do studio work.

http://www.celifornia.com

This is what I shoot mostly.

The Bronica is beautiful. I fell in love with it right when I saw it. But then I lifted the thing...

The other problem I think is the fact that the viewfinder is quite dark when comparing it to the other cameras.

Then came the 645. Wow, so small and light yet so functional. I think I am sold on the 645, I just couldn't find a lens for it at the shop so I returned empty handed.

I believe it'll be the 645, even if a few weeks down the line when the shop locates an 80 f1.9 for me.

Thanks again!
Ben

p.s. If I had a thicker wallet and a bigger house than what you normally get in Tokyo, I'd own all 3!

 

[ruby.monkey]

If it's a walkabout camera (and I still maintain that an RZ67 with 110mm f/2.8 and WLF qualifies) then I'd suggest saving a little more for a Mamiya 645 Super or (preferably) Pro/Pro TL. They're lighter still and offer the benefit of quick-change film magazines that cn be swapped mid-roll.

Not sure but I think my current Pro TL with WLF and L-grip is lighter than the 645 1000S/WLF-only combination it replaced.