Medium Format Camera

[andym911]

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the rolleicord or flex is for sure the coolest MF camera...

 

no better IQ and ease of use than these fellows!

 

have a mamiya 645 as well that never sees the light of day..

 

andy

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[steed]

if you are a leica shooter, I don't think that the Bronica is for you. The closest experience to a Leica in medium format is a relatively lightweight TLR: Rollieflex, Zeiss Ikoflex, Yashica Mat124, Minolta Autocord. That list will cover a range of budgets. I have a Mamiyaflex, and it is an order of magnitude bigger.

Good luck

John W

[joeswe]

if you are a leica shooter, I don't think that the Bronica is for you. The closest experience to a Leica in medium format is a relatively lightweight TLR: Rollieflex, Zeiss Ikoflex, Yashica Mat124, Minolta Autocord. That list will cover a range of budgets. I have a Mamiyaflex, and it is an order of magnitude bigger.

Good luck

John W

 

I somehow suspect that you never held a Rolleiflex in your hands

A Mamiya 645 (or a Bronica ETRS) is not much bigger or heavier than a Rolleiflex TLR. The less sophisticated TLRs you also mentioned may be closer in weight to the Leica M, but speaking of "lightweight", I find the Leica M to be a fairly heavy camera for its class.

That being said, none of the cameras you mentioned is a "close experience" to a Leica M, IMO. They are waist level TLR cameras. Compared to an eye level rangefinder camera the way of composing and shooting with such a camera is, at least for me, as different as it gets. As has been pointed out, if someone really looks for a similar shooting experience to a Leica M in medium format, that would be one of the Fuji or Mamiya rangefinders, a modern Bessa or something like a Plaubel Makina.

On the other hand, it would never occur to me to advise someone who is a Leica M shooter that a Mamiya 645 or a Bronica ETRs is "not for him". I enjoy shooting a Leica M, a Rolleiflex 3.5f, a Mamiya 645 and a Pentax MX (among others), and I all like them for what they are.

[CalArts 99]

The closest experience to a Leica in medium format is a relatively lightweight TLR: Rollieflex, Zeiss Ikoflex, Yashica Mat124, Minolta Autocord.

 

The closest experience to a Leica is a Leica on steroids: the Fuji GW690. You get the same sort of form factor and with rangefinder focusing. Granted it's a fixed lens but it comes in two versions: a 65mm and a 90mm.

 

I used one for many years and the 6x9 negative size is pretty much the same ratio as 35mm, so one can mix prints in together easily (they also made a 6x8 version for the domestic Japan market only.)

 

It's a bit large (it really is like a grown up early M3; it's even a double stroke advance ) But it's easy and light to carry and very ergonomic. It's quick to focus and the Fujinon EBC lens is very good. The only thing I didn't like about it was that the shutter sound is weird; not necessarily too loud but just odd sounding (like a 'click-boing' sound.) The double stroke film advance is also a bit 'ratchety' feeling.

 

Only 8 exposures on a 120 roll but the film area is nice and big. But you can also use 220 with a turn of the pressure plate.

 

It's a great camera overall and that 6x9 frame size is hard to beat in such a portable package.

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[pico]

The closest experience to a Leica is a Leica on steroids: the Fuji GW690.

 

To be pedantic, this is the monster RF. I had one unused.

Graflex KE-4

70mm long roll cassette , mechanical motor drive, interchangeable lenses

[CalArts 99]

There used to be a great motion picture and still camera shop on Cahuenga Blvd in Hollywood called Lloyd's. I remember seeing a couple of those in the shop. I think they were military issue cameras, right? Combar Graflex

 

Lloyd's had a lot of stuff like Eyemo 35mm cine cameras (with the triple lens turret) and all in working order. They closed down and the building now houses a hipster tattoo parlor next to La Velvet Margarita (another trendy hipster place.)

 

fwiw, the original Fuji G690 RF cameras also had interchangeable lenses; it was a full system camera: The 6x9 Photography Online Resource - Fujica G690 Series

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[chris_livsey]

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Personally I don't see the point of scaling up a 35mm camera, even if it has a double stroke. I enjoy the different experience of shooting MF in a different way. TLR scores heavily there and I have shot Rolleiflex in the past but my preference is for the versatility if the Hasselblad. ( I can and do fit a digital back ) You should note an Exc ++ etc Rolleiflex particularly a late 2.8 is going to cost more than a 'blad these days.

[250swb]

If you don't want to appear as a traitor to the Leica cause there is a MF camera with a Leica/Leitz lens that may make you repent from using Hasselflex's. I say may advisedly .

 

It is the 6x9 Kodak (or Nagel) Vollenda 620 folding camera that has a 105mm Leitz lens, which formed the basis of the 'Mountain Elmar'. They are rare, but still relatively cheap for a user, and there are modifications you can make to the film spool to use standard 120 film in the 620 body. The lens is sharp but the contrast soft. And you get a massive 6x9 negative on a camera that slips into your pocket. I found the Vollenda body just a bit too unreliable with mine, so have temporarily swapped the lens and shutter over to a newer Agfa 6x9 body for general use, and it takes unmodified 120 rolls which is easier as well.

 

Steve

[Peter_S]

Personally I don't see the point of scaling up a 35mm camera, even if it has a double stroke.

Oh, after using a GF670 I actually think it makes a lot of sense Feels like an improved M in many ways. Fits better in my bag too and weights the same.

Had a Rolleiflex...loved the output, could not get to grips with the way it handles. Good thing we have different tastes - and all MFs share one thing, wonderful output when used right.

[erl]

First of all I enjoy the ergonomics of Hasselblad, when the modular system is configured specifically to one's preferences. For me that includes a 45Deg prism finder, sometimes the motor winder, selection of 120 and or 220 magazines and an array of lenses according to the project.

 

The larger negative is a joy to work with and more recently I realized I prefer the square format, both for 'post cropping' or more so, letting the image remain square!

 

I had a Rolleiflex together with a Mamiya 330, but got rid of both in favour of the Hasselblad that covered for both. Regret selling the Rollei, couldn't get rid of the Mamiya fast enough.

[shootinglulu]

I'm using film this year..I like having one camera and scaled my kit down to a Rolleiflex tlr 2.8F Planar..I had Mamiya 7 and Contax 645 but was happy to let them go. The Rollei is quite small and fits into a small F something Domke bag, there are no extra lenses or batteries to worry about, just a camera with an accurate meter and a load of film..I like to use the prism finder rather than the waist level finder.

[honcho]

The closest experience to a Leica is a Leica on steroids: the Fuji GW690. You get the same sort of form factor and with rangefinder focusing. Granted it's a fixed lens but it comes in two versions: a 65mm and a 90mm.........

 

Comparing the 'experience' of using these Fuji cameras to a Leica M is stretching a point, but they are fine cameras. I still use a GSW690111 for some of my personal work. The 65mm EBC lens (similar field of view to a 28mm) is typical Fujinon, very sharp with good contrast. The weird noise of the sutter often referred to is partly due to the actuation counter mechanism. It is a peculiar sound and much louder than the near-silent Mamiya 7(ii), if these things matter.

 

All of these Fuji rangefinders were built for hard professional use and are tough and reliable, if not pretty. Looking at current prices, the later GW/GSW versions can be had in good condition for £500-£600. With the 6x9 Fuji cameras you get a lot of camera and frame real estate for the money.