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Medium Format Photography
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Hi, I realise I may have come too late to this post but how and ever
I’m using a Bronica ETRS which is 645 MF for about a year now, and I have to say I love it and it’s simplicity. (There is something about going back to real film and winding the camera for me after using digital for so long, but I realise that’s not for everyone).
There are two points I would make though. Firstly I’d back Fintan’s suggestion that you don’t automatically go for a cheaper camera to try MF out, you may run into problems that would not be otherwise present in MF, but by which time you’d have been turned off the format, which, believe me, would be a real pity. For example, on cheaper cameras you can get vignetting on the photo (that’s a darkening around the edge of the photograph) when you are using a large aperture. You could have service issues if you want the camera cleaned at a later stage.
Secondly twin lens may be harder to use than single lens, as the lens you are looking through is slightly higher than the lens you take the photo with (one’s on top of the other) so you may get a few surprise elements in your photo that you didn’t see in the frame when you were taking it. If you are more used to 35mm / digital I’d suggest a single lens might be easier for you.
The only other point I would make is try and pick up a viewfinder with whatever camera you choose. Otherwise you’ll have to get used to taking reverse images as you only see off one mirror (although this is grand when you get the hang of it) and it’s awkward with a waist finder to turn the camera on it’s side if the photo required it.
I’ve never been disappointed with my Bronica, and on ebay they are cheap as chips, but, as they’re not made anymore, you might still have the service issues if you want it cleaned etc. Having said that, and despite hearing stories of shutters sticking etc, I’ve not had a problem with mine since I got it and I’d estimate it to be c. 10 years old at this stage, and to be fair, there’s not much to go wrong with them.
Best of luck whatever you choose, MF can be really rewarding and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed if you choose to try it.
Ross, considering the type of studio shots for which you are renowned,
I’m surprised you haven’t used a Mamiya RZ already-Fabulous lenses available for portraiture,
at silly money-If there’s one difference between yourself and myself,
it’s that you don’t seem to mind selling what you buy, after trying it out-
so a bit of experimentation with an RZ should cost you no more than the film, in the end-A proper TLR, a Rollei with a longer lens, might suit you too-
though they can be a little expensive-I’m not so sure about a rangefinder for you-
though I could be very wrong-An RZ is heavy, so you wont be tempted to carry it far-
but all that mass and inertia is a good thing when it comes to hand-holding-
and using flash, shake wouldn’t be a problem anyway-
though mirror slap might be-Get an RZ Ross-
you’ll love it-j
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