Your favourite non-Leica camera

[wlaidlaw]

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I have a new favourite. A Graflex Century Graphic 2” x 3” press camera. I had been looking for one for some time but as these were a considerably cheaper (and much lighter = better from my POV) than the 4 x 5 Speed Graphic models, often the original purchasers had economised in other areas as well. A lot of them are missing either the coupled Kalart rangefinder or the top Galilean finder. They often come with the cheaper slow f4.4/4.5 Graflar or Ektar lenses. I finally found a mint, barely used one with an f2.8 Zeiss Tessar and all the toys. It has a Graflex type 22 6 x 7cm 120 film back on it. It is currently away having the rangefinder fine adjusted but I am much looking forward to using it when it gets back.

 

Are there any Graflex experts on the forum? There seem to be for every other subject so I am hopeful. I want to get the later type lever wind/rapid advance film back but in the larger 6 x 9cm format. This was made by Singer for Graflex and is called an RH-8. These are quite rare for the 2 x 3 cameras but relatively common for the 4 x 5. Does anyone know if the 4 x 5 Grafloc plate is a removable adapter leaving a roll film back which will fit the 2 x 3 Grafloc back?

 

Wilson

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[Simey]

Shen-Hao 5x4 field camera - can use 6x9 also with my MPP film back

Or My old Bronica S2a

 

Regards

 

I loved my Bronica S2a! I got it when I was 16 and I still have several prints from it up on the wall.

 

But, even then I would have admitted that it was pretty crude, had a shutter like a shotgun and it was HEAVY. However, by the early 80s it was affordable and the 75mm Nikkor was easily as good as the 80 Planar on a Hasselblad. My 50 2.8 Nikkor was no slouch either (although the 150 Zenzanon was definitely not as good). Sadly, mine died due to the common stripped gear issue.

 

My first serious camera was a Yashica FX-D which was the only camera I owned that was bought for me. It was a great camera but as a weird teenager I decided after a couple of years that this was too modern so I bought a Nikon FTn, then later a plain prism F and then I added the Bronica. I wish I had kept the F and especially the 105mm 2.5.

 

A little later I acquired a lovely little IIIa, which was later replaced by an M4-P, a Hasselblad 500c/m and Leica M6-TTL. I still have these although I haven't used them in years.

 

I also have and still use a Fuji X100. Great camera. I recently acquired an Olympus TG-2 which takes pretty good pictures in otherwise impossible conditions (although I would like to slap the designer who decided to put the on/off switch right next to the shutter button so you accidentally press one when you mean to press the other).

[spydrxx]

I finally got around to recovering my Canon SII, so here's a shot of it from yesterday. I like the selectable 1.5x magnification of the telescopic viewfinder for critical focusing.

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[gsgary]

My new favourite is the little Rollei 35

 

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[RED ROBIN]

A pair of aces: Canon P and the Bessa R. These two represent 90% of my rangefinder work.

The smaller ones can be fun but those two are the ones I take mostly.

[DES]

Olympus OM1n and 2n, the latter having the sweetest shutter sound of any SLR I heard; the OM 24/2,8 and especially the OM 100/2 are my favourites. Especially the latter is just amazing. An Olympus Mju II brought me back to photography, but since the first gave up, I only found 2nd hand lemons.

When it works, I also like the Minolta CLE (still/again in repair). Similar for my beater Contax T.

There will always be a place with me for the Canon T70, FDn 35/2, 50/1,4, 100/2,8 -- my first SLR, hence no doubt for sentimental reasons rather than the technical pain it can be (no way to set the aperture and measure the light!)

And then the Rolleicord Va I take out too seldom.

 

Alexander

 

Yes I bought my OM2 in 1976, I still have it and love it, and although I have not had a film through it for years, I cannot bring myself to sell it. Silly really, someone I am sure would bring it back to life.

[jean99990]

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Fujifilm TX-1 (Hasselblad Xpan)

[andym911]

Nikon F3...

 

Perfect in every way and brilliant AIS lenses..

andy

[djh63]

I love my Hasselblad 500C but for the times when I want something a little smaller either the F5 or the F3 are in my film bag.

[jkphoto]

My Mamiya 6 is a GREAT camera with equally impressive lenses. It just works.

 

A camera that is quickly becoming a favorite is the Nikon Df ... there are things I wish were different about it, but, it is usable and fits my style of shooting (as the Mamiya 6 does as well).

[rea1412]

Canon 7SZ with a 50mm f/0.95

[tobey bilek]

I have a new favourite. A Graflex Century Graphic 2” x 3” press camera. I had been looking for one for some time but as these were a considerably cheaper (and much lighter = better from my POV) than the 4 x 5 Speed Graphic models, often the original purchasers had economised in other areas as well. A lot of them are missing either the coupled Kalart rangefinder or the top Galilean finder. They often come with the cheaper slow f4.4/4.5 Graflar or Ektar lenses. I finally found a mint, barely used one with an f2.8 Zeiss Tessar and all the toys. It has a Graflex type 22 6 x 7cm 120 film back on it. It is currently away having the rangefinder fine adjusted but I am much looking forward to using it when it gets back.

 

Are there any Graflex experts on the forum? There seem to be for every other subject so I am hopeful. I want to get the later type lever wind/rapid advance film back but in the larger 6 x 9cm format. This was made by Singer for Graflex and is called an RH-8. These are quite rare for the 2 x 3 cameras but relatively common for the 4 x 5. Does anyone know if the 4 x 5 Grafloc plate is a removable adapter leaving a roll film back which will fit the 2 x 3 Grafloc back?

 

Wilson

 

There is a large format forum on the net. My last visit was several years back.

There was a Graflex forum/page also with RF adjustment directions

 

If I want to haul a clunk, I take my zone 6 4x5. Photos are superb, but 36 MP Nikons challenge it. And you can stitch for even bigger.

[wlaidlaw]

Tobey,

 

The difference I find from a modern SLR is that when you are wandering around with a Graflex, everyone is interested and your friend. Mind you this ofter happens as well with a Leica.

 

I have now found a 6 x 9 Singer Graflex Century RH-8 back at a very reasonable price and it looks almost new. It is on its way to me from Minnesota. The nice thing is that it has a red wind lever against the black of my 6 x 7 RH-10 back, so I can tell at a glance which roll back is fitted.

 

I would like to find a different shutter with a T setting on it or a shutter open lock. It is a pain having to use the tiny lock screw on the cable release, which you have to screw down really hard when you want to focus with the ground glass and shutter open. The problem is that the 80mm Tessar looks quite integrated into the existing Compur shutter. I suspect it was donated all in one bit from a pre-war Super Ikonta, fitted into a Century lens board and is not an original large format shutter/lens.

 

Wilson

[Bill Clark]

Rolleiflex.

[MrRogers]

Rolleiflex SL66

Rolleiflex 3.5E

Rolleifkex 2.8F

Rolleiflex T

Rolleicord Vb

Bronica SQAi

Konica Hexar (original)

[peter_n]

Rolleiflex.

+1. Mine's an f3.5 E3, but any Rolleiflex will do really.

[wlaidlaw]

I have gotten to like my Rollei Baby even better than I do my 3.5 Planar E. I would actually quite like to get one of the sub-miniature 8 x 11mm Rolleis, made in Japan, so I can have Daddy Bear, Mummy Bear and Baby Bear.

 

The problem (and I was discussing it with another LUF member just this morning) is the desperate shortage of 127 film. I am down to my last two spare rolls of 127 Rollei Crossbird. The only game in town at present is Bluefire Murano colour negative 127 film from Canada Bluefire Murano color print film and it is a bit like old Ektacolor. 46mm B&W film stock is not the issue apparently, as Ilford can supply this in bulk and spools are also available. The problem is the correctly printed paper backing strips and getting someone to roll the film. Ilford-Harman have declined to assist, even when I approached them wearing my Rollei Club of GB hat and was prepared to commit to a reasonable order.

 

Wilson

[Guest redge]

I really enjoy using a modular Arca-Swiss monorail. I have the parts to set up the camera for either 4x5 or 8x10 film. It's a very versatile camera and a pleasure to use.

 

I also have a Mamiya 7II 6x7. I love the handling and the 80mm lens in particular.

[imsilly]

I really love my Nikon FM2n. I only bought a digital Nikon because it still meant being able to use my FM2n along side it.

 

It's the perfect film SLR. I even prefer it to the more professionally specced F cameras. It's the camera that I never ever consider selling.

 

I probably shoot the most film through my Ricoh GR1v as it's my daily carry around camera.

 

It's the perfect film P&S.

 

I've never found a medium format camera I really gelled with, which is a shame because I love medium format film. If they made a Rolleiflex with a 50mm lens, that might be it.

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Hallo,

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[wlaidlaw]

I really love my Nikon FM2n. I only bought a digital Nikon because it still meant being able to use my FM2n along side it.

 

It's the perfect film SLR. I even prefer it to the more professionally specced F cameras. It's the camera that I never ever consider selling.

 

I probably shoot the most film through my Ricoh GR1v as it's my daily carry around camera.

 

It's the perfect film P&S.

 

I've never found a medium format camera I really gelled with, which is a shame because I love medium format film. If they made a Rolleiflex with a 50mm lens, that might be it.

 

They did make a Rolleiwide E, which used a 55mm Zeiss Distagon. However they are now rare, often heavily used during their life by professionals and much sought after in good condition, hence very expensive. The 55mm Distagon is an excellent lens.

 

Now if you are feeling super flush with cash, you can still buy a new Rolleiflex, which is assembled by ex F&H employees on a limited production basis. The wide angle one uses an F4 50mm Super Angulon lens and costs $5,375.

 

Wilson