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This is just a memo pad really to help me think about the different types of film MF (120) cameras. As seen through my eyes, or read about! Opinions welcomed…
[EDIT: aleph) Box cameras. Even more basic than folders, the ones I've seen with very poor engineering, often 1 shutter speed, one aperture, and the horrid red window. Nuff said.]
a) Folders
Come in all 3 main sizes: 645, 66, 69 (not seen a 67?). Some fabulous engineering. Available without rangefinder, with uncoupled rangefinder and coupled rangefinder. Not sure if any have metering but probably not worth relying on it. Most viewfinders on the wrong side of basic, and some simply terrible.
Pros: Comparatively cheap and light. Some have decent lenses. [EDIT: quiet.]
Cons: Viewfinders sometimes seem to be just a frame, else tiny murky distorted holes! Controls pretty un-intuitive in the ones I have seen, and hard to read without glasses. The red window to read the frame numbers is a horrible idea, particularly if you are colour blind (I’m not, but still find it hard). Some parallax, but probably won’t focus close enough for it to be a real problem? Obviously no idea of depth of field or out of focus areas. CPLs pretty hard to use.
b) TLRs
Most are 66, except those that are 44 or have some kind of 35m film system. Some (all?) Mamiya ones have interchangeable lenses.
Pros: Most are light and compact (Mamiyas the exception, but have those interchangeable lenses to make up for it). Many have excellent lenses. Some have fairly straight film paths that reduce kinks in the film (better for scanning). Most have wind-on levers, so no need for horrid red windows. Can see out of focus areas in finder (usually as at f/2.8). Loupe and sometimes a “sports finder”. [EDIT: no image blackout as no mirror flip.] Controls fairly intuitive. Shutter button often well located. Waist level operation is inconspicuous in operation. Quiet.
Cons: finders often pretty murky, low contrast (but replacement screens available, I have one on order from Rick Oleson). I find the reversed image in the waist level finder particularly tricky on a TLR; not sure why as I didn’t have too much trouble on a M645. Parallax an issue for closer work, though there is a tripod-mounted widget for some to raise the camera by the required amount. Mamiyas are heavy. Quite a few are irritatingly awkward to fold the WLF shutters down (Rollei has this right, one finger fold, any others have NO excuse!). CPLs pretty hard to use.
c) SLRs
Come in most main sizes: 645, 66, 67 [EDIT +68] (not sure if there’s a 69 SLR?). Most have excellent interchangeable lenses, many have interchangeable backs. Most have interchangeable finders, some have metered prism finders. [EDIT: some have AF.]
Pros: Excellent lenses, interchangeable backs and finders. WLFs often really clear. Some have mirror lockup. RB/RZ67 have rotating backs. [EDIT: 66 SLRs don't need turning!] Leaf shutter lenses and focal plane shutters have their separate virtues [EDIT: fast flash sync for leaf shutters, plus quieter]. Filter effects visible.
Cons: heavy. Heavy. Big and heavy. Sometimes awkward for handheld use. Shooting portrait in 645s a nightmare for most. Shooting anything handheld with a prism finder must be near impossible [EDIT but RJ can do it... good technique is required though]. Metered prisms said to be unreliable. Mirrors don’t slap, they [EDIT crash make a lot of noise].
d) Rangefinders
I mean real rangefinders here, not AF. Is this just the Mamiya 6 and 7? [EDIT Also non AF Fujis] In which case
[EDIT: Pro: comparatively light, comparatively small, with fantastic lenses, rangefinder spot makes focus clear... Pros of rangefinders and viewfinders include a field of view wider than the final image, so you can see what's about to enter the frame. Quiet.
Con: high cost, and repairs if the rangefinder drifts out… also no interchangeable backs (so @raathistle has two!). Have to focus and re-compose. Filters a problem, as they will throw metering out, CPLs difficult to see effects. Parallax means there's a bit of uncertainty where the image frame is, and sometimes lots of confusing framelines for different lenses.]
e) Auto-focus viewfinders
Is this just the Fujis?
Pros: small and light (comparatively). Generally excellent lenses (though I have seen one negative comment on one of them wide open). Excellent results on auto.
Cons: Prone to mechanical and electrical problems, expensive to fix. None have interchangeable lenses; the GA645 Zi has a multi-focal-length lens, rather than a [EDIT: continuous] zoom. Very automatic, reportedly uninvolving. Take it off auto and you’re fiddling with primitive menu controls and a little lcd window… Filters? [EDIT: As per rangefinders.]
So, you pays yer money and you takes yer choice. I currently have a folder and a TLR and I’m not getting on with either of them!
[EDIT: aleph) Box cameras. Even more basic than folders, the ones I've seen with very poor engineering, often 1 shutter speed, one aperture, and the horrid red window. Nuff said.]
a) Folders
Come in all 3 main sizes: 645, 66, 69 (not seen a 67?). Some fabulous engineering. Available without rangefinder, with uncoupled rangefinder and coupled rangefinder. Not sure if any have metering but probably not worth relying on it. Most viewfinders on the wrong side of basic, and some simply terrible.
Pros: Comparatively cheap and light. Some have decent lenses. [EDIT: quiet.]
Cons: Viewfinders sometimes seem to be just a frame, else tiny murky distorted holes! Controls pretty un-intuitive in the ones I have seen, and hard to read without glasses. The red window to read the frame numbers is a horrible idea, particularly if you are colour blind (I’m not, but still find it hard). Some parallax, but probably won’t focus close enough for it to be a real problem? Obviously no idea of depth of field or out of focus areas. CPLs pretty hard to use.
b) TLRs
Most are 66, except those that are 44 or have some kind of 35m film system. Some (all?) Mamiya ones have interchangeable lenses.
Pros: Most are light and compact (Mamiyas the exception, but have those interchangeable lenses to make up for it). Many have excellent lenses. Some have fairly straight film paths that reduce kinks in the film (better for scanning). Most have wind-on levers, so no need for horrid red windows. Can see out of focus areas in finder (usually as at f/2.8). Loupe and sometimes a “sports finder”. [EDIT: no image blackout as no mirror flip.] Controls fairly intuitive. Shutter button often well located. Waist level operation is inconspicuous in operation. Quiet.
Cons: finders often pretty murky, low contrast (but replacement screens available, I have one on order from Rick Oleson). I find the reversed image in the waist level finder particularly tricky on a TLR; not sure why as I didn’t have too much trouble on a M645. Parallax an issue for closer work, though there is a tripod-mounted widget for some to raise the camera by the required amount. Mamiyas are heavy. Quite a few are irritatingly awkward to fold the WLF shutters down (Rollei has this right, one finger fold, any others have NO excuse!). CPLs pretty hard to use.
c) SLRs
Come in most main sizes: 645, 66, 67 [EDIT +68] (not sure if there’s a 69 SLR?). Most have excellent interchangeable lenses, many have interchangeable backs. Most have interchangeable finders, some have metered prism finders. [EDIT: some have AF.]
Pros: Excellent lenses, interchangeable backs and finders. WLFs often really clear. Some have mirror lockup. RB/RZ67 have rotating backs. [EDIT: 66 SLRs don't need turning!] Leaf shutter lenses and focal plane shutters have their separate virtues [EDIT: fast flash sync for leaf shutters, plus quieter]. Filter effects visible.
Cons: heavy. Heavy. Big and heavy. Sometimes awkward for handheld use. Shooting portrait in 645s a nightmare for most. Shooting anything handheld with a prism finder must be near impossible [EDIT but RJ can do it... good technique is required though]. Metered prisms said to be unreliable. Mirrors don’t slap, they [EDIT crash make a lot of noise].
d) Rangefinders
I mean real rangefinders here, not AF. Is this just the Mamiya 6 and 7? [EDIT Also non AF Fujis] In which case
[EDIT: Pro: comparatively light, comparatively small, with fantastic lenses, rangefinder spot makes focus clear... Pros of rangefinders and viewfinders include a field of view wider than the final image, so you can see what's about to enter the frame. Quiet.
Con: high cost, and repairs if the rangefinder drifts out… also no interchangeable backs (so @raathistle has two!). Have to focus and re-compose. Filters a problem, as they will throw metering out, CPLs difficult to see effects. Parallax means there's a bit of uncertainty where the image frame is, and sometimes lots of confusing framelines for different lenses.]
e) Auto-focus viewfinders
Is this just the Fujis?
Pros: small and light (comparatively). Generally excellent lenses (though I have seen one negative comment on one of them wide open). Excellent results on auto.
Cons: Prone to mechanical and electrical problems, expensive to fix. None have interchangeable lenses; the GA645 Zi has a multi-focal-length lens, rather than a [EDIT: continuous] zoom. Very automatic, reportedly uninvolving. Take it off auto and you’re fiddling with primitive menu controls and a little lcd window… Filters? [EDIT: As per rangefinders.]
So, you pays yer money and you takes yer choice. I currently have a folder and a TLR and I’m not getting on with either of them!
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