Thinking of going Medium Format... need suggestions

tuco · 09-08-2016, 06:03 AM

With a lens mounted on the Pentax 645, it weights more or about the same as, say, a Fuji GS/GSW690 6x9 which you too can shoot that all day long handhold.

turboast4 · 09-23-2016, 04:44 PM

Well, after much research and soul-searching, I pulled the trigger on a Mamiya 645 Pro.

I ruled out rangerfinders (for now) and I really wanted to like the Pentax 645 or 67 but they didn't quite fit the bill. I also like the Mamiya RZ67 but I was scared away by the beastliness of it. Finally settled on the Mamiya 645 Pro which seems to offer much of what the RZ does in a slightly smaller, less cumbersome--and most importantly--less costly package.

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I'm excited to shoot my first roll of 120 film!

redrockcoulee · 09-23-2016, 05:08 PM

If you think the RZ cameras are beasts good thing you didn't go for the Fuji GX680

Jonathan Mac · 09-23-2016, 11:37 PM

Originally posted by turboast4

Well, after much research and soul-searching, I pulled the trigger on a Mamiya 645 Pro.

I ruled out rangerfinders (for now) and I really wanted to like the Pentax 645 or 67 but they didn't quite fit the bill. I also like the Mamiya RZ67 but I was scared away by the beastliness of it. Finally settled on the Mamiya 645 Pro which seems to offer much of what the RZ does in a slightly smaller, less cumbersome--and most importantly--less costly package.

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I'm excited to shoot my first roll of 120 film!

I think the Mamiya 645 cameras are a good choice. Did you get the 80mm f/2.8 with it?

Last edited by Jonathan Mac; 09-25-2016 at 12:49 AM.

turboast4 · 09-24-2016, 05:27 AM

Originally posted by Jonathan Mac

I think the Mamiya 64 cameras are a good choice. Did you get the 80mm f/2.8 with it?

I did indeed. The kit also had a 120 film back and eye-level viewfinder with built-in meter. One of the things that I like about this camera is that it's a system camera. I'm already eying up a waist-level finder and some different backs. Plus a wide angle lens would be fun... and so it goes.

tuco · 09-24-2016, 01:07 PM

Congrats on your new gear!

The funny thing about my Fuji GSW690III it says "pro" on it too. But the darn thing has no light meter or anything. It's a very simplistic camera. But for outdoors and BW film I don't need a light meter anymore either. I guess that's a "pro" thing you learn with film

unixrevolution · 09-29-2016, 06:23 AM

I came to this party way too late, but I was going to say that if SLR mirror slap is a percieved problem, why on earth wouldn't you go TLR? A basic TLR is a great, portable medium format camera, and personally, I love shooting the square format.

My most recent love affair with the TLR is in the form of an interchangeable lens Mamiya C330F. No modern niceties like the 645 you got, but a good, solid camera nonetheless. I have the 80 and 180 lenses for mine and adore them both, and the kit ends up being unusually portable. WIth just the whisper-click of a leaf shutter, it's also extremely quiet and basically vibration free. No viewfinder blackout, either. Not to mention, people will line up to be photographed with a TLR, they aren't intimidating or offputting like SLRs tend to be.

Just some food for thought. If you have some money for another toy, consider a Yashica TLR, with the Yashinon lens. I have had a couple and find them to be superb.

Congrats on your purchase!

normhead · 09-29-2016, 07:03 AM

The closing argument for me against MF, was no shake reduction and heavy tripod.... so many of my images are taken on the fly it just seems impractical, at least for me. It's a solution of more stationary types than myself.

unixrevolution · 09-29-2016, 09:28 AM

Originally posted by normhead

The closing argument for me against MF, was no shake reduction and heavy tripod.... so many of my images are taken on the fly it just seems impractical, at least for me. It's a solution of more stationary types than myself.

I do 90% of my MF shooting handheld. I have 4x5 and 8x10 for the tripods and landscape/architecture.

The thing I like about my 3 MF system cameras (C330, 6x7, Bronica) is that they are portable, hand-holdable, and can do shots of moving things.

tuco · 09-30-2016, 01:29 PM

Originally posted by unixrevolution

I do 90% of my MF shooting handheld.

Yes, I also shoot at least half of my medium format handhold. And when I use a tripod, it is not a big one either. Smaller tripods should be pretty easy with a Pentax 645 vs say a Pentax 67 too. Exceptions would be long glass naturally.

GateCityRadio · 09-30-2016, 09:46 PM

I really like my 645, you can also adapt lenses from the 6x7 to it. I hear the 105/2.4 is a great portrait length lens on the 645.

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09-08-2016, 06:03 AM	#16
tuco Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 11,026	With a lens mounted on the Pentax 645, it weights more or about the same as, say, a Fuji GS/GSW690 6x9 which you too can shoot that all day long handhold.

09-23-2016, 04:44 PM	#17
turboast4 New Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 20 Original Poster	Well, after much research and soul-searching, I pulled the trigger on a Mamiya 645 Pro. I ruled out rangerfinders (for now) and I really wanted to like the Pentax 645 or 67 but they didn't quite fit the bill. I also like the Mamiya RZ67 but I was scared away by the beastliness of it. Finally settled on the Mamiya 645 Pro which seems to offer much of what the RZ does in a slightly smaller, less cumbersome--and most importantly--less costly package. Thanks to everyone for the advice. I'm excited to shoot my first roll of 120 film!

09-23-2016, 05:08 PM	#18
redrockcoulee Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Medicine Hat Posts: 2,306	If you think the RZ cameras are beasts good thing you didn't go for the Fuji GX680

09-23-2016, 11:37 PM	#19
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,897	Originally posted by turboast4 Well, after much research and soul-searching, I pulled the trigger on a Mamiya 645 Pro. I ruled out rangerfinders (for now) and I really wanted to like the Pentax 645 or 67 but they didn't quite fit the bill. I also like the Mamiya RZ67 but I was scared away by the beastliness of it. Finally settled on the Mamiya 645 Pro which seems to offer much of what the RZ does in a slightly smaller, less cumbersome--and most importantly--less costly package. Thanks to everyone for the advice. I'm excited to shoot my first roll of 120 film! I think the Mamiya 645 cameras are a good choice. Did you get the 80mm f/2.8 with it? Last edited by Jonathan Mac; 09-25-2016 at 12:49 AM.

09-24-2016, 05:27 AM	#20
turboast4 New Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 20 Original Poster	Originally posted by Jonathan Mac I think the Mamiya 64 cameras are a good choice. Did you get the 80mm f/2.8 with it? I did indeed. The kit also had a 120 film back and eye-level viewfinder with built-in meter. One of the things that I like about this camera is that it's a system camera. I'm already eying up a waist-level finder and some different backs. Plus a wide angle lens would be fun... and so it goes.

09-24-2016, 01:07 PM	#21
tuco Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 11,026	Congrats on your new gear! The funny thing about my Fuji GSW690III it says "pro" on it too. But the darn thing has no light meter or anything. It's a very simplistic camera. But for outdoors and BW film I don't need a light meter anymore either. I guess that's a "pro" thing you learn with film

09-29-2016, 06:23 AM	#22
unixrevolution Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Waldorf, MD Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,861	I came to this party way too late, but I was going to say that if SLR mirror slap is a percieved problem, why on earth wouldn't you go TLR? A basic TLR is a great, portable medium format camera, and personally, I love shooting the square format. My most recent love affair with the TLR is in the form of an interchangeable lens Mamiya C330F. No modern niceties like the 645 you got, but a good, solid camera nonetheless. I have the 80 and 180 lenses for mine and adore them both, and the kit ends up being unusually portable. WIth just the whisper-click of a leaf shutter, it's also extremely quiet and basically vibration free. No viewfinder blackout, either. Not to mention, people will line up to be photographed with a TLR, they aren't intimidating or offputting like SLRs tend to be. Just some food for thought. If you have some money for another toy, consider a Yashica TLR, with the Yashinon lens. I have had a couple and find them to be superb. Congrats on your purchase!

09-29-2016, 07:03 AM	#23
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	The closing argument for me against MF, was no shake reduction and heavy tripod.... so many of my images are taken on the fly it just seems impractical, at least for me. It's a solution of more stationary types than myself.

09-29-2016, 09:28 AM	#24
unixrevolution Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Waldorf, MD Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,861	Originally posted by normhead The closing argument for me against MF, was no shake reduction and heavy tripod.... so many of my images are taken on the fly it just seems impractical, at least for me. It's a solution of more stationary types than myself. I do 90% of my MF shooting handheld. I have 4x5 and 8x10 for the tripods and landscape/architecture. The thing I like about my 3 MF system cameras (C330, 6x7, Bronica) is that they are portable, hand-holdable, and can do shots of moving things.

09-30-2016, 01:29 PM	#25
tuco Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 11,026	Originally posted by unixrevolution I do 90% of my MF shooting handheld. Yes, I also shoot at least half of my medium format handhold. And when I use a tripod, it is not a big one either. Smaller tripods should be pretty easy with a Pentax 645 vs say a Pentax 67 too. Exceptions would be long glass naturally.

09-30-2016, 09:46 PM	#26
GateCityRadio Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Greensboro,NC Posts: 503	I really like my 645, you can also adapt lenses from the 6x7 to it. I hear the 105/2.4 is a great portrait length lens on the 645.