[pure-silver] Re: (slightly) OT MF equipment dilemma
- From: john stockdale <j.sto@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 19 May 2005 20:39:01 +1000
Hello Cor.
For lightness and compactness the Mamiya 6 is hard to beat in my limited
experience (the one that Ryuji calls "new Mamiya 6" to distinguish from
some much older folders). They have some potential service problems due to
total absence of certain spare parts, and good ones have become very
expensive recently. They are, however, a beautifully elegant 6x6 camera
(but the MF version has a cluttered screen). I travel with the 50mm and
150mm lenses. It's not much bigger than a "professional" 35mm
camera. It's hand holdable at surprisingly long shutter speeds, and very
quiet (a plus for me).
If you crop a 6x6 neg to fit 8x10 paper, there should be no difference
between 6x6 and 6x4.5, except for the inconvenience of turning the camera
90 degrees.
The Mamiya 7 is fractionally bigger, but if you like a 50mm lens, you
(probably*) need an auxiliary viewfinder which makes the whole thing a lot
less elegant. For 65mm lens and longer, the viewfinder is fine. (But in
general the framing of a rangefinder is not accurate anyway, so it's a
matter of taste whether it matters a lot.) The bigger (56mm x 69.5mm) neg
gives you one size larger in paper (over rectangular print from 6x6) at the
same enlargement magnification, which is a useful improvement.
My other camera is a Rollei SL66, and it weighs a ton, and to hand hold it
you need three hands. One almost might as well carry a 4"x5", but you
already have one of those.
On the subject of your unsharp photos, my experience is that compared to
35mm, the slower shutter speeds made necessary by the need for a smaller
aperture are not such a problem, but focussing becomes more critical
because of the more limited depth of field. But if your studio work is
sharp, it might have more to do with your tripod than the camera format.
If your 35mm results are barely satisfactory with 400TMax, maybe you could
try a good 100 film. Perhaps, if you're used to large format results,
nothing else will really satisfy. Personally, I find that a 400 film
generously exposed and developed just enough gives very satisfying 8"x10"
prints.
Sorry, I'm rambling.
* The Mamiya 7 with 50mm lens is useable without the auxiliary viewfinder,
but one must accept a little more inaccuracy with framing (in addition to
the general rangefinder inaccuracy)
=======================================================
At 05:28 PM 19/05/2005, you wrote:
>Hi,
>
>I have been using a Fujica GS645 Professional (75mm) MF (6*4.5) folder
>camera (loaded with HP5+)for a long time now, and I cannot seem to work
>with it consistently. On the plus side it's a neat compact travel
>camera, I like the concept, but on the down side I find the knob for the
>lightmeter small (always looking for it with my finger) en perhaps my
>biggest problem is that I produce too may unsharp pictures. I do have a
>few fine, sharp prints, but too many unsharp ones. I always try to use
>the fastes shutter speed, and I guess that focusing with the range
>finder is my main problem, I have difficulties with it, and am slow on
>the focussing.
>
>That said I realy want a MF camera for (semi) lightweight traveling and
>easy taking along. I do use 35mm (Olympus OM2/Tmax400), but on the whole
>I find the quality in my hands barely enough for 8*10 prints (one does
>get spoiled whem shooting 4*5 and 8*10).
>
>One point the late Barry Thornton made was that he did not find stepping
>up from 35mm to 6*4.5 was such quality improvement. I don't know about
>that, but my modest 6*6 studio work (Zenza Bronica) work is far superior
>sharpness/smootheness wise to my 6*4.5 work.
>
>So I guess I would like to change my MF equipment. 2 systems come to
>mind: The Fuji GA645zi, a autofocus (has its quirks, but once you know
>them it's ok, it seems) automatic 6*4.5 camera with a modest zoom
>(55-90)
>
>Or an older Mamiya 6, Mamiya 7 (II), a range finder (works better than
>the GS645 for me?), bigger camera, more lens options, bigger negs (less
>exposures per roll ofcourse).
>
>Neither system I actually held in my hands, let alone have tested. And I
>do not see much oppertunity trying these systems in the Netherlands
>
>Any thoughts on this dilemma, experiences with both sysytems, or perhaps
>other suggestions (which I have solve myself ofcourse) are appreciated.
>
>Best,
>
>Cor
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