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Bronica? Mamiya? Contax? 6×4.5? 6×6?
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Having used some decent studio lighting and taken a lot more photographs of late, I am inexorably drawn back towards occasionally using film for some pet projects.
I really want to go medium format, so I am looking for a little advice on what to start with.
It looks like a 6×6 neg would be the dogs, so should I be trying to pick up a good Bronica SQ? Or should I look at starting with an etrs system?
I’m not so familiar with the other ranges (Mamiya, Contax etc) so if anyone has a strong opinion on these I would like their input too.Thanks as always,
CormacI can only speak for Mamiya really. I have the RZ67 and also used an RB67 in the past. They are extremely well built (like a tank) and the revolving back is the business.
I’d be happy to show it to you any time I’m in Dublin or if you were down my way. You could shoot a roll with it to get a feel for it.
I also have a Mamiya 7 rangefinder which also gives 6×7 negs but handles more like an SLR.
I have heard many Bronica users say good things about their cameras so if you want square they would be worth looking into. I think there is one on sale here in the classifieds at the moment.
Peter
Martin has used Bronicas before and recently copied me by getting a Mamiya RZ :wink: so he may be able to give you a comparison.
thefizz wrote:
Martin has used Bronicas before and recently copied me by getting a Mamiya RZ :wink: so he may be able to give you a comparison.
And Peter then copied me and got the same enlarger…. :wink:
I have no experience of shooting in a studio environment…
The Mamiya RZ is a super camera. There heavy and well built. They are normally used in a studio environment. Great selection of lenses for them. Older RB lenses can also be used. Rotating back is excellent. Big 70mm negatives, great for scanning or dark room printing. Only 10 shots on a role of 120 though if thats an issue. With adapter it can take a digital back. With the D body no adapter required. These cameras and lenses are still being made
The Bronica is excellent too. Buy an SQAI if your going down this road. Dont bother with the etrs. The SQAI shoots 6×6 or 645. Just change the camera backs. Shoots 12 or 16 shots to the 120 role. Great selection of lenses for this camera. No digital back available. Very light. Optics are excellent but the mamiya is slightly sharper from what I can make out from printing negs. These cameras are not being made anymore. Lots of spare parts around though but maybe not in 10 years…
A Mamiya 645 is a good studio camera also, well worth looking at too. Have not used one but might be a good option
Hasselblad is another option for 6×6 studio stuff. great cameras but in my opinion totally over priced. If I was buying a MF camera again from scratch it would be the RZ its super and great bang for buck….
M
Well I have used none of these.
I have a Pentax Medium format [645] lens and at the time of researching for it
I read a lot about the Pentax 645 film system.It seems that is was a very capable unit which with some of the class leading
glass was able of outperform some of the big guns for resolving images.It was a lot less expensive than the bigger guns too ! I think they can be had
fairly cheaply now too.I have stated the above before too, so people are probably going . . .
‘ :roll: there he goes on about the pheckin Pentax gear ‘
It is just poeple dont give them a mention or maybe rate the system, they also did
a 67 format camera too!Worth mentioning and considering IMO.
Alan
That’s terrific feedback guys, thanks so much.
I can’t help wondering if a budget digital back was produced for Bronica, would there not be an immediate, if not a little short-lived, market for them.
The amount of bodies, lenses etc that are available seem to be endless, and an affordable digital back would really see their value increase.
The sensor technology should be old enough now to churn out a chip and circuit that could capture some great images from these bodies, and surely adaptors would be easy to fabricate for a back to be used with other makes to extend their appeal?
Anyway, I should really think about crawling before I can run.
Thanks again for the tips, I’m off to ebay to be out-bit again.
Cormac
Unfortunatly there are no digitl backs for the Pentax system, if there was I would have one by now
but . . .
https://www.photographyireland.net/viewtopic.php?t=27014
What about a TLR? I bought a Mamiya C330s a while ago, came with extras, a big flash, cable release cables, flash cord, focusing screens etc,
got the whole lot for £180.00 which I think was a bargin as it was in absolutely mint condition.I haven’t yet used it in the studio, but I plan to at some stage.
The back is not interchangeable but there are a range of lenses available, I think maybe it’s the only TLR that has different lenses. 6×6 negs.
The first 6×6 print I made was a portrait from a roll of Delta 3200, I was completely blown away by the quality of it. The grain was very fine,
and the depth of field and range of tones were just so different than 35mm. Almost enough to make me want to throw away my digital camera!There was one for sale here a while ago. Might be worth a look.
Good luck with it anyway, whatever you choose. The square takes a bit of getting used to, but the challenge is great and it’s easy to get hooked on them.
Sinead
Again, thanks for the direction guys, I really appreciate it.
On the Mamiya RZ line, can anyone tell me the difference between the Pro and Pro II models?
Cheers,
CormacHave a look on the web but dont think there was much of a difference.
Main thing was you could adjust shutter speed in half stops. I find this very useful sometimesSome info here, im sure there will be more detailed info on the web elsewhere
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RZ67Another big+ of the RZ is that it can focus very near because of the bellows focusing. Great for macro with any lens….
I have used an RZ and I really liked it. It was in the studio and on a tripod. Super camera. But the downside for me was the weight, fine on a tripod in studio but not versatile enough for everything I do. Take up the fizz on his offer to have a look at his.
My main MF camera is a Hasselblad 500cm. I just cant abide the Hasselblad snobbery and the people with superiority complexes. They are just a camera and a system that can be built up over time. They have come down in price a lot and are nowhere near as expensive as they were.
I honestly dont think theres a ‘right’ medium format camera, try handle a few and see whats good in your hand, that fits your wallet. The negs wont differ drastically from model to model.
Yea the RZ & RB are big cameras but I carry my RZ with two or three lenses, two backs, filters, meter etc. plus my Mamiya 7 all in one Lowepro bag without any difficulty. Oh and I also carry my heavy tripod. So long as you are not planning to hike up mountains to take pictures then don’t worry about the weight, no big deal really.
thefizz wrote:
Yea the RZ & RB are big cameras but I carry my RZ with two or three lenses, two backs, filters, meter etc. plus my Mamiya 7 all in one Lowepro bag without any difficulty. Oh and I also carry my heavy tripod. So long as you are not planning to hike up mountains to take pictures then don’t worry about the weight, no big deal really.
My point on the weight of the RZ is not really how much gear you can carry at any one time, it’s more how you can use it off-tripod. I think most people would struggle to hand-hold an RZ for say street or documentary photography or photographing a child or a fashion shoot etc. Make no mistake though, it is an awesome camera. As is the Mamiya 7II you also have.
My advice is always the same for people trying MF, try a few in your hand before you buy.
Right – that ebay can be a dangerous place and I am in an unusually impulsive mood.
I have bought a Mamiya RZ67 Pro II body… what I need to find out is if this waist level viewfinder will fit it:
Sorry about the long link, I’m sure there’s a cleaner way to present it.
Now, if any of you beautiful, handsome, generous Mamiya RZ owners out there who forced me to buy this piece of kit happened to be selling and/or giving away suitable film backs, winders, lenses etc, I would be delighted to help lighten your load.
So, another two months and I might just have a working medium format camera, how exciting is that?
Well done Cormac, you won’t be disapointed.
Sorry but I ain’t selling any of my stuff.
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