I have decided to move to MF

[Guest AgXlove]

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At the eleventh hour I could not go through with it. Oh the agonising I have put myself through this past few days but I guess you have all been there. I hope my suffering will be helpful to others who are maybe contemplating change. Anyway, look on the plus side, you will still have me around. You don't get rid of me that easy. Thank you all

 

I'm glad to hear that you didn't ditch your Leica system - I can't help but think you would have ended up regretting it terribly.

 

I made that mistake with my Hasselblad gear. I will not repeat it with my MP and lenses.

[Guido]

At the eleventh hour I could not go through with it.

Next chance to take a look at that Mamiya 6 or 7...

[Finnkare]

Next chance to take a look at that Mamiya 6 or 7...

 

I'm under the impression that their biggest problem is that their build quality, especially of the bodies, are far from Leica-standards and also not up to the optical qualities of the lenses.

 

Of course their lens selection is also smallish, especially with the 6, but then again, so it is with many other MF cameras.

[dkCambridgeshire]

Kenneth, don't get too upset. I was hot after the same kit 3 times. I believe this Rollie was probably one of the finest mechanical MF cameras ever made & those lenses, with dual use was just brilliant. The Camera is a major mechanical issue: when they break (and they will break) getting the parts can be near impossible. My dealer, whom has never been wrong with me since 1973, refused to sell me one. I did get a chance to make some frames with one in a studio, where it never left it's permanent place on a tripod.

 

Don't give up on MF. I still believe that the more I use my Ikoflex, Rollie 2.8 and especially my Hassleblads, the better an image maker I become. No doubt that the careful consideration and more contemplative approach with MF refines and pushes me to get all I can with my 35mm gear, both with film using my M2 & M3 and with my R8/film & R8/DMR. I suggest that a metered Rolleiflex 2.8F with a coupled selenium meter is a great start & an investment that you can always retrieve. Getting your funds back at any time. I have owned several through the years. The meters all worked just fine. The silence is awesome & there's no shutter shake. The real estate on those 120 negs is not to be believed. Don't hesitate. It will make you a better image maker, no doubt. AND, it's lots of fun. One last thing, the old 500C Blads are dirt cheap & putting a small kit with the stock 80 lens is a very inexpensive way to also enjoy MF. Watch out mine Blad collection has blossomed and after one shoots with the CF 50 & CFI 120, it's hard to look away. Good luck.

 

The SL66 body is, according to everything I've read, a very reliable camera and unlikely to break down. The film backs according to some commentators have had some reliability issues but then so have H'blad backs. I take most dealer's comments with a pinch of salt and have learnt over the years that more than a few of them can when the mood takes them, talk pure "cobblers" - especially when trying to sell something.

 

Cheers

 

dunk

[Guido]

I'm under the impression that their biggest problem is that their build quality, especially of the bodies, are far from Leica-standards and also not up to the optical qualities of the lenses.

 

Of course their lens selection is also smallish, especially with the 6, but then again, so it is with many other MF cameras.

I can only speak for the Mamiya 7 since I own one. The build quality isn't up to Leica standards, so much for sure. You'd have to get a Hasselblad V to match that. But it's no yoghurt cup either (all the horror stuff you hear on the Internet about the body being made entirely of plastic is plainly wrong; it's a magnesium alloy construction). In summary, unlike the Leica you can't hammer nails with the Mamiya; nevertheless it's entirely usable in the field.

 

As for the optical quality of the lenses, medium format doesn't get any better than that. In terms of detail resolution and contrast, the Mamiya 7 lenses I work with (50mm and 80mm) in combination with the 6x7 format clearly outperform the corresponding 35/50 Summicrons by miles. The Leica glass might be optically better, but the vastly smaller size of the 35mm negative compared to 6x7 poses a limit here.

 

I recently sold my Leica M6 while waiting for an M9; if there is interest, I will post some 1:1 comparisons once I have the M9 in my hands, since the M9 might finally be able to upset the equation.

 

Regarding lens selection and versatility in general... well, the 35mm format gained popularity over MF for some reason, didn't it

[jplomley]

I recently sold my Leica M6 while waiting for an M9; if there is interest, I will post some 1:1 comparisons once I have the M9 in my hands, since the M9 might finally be able to upset the equation.

 

I'm in a similiar situation. I use a Mamiya 7II with the 43/65 combination and I will do a back to back comparison against the M9 with my 21/35 combination. To make it fair, I will either Creo or drum scan the Mamiya negs.

[ShyTot]

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Anyway, look on the plus side, you will still have me around. You don't get rid of me that easy.

 

Heart breaking news, Kenneth. I was so looking forward to you being an MF shooter.

[roguewave]

The SL66 body is, according to everything I've read, a very reliable camera and unlikely to break down. The film backs according to some commentators have had some reliability issues but then so have H'blad backs. I take most dealer's comments with a pinch of salt and have learnt over the years that more than a few of them can when the mood takes them, talk pure "cobblers" - especially when trying to sell something.

 

Cheers

 

dunk

 

Ken, I was very serious about purchasing this kit. I collected information from a number of techs that were trained to work on this camera. To a person, they had the same comments. Critical parts are non-existent and will never be fabricated again. I loved using that camera & almost let my emotions run over me. The real problem is that the mint kits were used in a studio most of the time & lived on substantial tripods. Once you take these out in the street & they get used & banged, parts aren't available or if they are, the prices can be outrageous. Anyway, I understand the lure this camera generates.

[Don'tknowmuch]

Kenneth! I saw the title of your thread and thought how I must say don't do it! I was certain you'd regret getting rid of 35mm, especially M Leica. I recently tried to move to MF having seen some lovely shots, and bought a camera with which to get going. It all worked like it should but I missed almost everything about 35mm and wasn't overwhelmed by the one aspect of the MF that should have been better. Luckily I was able to get my money back and I hadn't sold my M2.

Then I saw your more recent post and felt relieved on your behalf.

It's always possible to have a cheap dabble in MF - I've a Yashica Mat and it works fine when the itch happens, but I shan't expensivley go that way again.

Well done for getting through it.

Jim.