Questions about Medium Format cameras

[nightwolf75]

If you're serious about medium format, best would be to purchase a system camera that allows you to change lenses and film backs. Hassy's are good investment. Some used Hassy's in good condition are still reasonably priced. And you can beat the Carl Zeiss T* lenses.

Just start with a 500C/M with the std 80mm Plannar/2.8. Learned to handle the camera and learn how to compose with the square format. You'd be surprised it really opens up a new way of composing and a completely different feeling when you look through the 6X6 focussing screen.

I own a 503CXi and a 903SWC and I am very pleased with them. Can show some photos taken with them to those who are seriously interested.

br/porcupine

its, of course, nice to start off with a hassy if one is to go into MF photography. however, even at 2nd-hand, the prices are pretty prohibitive locally. just walk into TCW or prime and ask abt their basic 500/501 kit set and it can set u back easily $2k+. even on ebay, including shipping costs, its still in the region of $1K+. i believe the thread-starter wants something simple and relatively low-cost to begin with.

 

[zeiss planar]

its, of course, nice to start off with a hassy if one is to go into MF photography. however, even at 2nd-hand, the prices are pretty prohibitive locally. just walk into TCW or prime and ask abt their basic 500/501 kit set and it can set u back easily $2k+. even on ebay, including shipping costs, its still in the region of $1K+. i believe the thread-starter wants something simple and relatively low-cost to begin with.

Well , on the other hand , maybe he can start off with a...say mamiya645(more affordable used) .Then slowly built up the system over the months/years instead of paying BIG money on a Hassy .

 

[dreamseeker]

BIG $$$ on Hassy? Maybe back in those days. Nowadays, for the price of a new 20d you can easily pick up a used Hassy 500cm kit.

 

[zeiss planar]

BIG $$$ on Hassy? Maybe back in those days. Nowadays, for the price of a new 20d you can easily pick up a used Hassy 500cm kit.

Well, a used 500cm with mag and 80planar may cost 2~3k.
However iwth the mamiya645 , not only you get the standard lens,you may even can get the 35 and 200 too.

 

[F5user]

Reccomendation:

BRONICA 645 ETRSI...

whole kit would set u back by slightly under 1k

for those saying that Tamron wouldn't service these buggers anymore, WRONNG!!! they still do, will continue to do so (for the next 10 yrs or so)... and not to mention that these beasts were built to take a thrashing before dying too....

:thumbsup:

 

[nightwolf75]

eh... we all are missing the original point of the thread - dat is to recommend a cheap 2nd-hand TLR... :bsmilie:

 

[Shiro MS08th]

Haha!
Still have no money to get a 2nd hand TLR, but really wanted to try to shoot black and white street photography.

But then holidays yet to find job.
Played too much and went to shoot too.

So maybe gonna save a few awhile for a 2nd hand TLR.
By then see any 2nd TLR available still.

 

[zeiss planar]

Haha!
Still have no money to get a 2nd hand TLR, but really wanted to try to shoot black and white street photography.

But then holidays yet to find job.
Played too much and went to shoot too.

So maybe gonna save a few awhile for a 2nd hand TLR.
By then see any 2nd TLR available still.

Patience is the word here.You cannot go wrong with either a rolleicord/rolleiflex.Save real hard for it bro!

 

[kodachrome]

Haha!
Still have no money to get a 2nd hand TLR, but really wanted to try to shoot black and white street photography.

But then holidays yet to find job.
Played too much and went to shoot too.

So maybe gonna save a few awhile for a 2nd hand TLR.
By then see any 2nd TLR available still.

I think you will have an interesting learning experience ahead....

Since you have some time before you start, suggest you pay a visit to NLB or it's branches. I remember seeing a few titles specifically dedicated to Medium Format Photography, they might still be on the shelf. Before you spend hard won $$$$, more background knowledge would be appropriate as MF is VERY varied, lots of different choices for the same film size.

Also, as budget seems important here, be warned that many MF cameras in your price range will not have light meters built in (or will have dead ones due to age...) so you will need to find a reasonably priced light meter if you don't already own one (or learn the sunny f16 rule).

While I like MF prints, for me, one of the real big kicks of MF is to see a BIG transparency....

Finally, there are al leaset 2 cheap cameras in MF but made with questionable lenses etc; the Lubitel TLR and the Holga. I suspect most following this thread would have a hard time accepting them as "real" cameras...

Good luck and happy shooting.

 

[Allegro]

Patience is the word here.You cannot go wrong with either a rolleicord/rolleiflex.Save real hard for it bro!

Not really. In fact, there are many things that CAN go wrong with a rolleiflex. Common problems: viewing and taking lens not aligned properly (hence out of focus! esp. up close); slow speeds (1/15 and below) will become sticky due to non-usage/storage; lens dirty/oily/fugus/scratched, etc. My point is: to use a 30-40 years old vintage TLR to shoot today, you really need to send it for a CLA first. Trouble is, there is NO qualified rollei repair men around. Prime/P&G/cam.x may be able to do a simple CLA for the TLR (even then, not cheap OK!), but they simply do not have the proper equipment to do a factory callibration (on focusing, shutter speed accuracy, etc). If you are serious you could send it to JJ, but they will just send it to Germany and you can guest what is the bill like :sweat:

Try out a cheapo Seagull TLR (basically a clone of rolleiflex T) first and see if u really like TLR. At least you can afford to throw it away if it konks :devil:

 

[zeiss planar]

Not really. In fact, there are many things that CAN go wrong with a rolleiflex. Common problems: viewing and taking lens not aligned proper (hence out of focus! esp. up close); slow speeds (1/15 and below) will become sticky due to non-usage/storage; lens dirty/oily/fugus/scratched, etc. My point is: to use a 30-40 years old vintage TLR to shoot today, you really need to send it for a CLA first. Trouble is, there is NO qualified rollei repair men around. Prime/P&G/cam.x may be able to do a simple CLA for the TLR (even then, not cheap OK!), but they simply do not have the proper equipment to do a factory callibration (on focusing, shutter speed accuracy, etc). If you are serious you could send it to JJ, but they will just send it to Germany and you can guest what is the bill like :sweat:

Try out a cheapo Seagull TLR (basically a clone of rolleiflex T) first and see if u really like TLR. At least you can afford to throw it away if it konks :devil:

I don't know but probably you have some bad experience with a TLR rolleiflex.I have a mint 2.8E and it was service by P&G recently.I must say it is job well done.As long as it is mechanical i.e no electrical to fiddle around , most experience repair man in spore will be able to do it.All those defect you mention above can be calibrated and adjusted locally - after all it has being around for half a century and most will have hands on experience with it.
Sent it to JJ IS A NO-NO as the cost of repair is a killer unless it has a sentimental value to you and also , you're better off buying or waiting for another one to appear in the market.

Trying out a Seagull is an option if you just want to have a feel of 6X6 image,period, but after a while , you will inevitably want to upgrade .

 

[Allegro]

"bad experience with rolleiflex TLR" ? Nah! All my rollei are in tip top condition and I love them all :heart:
If ever my mint 2.8F gets sticky one of these days, would I let P&G touch it? No way! Out it will go to Mr. Harry Fleenor of Oceanside. (well, that's juz me )

Check this guy out at Rollei TLR Club, under REPAIR OF ROLLEI : http://www.dmakos.com/square/link.html )