Advice re medium format

cowasaki

cowasaki

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Well now that I have bought the stuff for the darkroom I can also have a look a medium format. I have no plans to go out and buy the first thing I see but I have seen a number of medium format cameras for sale.

If I want to use it solely in the studio with my existing kit what am I actually looking for? What is the equivalent of say 50mm but on a medium format. Does a medium format camera include the film holder as some appear to and others not (or have I just answered my own question).

Just a few pointers would be nice so I can keep my ear to the ground.
 
a standard lens on m/F is 75-80mm

what is your existing kit ?

M/F is 120 film, there are SLR's TLR's RF's, all sorts of different designs of cameras, some of which have backs and some that don't.
 
Standard lens focal length tends to change with the format:

6x4.5 = 75mm
6x6 = 80mm
6x7 = 90mm (occ 110mm)
6x9 = 110mm

Film backs will usually be seperate in a MF SLR outfit (except for Mamiya 645 when they can be integral), TLRs and rangfinders will usually be integral.
 
joxby said:
a standard lens on m/F is 75-80mm

what is your existing kit ?
Click to expand...

Nikon FM, F80 and Olympus OM10 for film

I have a E series 50mm on the FM and the F80 will take ALL my Nikon lenses. Just a 50mm and 55-200 push/pull for the OM10.

No medium format stuff at all.
 
Only your flashes will be of any use with an M/F kit then...
 
EdBray said:
Standard lens focal length tends to change with the format:

6x4.5 = 75mm
6x6 = 80mm
6x7 = 90mm (occ 110mm)
6x9 = 110mm

Film backs will usually be seperate in a MF SLR outfit (except for Mamiya 645 when they can be integral), TLRs and rangfinders will usually be integral.
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Right, that makes absolute sense now..... target area size changes so lens focus length will need to change.

What size is ideal for B&W studio work and OCCASIONAL work outside but again studio type shots (setup and using light meter).
 
joxby said:
Only your flashes will be of any use with an M/F kit then...
Click to expand...

Yes, I thought that would be the case.

Are there any particular things I should be looking for. This is a medium term wish list item really.
 
Quality against cost I would go for a Mamiya RB67 or if you want to push the boat out a Mamiya RZ67, they have a rotatable back for portrait work, so you can do just fine with the WLF.

Mamiya RB67's can be had for about £200-£300 for a complete camera (lens, body, wlf & back) depending on condition and model.
 
EdBray said:
Quality against cost I would go for a Mamiya RB67 or if you want to push the boat out a Mamiya RZ67, they have a rotatable back for portrait work, so you can do just fine with the WLF.

Mamiya RB67's can be had for about £200-£300 for a complete camera (lens, body, wlf & back) depending on condition and model.
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Excellent for studio work esp with the 180mm lens.
 
Cheers, gives me something to look for.

The 180mm lens, how would that be in a small studio as mine is a converted garage.
 
180mm on M/F is nothing like as long as 180mm on 35mm

remember 50mm on M/F is a wide angle, something like 26mm on 35mm film.
 
cowasaki said:
Cheers, gives me something to look for.

The 180mm lens, how would that be in a small studio as mine is a converted garage.
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In that case I would try to find a 140mm macro (approx AOV of an 85mm on 35mm).

I've just read my previous post again and it looks like I am saying the RZ has a rotatable back, but both the RB and RZ have them.
 
EdBray said:
In that case I would try to find a 140mm macro (approx AOV of an 85mm on 35mm).

I've just read my previous post again and it looks like I am saying the RZ has a rotatable back, but both the RB and RZ have them.
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Cheers. I have a bit of cash on paypal so I was just having a bit of a look. 120 film does not seem that expensive, I take it that the number of images depends on the frame size of the actual camera. What size is the RB67 and how many images per film?
 
cowasaki said:
Cheers. I have a bit of cash on paypal so I was just having a bit of a look. 120 film does not seem that expensive, I take it that the number of images depends on the frame size of the actual camera. What size is the RB67 and how many images per film?
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Err, 6x7 cms (roughly 4 times the size of a 35mm neg) and 10 images per film.

6x4.5 cms 15 images per 120
6x6 12 images
6x7 10 images
6x8 9 images
6x9 8 images
 
joxby said:
180mm on M/F is nothing like as long as 180mm on 35mm

remember 50mm on M/F is a wide angle, something like 26mm on 35mm film.
Click to expand...

180 on 6x7 has a similar AOV of about 100mm on 35mm
90 on 6x7 has a similar AOV of about 50mm on 35mm
 
for reference...

juihic.jpg
 
I will just need a medium format negative holder for my enlarger then....
 
If you haven't natural light then you need at least two proper flash units (one to be able to be set for appx half flash power of the other flash unit) and white umbrellas are handy, all on stands plus some backing paper or curtain. If you have a dslr it is handy to get the exposure right by experimenting otherwise it's a flash meter.
 
cowasaki said:
I will just need a medium format negative holder for my enlarger then....
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If your enlarger is capable of enlarging M/F ?

Everything is twice as big, twice as expensive and twice as difficult to find as 35mm stuffs, you're best off wiping memory banks of all 35mm thoughts and starting a fresh, then if something does work for you its a bonus and if it doesn't you expected it anyway..:cool:
 
joxby said:
If your enlarger is capable of enlarging M/F ?

Everything is twice as big, twice as expensive and twice as difficult to find as 35mm stuffs, you're best off wiping memory banks of all 35mm thoughts and starting a fresh, then if something does work for you its a bonus and if it doesn't you expected it anyway..:cool:
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Yes, its an Axomat 5 standard. The only hopper is for 35mm which is lost in the middle of the hopper!
 
excalibur2 said:
If you haven't natural light then you need at least two proper flash units (one to be able to be set for appx half flash power of the other flash unit) and white umbrellas are handy, all on stands plus some backing paper or curtain. If you have a dslr it is handy to get the exposure right by experimenting otherwise it's a flash meter.
Click to expand...

I have 3 studio lights (180w at the moment but about to upgrade to a lencarta 300+300+600w set) and 4 speed lights. Will that be enough ;)
 
joxby said:
Its for 35mm only, unfortunately.....:thumbsdown:
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When I looked at the size of the hopper it appeared that it was that size so that it could take medium format. The square that the hopper goes into is much bigger than the 35mm neg.

Oh well looks like I would need another enlarger too. That sort of spoils the whole plan!
 
Arkady said:
A good all-rounder enlarger is the DeVere 504, which as the name suggests, is capable of enlarging negs up to 5" x 4" half-plate...

Here's one now:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DeVere-504-en...raphy_DarkroomSupplies_SM&hash=item439f6b548e

Looks OK to me...

Actually I'm going to bid for that tomorrow if the offer for our new flat is accepted...
Click to expand...

Thanks,

I was under the impression that the enlarger I had just needed another carrier. The carrier for 35mm is about 6cm square with the 35mm neg in the middle so I reasonably assumed that the hole was that size ready for a larger carrier. I have not even used the enlarger I have yet! Was just hoping that I could buy a MF camera and film and develop it myself. As I need a new enlarger too it might have to wait till next year as the new studio lights have to take priority this year and it is probably going to be a Hilight for xmas. Will see though as if a bargain comes up I might just buy it either the enlarger or camera. I suppose a MF enlarger capable of colour too might be useful with my current setup although only plan on developing B&W at the moment.
 
Have you considered Pentax 645 and the option of a digital body at a later date?

Stunning samples from the 645D.
 
Meopta5 is definately only 35mm I'm afraid.here

Rob is right, the Devere 504 is a superb enlarger and if I thought I'd get the use out of it I'd upgrade my current enlarger to one of them. I picked up pretty much an entire darkroom including a DurstM605 enlarger for £100 so there are bargains out there. When looking for an MF enlarger remember to check that it comes with the right negative carriers, and a 75-80mm lens.

A pentx 645 might be a good idea as it has AF, if you don't have much ambient light in your studio then you might struggle to manual focus with MF.

A Mamiya 6x7 would be good for the studio, they're a bit heavy for a mobile camera. If you want 6x6 then I'd go for a Bronica from a price point and you can always crop from 6x6 to 645 but if you go the other way around you'll lose a lot of film.
 
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