Basic Medium Format with Manual Control

ifotou

ifotou

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Tom
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Hey All, sorry if this isn't 100% appropriate for in here but looking for some suggestions.

I want to have a play with some Medium Format but with some control over shutter speed and aperture.

I've played with a Bronica ETRS before and loved it but it's more than i want to spend at the moment for some testing. Been considering looking for the cheapest TLR possible, but thought i'd ask here in case anyone had any suggestions i could have a hunt for that would let me play with medium format in a controlled way.
 
Scratching my head, most if not all, of the medium format was all manual. In my time Weston Euromaster ruled. Digital with 151 exposure points or whatever silly numbers ... pffft ... :D

Of course I would say Mamiya 3330f but I have no idea how the bellows hold over time ... and macro photography is on your doorstep. No need for macro ... pfffft ... lenses.
 
ifotou said:
Hey All, sorry if this isn't 100% appropriate for in here but looking for some suggestions.

I want to have a play with some Medium Format but with some control over shutter speed and aperture.

I've played with a Bronica ETRS before and loved it but it's more than i want to spend at the moment for some testing. Been considering looking for the cheapest TLR possible, but thought i'd ask here in case anyone had any suggestions i could have a hunt for that would let me play with medium format in a controlled way.
Click to expand...

A ballpark figure would probably help with suggestions here Tom, else you'll get anything from folders to Hasselblads. ;)
 
TLR-330 said:
I have no idea how the bellows hold over time
Click to expand...


I still have my RZ67 and, even after 40 years, it
performs impeccably… and, because of that cool
bellow, macro works is always a treat!
 
If you're wanting low cost, then a Lubitel 166 U can be had for less than £50, and is completely manual TLR. You can get nice results from them, but I found that the focussing screen wasn't great so you do need to take your time to get things just right (I ended up upgrading to a Yashica Mat 124, and the difference in handling is striking).

Here's my Flickr album of photos taken with my Lubitel:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/fishyfish/albums/72157674034671811
 
ifotou said:
Hey All, sorry if this isn't 100% appropriate for in here but looking for some suggestions.

I want to have a play with some Medium Format but with some control over shutter speed and aperture.

I've played with a Bronica ETRS before and loved it but it's more than i want to spend at the moment for some testing. Been considering looking for the cheapest TLR possible, but thought i'd ask here in case anyone had any suggestions i could have a hunt for that would let me play with medium format in a controlled way.
Click to expand...

Yes, an idea of your price range would help but from a bit of research I have recently done i would suggest one of the Seagull TLR cameras. They seem to have a good reputation and the lenses are reasonable and they appear to be a reasonable price. If you have a bit more to spend then one of the early Rolleicords could be the answer although i believe that the viewing screen can be a little dim.
Perhaps a folder is more your thing, there are dozens of different types out there. Zeiss Ikontas, Voigtlander or Ross Ensigns are all available at a fair price. I have a liking for both Voigtlanders and Ross Ensigns. A Ross 820 gives 6 x 9cm negatives and the lenses are excellent, you can pick one up for £80 ish, the 12 20 gives 6 x 6cm images and is smaller and cheaper. There are many different medium format Voigtlander cameras too many to list really but they are mainly excellent.

Andy
 
Peter B said:
A ballpark figure would probably help with suggestions here Tom, else you'll get anything from folders to Hasselblads. ;)
Click to expand...
A Holga :D Bronica SQAi or Mamiya RZ67proII.
 
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Yashica TLRs that aren't the 124G should be available for relatively low prices - 20 quid upwards currently showing in eBay sold listings. A budget of £50 and a bit of searching/waiting should turn something up. There have been a couple of 124Gs under 50 quid as well, but they mostly go for much more.
 
Totally depends on budget, but at the lower end it's hard to beat a Rolleicord Va or Vb. Rolleiflex quality without the price tag. Fully manual with nice coupled EV exposure control so you can quickly alter depth of field without changing the exposure. Also has manual shutter cocking, which makes it even more interactive (and reliable). Incredibly quiet shutter release (a gentle 'tick'). Image quality that's very close to the Rolleiflex 3.5F (so close that most people wouldn't notice). Cheap Bay I accessories. Only weighs about 950g, meaning you can carry it on a shoulder strap all day. Rolleinar close focus adapters work really well for portraits and even basic macro shots.

Brilliant cameras.
 
FujiLove said:
Totally depends on budget, but at the lower end it's hard to beat a Rolleicord Va or Vb. Rolleiflex quality without the price tag. Fully manual with nice coupled EV exposure control so you can quickly alter depth of field without changing the exposure. Also has manual shutter cocking, which makes it even more interactive (and reliable). Incredibly quiet shutter release (a gentle 'tick'). Image quality that's very close to the Rolleiflex 3.5F (so close that most people wouldn't notice). Cheap Bay I accessories. Only weighs about 950g, meaning you can carry it on a shoulder strap all day. Rolleinar close focus adapters work really well for portraits and even basic macro shots.

Brilliant cameras.
Click to expand...

:agree: Again though it depends on budget. 2 or 3 years ago a Va or Vb could be bought for about £100 now they are nearly double that, in excellent condition they go for the same as a Rolleiflex Automat, crazy :confused:
 
Will third the Rolleicord. My first Rollei (an MX-EVS Type II) was one with a Tessar/Xenar design lens and i like it just as much as my Planar F models. Maybe not as sharp right out to the edges of the frame but it's got a lot of character wide open and it's still pretty sharp in the middle.
 
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FishyFish said:
If you're wanting low cost, then a Lubitel 166 U can be had for less than £50, and is completely manual TLR. You can get nice results from them, but I found that the focussing screen wasn't great so you do need to take your time to get things just right (I ended up upgrading to a Yashica Mat 124, and the difference in handling is striking).

Here's my Flickr album of photos taken with my Lubitel:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/fishyfish/albums/72157674034671811
Click to expand...

Thanks I used a Lubitel before will give them a better look

Andysnap said:
Yes, an idea of your price range would help but from a bit of research I have recently done i would suggest one of the Seagull TLR cameras. They seem to have a good reputation and the lenses are reasonable and they appear to be a reasonable price. If you have a bit more to spend then one of the early Rolleicords could be the answer although i believe that the viewing screen can be a little dim.
Perhaps a folder is more your thing, there are dozens of different types out there. Zeiss Ikontas, Voigtlander or Ross Ensigns are all available at a fair price. I have a liking for both Voigtlanders and Ross Ensigns. A Ross 820 gives 6 x 9cm negatives and the lenses are excellent, you can pick one up for £80 ish, the 12 20 gives 6 x 6cm images and is smaller and cheaper. There are many different medium format Voigtlander cameras too many to list really but they are mainly excellent.

Andy
Click to expand...

thanks will have a look at those options too

soeren said:
A Holga :D Bronica SQAi or Mamiya RZ67proII.
Click to expand...

Holga ... dont need i have a 1956 Kodak Brownie Cresta which belonged to my mum that works just as well :) will have a nosey at the others though

Nomad Z said:
Yashica TLRs that aren't the 124G should be available for relatively low prices - 20 quid upwards currently showing in eBay sold listings. A budget of £50 and a bit of searching/waiting should turn something up. There have been a couple of 124Gs under 50 quid as well, but they mostly go for much more.
Click to expand...

ok so Yashica or Lubitel TLRS sound like an option for sure
 
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