Retro-Grouch
Veteran
Get yourself an old C220, or even a C22 or C3. Dirt cheap, and if you've never used one, you might find out how useful and practical they can be. I originally bought a C22 on a whim, only because I knew I could handhold it at speeds impossible for a Hasselblad (pretty practical right there, no?). I now have four of the models I cited, and a bunch of lenses. Not to mention the Rollei TLRs that were also part of my TLR love affair that was ignited by the Mamiyas.
If a dream camera is really cheap, no reason not to give it a try. And for medium format in particular, you can sit on a camera for a year and more than make your money back. Mamiyas, for example, are still an incredible bargain, but I've been watching the prices begin to climb. No time like the present. And of course, I always like to urge other people to spend their money.
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
Agree. These are great bargains, remarkably versatile and ingeniously simple, with excellent lenses. One thing with these cameras (assuming you don't have a metered finder) is getting exposure right -- you need to check the exposure compensation scale applicable to the lens you're using whenever you focus closely. You also need to be aware of parallax as you focus closely, but there are markings on the focusing screen that are helpful.Get yourself an old C220, or even a C22 or C3. Dirt cheap, and if you've never used one, you might find out how useful and practical they can be. I originally bought a C22 on a whim, only because I knew I could handhold it at speeds impossible for a Hasselblad (pretty practical right there, no?). I now have four of the models I cited, and a bunch of lenses. Not to mention the Rollei TLRs that were also part of my TLR love affair that was ignited by the Mamiyas.
If a dream camera is really cheap, no reason not to give it a try. And for medium format in particular, you can sit on a camera for a year and more than make your money back. Mamiyas, for example, are still an incredible bargain, but I've been watching the prices begin to climb. No time like the present. And of course, I always like to urge other people to spend their money.
A modicum of familiarity with these two things and you're good to go. The close focusing is a real benefit of these cameras, and you don't necessarily need a tripod either.
If the Rolleiflexes are Mercedeses, these are Land Rovers (the classic ones). Or, OK, pieces of farm machinery.
das
Well-known
I really want a Widelux, a Zeiss Ikon 16mm f/8 Hologon camera, a medium format panoramic, and/or a Kiev 88CM, but I will probably never buy any of them.
Claude007
Newbie
My favorite digital camera is a SonyA7 II and Fuji xPro 1, Olympus first OMD-EM1 mark.
tortellini_man
Established
a lot of hasselblad stuff that would suit my photographic style is too expensive for me like SWC or XPan (even though i love my 500c that was actually quite cheap)
but it is sort of like that across medium format in general - i cant really afford most popular medium format film rangefinders or any sort of medium format digital camera really
it's probably for the best in the long term though that i am limited in how fast i can go through 120 film
but it is sort of like that across medium format in general - i cant really afford most popular medium format film rangefinders or any sort of medium format digital camera really
it's probably for the best in the long term though that i am limited in how fast i can go through 120 film
JeffS7444
Well-known
Please don't "YOLO" when children and impressionable grownups might be present!
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
I said this 6 years ago and I still agree. I would also add Leica R5/6/7 - start adding lenses to the kit and becomes ludicrously expensive.
dtcls100
Well-known
A whole bunch of cameras. For film, Nikon F3P, Pentax LX, Canon New F1. Would love to get them, but my shaky grasp on sanity tells me that I have enough film cameras (multiple Mamiya 6, Olympus OM-1n, OM-2n, OM-4Ti, Nikon F6, Nikon F2AS, Nikon FM3a, Nikon FE2, Olympus 35SP, Contax T2, Minolta X-570) that don't get used enough (given the price of film and my having too much (70 rolls) exposed film sitting in my refrigerator) for it to make sense to buy those additional cameras.
For digital, I really am not looking for anything new these days. Already have Nikon Z9, d850, d750, Sony A1 and A7Riii. I use the older models (d750 in particular) to use in riskier environments (rain, snow, near saltwater, on canoes, on hikes and fishing trips, in questionable neighborhoods), just like I keep a beater bicycle to use where it will be locked up outside (and possibly stolen). Did lose an Olympus Tough TG-5 waterproof camera when it bounced out of a sea kayak, as I was trying to paddle my way through a dark sea cave off the Portugal coast.
For digital, I really am not looking for anything new these days. Already have Nikon Z9, d850, d750, Sony A1 and A7Riii. I use the older models (d750 in particular) to use in riskier environments (rain, snow, near saltwater, on canoes, on hikes and fishing trips, in questionable neighborhoods), just like I keep a beater bicycle to use where it will be locked up outside (and possibly stolen). Did lose an Olympus Tough TG-5 waterproof camera when it bounced out of a sea kayak, as I was trying to paddle my way through a dark sea cave off the Portugal coast.
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
I have a weakness for the Alpa 35mm series with one of the Kern-Switar lenses. One in the 10 or 11 series. I know of at least one person on the board who has some. He refuses to send me his address and the hours that he is out shopping. ;o)
There is a nice 9d on eBay for US$999. I'll try to keep looking the other way.
There is a nice 9d on eBay for US$999. I'll try to keep looking the other way.
hap
Well-known
Yes, need validationGet yourself an old C220, or even a C22 or C3. Dirt cheap, and if you've never used one, you might find out how useful and practical they can be. I originally bought a C22 on a whim, only because I knew I could handhold it at speeds impossible for a Hasselblad (pretty practical right there, no?). I now have four of the models I cited, and a bunch of lenses. Not to mention the Rollei TLRs that were also part of my TLR love affair that was ignited by the Mamiyas.
If a dream camera is really cheap, no reason not to give it a try. And for medium format in particular, you can sit on a camera for a year and more than make your money back. Mamiyas, for example, are still an incredible bargain, but I've been watching the prices begin to climb. No time like the present. And of course, I always like to urge other people to spend their money.
hap
Well-known
Olympus TG-5 a very good camera.
hap
Well-known
I bypassed a full C220 (supposedly near mint) kit not too long ago. Sometimes iti's worth buying a really nice kit....otherwise spend lots of time scrounging around for lenses and accessories.Get yourself an old C220, or even a C22 or C3. Dirt cheap, and if you've never used one, you might find out how useful and practical they can be. I originally bought a C22 on a whim, only because I knew I could handhold it at speeds impossible for a Hasselblad (pretty practical right there, no?). I now have four of the models I cited, and a bunch of lenses. Not to mention the Rollei TLRs that were also part of my TLR love affair that was ignited by the Mamiyas.
If a dream camera is really cheap, no reason not to give it a try. And for medium format in particular, you can sit on a camera for a year and more than make your money back. Mamiyas, for example, are still an incredible bargain, but I've been watching the prices begin to climb. No time like the present. And of course, I always like to urge other people to spend their money.
hap
Well-known
For a long time I"ve wanted and F2 or more specifically F2AS. Such a fool. I've got a super cheap FT3 (with a pretty good meter) that I use for biceps curls.
qqphotos
Well-known
I would very much like to play with a digital back for the Hasselblad 503CW but they're still far too expensive for what would probably just be occasional fooling around. Also, they're not full-frame, which makes it less appealing.
JeffS7444
Well-known
I could deal with the sensor size, but given the choice between a secondhand 50 mp Hasselblad 907x or brand-new Fujifilm GFX100S II for about the same money, I feel like I'd be paying a hefty premium for the novelty of turning my old Hassy 500c into a digital camera.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
That all depends on how much you like your Hasselblad 500C, your lenses for it, etc. About half the reason I bought the 907x/CFVII 50c was because I have two 500CM bodies and a nice handful of V system lenses and accessories. I seem to use the CFVII 50c back on the 500CM about half to two-thirds of the time I use it. To me, it extends my Hasselblad 500 kit into the future.
G
qqphotos
Well-known
Exactly - it would be more novelty than anything else, and the cost exceeds my threshold for spending on things that might be kind of cool to try once.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Hmm. "Novelty" ... Fitting a CFVII 50c or CFV 100c to a Hasselblad 500CM is more akin to fitting a 645 format back with an infinite roll of film in it (that can also do Live View for critical framing on macro and tabletop work...). I don't really find that a novelty, just a useful addition to the use of my 500CM ... like having the A12, A24, and A16 backs are all useful parts of the Hasselblad V system camera kit.
Of course, if you don't actually use your 500CM very much, then it's a lot of money without much return. But I tend to use the 500CM fairly frequently and the digital back definitely motivates me to use it more.
G
Of course, if you don't actually use your 500CM very much, then it's a lot of money without much return. But I tend to use the 500CM fairly frequently and the digital back definitely motivates me to use it more.
G
JeffS7444
Well-known
For me, it might become a much more compelling buy at 2500 USD, and I can wait.
Jbennett68
Established
I’m trying g to talk myself out of a remarkably clean Pentax LX body today. I really don’t need it. I’ve got 6 various SLr’s and rangefinders sitting around with rolls to be finished in all of them and I’m busy playing with the type 240 and Q-P I bought this month.