MF camera for simple portrait orientation shooting

menthel

menthel

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Jim
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Right, I have some money burning a hole in my pocket and would like a MF camera. SLR style preferred with rectangular format. However, I want something that can easily change from landscape to portrait formats. I am happy with 645 as I would like to keep size and weight down and would also like one that stops me from double exposing (you should see most of my lubitel shots!). I would also prefer waist viewfinder and don't mind not having a built in meter.

I like the ETR cameras but they don't make shooting in portrait that easy!

What do you suggest?
 
Most of the 645s seem to be hiorizontal format as far as I recall and unless you get a prism finder turning vertical isnt going to be easy. I think Fuji did a vertical range finder type 645 though.
Whats wrong with a prism finder?
 
More faffing and extra weight/bulk. The RF style cameras look mostly to be either too modern or have fixed lenses. Ideally I am looking for alightist package with a standard and wide lens and the option for something longer later.
 
Square, its the way forwards!!!!!

seriously, I'm not aware of any 645 cameras with an RB style rotating back, which is really the only useful way of shooting portrait unless you want to be tied to a tripod
 
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raathistle said:
Square, its the way forwards!!!!!

seriously, I'm not aware of any 645 cameras with an RB style rotating back, which is really the only useful way of shooting portrait unless you want to be tied to a tripod
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I am just beginning to discover this... Looks like something along the lines of an RF645 may be the better option.
 
I've just got a 645AFD Mamiya and its not too cumbersome, plus I believe lenses arent mentally expensive, but if you dont want AF the the 645 Mamiya is still pretty nice in all its guises. I have also a much older M645 that has no removable back for which lenses are cheap and I guess the bodies will be too now.
 
2.5-3kg, I didn't think that was too bad considering it's built from girders! :lol:
 
Bronica SQA. Make yourself a mask for the viewfinder to help you with landscape/portrait framing.
 
Funnily enough I was thinking the same think Jim, a nice MF for portraits.

But then I thought I've already got 2, both Ensigns, the 16-20 for 4.5 x 6 and the 12-20 for 6 x 6, all manual obviously but extra sharp lenses and both weigh less than a f*rt. The 16-20 aligns in portrait style naturally. I haven't used an 820 but they are superb from what I've seen and the later coupled rangefinder versions are top notch.

Cheers

Andy
 
Andysnap said:
Funnily enough I was thinking the same think Jim, a nice MF for portraits.

But then I thought I've already got 2, both Ensigns, the 16-20 for 4.5 x 6 and the 12-20 for 6 x 6, all manual obviously but extra sharp lenses and both weigh less than a f*rt. The 16-20 aligns in portrait style naturally. I haven't used an 820 but they are superb from what I've seen and the later coupled rangefinder versions are top notch.

Cheers

Andy
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I have my Lubitel 2 to play with at present (you have seen the bloody thing) but I just waste a lot of film in it- mainly due to my own incompetence! Quite frankly I have had my brain fried by this and thoughts of spending far more than I should are creeping in!
 
More than you should eh! I know that feeling as well, its bonus time next month...... I'm thinking Mamiya 7?

Andy
 
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Andysnap said:
More than you should eh! I know that feeling as well, its bonus time next month...... I'm thinking Mamiya 7?

Andy
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Bonus? I haven't seen one of those since becoming a civil servant! ;)
 
You're in the wrong job mate, plenty of bonuses available in the ahem...:whistling: military supplies industry.

Andy
 
Andysnap said:
You're in the wrong job mate, plenty of bonuses available in the ahem...:whistling: military supplies industry.

Andy
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You paint the tips of torpedoes then? ;)

I used to get nice bonuses when I worked in the pharmaceutical industry.
 
When I was deciding on an MF RF, I went out and tried a few, one of the nicest cameras I tested was the Bronica RF645, sweet camera but in the end 645 didn't do it for me so I ended up with a Mam 6.
The point of this ramble is, unless I'm very much mistaken the RF645 when held normally shoots portrait, you have to turn the camera 90 degrees to shoot landscape..:)

Another thing that ought to be mentioned is minimum focus distances for RF cameras, this can be a problem when shooting close up portrait stylee.
For instance, the Mam 6 cannot fill its 6x6 frame with a full face, head and shoulders is as close as it gets, so Bailey-esque hair chop close ups are a no go unless you crop the frame in post, I dunno about the Bronica but its a general limitation of RF design.
 
joxby said:
When I was deciding on an MF RF, I went out and tried a few, one of the nicest cameras I tested was the Bronica RF645, sweet camera but in the end 645 didn't do it for me so I ended up with a Mam 6.
The point of this ramble is, unless I'm very much mistaken the RF645 when held normally shoots portrait, you have to turn the camera 90 degrees to shoot landscape..:)

Another thing that ought to be mentioned is minimum focus distances for RF cameras, this can be a problem when shooting close up portrait stylee.
For instance, the Mam 6 cannot fill its 6x6 frame with a full face, head and shoulders is as close as it gets, so Bailey-esque hair chop close ups are a no go unless you crop the frame in post, I dunno about the Bronica but its a general limitation of RF design.
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Thanks! I know all about the limitations of RF technology and close focus- I think I need a 6x6 SLR...
 
Depending on how you use your ETR series camera, shooting in portrait is a doddle. I use my ETRS with the AE-II prism and ungripped, so I can hold the camera sideways (prism left) with my left hand on the now "bottom" of the camera (where the shutter speed dial now is) to support and focus, right hand resting on "right" (the body's actual base) side of camera with my middle finger on the shutter.
 
Mamiya 645s with a prism can just be rotated to one side, resting on your palm. Since you'd usually use them without a grip, it's no biggie.
 
If you decide to go down the Bronica route and at the risk of invoking the wrath of the mods, I'll have a nice little ETRS kit for sale once it's played its part in the great 52cameras project.
 
I have time to sort this out so I can always chat etc at the upcoming film meet. :)
 
I spent some time mulling that Pentacon 6 in the forsales, lens range is huge, and cheap I thought....comparatively.
I was mulling because the long lenses were cheap particularly, which doesn't quite fit portrait shooting but the system is worth a look.
I have a 250 f/4 for my EC, it cost a flippin fortune, Pentacon 300's are priced in the tens of quids rather than hundreds..:shrug:
 
menthel said:
I have time to sort this out so I can always chat etc at the upcoming film meet. :)
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T'was a little tongue in cheek fot the mods benefit, but if you did want to borrow it to see if a Bronica is for you, you're more than welcome.
 
RaglanSurf said:
T'was a little tongue in cheek fot the mods benefit, but if you did want to borrow it to see if a Bronica is for you, you're more than welcome.
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I know, I actually do want to chat with a few of you guys with medium format cameras! ;)
 
Cistron said:
Mamiya 645s with a prism can just be rotated to one side, resting on your palm. Since you'd usually use them without a grip, it's no biggie.
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That was my preferred way using my ProTL, it was very comfortable to use. I never liked the battery grips.
 
RB/RZ67 is about the only camera I think you could reasonably shoot portraits with while also using a waist-level finder.

Your only other sensible option is something 6x6 or using a prism. I've handled a Mamiya 645 with prism and grip and it really isn't that bad, just like a chunky DSLR really.
 
I've been looking at reviews etc of the Mamiya 645 series and I have to say I'm quite impressed. It seems to be an extremely versatile system and price-wise it won't break the bank. Just need to find some money now.....:shrug:

Andy
 
I think I will stick with the Lubitel for a while longer now. My dad bought over a tin of negatives that he had knocking around to be scanned. Amongst them were some from the lubitel I have currently and the quality is amazing. They are shot on FP4 and HP5 (old stuff) and show me as a 3/4 year old- so they are a good 30 years old! I think more experience with the lubi and see how I go.

Mind you I may have more money available as I am thinking of ditching my current digital kit and downsizing it, so who knows!
 
Oh, if you've got money to spare then......:thumbs::lol:

Andy
 
menthel said:
Just as an addition to my comment about the lubitel, here is a piccy of me taken with the one I have quite a few years ago!
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Awwww. Good to know that mushroom hair-cuts were already in fashion then :P
 
menthel said:
I think I may have only just had a haircut in this one! The other photos are much, much worse!
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Haha. Here's my mushroom. I'm on the left. This was Delta 100 shot with a Nikon F2 and I suspect the Tamron 35-70 f2.8 my dad loved so much (more than mum, he said). Anyway, the film sat at the bottom of a box for 25 odd years until I found it last year.


Memory lane by photo.receptor, on Flickr

edit: I know this is completely off topic ;)
 
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