Light weight medium format camera

hoftwi

hoftwi

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May you guys/gals please suggest me a light weight medium format camera? Ideally the camera including a lens within 1.5kg,the lighter the better.

Have done some research on bronica and mamiya but they all seem quite bulky and expensive. I quite like the mayami 6 rangefinder but its way out of my budget!

Would like to try using 120 film but don't know how to choose the camera. Any advises/suggestions will be appreciated, thanks in advance!
 
My first thoughts would be to look for an old folder, possibly an Ensign. They come in quite a few varieties but the Ensign 16-20 which produces 6 x 4.5 negatives on 120 film can be picked up for around £40 at the most and a lot less if you are lucky. It's bigger brother the 12-20 produces lovely square 6 x 6 negs but is a bit more expensive but still well under £80. Ross Ensign were the last great British camera makers and there lenses were superb and the cameras were extremely well built.

I've never used the 820 but this is a good price
http://vintageclassiccamera.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=3494

Here's a shot from a 16-20

St-Paul's-1-b&w by andysnapper1, on Flickr

And one from the 12-20

Ensign10-Tower by andysnapper1, on Flickr

Also there are TLR's, I currently have some Yashicas which produce excellent images and a Yashica Mat can be picked up for less then £50.


Falls2-1 by andysnapper1, on Flickr

At the moment it appears that its hip to be square....

Hope this helps and I'm sure there will be many more comments and suggestions through as soon as this lot wake up.:thumbs:

Andy
 
Check out the folding cameras, Ikon Nettar comes to mind but there are many, many choices, rangefinder (seagull 203 for price) and otherwise.
 
Twin lens reflex (aside from the Mamiya TLRs). Get a Rolleicord IV or V and it offers the perfect level of lens quality, weight and superior build quality to anything apart from the Rolleiflex.
 
Yashica Mat. Can be found for not too much cash. Great budget way into Medium Format. Don't forget you'll need a light meter. Some good apps out there for this.
 
+1 for Ensign, the folding medium format cameras are pocketable in a decent jacket pocket.



If you don't need absolute portablity, then a nice Yashica TLR is a little larger but not much heavier..

 
seriously, getting into film is good fun but my bank account is bleeding:thumbsdown:

thanks all of the suggestions and i will go check them all out.

think i will prefer the 6x6, like the square!!!

just wondering how many medium format cameras i am going to have and films as well.....someone please put a stop for me.....haha.....
 
I'm sorry but it's already too late, there is nothing anyone can do for you now. Your only hope is that the infection will run itself out but this may be when you have already bought a gazillion cameras.:thumbs: Welcome to the funny farm. :D

Andy
 
hoftwi said:
seriously, getting into film is good fun but my bank account is bleeding:thumbsdown:

thanks all of the suggestions and i will go check them all out.

think i will prefer the 6x6, like the square!!!

just wondering how many medium format cameras i am going to have and films as well.....someone please put a stop for me.....haha.....
Click to expand...

Several of the Ensigns (including the 420) have flaps inside the camera and can shoot either 6x9 or 6x6 - although you do have to choose before loading the film and it's set for the whole roll.
 
The fuji 645 folders would be my choice, you get RF focusing and a modern lens, and metering too I think.
 
Since you like square and have a bit of spare cash my options would be,
Yashica MAT 124g if you don't mind the TLR way of shooting, has a great lens and a decent feature set. You can get older Yashica MAT's but they'll probably need a service by a professional, 124g's were made until the 1980's so it's easier to get a working camera, but you generally pay more for that but save in the long run.
Iskra is a russian medium format rangefinder folder and a copy of the Agfa Super Isolette, has pretty much everything you could want from a folder though it's a little harder to find.
Franka Solida IIIe is a cheaper option, has a nice Schneider f/2.9 lens and a decent Synchro Compur shutter and an uncoupled rangefinder and can take 40.5mm filters.
Pentacon Six SLR system, usually cheaper than Mamiya's and Pentax's and weighs less (about 1.7Kg with a metered prism head), you can get waist or eye level prism finders and has a decent range of lenses.

Zeiss Ikon Nettar 517/16
Click to expand...
It's pretty basic but OK i guess, you'll probably want a better camera quite quickly after using it. Will need a light meter for exposure and a rangefinder accessory (Watameter ones are my favourite) to get the focus distance to set on the lens. It's a nice cheap way into medium format though.

Agfa Isolette
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Which model? There are several. Though out of that range the Isolette III is probably the best since it has built in uncoupled rangefinder. The Isolette I is about as basic as the Nettar and not much different really. Isolette II is a slightly upgraded I. If you want one go for a II or III and find one with a Compur-Rapid or Synchro-Compur shutter as they'll give you a good range of speeds, maybe a Prontor-SV at a stretch, just avoid the Pronto or Vario shutters since they are too basic really.
 
thanks all have given me such useful information! it will take me a while to source my 1st medium format camera. will post up here once i got mine, can't wait:)
 
I still have my Mum's old Ross Ensign Autorange 16-20, which still takes good photos and collapses to a large-sh pocketble size. I took it around the Med in the early 80s on a school educational cruise, must find those negatives.
 
Unusual choice i still think you'd be better off with an Agfa Isolette II or III or maybe even an old soviet Moskva 5 if you don't mind 6x9. Bear in mind these cameras are 50-65 years old so their shutter will be off, i tested a couple of my 1950's folders and most of the shutter speeds were a good 1 stop slower than they should have been.
 
Nguss said:
I have just picked up an Ensign 420 to go with my other cameras. But...how do you focus it?
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Like pretty much every folder, turn the focus ring on the front and match up the desired focus distance with a marker around the lens (couldn't see it in photos but probably obvious in person). You'll need a rangefinder accessory or another rangefinder camera to determine that distance, or guess it by eye and hope for the best. Can usually get a RF accessory on eBay for under £20, i like the Watameter ones as they are easy to take apart, clean and adjust properly.
 
I found that estimating was nearly always good enough with my 16/20 & 12/20, there seems to be plenty of latitude within the distance scale.
 
If you can find one! An MPP (Micro Prescision Products) English Firm, was. TLR type light weight. They had the Ross Xpres lenses, used on the very early Rolleiflexes. Then, I believe came the Microflex? They shouldn't cost too much. The quality is excellent. I have one, but NFS. Good hunting. Just where would the modern be, without the classic!
 
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