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Southdowns

Southdowns

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If I wanted to try MF, where would I start, and how much, as a "toe in the water" thing, should I expect to spend? I really do just want to give it a go, so would be looking to spend as little as possible with a view to upgrading if I catch the bug.
 
You could try a nice folder for £50-£60 or a Tlr for a hundred or so. Good thing is if it's not for you then you won't lose much if you move it on.
 
Maybe someone local to you may let you try there MF camera.

Simon
 
A Yashica-Mat TLR that I watched on eBay last month went for £45 or so. £100 is more typical, but you can find bargains, especially if you're not fussed about cosmetics. (You're probably not going to find one with a meter (or one that works) at that price though)

If you want even cheaper than that, then there are Holgas and Lubitels. I can't speak for the quality, or lack of.
 
I started with a 6x6 Agfa Isolette folder that I bought on here for around £20, if I remember correctly. The lens isn't the best and it suffers from flare quite badly but it and a couple of rolls of 120 were enough to get me hooked.
 
I ran some film through an Agfa Isolette a few years ago when I first starting using film. The results were a bit hit and miss for me due to focussing by distance when I was used to autofocus on an SLR. However, when it was focused properly it gave excellent results;


Agfa Isolette II - ISO400 B&W by Steve Lloyd, on Flickr

As a heads up (and not bypassing classifieds rules!) I'm picking up a collection of Mamiya M645 kit that I've bought to keep one lens (35mm 3.5) tomorrow so will be listing the camera and other lenses in the next couple of days if you're interested.

Cheers
Steve
 
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Have a look for a little Ross Ensign Selfix, I have had both the 12-20 (6 x 6 negs) and the 16-20 (6 x 4.5 negs) and tey are both lovely little cameras. The 16-20 is small enough to go in a coat pocket. The Ross lenses were considered very sharp and although they are completely manual that's just part of the fun really. You should be able to pick up a 16-20 for about £20 to £30 and the 12-20 for about 50% more, there are other flavours, the 820 shoots 6 x 9 negs but they are generally a bit more expensive, up to £80 or £90 for a minty one.

Ross Ensign Selfix 16-20
New-16-20-B&w by andysnapper1, on Flickr

Ross Ensign Selfix 12-20
RE-12-20 by andysnapper1, on Flickr

and a shot from both

16-20
St-Micks by andysnapper1, on Flickr

12-20
Weardale-Railway4 by andysnapper1, on Flickr

Andy
 
I'd be interested in picking up a MF camera to try for the first time too.

Are the ones like the little Agfa Isolette and Ross Ensign fairly easy to use for someone who's never even seen one in the flesh? :)

This is one of those occasions where I wish there were a TP London or SE meet so I could take a look at 1-2 MF cameras and ask the owners how to use them!
 
southernjessie said:
I'd be interested in picking up a MF camera to try for the first time too.

Are the ones like the little Agfa Isolette and Ross Ensign fairly easy to use for someone who's never even seen one in the flesh? :)

This is one of those occasions where I wish there were a TP London or SE meet so I could take a look at 1-2 MF cameras and ask the owners how to use them!
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We had a film meet a few weeks ago, a day trip to Suffolk, lots of different film cameras on view. There has been talk of a regular film meet in London just to have a few beers and wave our new cameras/lenses about but it's never come to anything.

Maybe its time to resurrect the idea?

:beer: anybody?
 
Oh I, you know I'm always up for a meet/drink/wave kit about in that there London.

SJ, we have had at least 3 meets that I can remember down that-a-way and I'm sure there will be more soon. It's always a good laugh and you will definitely get to see a nice array of different cameras.

I find the Ensigns are easy enough to use, you just have to remember to set everything manually. I generally do a meter reading, set shutter speed and aperture, then set the focus distance. The last bit is the trickiest part as you do have to guess distance as the focus is set purely on that, no problem for landscapes, just set to infinity, but anything else is a bit more difficult. I don't very often get it wrong though nowadays.

Andy
 
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Nick & Andy - it's a shame I missed the previous GTGs but as you've guessed I'm pretty new to film so never visited this forum. Now I'm here I think the Film part is great and people have been very helpful to my naive questions :D

A London GTG would be great and would give me a chance to meet everyone and see all the film cameras (many I've probably never seen before, let alone used).
 
Thanks all :). Things have moved on fast, and I've bought a Mamiya M645 from Stevelmx5 on here. Or rather, my wife has bought it for me for my birthday, which means I'm not going to get to play with it until July! :(.

Still, gives me time to learn how this developing/scanning lark works!
 
I guess I'm a bit biased but having shot a range of MF kit over the last 18 months I find the M645 a great combination of size/weight. I haven't used a tripod at all yet and generally have it attached to a black rapid style sling strap hanging down on my right hip, ready to shoot.

I'm sure you'll enjoy using the Mamiya, let me know if you have any questions.

Cheers
Steve
 
southernjessie said:
Nick & Andy - it's a shame I missed the previous GTGs but as you've guessed I'm pretty new to film so never visited this forum. Now I'm here I think the Film part is great and people have been very helpful to my naive questions :D

A London GTG would be great and would give me a chance to meet everyone and see all the film cameras (many I've probably never seen before, let alone used).
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We'll see what we can sort out, keep an eye on the London Beer/Film meet up thread
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