6x7 options

DigitalRelish

DigitalRelish

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Currently, I have a Bronica ETR shooting 6x4.5 (with 50mm, 75mm, 150mm lenses) and I'm considering moving up to a 6x7 system with a perhaps a normal (50mm in 35mm film terms) and a wide lens for general photography.

If I could sell my 645 kit, what sort of 6x7 system could I replace it with? I'm quite open to the various body types available, but not sure what my options would be.

Any advice would be appreciated.
 
It's either a rangefinder or an SLR - and the latter can be broadly split into those which are best used with a WLF, Hasselblad style, and those which are like a 35mm SLR on steroids.

6x7 rangefinders include the Mamiya 7 (still very expensive), Fuji GW670III, Bessa III and others that I probably just cannot recall.

6x7 SLRs - Mamiya RB/RZ67, Pentax 67 (and all of its variants), Bronica GS-1 are the ones that come to mind.
 
To add to the list - Paubell Makina and Koni Omega.

There is a bigger choice in the RF range if you are open to fixed lenses like the Fuji and Bessa
 
I've both a WLF and AE prism for the Bronica and have used both, but prefer the prism for easier focusing. Nice to have the option, though. I can see the appeal of the RFs, but the likes of the Mamiya 7 are above my budget (which would be whatever I could sell my Bronica kit for), plus no WLF?

Interchangeable lenses would be preferable.
 
DigitalRelish said:
I've both a WLF and AE prism for the Bronica and have used both, but prefer the prism for easier focusing. Nice to have the option, though. I can see the appeal of the RFs, but the likes of the Mamiya 7 are above my budget (which would be whatever I could sell my Bronica kit for), plus no WLF?

Interchangeable lenses would be preferable.
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I would say your best bet is the Pentax 6x7,have used them.
You should be able pick one up s/h at a good price :)
 
The RB67 is popular (there are several users on the forum), inexpensive and there the most common parts of the system can be readily sourced from a variety of dealers, Ebay, etc.
 
The Mamiyas are very good machines and are modular systems like your Bronica.

But for me the Pentax 67 is a fantastic piece of kit.
 
I've looked at the Pentax 67 before and feel it doesn't offer the same value for money or in fact availability as the Mamiyas.
Its a sweet camera but more expensive, when I say expensive what I mean is you are less likely to pick up a bargain because there is less of it about, and what is about is priced at a premium.
I can pull pages and pages of RB equipment up but P67 is much more limited.
Same could be said for the GS1 I suppose, I think its fair to say given the same budget, RB's are much easier to track down than virtually anything else.
It would be annoying were it not for the fact that RB gear is excellent..:shrug:
 
Considering the Mamiyas for a sec, any thoughts on RZ vs RB? The RZs look a lot more modern and plasticy whereas the RBs look more like my ETR.

Also, do I need to consider the quality of the lenses in each system? It's not something that seems to be debated as much when compared to 35mm systems.
 
Biggest difference between lenses for the RB and the RZ is that the RZ has tilt-shift lenses in the line-up. But for the usual suspect focal lengths, there's little to choose between them in terms of lenses.

I've mentioned it on the other Medium Format thread, I'll mention it again here.. The Medium Format Manual by Michael Freeman covers the basic differences between the main MF systems and gives a description of what's available in each (fairly complete, but there have been some new accessories since the last reprint). The RB 67 Guide is a useful resource, as is the RB67 Compatibility Chart.
 
The pros and cons of RB/RZ are explained in better detail by others on the net, so I'll refrain. In general, if you are on a budget the RBs will be cheaper, by lieu of their age.

Lenses - most systems have a standard 80mm (on 35mm format, equivalent of a 50mm) which are almost always stellar, and the wide and teles tend to be very good in general as well. What additional focal length lens would you be looking at?
 
Interesting links, thanks! The RB focusing method seems a bit convaluted or at least more involved than what I'm used to. Is the RZ the same?

I think I would be happy with simply a 6x7 version of my Bronica ETR, but I don't mind which brand.

For lenses, I'd like equivalents of 50mm and 24-35mm in 35mm speak.
 
Focusing on the RBs is really simple, there's just a knob you turn that racks the bellows in and out. For normal focussing you work within a fairly limited range anyway, but for convenience you have the ability to go out to close to macro focusing with most lenses

They are very intuitive to use, and not as heavy as the internet would have you believe, but they are quite bulky
 
raathistle said:
They are very intuitive to use, and not as heavy as the internet would have you believe, but they are quite bulky
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Of course, this is a very subjective thing. Personally, I already find my Rolleiflex a little on the heavy side (1.2kg), so an RB67 Pro SD with 127mm lens and film back at 2.69kg is a monster to me!
 
DigitalRelish said:
Interesting links, thanks! The RB focusing method seems a bit convaluted or at least more involved than what I'm used to. Is the RZ the same?
Click to expand...

It only gets more involved when you get into lenses with a floating front element, but that's only some lenses in the available line-up, and you might never use any of these.
 
DigitalRelish said:
Also, do I need to consider the quality of the lenses in each system? It's not something that seems to be debated as much when compared to 35mm systems.
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Umm, not really, there is Zeiss....and everything else..:lol:

Saying that though, all MF system equipment is made for a pro market, they couldn't afford to produce lemons, so you have to go deep undercover to separate Zeiss from anything else.
Also, its not like you have a huge choice of say 50's to make comparisons with anyway like there is with 35mm.
I have an old Bronica system, it has more than your average range of lenses available, manufacturers are Nikon, Bronica, Zeiss and Komura, all the advise is that some of the Komura's have notable characteristics and the other three can hardly be separated.
 
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