MF Question

Barney

Barney

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Wayne
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I want a MF camera with tilt and swing any suggestions,

I am finding static lens very restricting.

On Digital I just bought a PC lens, are there similar lenses for Bronica and Mamiya or do i have to change the lot, what are the pro's and cons?
 
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The Rollei SL66 has a small amount of tilt, but don't think it has swing.
casualphotophile.com

Rolleiflex SL66 Camera Review

The first medium format SLR camera that Rollei produced, the Rolleiflex SL66, is one of the more interesting cameras I've ever shot.
casualphotophile.com casualphotophile.com
 
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There is a Rollei MF camera that has tilts and swings although I can't recall the model. I think it might be the one that makes a Mamiya RZ67 look like a pocket camera.

The Mamiya RZ67 has a tilt/shift adapter that allows you to both tilt and shift (it's in the name, really :) ) but because it effectively acts as an extension tube, you need to use it with special short barrel lenses (SB designation) of which I think there were two. I don't know if it was ever available for the RB67.

Beyond that, you could take a look at this

chroma.camera

UPGRADE - Technical lens cone for Six:17 - Rise/Fall/Shift

This listing is a Technical lens cone UPGRADE if you are placing a brand new order for a Six17 camera, instead of the Standard fixed cone that comes with the Six17 If you already have a Six17 camera, or want to add a Technical cone on top of a Standard cone for a new order, please use...
chroma.camera

which may be what you need (just add the camera...). I'm sure @stevelmx5 can talk to you about it.
 
Just a thought: tilt is a swivel around a horizontal axis, and swing a tilt around a vertical axis, so you can convert one to the other by turning the camera through 90 degrees.

Or just use a 5x4 with a medium format back. There is one for one camera which let's you slide the ground glass and film holder to make swapping quicker.
 
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StephenM said:
There is a Rollei MF camera that has tilts and swings although I can't recall the model. I think it might be the one that makes a Mamiya RZ67 look like a pocket camera.

The Mamiya RZ67 has a tilt/shift adapter that allows you to both tilt and shift (it's in the name, really :) ) but because it effectively acts as an extension tube, you need to use it with special short barrel lenses (SB designation) of which I think there were two. I don't know if it was ever available for the RB67.

Beyond that, you could take a look at this

chroma.camera

UPGRADE - Technical lens cone for Six:17 - Rise/Fall/Shift

This listing is a Technical lens cone UPGRADE if you are placing a brand new order for a Six17 camera, instead of the Standard fixed cone that comes with the Six17 If you already have a Six17 camera, or want to add a Technical cone on top of a Standard cone for a new order, please use...
chroma.camera

which may be what you need (just add the camera...). I'm sure @stevelmx5 can talk to you about it.
Click to expand...
I suspect you are thinking of the Fuji GX680 rather than the Rollie SL66.

en.wikipedia.org

Fuji GX680 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

This was my dream camera at one time, but I've never even touched one.
 
Your suspicions are correct. A local dealers had one in a few months ago; for all I know, they still have. I'll stick to lighter large format cameras :)
 
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StephenM said:
Your suspicions are correct. A local dealers had one in a few months ago; for all I know, they still have. I'll stick to lighter large format cameras :)
Click to expand...
If I had a darkroom I would be all in. Son is thinking of moving out to live with his girlfriend, so hope shines eternal,
 
The GX680 is probably the answer though a heavy one!

It is a fantastic camera (I have one, and yes I do lug it around the countryside, but you really need to man-up to do it, with a couple of backs, and a couple of lenses plus a tripod, its a good workout)

Its also surprisingly cheap (compared with what it cost new)

Last year I paid £855 for a GX680 (with proper Fuji converted AA battery pack), 3 backs (two needed batterries replacing, but that was £15 and 40mins of my time), 4 lenses (65/100/135/210), remote release, short and medium bellows and both WLF and and angle finder viewing systems. Oh and it had some warranty as well :)

That works out to about £65 a kilo :ROFLMAO:

There is not a huge amount of movement, especially on the short bellows, but enough (IMO). I have really only experimented with Shift, but I have plans..............

The lenses are excellent, very sharp (as you would expect given what it cost in 1993)


IMG_4829 by David Yeoman, on Flickr

Some pictures here

www.flickr.com

Fuji GX680

Explore this photo album by David Yeoman on Flickr!
www.flickr.com www.flickr.com
 
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Mr Perceptive said:
The GX680 is probably the answer though a heavy one!

It is a fantastic camera (I have one, and yes I do lug it around the countryside, but you really need to man-up to do it, with a couple of backs, and a couple of lenses plus a tripod, its a good workout)

Its also surprisingly cheap (compared with what it cost new)

Last year I paid £855 for a GX680 (with proper Fuji converted AA battery pack), 3 backs (two needed batterries replacing, but that was £15 and 40mins of my time), 4 lenses (65/100/135/210), remote release, short and medium bellows and both WLF and and angle finder viewing systems. Oh and it had some warranty as well :)
Click to expand...

Please don't share things like this.

You will set me off looking for one :)

I have much more important things to spend my photographic budget on, but I still so want one ;-(

Mr Perceptive said:
That works out to about £65 a kilo :ROFLMAO:

There is not a huge amount of movement, especially on the short bellows, but enough (IMO). I have really only experimented with Shift, but I have plans..............

The lenses are excellent, very sharp (as you would expect given what it cost in 1993)


IMG_4829 by David Yeoman, on Flickr

Some pictures here

www.flickr.com

Fuji GX680

Explore this photo album by David Yeoman on Flickr!
www.flickr.com www.flickr.com
Click to expand...
 
myotis said:
Please don't share things like this.

You will set me off looking for one :)

I have much more important things to spend my photographic budget on, but I still so want one ;-(
Click to expand...

My purchase was definitely a "want" not a "need", like many things it was an itch that had to be scratched.

It definitely requires pre-trip planning,
 
I used to own the tilt/shift adaptor for Mamiya RZ67 and wrote a blog post about it:

kevinthephotographer.wordpress.com

Using the Mamiya NI701Shift Tilt Adapter

For the last few years I’ve gone through phases of looking at large-format cameras on the web; the attractions being the larger negative and, more importantly, movements. I’ve admired t…
kevinthephotographer.wordpress.com kevinthephotographer.wordpress.com

My conclusion was:
"In summary, I have found that the 75mm SB lens, combined with the adapter, is pretty useful for many landscapes and moderately-challenging architectural features, as well as for close-ups. The adapter also works well with the 110mm lens for close-up work. But the limited lens choice with the adapter, and the relatively limited amount of movement, means that this setup will not suit everyone as an alternative to a full view-camera kit. If you’re already an owner of an RZ67, it may attract you, but if you’re not already an RZ owner I doubt that you would choose this route as a way of getting into camera movements."

Later I moved into large format and can confirm that the Mamiya + adaptor kit was considerably heavier than my large format fiield camera
 
Mr Perceptive said:
My purchase was definitely a "want" not a "need", like many things it was an itch that had to be scratched.

It definitely requires pre-trip planning,
Click to expand...
I certainly have no need for one, and although I have some nostalgia for film, I wouldn't want to go back to it without a darkroom. And it would make more sense, for me to go 5x4 rather than a GX680, so it's all a bit of a fantasy.
 
If you want a FULL range of movements you simply won't get them with any MF camera, you need a monorail camera, complete with a lens that has a very large image circle, which allows extreme use of movements if required, I think it's as simple as that.

Rear standard movements are every bit as important as front standard movements. Yes, you'll have to learn about Scheimpflug, and it's a steep learning curve, but doing so will open up a whole new world.

A workable compromise might be to get a 5"x4" monorail and a rollfilm back - the big advantage, other than film cost saving, will be that the lens won't need to be able to have such a large image circle.
 
There are various Horseman 6x9 models, for example: http://www.bnphoto.org/bnphoto/LFN/CamProf_HorsemanVH.htm.

I have a Horseman 760 which doesn't have a coupled rangefinder and is missing front swing and back movements. I also have a monocular focussing back for it which I find easier than using a dark cloth for 6x9.

Taken using a 90mm Angulon (about a standard focal length for a 6x9 camera) using Ilford XP2.

1758806564378.jpeg
 
Garry Edwards said:
If you want a FULL range of movements you simply won't get them with any MF camera, you need a monorail camera, complete with a lens that has a very large image circle, which allows extreme use of movements if required, I think it's as simple as that.

Rear standard movements are every bit as important as front standard movements. Yes, you'll have to learn about Scheimpflug, and it's a steep learning curve, but doing so will open up a whole new world.

A workable compromise might be to get a 5"x4" monorail and a rollfilm back - the big advantage, other than film cost saving, will be that the lens won't need to be able to have such a large image circle.
Click to expand...

If you just want front movements, most LF cameras have rise/fall, swing and tilt; my Walker and Canham field cameras (much easier to carry around than most monorails) lack only rear rise/fall.

Should you take the LF route, consider 5x7. The cameras are only marginally bigger than 5x4, and have the width to potentially take a 6x17 back.

I originally bought a large format camera because it was smaller and lighter than my RZ67 with shift lens.
 
@Barney I see you give your location as 'oop north' but maybe there are some LF users nearby who could show you what one is like and what it can do?
 
PeterSpencer said:
There are various Horseman 6x9 models, for example: http://www.bnphoto.org/bnphoto/LFN/CamProf_HorsemanVH.htm.

I have a Horseman 760 which doesn't have a coupled rangefinder and is missing front swing and back movements. I also have a monocular focussing back for it which I find easier than using a dark cloth for 6x9.

Taken using a 90mm Angulon (about a standard focal length for a 6x9 camera) using Ilford XP2.

View attachment 463988
Click to expand...
There are or were a number of 6X9 cameras with greater or lesser degrees of movement from the likes of Horseman, Linhof , the little Speed Graphic to name a few. All of which are a smaller and lighter package than the GX680 and rely on clockwork not electronics to keep them working, of cause very different in use and would still need a tripod if you are going to do anything more complicated than using them as a rangefinder 'press' camera.
 
Thank you all for you advice and generous offers of instruction and demonstration of the various equipment, I feel quite humbled but equally enthused. I will be taking you all up on it!

Yesterday I knew exactly what I wanted, but, as usual, all your excellent advice has given me more than enough to think about.

I will be in touch!
 
Wayne, have a read through this:

www.35mmc.com

Rolleiflex 6000 - A passionate review about a great camera system - by Volker Muth

Owning 35mm, medium format and 5x4 inch monorail cameras, the Rolleiflex 6000 system is, for me, something of an ideal compromise.
www.35mmc.com www.35mmc.com

The X-act system is superb or buy a Schneider tilt shift lens and My 6003 in the for sale section (y)

Schneider tilt/shift lens:

fotohandeldelfshaven.nl

Schneider-Kreuznach PCS-Super-Angulon 55mm F/4.5 for Rollei 6000 - Fotohandel Delfshaven / MK Optics

Inkoop / Verkoop. - Vintage camera store in Delft - Top quality tilt and shift lens for the Rollei 6000 series system, PQ lens. Made in small quantities by Scheinder-Kreuznach in Germany. This big lens allows you to use shift, rise and tilt all at once, not often does a lens like this offer 3...
fotohandeldelfshaven.nl fotohandeldelfshaven.nl
 
That looks a lovely system Fraser, Sadly it is not a cost effective solution, for me, when considering the price of the lens.
 
There are a few 'official' ways to get movements in the Hasselblad system - a 1.4 'PC Mutar' teleconverter, and the 'Arcbody' and 'Flexbody' - one of which uses Hasselblad lenses, and the other uses large format (I think?) lenses to get more movement. However, they do all seem like a bit of a workaround with too many downsides. Is it maybe a bit easier to get a roll film back for a large format camera? That way you get all the benefits of roll film while working with all the large format movements.
 
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