6x6? I think that what i want.....

LeeRatters

LeeRatters

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I have a Voigtlander Bessa Folder that I bought for display. I ran a roll of black and white through it over Christmas and everything seemed to work well and it was enjoyable. Aside from the framing/composition......

I've just bought some more 120 film and I'm not sure whether to keep going with the Bessa, which is light and compact..... or pick up a 6x6 camera......

I'm thinking something like a Yashica Mat or Minolta Autocord as I've always wanted to try a waist level finder way of shooting. I'm not fussed about changing lenses and I'd prefer a light meter but not essential.

I'd be looking at around a £250 budget but could stretch a little bit more. I don't want to be up nearer to £4-500 though really.

Any other suggestions?

And ideally, places or Ebay shops to buy from?

Ta :)
 

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In addition.....

I would ideally like 6x4.5 how I shoot the Bessa, but I think those are typically over budget and also fairly big (and heavy.....) Hence the 6x6 thoughts.
 
I have an Autocord and it's a lovely camera, though I don't use it at the moment because I dislike WLFs. It's currently out on loan, I do need to check it's getting some use! Supposed to be better than some other TLRs because the design of the film path reduces the likelihood of kinks in the negatives, ISTR.

Fleabay prices seem variable but might be within your budget?
 
@LeeRatters

I bought a fulled serviced YashicaMat 124G from The Real Camera company about 18 months ago for £275 - I didn't use it that much and got the offer of a Rolleiflex 2.8E so bought the Rolleiflex and sold the Yaschica, but I would certainly recommend The Real Camera Company, I've bought several items from them, only one I had an issue with and they refunded without quibble. I have used them and Camera Crib (in Manchester) a few times

Composing with a TLR is an art though (especially if you like things level in your image!!), and I don't think you'd go wrong with a 124G as a first TLR - the Mamiya's can also look enticing but don't have lightweight on their side!!

If you wanted 645 then the Bronica ETRS is the obvious starting point - plenty about

And as you say I wouldn't make a lightmeter a mandatory item, plenty of lightmeters available and loads of phone apps.
 
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I would certainly recommend a Minolta autocord. I used one along side rolleiflexes for quite a few years, when I bought it I tested it against yashica mats and rolleiflexes .

For weddings the lens was better than the yashicas, and indistinguishable at f4 from any of the rolleiflexes
As a camera it had a few advantages especially the film path which came straight from the roll and would not kink the film if left for some days.secondly the lenses and shutter were mounted on a giant heliacal tubular mount that had none of the potential lack of rigidity of the yashicas and rolleiflexes that rely on thin Strips of metal to support the lens mount.. this helical mount is connected to a lever below the lens which gives an extremely fast and accurate focussing. Movement.

The biggest down side to this arrangement is that if the lubricant in the helical thread can becom solid from age and lack of use,, it is possible to break the focus leaver though excessive force. If the focus is stiff it must be serviced.to replace the lubricant. This is an easy task for any service centre.

My own preference for using 6x6 format was to mask the 4 corners of the view finder screen to provide a 5x4 proportion for both portrait and landscape composing, using a marker. This allowed me to compose images directly that would fit 10x8 paper, my standard for weddings and the like. I never composed as 6x6 square, which suits very few images. The extra area on the final film allowed for adjusting the image during printing..

Professional print houses offered print packages based on this 5x4 and 10x8 as standard offerings. From 6x6 negatives. So it was standard practice for a majority of professional photographers.
 
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If you can find a good one, the Seagull twin lens reflex might be worth trying.

They seem to be pretty cheap at the moment (then again, they always were) and the later models have very good viewfinders.

Seagull TLR.jpg
 
I've got a couple of Yashica mats, a 635 and the 124g. Both great camera with smashing quality (the 635 does 35mm film as well, although only in portrait format) I much prefered them to the mamia C220 or C330.
 
I too wanted to scratch that 6x6 itch. I got this a few years back and have been very happy with it.
Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex.JPG

Sorry, probably not the most helpful picture of it - it's reflected in a mirror, a play on words.

It cost me a very fair £78 on ebay. Not sure how prices may look now.

You do need to get your head around the film loading / frame counter / exposure interlock (I don't know how typical such a thing is in the TLR world). They were not designed for people to "try it out without a film in it", but once you have it explained it works really nicely (come back to me for more information if needed). Very well engineered.

You're welcome to borrow it if you ever come over to my part of the world (Bedfordshire).
 
To you All, thank you very much.

Plenty for me to read through properly later on this evening when I'm not at work!

The Yashica was my initial thought, but as I said plenty to read up on :)
 
I've had a Yashica-Mat for some time, I don't use it as much as I should but when I do I like the way of working with it which is for me mostly on a tripod. I don't care that it has no meter since neither do my Bronicas so I have a Sekonic anyway but as others have said phone apps are good enough for neg film.

Yashi 10-11-21.JPGYashica Mat 01-1010047 PS Adj.jpg

I have a PDF Manual if you're interested Lee but I can't attach it to this post. If you want me to send it to you PM me.
 
I really like the Mamiya C series. Yes they are on the heavy side but I manage. Lots of different lenses and accessories too if you want to go that way.
 
auntiemaryscanary said:
I really like the Mamiya C series. Yes they are on the heavy side but I manage. Lots of different lenses and accessories too if you want to go that way.
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However liker. All sold cameras with bellows they are falling now. And expensive to. Replace.
 
Terrywoodenpic said:
However liker. All sold cameras with bellows they are falling now. And expensive to. Replace.
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To be fair, I've owned three Mamiyas: C33, C220 and C330 and never had the slightest problem.

As a friend once said: "They're like Landrovers, even if you do manage to break one, you can get them fixed anywhere". I used the C330 for my last Job on a newspaper (mid 1990s) and could walk in pretty well anywhere without challenge. Wear a suit, tie and a Mamiya and it seems that you "look the business". ;)

Here's a C330 image from a military show in Devon...

Sherman tank and crew Barnstaple Mamiya C300f.jpg
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
To be fair, I've owned three Mamiyas: C33, C220 and C330 and never had the slightest problem.
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The Mamiya C series are, IMO the best bang for buck of all the TLR cameras (having used and sold most of them).

They haven't shot up in price like a lot of medium format, the screens are brighter than most, the lenses are superb, interchangeable and still reasonably priced. A very good buy, IMO.
 
If looking at anything film and larger than 35mm I'd be very tempted to look at what our very own Steve over at Chroma has. I've just had a quick look and not that I know what I'm looking at :D but he does seem to do a 6x6 camera. Might stretch the budget though. Deffo worth a look though if only for the gear porn.
 
The good thing about Steve's site is that he offers the most comprehensive range of 120 formats available, from 6x4.5 to 6x17. However, you have to budget for a lens as well, unless you already have an appropriate LF or Mamiya Press lens.
 
Currently giving up....

Received an auction Yashica Mat last Friday for eBay. Was mouldy looking under the case and shutter not working correctly - apparently must have happened in transit. Cost me return postage.....

Bought the same night what I was going to in the first place. Yashica Mat 124g for sale buy it now, £200, not sold by but apparently serviced by that company that does digital sensor modifications, new seals, CLA, all working, shutter speeds, focus etc It is in good condition when received today but guess what..... Yeah, the shutter is sticking..... So another return to deal with.....
 
LeeRatters said:
Currently giving up....

Received an auction Yashica Mat last Friday for eBay. Was mouldy looking under the case and shutter not working correctly - apparently must have happened in transit. Cost me return postage.....

Bought the same night what I was going to in the first place. Yashica Mat 124g for sale buy it now, £200, not sold by but apparently serviced by that company that does digital sensor modifications, new seals, CLA, all working, shutter speeds, focus etc It is in good condition when received today but guess what..... Yeah, the shutter is sticking..... So another return to deal with.....
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Bummer. :(
 
i had a yashica Mat as well. Too heavy and the wind on and shutter didn't feel nice at all. WLF was very good though.

For 6 x 6 then the geriatric Automat is worth a go. It's nice and light and you can get replacement mirrors and finders. It's the 120 I've stuck with after trying quite a few others. Don't need a light meter. I've just stuck a sunny 16 cheat sheet on the back....
 
I've bought from these guys in the past and had a good experience. I had a problem with a Yashica I bought from them and they replaced it with another straight away (which has been fine ever since). They have a range of TLRs in stock at present.

Twin Lens Reflex : The Vintage & Classic Camera Company, Fine Quality Photographic Equipment

The Vintage & Classic Camera Company : Twin Lens Reflex - Medium & Large Format 35mm & Half Frame Folding Cameras Subminiature Cameras Stereo & Panoramic Antique & Scientific 35mm Single Lens Reflex 127 & Box Cameras Leica & Leica Copy Movie & Underwater Twin Lens Reflex Darkroom Nice Things...
vintageclassiccamera.com vintageclassiccamera.com
 
I know :ROFLMAO: @todders .... :ROFLMAO:

But.....

It has been in my collection for several years but has not exposed much film in that time-light . It is cosmetically very good to excellent, with only a few areas of wear to paint that can be seen in the photos. The meter responds appropriately though as with all of these is pretty inaccurate and an external meter would be preferred for serious shooting. The Copal SV shutter cocks and fires correctly on all speeds B to 1/500th, aperture and focus adjusts smoothly on the Yashinon 80mm f3.5 taking lens. Both taking and viewing lenses are clear of fungus and show little dust, there are some cleaning marks to the viewing lens and dust to the focusing screen but the sacreen gives a clear image and is perfectly usable.
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Third time lucky I think.....

Looks in great condition. Shutter appears to be working very well. On a plain wall at ISO400, f/5.6 the A7Riii at 0EV was giving me 1/125th & the 124G light meter was reading 1/60th - so about a stop over, which is typically how I shoot film anyway :)


*** by Lee, on Flickr


*** by Lee, on Flickr


*** by Lee, on Flickr
 
LeeRatters said:
Third time lucky I think.....

Looks in great condition. Shutter appears to be working very well. On a plain wall at ISO400, f/5.6 the A7Riii at 0EV was giving me 1/125th & the 124G light meter was reading 1/60th - so about a stop over, which is typically how I shoot film anyway :)


*** by Lee, on Flickr


*** by Lee, on Flickr


*** by Lee, on Flickr
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Result mate. (y)
 
It's beautiful.

I hope it gives you years of service and enjoyment.
 
LeeRatters said:
Third time lucky I think.....

Looks in great condition. Shutter appears to be working very well. On a plain wall at ISO400, f/5.6 the A7Riii at 0EV was giving me 1/125th & the 124G light meter was reading 1/60th - so about a stop over, which is typically how I shoot film anyway :)
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Fingers crossed that you got a good one this time.

A new 124G was my first medium format camera back in the very early 1980's, happy memories. Though I don't recall the meter been that accurate as I always used a Gossen luna six (?) for reflected and incident light readings.
 
I have been using a Yashicamat 124g for 16 years. In that time I have tried a variety of folders and an interchangeable lens system (RZ67) but have always returned to the Yashicamat as the most practical solution for my needs. On several occasions I have used it as my only camera on week-long photo trips

Compared to folders, I find accurate composition much easier with a WLF. Although a folder may be slightly smaller, I've never been unable to carry the 124g, including on hiking and cycling trips

The ability to easily use filters and lens hoods is another strong point
 
Who was it who said earlier about the composing with one of these? :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: I was fine left to right, but rotation to get things straight and level..... OMG :ROFLMAO:

But, it was fun to use. I did enjoy it. And a roll of Gold 200 went though with no issues - that I'm aware of. Just the waiting now.... As I said, the meter was reading slightly +ve so I decided to just go with it as I typically lean towards some over exposure anyway. Plus, it is a test roll as such.

I think I do need some sort of ND though, maybe a 3 stop or something as I found myself at 1/500th and around f/11-16 today. I think I did read about some adaptors for the Bay1 mount to a filter thread.
 
Topsy said:
I've had a Yashica-Mat for some time, I don't use it as much as I should but when I do I like the way of working with it which is for me mostly on a tripod. I don't care that it has no meter since neither do my Bronicas so I have a Sekonic anyway but as others have said phone apps are good enough for neg film.

View attachment 452726View attachment 452727

I have a PDF Manual if you're interested Lee but I can't attach it to this post. If you want me to send it to you PM me.
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I've got a brace of these in the safe, A 124g and the older 635, somewhere is a hood, a close up set and the 35mm inserts I think theres a Lubitel there too.
 
LeeRatters said:
Who was it who said earlier about the composing with one of these? :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: I was fine left to right, but rotation to get things straight and level..... OMG :ROFLMAO:
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It will become second nature very quickly.

Most of my filters are Bay 1 but I do have a Bay 1 to 46mm adaptor which I can use to mount an R72 infrared filter.
 
Kevin Allan said:
It will become second nature very quickly.
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Indeed it does.

However, when I started using digital cameras with waist level finders, I had to unlearn decades of "mirror image angle adjustment"! ;)

Sony HX90 flip screen in use TZ70 P1030854.JPG
 
LeeRatters said:
Who was it who said earlier about the composing with one of these? :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: I was fine left to right, but rotation to get things straight and level..... OMG :ROFLMAO:

But, it was fun to use. I did enjoy it. And a roll of Gold 200 went though with no issues - that I'm aware of. Just the waiting now.... As I said, the meter was reading slightly +ve so I decided to just go with it as I typically lean towards some over exposure anyway. Plus, it is a test roll as such.

I think I do need some sort of ND though, maybe a 3 stop or something as I found myself at 1/500th and around f/11-16 today. I think I did read about some adaptors for the Bay1 mount to a filter thread.
Click to expand...

Okay...... An update....

So number 3 pictured up above looked so good & the guy sounded so genuine I didn't fully check it - Ran a roll through at the Vintage Nostalgia Festival last Saturday as said and..... BLOOMING Hell!! Literally. I like using mist filters on my digital for that slight bloomy, film like look but this was another level..... So, returned that one too.

Number 4 has just been bought so lets see how this one is :)
 
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