Michael Christensen
(K=37) - Comment Date 7/25/2003
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Yes. The Bronica ETRSi 6x45 is a great starter camera with good lenses. Consistently good reviews. Go to a large camera store and look at used medium format cameras. Don't let retail prices scare you..once you select a format size, brand, etc. You can check used prices.
I think you should spend some time deciding your interest areas in photography. Some cameras are more portable than others, some excell in the studio. Virtually all cameras are quite capable - so choice boils down to what "you" like.
Remember, everything in medium format is proportionally more expensive. Depends on your needs. Spend more time comparing lens quality as this appears to be the more important factor -- expensive is not always better.
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Betsy Hern
(K=12872) - Comment Date 7/25/2003
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Before you decide on an actual camera you might want to consider the differences in the 6x6cm cameras over 6x4.5cm cameras. I found this article extremely interesting.
Benefits of 6x6cm Versus 6x4.5cm
http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/square.html
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David Goldfarb
(K=7611) - Comment Date 7/25/2003
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Absolutely, you can start quite nicely with a medium format system for under $1000.
What format do you want to shoot? Do you like rangefinder cameras or SLRs? Do you want something that is easily handheld or just for use on a tripod? What kind of photography do you do? Do you want to expand eventually to a system with many lenses and accessories, or do you prefer a simple system with one, two, or three lenses? Do you need to be able to rent equipment? New or used?
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Zarazka Zarazkovich
(K=1510) - Comment Date 7/25/2003
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When you are talking about getting into medium format photography, not only the camera price, but a lot of other things must be counted in. You can get a very good used 6x6 camera for under $1000 (there are a lot of models to choose from). But this is only a beginning. As I found for myself, you cannot trust most of the labs with 120 film (at least in Toronto area). Sooner or later you want to develop and print by yourself (B&W sooner, color later), and darkroom equipment is a greater investment than camera.
Also the scanners for 120 film are fairly expensive and scanning in studio costs about $12 per exposure.
I would estimate, going into medium format will cost you $1500-$3000 first year and at least $300 each year.
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Robert Statius-Muller
(K=135) - Comment Date 7/27/2003
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One way of keeping cost down is to buy on e-bay. You can assemble a Bronica ETR system with 2-3 lenses for under $1000 that way. The ETRS and ETRSi will be more expensive and push you over the $1000 mark after adding 1 or 2 lenses and backs.
The lowest-end systems (price wise) are Ukranian/Russian and you can stay under $1000 easily if you get a Kiev 80 or Kowa 66.
Check out all the subsites to the medium format resource site (Monaghan: http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/index.html
/Gonzales) http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/gindex.html
-- absolutely invaluable for understanding and evaluating your options.
Good luck.
Robert
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Chris Lauritzen
(K=14949) - Comment Date 7/28/2003
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Check out this site www.kievaholic.com. I shoot Kiev medium format cameras and have has very good results with them. You can easily get started in MF with a Kiev system for well under $600.
There are drawbacks to these cameras, most in the reliability area but if you are careful and learn how to use it correctly they will deliver you great shots. If you checkout my portfolio you will see several shot taken by my Kiev 60.
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Gaetan Dery
(K=718) - Comment Date 7/30/2003
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I was an avid 35mm shooter---until a friend lent me his Hasselblad. I have sold off all my 35mm and went with medium format. No regrets whatsoever (except for cost :-)) Recommend you go to KEH (www.keh.com )to see all the choices and prices for good used equipment. Try it you"ll like it.
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Robert Bernhard
(K=72) - Comment Date 7/30/2003
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Heck, I got into medium format for under $20! :)
Oh, well I guess Holgas don't really count...
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Raymond Bliss
(K=3182) - Comment Date 8/2/2003
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A very good question. Switching to medium format also requires switching how you "think" about taking pictures. There are literally dozens of decent cameras under $1000 to get you into MF, check out Ebay on some of the prices for Twin Lens Reflex. The Mamiya C-330 series is always an excellent buy. Built like a tank, interchangable lenses, an extensive line of accessories, etc. Also, the Kiev line of cameras will work well. I've owned both.
Now, the problem with MF photography, is that almost all the cameras are strictly manual. Most don't even have a built in light meter. So you will have to buy a handheld meter as well. The Yashicamat 124G is an exception to that. It is a twin lens reflex with a built in cds light meter, but it does not have interchangable lenses. A 124G in excellent shape will cost you about $250.00
If you want to move up to the big negs, but still shoot like 35mm, then look at the Pentax 67 (6 x 7 cm format). It is basically a scaled up 35mm SLR that takes 120 film. You should be able to find a good used system for $600 to $800 dollars.
If you want to assemble a full system, and you are patient, then you can get into the Mamya RB 67. This is the system that has been used by pros for more than 3 decades. It is a workhorse. Built soundly, and lenses and accessories are available anywhere in the world. Since high quality digital became affordable, RB-67 (and the electronic version, the RZ-67) prices have been plummeting on used systems, so if you look carefully at used equipment bulletin boards, and Ebay, you can put together a beginning system and still fall under your $1000 limit. Then add more items later as you need them.
Hope this helps, Ray
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al shaikh
(K=15790) - Comment Date 8/2/2003
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Holga 20 DOllars
Yashicamat 124G 200 Dollars.
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Raymond Bliss
(K=3182) - Comment Date 8/2/2003
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(grin) Al, I've never even seen a Holga....so I didn't feel I could comment on it.
It might be worth an article if someone knows enough about them, eh?
Ray
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David Goldfarb
(K=7611) - Comment Date 8/2/2003
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Check out the images in the two "Toy Camera" projects right here and you'll find many examples of pictures made with Holgas. A Holga is a cheap plastic camera with a lens that doesn't quite cover 6x6 and is prone to light leaks. It's an interesting thing to experiment with, like a pinhole, and there are some very good images made with them (the best I've seen were by David Burnett, a photojournalist covering the Al Gore campaign with three Holgas), but the fact that it's a medium format camera isn't it's main "feature." Here's a piece on Burnett:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/essays/vanRiper/010706.htm
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Raymond Bliss
(K=3182) - Comment Date 8/3/2003
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OK, I checked out some of the pictures done with a Holga. I don't think Franz had in mind a plastic camera, with a plastic lens that is prone to light leaks. I think he wants a good, dependable camera that will take sharp pictures, without busting his budget. (Franz, if I'm wrong, tell me). So the question still stands, how do you get into MF cheaply.
I've been doing a bit of searching on Ebay. And right now, I'm planning on bidding on a Seagull Twin Lens Reflex, the bids are up to a whopping $10.00 right now. I've seen Seagull TLR's before, I taught a kid the basics of portrait photography using one, and I was actually quite impressed with the lens quality from a $99.00 camera (10 years ago) Cameta Camera still sells them new, with the most expensive model somewhere around $250.00. So, this is one alternative any other suggestions? (I'm enjoying this thread, keep it going)
Ray
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al shaikh
(K=15790) - Comment Date 8/3/2003
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Yashicamat 124g is far nicer than a the seagull.
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Betsy Hern
(K=12872) - Comment Date 8/3/2003
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I bought a Yashica Mat 124G on ebay for around $150.00 including shipping. Most of them were going for around $200 or more but the seller had misspelled it so it didn't show up in all the same listings as the other Yashicas (an ebay trick I picked up somewhere - check all the possible spellings you might find a hidden gem). So far, it is a wonderful learning tool and the meter seems to be fairly accurate, I've compared it to an external meter and they jive. It's definitely not a point and shoot and it takes a while to learn how to look at things backwards (not upside down) and focus. It weighs a ton, fits securely on a tripod and with the builit-in magnifyer thingee (it's called the sportsfinder) is not impossible to focus even for someone using cheap drugstore reading glasses. It has a crank-handle film advance system that works well -- overall somewhat crude compared to the auto-everything on today's cameras, but a great camera. It has a fixed 80mm f/3.5 Yashinon lens and there are a couple of additional lenses available, macro and wide-angle I believe. The large negs are fantastic for either printing your own photos or scanning. I'm still learning and not all of my photos are what they should be but I don't regret the purchase one bit. There are many sites with info and here's a great one with the user manual in a easy to read format, with photos and diagrams.
http://www.geocities.com/y124g/manual.htm
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Michael John Banks
(K=2092) - Comment Date 8/3/2003
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My photography began with medium format. It was a 6x9cm Zeiss Super Ikonta--with a few filters and a lenshood.
I used it to photograph everything from Rock strata folding and faulting and the landscapes thereby produced--to friends and family. I grew into photography with it--contact printing my negs on Velox paper. Later I bought a 35mm Zeiss--then a Rollieflex which I used professionally.
None of my later purchases including Nikon gear ever gave me the same excitement and satisfaction as those early days with plumbline and spirit level as I measured for dip and strike--and those places I went and the friends who shared my life and its leisure moments all of those years ago.
I digress--
Recently I bought a pair of Voigtlander 6x6 cameras--one for 5 dollars in excellent condition and another for 25 dollars in as new condition. These cameras work quite well--but use a lens hood and stop down to at least f5.6 to get a sharp picture. I always use a tripod, yellow filter and lenshood for monochrome. For colour the yellow filter is exchanged for a 1b--or sometimes a polariser.
You will need an enlarger--I use a Chromega--very accurate enlarger using dichroic filters of the Kodak type, but my first enlarger was a Meopta with Schneider and Belar lenses--to which I added an EL Nikkor for 35mm use.
Many people spend up largely on an elaborate camera--then skimp on the enlarger and its optics. Much better to be sure that whatever negative one has is given the best possible enlargement. A good neg will print poorly through inferior enlarging lenses.
No--although I have used many good cameras over the years--Rollieflex days were very special for me as a beginning pro. Built like a brick outhouse--thoroughly reliable when properly maintained--I never had a problem with them. They can still be bought for a few hundred dollars in TLR and are a worthwhile purchase in SLR for whatever you have to pay for one with little use. The lenses are superb.
Mike.
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Raymond Bliss
(K=3182) - Comment Date 8/4/2003
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OK, just listed on Ebay this morning (8/4/03) Mamiya RB67 with waist level finder, one film back, 90mm lens, 180mm lens, handgrip, sunshade, and UV filter
Buy it now price of only $499.00
Damn, where's my checkbook
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Jim Ghiringhelli
(K=280) - Comment Date 12/2/2003
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MY suggestion is to look at good used cameras as I did.
I bought a demo Mamiya AFD for a little over half the going price and there was not a scratch on it. Same with lenses.
I like KEH best for that. remember I bought the best used they had so that I got good clean product and I have not had one iota of problem.
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Jim Ghiringhelli
(K=280) - Comment Date 12/2/2003
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P.S. I founbd KEH prices just as good as ebay and I felt that I would, in fact. get what I had ordered. I dont trust ebay sales with large amounts of money.
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Patrick (Washington, DC)
(K=339) - Comment Date 12/2/2003
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buy a used Hasselblad on eBay with a 80mm lens. Hassy's retain their value the best, in that way, you can sell it more easily later if it doesn't work out.
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John J Stafford
(K=423) - Comment Date 12/9/2003
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You can start with less than $30US. Get a Holga and some duct tape. But beware. I had a profoundly disappointing experience with one Holga: the lens was properly pre-focused to my favorite distance and was not even remotely as bad as advertised.
If they don't lose their quality control, Holga's reputation is going down the tubes.
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greg W:-)
(K=193) - Comment Date 4/18/2005
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Can you start under a grand ?? ..perhaps ..but you will be needing to sacrifice the variety of lenses that you can get withing that price.
I chose to use Kiev medium format cameras and my result have been fantastic when using the Zeiss lenses., but to get a good full kit of them in pristine condition you will need to dig up probably 3 grand.
Check out my Kiev 60 web page for more help at -..
www.geocities.com/kiev60slr/
regards
gregW:-)
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Christopher Yuchym
(K=101) - Comment Date 6/16/2005
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I bought my Mamiya RB67 Pro-S for $900 CDN, including Pro-S body, 90mm Sekor C lens, 120 filmback, waist level finder and Mamiya strap all in mint condition (only 10 rolls run through it), I figure I got a excellent buy.
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Ciprian Ilie
(K=13571) - Comment Date 7/5/2005
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Hi all,
I found this topic interesting as I'm toying with the idea of MF.
Has anyone used a camera called SALUT, which is a russian replica of hasselblad? Looks very good, but I wonder what the quality is like.
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william brainard
(K=-18) - Comment Date 7/8/2005
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Yes. I have just started myself. I bought a used Bronica RF645 for $899. It is in excellent shape and the reviews are excellent for this camera.
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Brian T. Ach
(K=1742) - Comment Date 7/16/2005
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The original Yashicamat (not the 124, G, D, etc.) is one of the best buys out there. I got mine mint with case etc. for $125 shipped. It has the desired Yashinon 80mm F3.5. Wide open this is beautiful and the bokeh is wonderful. It is well-made, compact, and fun to use. Everyone loves it. Wanna see the quality:
http://www.usefilm.com/image/853534.html
A good sekonic meter, lens hood, and a yellow filter are a must for B/W. You can move up from this. I am surprised noone has mentioned the Mamiya 645...
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Arne Gulstene
(K=172) - Comment Date 7/25/2005
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I would reccomend looking for a used Yashica 124G - they can be found on eBay for about $120. With a fixed yashinon 80mm (50mm equiv in a 35mm camera) they take both 120 and 220 format film - are easy to use and have great optics.
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Eric Peterson
(K=4419) - Comment Date 7/27/2005
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I know this is an old thread, but in case anyone's looking I'd recommend a Koni Omega M/Rapid Omega 200. They're a great 6x7 cm rangefinder with interchangeable backs and lenses available in 58/60mm, 90mm, 135mm and 180mm. The 58/60mm is arguably one of the best MF wide angles out there. With the current prices on eBay you could proabably come close to getting an entire set up for $1000. Only the 135mm lens is somewhat expensive due to it's scarcity and even that has come down with the freefall in MF prices.
Eric
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chris autio
(K=92) - Comment Date 7/30/2005
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I have had a Pentax 6x7 since 1984. It is a workhorse. I use it for weddings and studio work. Only once have I had to get a serious clean up, and this was a result of my own sweat getting into the advance mechanism!
I discovered, however, the Fuji 6 x 9 for a used price of $700. It is a landscape camera, (as the edges darken one half stop from the center point, and would nullify my using it for a studio camera.) Resolution is unbelievable. I make 28 x 38 B/W prints.
I have never had an eye for square format images.... so I have never been interested in the Hasselblad.
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Mustafah Abdulaziz
(K=10) - Comment Date 8/12/2005
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listen, don't pay attention to anyone that tries to sell you a light meter with a MF camera. get a seagull at ritz for $200, get some film, and if you have a digital camera, great. do test exposures on the digital, find the best setting, shoot on MF. simple as that. no need for extra headache.
ciao
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Taras R. Hnatyshyn
(K=4055) - Comment Date 8/12/2005
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Turning the argument around....
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listen, don't pay attention to anyone that tries to sell you a digital camera with a MF camera. if you have a light meter, great. otherwise use a hand held meter, find the best setting, shoot on MF. simple as that. no need for extra headache.
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For some using a hand held meter is easier than another camera to meter. Dismissing the option without any justification doesn't help somebody to decide which is best for them. Compare the relative strengths and weaknesses of each, and then you can help someone decide.
Taras
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Tony Howell
(K=163) - Comment Date 10/4/2005
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If money is tight try an agfa Isolette with the Agnar lens. This will teach you reciprocity/zoneing all for under £20.00 and if you are any good, you will be able to sell 20" square prints for $100.00. Do that five times and you will be able to say that you have earnt the right to carry a TLR around. Then when that has paid for itself try a Blad.
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Ian McIntosh
(K=42997) - Comment Date 11/7/2005
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Seems a diacord l is a darkhorse worthy of consideration.
I like how the diacord is described as holding the film flatter than the yashica, it's not a major point.
I have to choose between one and an as yet unidentified rolleicord.
Anyone have an opinion on a triotar (rolliecord) lens versus a non rollei but tessar type of lens?
I'm not buying to shoot much bigger than f8...
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isaiaz
(K=2) - Comment Date 11/24/2005
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got (in China) several Seagull/Haiou 4A and 4B in perfect working condition at 30$-40$ each...
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