 Uyen |
Affordable entry into Medium Format? I started photography with a digital camera, and so digital is all I know. I see no reason for me to venture into 35mm film, but lately I've been really curious to try medium format. I'm not looking to replace my digital camera, which has served me well. However, I'd like to explore a bit, and The main reason I'm tempted is because of the beautiful tonal range I've seen in medium format images. Unfortunately, I'm nowhere near being able to afford to go medium format in digital. So, I'm looking for an affordable entry into medium format film cameras, and was wondering if anyone here has suggestions on cameras? It seems I can get a toy Holga for less than $30. That might be a fun entry into film. I doubt this would satisfy me for the long run, but I was thinking it may be a good learning tool. Alternatively, I could save up a little more money and buy one that I could stick with. Does anyone have any experience or advice to share on this? I'd really like the convenience of not having to carry around an external meter, so ideally a system that doesn't require one would be ideal, but I don't know if such a system exists that I can afford ($500 budget). And just in general, do you think it'd be a worthwhile investment? I'm a little concerned about the cost of film and developing. Thanks in advance! Uyen
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John A. Lind |
Uyen, There's not much to find on a $500 budget beyond a TLR. Look at the Yashicamat models (some have internal meters, some don't). They have excellent lenses, although finding a lens hood for it is recommended . . . they are more prone to flare if direct bright sun is illuminating the front element compared to the Rollei TLR's (even if it's not in the film frame). Another is a Rolleicord (versus Rolleiflex), although I don't know they ever made one with internal meter. Most of them and the Rolleiflex don't have one (and the Rolleiflex TLR's are outside your budget). The Mamiya C330 TLR is also within your budget . . . body plus lens plus finder (has interchangeable lenses). Internal metering requires the porrofinder prism on it with CDS meter built into the prism. Cost of film isn't that different. Cost of developing is a little more, and requires using a full-service pro lab for it. -- John Lind
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John A. Lind |
Uyen, I forgot to put this in my original posting. The most comprehensive and informative site on the world-wide web dedicated to medium format is Robert Monaghan's Medium Format Photography Megasite: http://medfmt.8k.com/ You'd be most interested in his entire (and rather large section) about "Medium Format on a Budget" here: Some of the price ranges given for used gear can be a bit dated . . . they may be a bit lower in some cases than you would find in the marketplace now. -- John Lind
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Uyen |
John, Wow, thanks for the information and the recommendations! I'm looking through the website you mentioned now, and it seems like it's going to be of great help. It's all bit confusing, and I don't have any friends who shoot in MF, so I appreciate the help. Uyen
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Melissa L. Zavadil |
Oh trust me on this one, you can get pretty nice spiffy mamiyas with alot of features for $500! Look for used on Ebay! I have been trying to get rid of two they are hard to get rid of.
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doug Nelson |
You can get an almost new Bronica RF rangefinder-type camera with the exceedingly sharp 65mm (40mm equiv w 35) lens for under $1,000. KEH.com has one for about 900. This uses 120/220 film and yields a 6 x 4.5 cm neg. Read about this camera and some impressions of it at luminous-landscape.com. Dig deeper into that site and read Mike Johnston's review as well. Forget tele work and macro with this camera; use your 35 or digital SLR for those specialized uses.
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Kerry L. Walker |
Save your money on the Holga. It is a piece of junk - light leaks, plastic lens, etc. Check around for used equipment at B&H, Adorama, KEH, etc. Currently, B&H has a Mamiya C330 (TLR) for $499.00. I had a C33 and I can attest that is is a very good camera. The WL finder takes some getting used to but once you do you will love it. It has flash sync at all speeds and a great lens. One warning though, it is heavy but don't let that thwart you. I would get the C330 plus a hand-held meter.
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Melissa L. Zavadil |
Yes this is a great camera! The Mamiya C330 pro f is one that I was actually trying to sell on ebay but it did not sell. You can get really GREAT STEALS on these used cameras.
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Uyen |
Thanks, Melissa, Doug, and Kerry! It looks like I might be able to rent a medium format from a local photo place. It might be a good way for me to see if I'd like the feel and results. If it turns out I really love it and just have to have one, I might be willing to spend more, but right now it's so hard to say. I don't want to shell out a lot of money and then have the thing sit on my shelf. Kerry--seems like the Holga afficionados really like the technical problems. I just read a forum where someone was complaining that his Holga didn't have light leaks or focus problems. :) I know it wouldn't be good for what I want to do...it's just sort of tempting as something new to play with. Melissa- Just curious why you're not using your Mamiya anymore?
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Melissa L. Zavadil |
Going digital no other reason. I love the freedom that digital offers.
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John A. Lind |
Uyen, I agree with Kerry about the "Holga" and "Dianna" 6x6's . . . they're junk . . . and whatever they do in distorting or altering the imagery with their lenses and light leaks can be done or emulated deliberately with a better camera . . . which allows you the ability to not have those effects if you don't want them. Yes, there are small, extremely devoted "cult" followings for those two TLR's in particular. They seem to be in two camps, one of which pursues making the best, unflawed photographs possible in spite of them, and the other that pursues creating artistic work leveraging on those flaws. I sometimes wonder if the latter group isn't populated by some of the LOMO fanatics (who have created a cult of their own). -- John Lind
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Uyen |
John--I've been browsing the toy camera sites, and yeah they sure do have a cult following. For the most part I've found quite a lot of blah photos that I think only pass for "cool" because they're toy camera photos. But I've also seen a few gems, perhaps the most notable example being this photo, which really captivated me: http://www.usefilm.com/image/125646.html I see your point, though, that the results could be reproduced by other means, and that would give me the option of not having weird effects if I don't want them. One of my main concerns about investing in a real MF camera has just been confirmed by what Melissa wrote. Will I really be able to deal with film given that I'm used to the convenience of digital? As a control freak, I also love the degree of control I have over my digital images, and if I switched to film, I'd have to give that up to a a lab. So for me it would depend on how much I could gain artistically from MF. I'm interested in exploring it because I recently realized that just about all of my favorite b&w images by other photographers come from MF cameras. I wondered whether it was just a coincidence, but then I read in a few places that the larger film size not only gives better resolution, but also a better rendering of the tonal range. Now, I can understand why you'd get greater resolution from a larger film, but I really don't get the part about the tones. Why on earth would size matter there? I haven't seen a good scientific explanation for this, but I believe it given what I've seen with my own eyes. So, I think the next step will be to try and rent one to see if I like it. Thanks again to everyone for their input.
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Melissa L. Zavadil |
B&W images in Medium format are definately the best. I agree here. :)
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George Anderson |
"...whatever they do in distorting or altering the imagery with their lenses and light leaks can be done or emulated deliberately with a better camera..." How many times have I heard that. It's a well-disguised fact that many images you can create with a Holga aren't easily duplicated with other equipment, despite what non-Holga users might think. Ever compared a softar, 'effects' or vaseline-smeared lens to a Holga photo? Or to one extensively mangled in Photoshop? It's NOT the same. But the real point is, people such as you're describing AREN'T doing that anyway, either in film or digital format. Ever ask yourself why? Answer: A cult. Holga owners have been described thusly, but there is definitely a cult of camera equipment owners that will not accept photo-impressionism and surreal interpretation in legitimate photography. Even defocused highlights in a portrait shot give them a headache. If one of them had the temerity to create such a photograph resembling Holga images, let alone display it, their fellow technophiles would tear them apart. These people can be so locked into issues of lens resolution and USAF test charts that they are completely incapable of using creative vision to produce interesting and impressionistic images. So when it comes to the Holga and its brethen, they are viciously dismissive. Ask yourself, is buying a 'better camera' the only possible choice, or could I spare an extra $20 to try the Holga as an experiment, and modify it to my tastes? Should I renounce my Hasselblad because I have a $150 folding camera that produces sharper photographs? It's idiotic to suggest cutoffs in equipment quality, if you know their limitations. As if you can't own more than one type of camera! Holgas win all types of photo contests - journalism, fine art, portrait, etc - so it has been legitimized, much to dismay of the technophiles. Like a fisheye lens, the Holga may not be for everyone or to be used all the time, but it's still here to stay. Why not try both paths?
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Uyen |
Thanks for your thoughtful reply, George. Since the time I wrote this question, I eventually decided that I was not ready to commit to a new and costly MF system. Better to master the equipment I have already, and there's still a ton to learn. But I had almost forgotten about the holga. It's worth spending $20 on a chance to experiment with something fun and new. I think I'll go ahead and put in an order.
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