[Leica] Wow, are the Mamiya as cool as the HASSELblad?

[drodgers at casefarms.com (David Rodgers)]

I started out in MF with a Mamiya 330C. I had a normal and tele lens.
Then I acquired a Pentax 645 outfit -- body, 150, 75 and 45. 

I always wanted a Hasselblad so I traded the Pentax system for a 500C/M
Classic outfit. The Hasselblad fulfilled a dream of sorts. And it was
almost an essential when I did wedding photography. Back then if you had
a Hasselblad at a wedding people knew you were the guy and not just some
relative trying to take photos. One issue with Hasselblads is that they
don't take well to sitting idle. They need to be used. I don't consider
any Hasselblad a use-every-so-often-when-I'm-in-the-MF-mood camera.  

The Pentax is still my favorite. Aside from the rather loud shutter and
relatively slow flash synch it was a great picture taking machine. It
was like a big 35mm. It handled much better than any other MF system. If
at the time I'd kept the Pentax and invested the money I spent on
Hasselbald (CM and subsequent lens purchases) in Microsoft stock I could
buy an M8 today.....and still have enough left over for a Bentley.

I've also owned Pentax 67, Fuji, and Mamiya 6MF and a couple of other MF
systems. The Mamiya 6MF was a close second in user friendliness to the
Pentax, and second only because it lacked motor drive. I always felt
motor drive was more important in MF than it was in 35mm. 

Today my only MF body is a Rollei TLR. The MF camera I've always dreamed
of owning but still don't is a Tele-Rollei, though today I'd prefer a
WA-Rollei (to use not to collect). Maybe someday! :-)

DaveR      

-----Original Message-----
From: Didier Ludwig [mailto:leica@screengang.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 7:12 AM
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: Re: [Leica] Wow, are the Mamiya as cool as the HASSELblad?

from those professionals known to me who used mf, hasselblad was first
choice (if they could afford), otherwise zenza bronica was mostly second
choice because of it's reputed Nikon lenses. hasselblads are fine
crafted european products with some of the the best available mf lenses,
zeiss oberkochen, and such have their own price level like Leica in
small format. Price is a matter, so bronica, rollei, mamiya, pentacon,
kiev et al were very popular amongst amateur shooters.
Didier