Medium format photography

[alfa147x]

So i was looking around and Medium format photography looks interesting what is the cheapest possible i could get into it?

Thanks!

 

[alfa147x]

is this a good deal?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Mamiya-RB-...VWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

How much am i expecting cost of film?

And that has a 127 mm lens thats nothing like a 127 mm on my 30d

 

[OdiN]

No 127mm on medium format will be nothing like on an APS-C sensor.

THe Mamiya stuff is good. RB67 was and still is a good camera. Their 645 is nice as well.

I'm not sure on cost of film, but you'll have to have it developed, and walmart, etc. doesn't develop medium format stuff.

Oh and you might have better luck looking at used stuff at keh.com rather than ebay. People will bid stuff up there.

 

[alfa147x]

So im looking at $50 at the least

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: alfa147x
So im looking at $50 at the least

do you think pawn shops would be better?

 

[foghorn67]

I was looking at some Pentax's at the store the other week. If I dabble into film again, it's definitely going to be medium format. The prices are more reachable. I couldn't touch this in the mid ninities. I feel like an old retired man realizing he could afford to get that dream car he couldn't get in high school.
Okay, maybe I lied. I always wanted a Canon T90 when I was shooting with the Canon FD system. And I saw one for 125. hmmmmmm.....

 

[alfa147x]

Im thinking if it goes over $100 i rather save it till i have more and buy a better EF lens

Oh and Im going to most likely take BW pictures

How is this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/CIRO-FLEX-...VWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[corkyg]

That is an interesting path towards really learning photography. There is often a good buy on E-Bay. Example:

Mamiyaflex

The next step will be doing your own B&W processing and printing. Look for a local club that might haver a shared darkroom, etc.

 

[arrfep]

Any non-TLR setup (Mamiya RB/RZ, Bronica SQ/ETRS, Hasselblad anything) will probably still end up >$200 or so for a complete outfit. Film is on par with per-roll prices for 35mm, but remember that from a roll of 120 you will only get 16 frames tops, maybe 12 or 10. So I guess you could say that medium format film costs 2-3X that of 35mm on a per-frame basis.

I really wanted to buy a nice medium format setup when I was shooting 35mm, but since going digital there's not really much motivation to do so in terms of image quality. Still, I think it would be nice to get an old Mamiya or something just to run B&W film through. A Holga's fun, but it doesn't really produce medium format quality.

Oh, and RE: effective focal lengths, the 35 mm equivalent focal length is about the exact opposite what it would be on an APS-C sensor. A 127mm lens on a APS DSLR ends up around 190-200mm (depending on brand), whereas on a 6x6 it would probably be around a 60 or 70mm.

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: corkyg
That is an interesting path towards really learning photography. There is often a good buy on E-Bay. Example:

Mamiyaflex

The next step will be doing your own B&W processing and printing. Look for a local club that might haver a shared darkroom, etc.

I can use the one at school, I have a good connection (Im not taking the class)

 

[The Stigenator]

get a HOLGA.. its medium format.

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
get a HOLGA.. its medium format.

I wasnt able to find one that had the waist line view finder
do they make one?

 

[The Stigenator]

Originally posted by: alfa147x

Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
get a HOLGA.. its medium format.

I wasnt able to find one that had the waist line view finder
do they make one?

nope i do not think so..

 

[OdiN]

HOLGA = plastic piece of crap from what I've seen.

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: OdiN
HOLGA = plastic piece of crap from what I've seen.

Yeah i wasnt too impressed but might buy my sister one for her birthday

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

Originally posted by: OdiN
HOLGA = plastic piece of crap from what I've seen.

It is, but you have to admit, the pictures have a nice artistic look to them.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: OREOSpeedwagon

Originally posted by: OdiN
HOLGA = plastic piece of crap from what I've seen.

It is, but you have to admit, the pictures have a nice artistic look to them.

The samples I've seen I didn't like at all.

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: OREOSpeedwagon

Originally posted by: OdiN
HOLGA = plastic piece of crap from what I've seen.

It is, but you have to admit, the pictures have a nice artistic look to them.

The samples I've seen I didn't like at all.

1
2
3

A few of my favorite Holga shots from Flickr. As with anything though, it's not for everybody. But it kind of proves the Ansel Adams quote, "The Most important part of the camera is the twelve inches behind it." At ~$30 though, it's a fun, cheap way to get into medium format.

 

[OdiN]

I like the first one. The other two I don't care for.