Medium format - who uses it? I've had a 6x6 Seagull

for a few years, and just recently got an RB67 Pro-S.

I'm very much looking forward to sending the Mamiya through its paces! I think it will be a lot better than my Seagull, which, for an all manual cheapest medium format available, does a pretty damn nice job.

But having the ability to change lenses is essential to me! I've had years with 35mm SLRs, and I really missed, with the Seagull, the ability to change lenses.

But, let's face it, medium format rocks! I only shoot 35mm now for purposes of recording group outings or parties, etc.; never for serious photography.

...but I used it professionally for a couple of years in the 90s. Mostly those HUGE Bell & Howell or Pentax jobs that have the 600 shot magazine in them. WE also used Mamiya RB645s for our outdoor shots. It was all portraiture, but they looked good.

I always imagined what it would be like if I can have 600 nature, mountain, coastline, whatever shots on those big rolls of film, instead of zit faced teenagers. I'd be strong as an ox after carrying around those engine block sized cameras though.

I'm tempted to buy a Mamyia 7 on ebay. It's a 6X7 rangefinder. Every now and then, one goes up for sale. They usually run around $1300 with 3 lenses, cable flashes and a hard case, standard wedding set up. I like it, because it is easy to hold, more like a 35mm, and less boxy like most medium formats. There's also an old East German made Pentacon, which has a Zeiss bayonet. Mainly I want that, because it'll be cool to have something made by the commies in "DDR" on the back.:D

;-)

but for me it is only a dream because I can't pay more for a camera back than I did for my car. :rofl: Though I had found a 14 MP for 14,000 once. And this is without the camera body.

Hasselblad Ixpress CF132 Single-Shot 22 MP Digital Camera Back with i-Adapter Kit for Fuji GX680, Battery & Charger

$24,995.00
more info

Found here if you are interested
http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=itemlist&cat1=Cameras%20%26%20Lenses&cat2=Medium%20Format%20Film%20%26%20Digital%20Cameras&cat3=Backs%20And%20Accessories&Startat=21

120 Reala is the equavalent of 22-25 megapixels, so putting a 14MP back on any medium format camera would be rather dumb...you'd be reducing it to 35MM level resolution.

That new hassey digital comes with an optional 4*res module that knocks the res up to 528meg. Granted, it's designed more for studio work but the technology is a'changin quickly. If Hassey has figured out how to take studio work to a medium quality on a digie.... a 400meg (or higher) prosumer digie can't be far behind.

I don't understand the technology but it seems that its just a matter of image layering at high speed.

I was pretty excited when they came out with a 2400 baud modem in the day... replacing my awesome 300 baud.

Oh... forgot to thank you for the info and link on that other thread about different types of film. It was very helpful.
:hi:

when regnaD ask about ccd thought I would look to see what was out there. If I were going to spend that kind of money I would go for the best I could find. Maybe when I win the Power-ball or Mega-million.

Great camera, but I don't use it nearly as often as I'd like. The film, and especially the developing, is too pricey to use it for anything but the most "important" photography. I've used it to shoot a friends wedding, and I take it along on vacations for landscape photos, but that's about it.

Quality wise, 120 film is light years beyond anything that either 35mm or modern digitals can pull off.

I just got it, so not much experience with it yet, but I love it so far.

:silly:

I won't even ask what you think of digital given your comments about 35mm.

There's this AP photog, don't remember his name, was reading about him in a photo mag. The guy shoots with a DSLR and only uses jpeg, and not RAW. (limits of satellite transmission or sumtin')He's over in Iraq. His photographs are nothing less than amazing... how he captures the real life in Iraq.

and more... (this is a broken up quote from another photo mag)

... they discount the image with an integrity that simply doesn't exist. The capture of a photograph isn't a mechanical process that exists in spite of the photographer. It's a process through which a person - the photographer - conveys what he or she is seeing at a particular place and time. A photograph alone doesn't tell a true story-truth comes from a person, not an image.

Is there a point to all these words?? :crazy: Yes. The kind of camera one uses, be it digital or film, doesn't mean shit. It's what the person does with the camera that matters.

Geez... I think I brewed the coffee too strong this morn'. Who knew that a dweeb like me could be so...... philosophical.
:silly:

I use my digital camera more than any other camera I have, because it's good enough the majority of the time. I take the digital AND the medium format and also the 35mm with me on trips, because they all have their place.

But, for me, when I am taking a shot that I want to be really good, framable and sellable, the medium format is the one that I do it with, because I love the technical quality of the image; and also, I seem to do better artistically with the medium format, and that is surely partly due in part because it's a hassle to reload film, it's all manual so I have to go slowly, each shot costs about a buck and a half after processing... so I'm much more deliberate.

But absolutely, in terms of artistry, it's all in the photographer and not in the camera.

:thumbsup:

My return to the golden age of film has taught me to "think out" my shots with a lot more....errr... thinking.
:dunce:

When I'm out with my digital and enough gigs to crank out 350-400 snaps I get.... careless.

Didn't mean to cause a stir. I blame it on the coffee. And I meant no disrespect. I just read that quote last night and I just had to find a thread to post it in. Lucky you. I posted it in your thread. :crazy:

I think, "Ah, fuck it, I'll just take 20-30 shots, whatever. I'm sure one of 'em will be good."

And usually, I get one or two okay ones. Sometimes, I actually do get a good one.

:gasp: The nerve lol! ;)

Seriously though, I have several very large prints that could not have been done with 35 or a digital camera. 35mm will just not enlarge and look decent over a certain size. A magazine or newspaper photographer's photos are probably not being enlarged to that size. While I agree that individual perspective can certainly make a photograph, it won't do me a damn bit of good on 35mm (or digital) if I want it printed say, 11x13 or bigger. You know, like a wedding portrait or a large landscape. In that case, the camera certainly does mean shit. ;) Should we preface every post with a pro/income and possible enlargement size disclaimer. :shrug:

:)

I've done some 30 x 20 prints off my digital that are pretty fair. But.Me.Understand.

I'm not lookin' to make any money..... yet... although I've sold 5 prints in the last month without even trying. So I can appreciate that those that do want to collect some change would be concerned with the quality as it relates to size and all.

Did I mention that I brewed the coffee too strong today?
:silly:

;) Congrats on your sales! I hate that part. :silly:

"without even trying".
:crazy:

I had posted some pixie dust squares for a chuckle and actually had inquiries that resulted in 5 sales. Had no idea what to ask for them.. caught me a bit off guard. I since pulled them but Ms F wants me to pursue the selling thing. Not sure I'm ready for that right now.

Want to spend a year or two learning and doing stuff for free for anyone that asks. Miles to go before I....... Feel a bit guilty actually taking money for my stuff.

I don't do decaf... but I should probably not post when I'm on a major caffeine buzz.
:smoke:

money for it, sell it to them.

You'll never "really" be ready to sell if you wait until you're "good enough" - apparently people already think you are good enough.

Go for it!

And then, at the time when you DO feel like it might make sense to start selling on a grand scale, you'll have a bunch of sales already, giving you permission to say to potential collectors "yes, a number of my photos are being enjoyed in offices and homes by my collectors already."

And if you have any famous people who bought, bring their name up.