This is more of a question for the older Photographers that used film cameras in there time.

I would like to turn my attentions to film some time in the future. But I'm looking for the right camera to use. I would very much love to work with a Hasselblad but that will have to wait for a long time unless I get lucky! (That reminds me I forgot to check my lottery tickets lol)

So I'm looking at a Rolliflex 6x6 film format. But what is it like to use in the studio? This one I have seen has a pc plug fitted to it so fitting in the studio light not a problem or I'm I wasting my time?

What Camera would you recommend but please this one has to be an old camera something that was big in there days.

I been looking at something like the Mamiya RB styles but there too expensive unless I buy in bits and build it up as I go along. But then again maybe I could go along those lines and fit a digi back on at a much later date like a Phrase One back or something. (It's been a while since I last looked in to it so names have been forgotten!)

Any tips or ideas will be taken on board. I have worked in a film before and perfer that at times but it not going to be the main use of camera.

.......JJ  Rankin's Quote “There’s no point in dressing it up, I love women and I love taking photos. It’s more like a fantastic hobby than a job.”

Take a look at the Mamaya 645 I used one for years with stunning results. They tend to be a little cheaper than the RB67. Even cheaper would be the C220 or C330 twin lens cameras, I used these as well and will return great results. They all have sync lead sockets.

A Rollei TLR will be fine, as long as the camera itself works OK. Just bear in mind it will take a little getting used to as the image on the focussing screen will be reversed left to right, but you'll soon adapt.

I use a Mamiya RZ67 and get superb results, you just need to slow down and take it easy with such cameras - no autofocus, manual everything but you have the advantage of flash sync at any speed - same with the Rollei.

Go ahead and try it - the cameras are cheap enough now (although the processing isn't)

Dave

Thanks for the valuable info I really like the sound of the C220 and C330, as I can change the lens also there not over board on prices compered to other cameras I been looking at. I do agree with it being old is it going to be ok with the amount of work I put it through?

I more likely to lean on to the TLR Mamiya C220/330 than the Rollieflex TLR model. But I do like the look of the RX too but the price is a little out of my price range unless I hold off for the time being.

I will keep looking and try to see if I can loan one just to see how I get on with it. Do you know if there any companys out there I could hire these kind of cameras?

I'm used to seeing things the wrong way as I use the Kodak Duraflex II for my landscapes work but not really any good in the studio as there no tripod mount for it.

Thanks for your input guys.

.........JJ

Rankin's Quote “There’s no point in dressing it up, I love women and I love taking photos. It’s more like a fantastic hobby than a job.”

I find the mammies RB"s and RZ's fine, but a bit to chunky for hand holding.Fine image quality, larger image, but less frames per roll.
If your used to the ease of digital, the twin lens rolliflex, although again great image quality, no interchangeable backs, and the parallax view, you might find it a pain.
Have you thought about a Bronica, a much underrated camera with great lens quality.
As a Hassleblad user myself, I would recommend one. You can pick these up second hand
quite cheaply. Being so well built they last for years. If as you say you are thinking of getting a phase one back in the future,( which seems to defeat the object of a film camera, unless you want to get a much bigger file size and res.) then you should be able to afford a s/h hass or anything else.

MBSpix , Photographer  posted on 18/03/2010 17:54:35   Posted 2 times

Located:London/Hertfordshire,Hertfordshire, UK
Member Since: 23/02/2010

Have used both the Yashicamat 124G and Bronica SQA in the studio.  Both were fun but loved using the Bronica.  In fact I wish that they had kept going and had brought out a digital back for it.  Then I would have still been using it


Kevin

Quoting post from MBSpix
I find the mammies RB"s and RZ's fine, but a bit to chunky for hand holding.Fine image quality, larger image, but less frames per roll.
If your used to the ease of digital, the twin lens rolliflex, although again great image quality, no interchangeable backs, and the parallax view, you might find it a pain.
Have you thought about a Bronica, a much underrated camera with great lens quality.
As a Hassleblad user myself, I would recommend one. You can pick these up second hand
quite cheaply. Being so well built they last for years. If as you say you are thinking of getting a phase one back in the future,( which seems to defeat the object of a film camera, unless you want to get a much bigger file size and res.) then you should be able to afford a s/h hass or anything else.

I will be using it for Film mostly, but I would like a back that will hold film and Digital. So I get the best of both worlds. As for TLR it something that is cheaper for me to start with to get me back in to film.

As for Bronica and the Yashicamat I forgot those models I put that on my watch list Hasselblad even second hand is expensive but by the time I spent on these cameras maybe I could afford a Hasselblad.

Choices choices what do I pick AAARRRHHHH lol

Well I got a couple of months to pick one but I would rather loan/borrow one just to see if I can get on with it. Or it's going to be an expensive mistake if I don't pick the right one!

..........JJ

Rankin's Quote “There’s no point in dressing it up, I love women and I love taking photos. It’s more like a fantastic hobby than a job.”

I would have thought the first thing to do was to decide on format, I shot for years with 6x4.5 or 6x7 but always hated 6x6, mostly end usage was always tending towards a non-square image.

Also take into account if you need to be shooting with a leaf lens system so you can synch flash at any speeds.

I doubt there was a system that I didn't own at one time or another, even a lovely Fuji 6x8 (great workout for the muscles) and yet always came back to shooting on the cheap old Bronica ETRsi. Great for hand holding with the speedgrip and a leaf lens system. The lenses can be variable in quality but they are cheap as chips on ebay, I slogged the guts out of mine for many years and it just carried on - surprisingly well made, considering the low cost.

Biggest mistake I made was selling it when I went digital.

For a long term look, it's worth thinking seriously about a camera that could take a digital back, even with an adaptor - the cost of s/h backs is coming down in relative terms.

Geoff.

I'm not going to just go out and get one, I'm more of looking to hold and try one out first. As I rather see one first and see how I got on with it first no point buying one it it's not what I'm after.

So I rather borrow or more rather hire one for a week or so just so I can get the feel of it and see where it takes me.

I did a bit more research today as wife wanted to know why I wanted one so thats been cleared up and understands it better. I tried finding a adapter and a digital back for Bronica ETR/si and there not that easy to find let alone buy one.

I'm hoping to find one by the end of Summer but will have to see when time comes.

Do anyone know where I can hire these camera's from?

........JJ

Rankin's Quote “There’s no point in dressing it up, I love women and I love taking photos. It’s more like a fantastic hobby than a job.”

I've no idea of dealers in your part of country - I got my RZ67 from Jacobs in Oxford Street, London. Possibly the only way you will get something is to buy and then get agreement you can exchange or refund if unsuitable.
If you were nearer, I would spend a day with you so you could try the RZ but you are a considerable distance.

The Bronica's are very good - I used an ETRSi for several years and now they are very cheap.

There is one contact you could try - Paul Waller at Commercial Cameras in Shropshire - I bought my Hasselblad and Bronica equipment from him many years ago when he was in Woking -have always found him very helpful. Have a look at link below:

http://www.commercialcameras.co.uk/

JJ, I don't think you will have any chance of finding a digital back for a Bronica unfortunately.  As they stopped producing the cameras as digi backs came out into the market place.


Kevin

Quoting post from anochecer
JJ, I don't think you will have any chance of finding a digital back for a Bronica unfortunately.  As they stopped producing the cameras as digi backs came out into the market place.


Kevin

There are no Bronica digital backs but you can buy an adapter and fit a hasselblad digital back.



Rankin's Quote “There’s no point in dressing it up, I love women and I love taking photos. It’s more like a fantastic hobby than a job.”

Quoting post from eosfan
I've no idea of dealers in your part of country - I got my RZ67 from Jacobs in Oxford Street, London. Possibly the only way you will get something is to buy and then get agreement you can exchange or refund if unsuitable.
If you were nearer, I would spend a day with you so you could try the RZ but you are a considerable distance.

The Bronica's are very good - I used an ETRSi for several years and now they are very cheap.

There is one contact you could try - Paul Waller at Commercial Cameras in Shropshire - I bought my Hasselblad and Bronica equipment from him many years ago when he was in Woking -have always found him very helpful. Have a look at link below:

http://www.commercialcameras.co.uk/

Thanks for your input, I will look in to the link. Shame your so far away I would love that but I'm going up North this summer and the west midlands area. But if I do find time I will come down your way with or without a camera lol.

.......JJ

Rankin's Quote “There’s no point in dressing it up, I love women and I love taking photos. It’s more like a fantastic hobby than a job.”

Oh.  That does sound interesting.  I think I will have to do some research on this.  Thanks.


Kevin

Quoting post from anochecer
Oh.  That does sound interesting.  I think I will have to do some research on this.  Thanks.


Kevin

And find the bank manager that is in a good mood lol, Think that is a little on the slim side of finding one. Some tips to help you try Phase one digital backs. Or I think the Hasselblad digital back is the V series don't take my word for it.

Good luck ..............JJ

Rankin's Quote “There’s no point in dressing it up, I love women and I love taking photos. It’s more like a fantastic hobby than a job.”

The adaptor plate looks to be around $895


Kevin

At least you found one! but at that price that include the back!! but it got to be a cheaper one somewhere?

........JJ

Rankin's Quote “There’s no point in dressing it up, I love women and I love taking photos. It’s more like a fantastic hobby than a job.”

No, thats just the adaptor plate.  The back is well into four figures.


Kevin

I have seen that is something I will leave for now until a much much later date! As said it to be used for film first then later a digital back.

........JJ

Rankin's Quote “There’s no point in dressing it up, I love women and I love taking photos. It’s more like a fantastic hobby than a job.”

I started off with the  Bronica SQB and the SQ-AI both fantastic cameras and ultra sharp optics. They never let me down.