Posted: 12/29/2024 11:52:49 PM EDT
|
I have been in and out of photography for close to 50 years now, had a large Nikon film camera collection, F, F2, F2A, F3 and sold it all about 10 years ago. My wife shoots Nikon D500 cameras and we are looking to go to mirrorless down the road. What is a decent medium format camera system for me to look at. I dont want Hasselblad cost nor do I want something cheap, but a decent system that I can get into with maybe three lenses, mainly for still life and landscape photography. Thanks |
I was once asked to explain the concept of entropy....I thought about it and said: "You can't unscramble an egg...." 77Bronc, 1981
|
Originally Posted By 77Bronc: What is a decent medium format camera system for me to look at. I dont want Hasselblad cost nor do I want something cheap, but a decent system that I can get into with maybe three lenses, mainly for still life and landscape photography. I've been thinking about and looking into medium format cameras also. I think at this point, I think the only medium format cameras on the market are Hasselblad and Fuji. Hasselblad is big money, probably the best image quality you can get short of a Phase One camera (even bigger money). Fuji is sort of closer to budget friendly, closer to high end full-frame mirrorless cameras from the big four. Fuji also has better video capabilities. I don't think Hasselblad does video at all. Lenses are quite a bit more expensive, bigger, and heavier. And they don't have really good telephoto options like DSLR and mirrorless cameras do. And the crop factor goes in the opposite direction of APS-C sensors from full frame, i.e. a 50mm medium format lens would be equivalent to 39.5mm on full frame (50 x .79). Medium format cameras also don't do high speed sports and action shooting, and their auto-focus isn't as fast as full frame. A fast medium format camera shoots at 8 fps, vs 30 or 40 fps on a full frame. But they are great for landscape, portraits, and product photography. I want to buy a Fujifilm GFX 100S II, $5,000. The Fuji G mount lenses system also has some interesting 3rd party budget lens options from some fo the more reputable Chinese manufacturers. The Fujifilm GFX 100 II is $7,500. I sure wouldn't turn down a Hasselblad X2D Earth Explorer kit if I won it in a contest. But I doubt I would ever spend $14,000 on one myself (short of winning the lottery, anyway). |
|
77Bronc: You don't say what is your intended purpose for your camera. For example number one question on my mind, is this a professional job where it will pay huge money? Are you go to shoot an advertising campaign? Keep in mind that if you get a medium format camera, every thing about it will be big, ie the lenses of any decent size will be massive. |
|
Originally Posted By warlord: 77Bronc: You don't say what is your intended purpose for your camera. For example number one question on my mind, is this a professional job where it will pay huge money? Are you go to shoot an advertising campaign? From the last line of the last paragraph in the OP: mainly for still life and landscape photography. Sounds like portraits and landscape photography to me. |
|
Mainly landscape, no fast action wildlife, we have Nikon D500's for that Some years back when I was looking to get into medium format/120 film, I looked real hard at the Mamiya 645 and the RB67. Since I made this post, I have looked at the Hassy and the Fuji cameras, both look nice. Doing my photography math, a 6 x 4.5 gives me a 75mm diagonal, being the normal focal length, so I would like a 35mm SLR wide angle, equal to a 28mm. 28/50 x 75 = 42mm wide angle lens for the camera |
I was once asked to explain the concept of entropy....I thought about it and said: "You can't unscramble an egg...." 77Bronc, 1981
|
Originally Posted By 77Bronc: Mainly landscape, no fast action wildlife, we have Nikon D500's for that Some years back when I was looking to get into medium format/120 film, I looked real hard at the Mamiya 645 and the RB67. Since I made this post, I have looked at the Hassy and the Fuji cameras, both look nice. Doing my photography math, a 6 x 4.5 gives me a 75mm diagonal, being the normal focal length, so I would like a 35mm SLR wide angle, equal to a 28mm. 28/50 x 75 = 42mm wide angle lens for the camera I have handled a RB67, it is a 6x7cm years ago, it was heavier than my old C33. BTW(1) for you folks are not familiar with the film RB67 and it's little brother 645, they are SLR cameras with an auto-return mirror a la Rollieflex SL66. The Hasselblads are also a SLR but once you release the shutter the mirror stays up, and the viewfinder blacks out, so to "see again," you have to turn the film advance knob to the next frame, and that will also flip down the mirror. BTW(2) there is a motorized Hassal on the moon left by Neil Armstrong, he just brought back the 70mm film back, everything else stayed on the moon. |
|
We had a Bronica in our camera arsenal in the Army. Took great photos. Was less back-asswards than the Hasselblad (all the Hasselblad knobs and rings seem counter-intuitive to me). Also used to work with a professional photographer that used a Bronica. My uncle used a Mamiya-Sekor. |
Deplorable garbage herd animal
|
ostagscribe for info I have a Mamiya M645 1000s and have been toying with the idea of getting into 4x5, but before I do any of that, I want to see where this thread goes. |
MIA: M/SGT James W. Holt USSF 2-7-68 SVN
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
-A. Wilkow
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
-A. Wilkow
|
Interested to see where this goes as well. Could be something I would be interested in at some point. My D850 does what I need for now. And before doing something like this, I need to invest in more storage. 
|
“An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it." - Lt.Col. Jeff Cooper
It's not rocket science, but it's close!
Cheesecake OG. Cold War 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Foreign War 1.
It's not rocket science, but it's close!
Cheesecake OG. Cold War 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Foreign War 1.
Member
Joined:
Mar 2024
Posts:
1042
EE: 0% (0)
USA
|
You kind of only have three options to begin with- Fuji, Hassel, or Phase One. If you don’t want to spend HB money then that leaves used or Fuji. How much exactly do you want to spend? From what you’ve said you basically have the Fuji gfx100 ii, if you want a new camera. Personally I’d get an HB 907, a Cambo body and whatever lenses. Honestly though, the difference between full frame mirrorless and mf have really gotten closer, Sony has pushed the envelope a ton in the past 10 years. |
|
Thanks for all of the information and input...I have been looking at videos on the Hassy and the Fuji and both seem to be very good systems. I have been out of photography, myself, for about 20 years but my wife has taken over and is an excellent photographer. She is shy on the technical aspects of the cameras abilities but does take excellent photographs and local organizations and state agencies have asked permission to use her images, she has won numerous awards and contest. I have kept her in some real good equipment, three Nikon D500 bodies, at least 12 Nikkor lenses and other support hardware. I am not sure how deep I will get back into the hobby, but I do think the Fuji is what I am looking for, would love the Hassy, but really cant justify the cost not knowing how deep and long I will stay into it. One other option is to get into mirrorless and maybe look at the Nikon offerings or Sony. The big downs side is my wife is looking to go mirrorless, so that may change my final direction...not sure My main interest is in landscapes, especially wide angle, greater than normal, I was big into 24 and 28mm lens shots when I shooting 35mm film, was even considering going to a Nikkor 21mm |
I was once asked to explain the concept of entropy....I thought about it and said: "You can't unscramble an egg...." 77Bronc, 1981
|
The Nikon D500 is an crop sensor lens, and 20mp at that. The difference in going to a medium format camera is enormous. You're talking about 100+MP image resolution and a sensor that is something like 4 times the physical size. It's a 9 year old camera technology. Think about it like this: That's like comparing a 24" HD TV monitor to a 48" 4K TV. It's a whole different world when it comes to low light and noise performance. Maybe it's worth looking into full frame first, as a step up from the crop sensor first. The difference is striking. I started out shooting with a Canon 60D, which is a crops sensor camera. Then upgraded to a Canon EOS RP, which is the cheapest full frame camera on the market, and the difference was immediately noticeable. I couldn't go back to the crop sensor. I even bought a Canon EOS R7, and I just wasn't happy with the way the images looked. It's an unpopular opinion here on Arfcom as there's a lot of Nikon fan boys here. But Nikon has fallen behind both Canon and Sony and even Panasonic when it comes to mirrorless technology, autofocus speed and accuracy, and Canon's color has always been better than Nikon and Sony. |
|
I have a Contax 645, and those are generally still available. I love it, but MF has always been a hassle. Zeiss glass. Some of my favorite and best photos on that platform over the years, just not a lot of them by total volume. I just bought more film last month actually. Not sure what digital backs are available? Is there really an advantage of a MF digital over say a Leica M11, at this point? My go to is a Canon R5 right now. |
Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Fiat justitia ruat caelum.
What we leave behind is not as important as how we lived.
Fiat justitia ruat caelum.
What we leave behind is not as important as how we lived.
|
I've shot the Hasselblads, the Fuji, etc. I settled on the Pentax 645z for a couple of reasons. First is that it's noise to ISO ratio is by far the best on the market. Second is that it uses the same 50.6mp sensor from Sony that everyone else does. Third is that the image quality is superb. I mainly use this platform in the studio but I've used it for wildlife, astrophotography, street photography, macro, etc. Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
When the hammer drops, the BS stops!
Support the Heller Foundation! www.hellerfoundation.com
Support the Heller Foundation! www.hellerfoundation.com
Member
Joined:
Mar 2024
Posts:
1054
EE: 0% (0)
USA
|
Originally Posted By 77Bronc: Thanks for all of the information and input...I have been looking at videos on the Hassy and the Fuji and both seem to be very good systems. I have been out of photography, myself, for about 20 years but my wife has taken over and is an excellent photographer. She is shy on the technical aspects of the cameras abilities but does take excellent photographs and local organizations and state agencies have asked permission to use her images, she has won numerous awards and contest. I have kept her in some real good equipment, three Nikon D500 bodies, at least 12 Nikkor lenses and other support hardware. I am not sure how deep I will get back into the hobby, but I do think the Fuji is what I am looking for, would love the Hassy, but really cant justify the cost not knowing how deep and long I will stay into it. One other option is to get into mirrorless and maybe look at the Nikon offerings or Sony. The big downs side is my wife is looking to go mirrorless, so that may change my final direction...not sure My main interest is in landscapes, especially wide angle, greater than normal, I was big into 24 and 28mm lens shots when I shooting 35mm film, was even considering going to a Nikkor 21mm If you're open to full frame mirrorless, I would strongly suggest renting Sony A7CR and a few lenses, maybe even an adapter (Metabones) if you have some currently that you're thinking of. I haven't personally used the CR, but I've used the 7RIV, 7RV, and an 7R for video alone....they are all pretty mind-blowing. I think if you've been out of the game and have been with an FX sensor in that time, you will be more than content with the new Sony body. That said, they have three "issues" (or are not as good as the competition or true mf) 1) Low light. Somebody mentioned it, but the higher ISO settings aren't great. Not really a factor for someone with a tripod shooting landscapes. 2) Autofocus. Not as good as the full format, but ime on par with mf competition. Not really a factor for someone with a tripod shooting landscapes. 3) Ergs and menus. Sony is the worst. They just can't seem to get it together on this one. They have the most insanely un-useful menu structure and layouts of any camera brand on Earth, not to mention E. German ergonomics. It's not a crucial for landscapes as with sports obviously, but changing settings in a Sony is a pita. |
|
And if you just want to play around with 2 1/4, an old Kodak Brownie does well with a little adaptation. As does a Holga (although you may need to duct tape it shut to avoid light leaks). ETA oh, you're thinking digital not film. Nevermind. |
Deplorable garbage herd animal
|
I was just at the camera store today and got to fondle the Fuji GFX 100S II. It's quite a bit bulkier than my Canon EOS R6 mkII. Everything I read said that it was smaller and more compact that other medium format cameras. But this thing has some heft to it compared to the newer full frame mirror less cameras. Asked them about renting one for a week. They said it would run about $550 including the Fuji 32-64mm f/4 lens. That's a good bit of change to drop on just a one week rental. But I think I'd almost have to try it out first before dropping $7,300 on the camera and lens for a whole new system. |
|
Originally Posted By warlord: I have handled a RB67, it is a 6x7cm years ago, it was heavier than my old C33. BTW(1) for you folks are not familiar with the film RB67 and it's little brother 645, they are SLR cameras with an auto-return mirror a la Rollieflex SL66. The Hasselblads are also a SLR but once you release the shutter the mirror stays up, and the viewfinder blacks out, so to "see again," you have to turn the film advance knob to the next frame, and that will also flip down the mirror. |
"The answer to crime is always cows." -Cheesebeast