Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/02/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 03:47 PM 2/25/2007, Lottermoser George wrote: >Right. However, someone moving into medium format for the first time, >from 35mm (and especially M RF photography) in my experience, will >have a bit of a shock at the shutter speeds and need for tripods, >faster films, etc. George I see what you are saying and you make some good points. I would recommend either a Rolleiflex TLR or a Hasselblad 2000 series but for someone deeply wedded to miniature format, a Super Ikonta B might be a good transition. This is a folder rangefinder, takes 11 6cm square negatives on a roll of 120 film, and comes with a fine four-element lens, generally a Zeiss Tessar or a JSK Xenar. It is a most user-friendly camera and a late Prewar model can be had relatively cheaply as these are not deemed to be collectibles other than by the likes of Simon Worsley, the Guru of the breed. I spent my first six years in photography doing medium format on a 1931 Voigtl?nder Bessa before picking up a 35mm SLR, and then spent 20 years doing miniature-format SLR work before buying my first rangefinder. A year later, I got my first Rolleflex, and I was equally hooked by Leica and Contax RF systems and by Franke & Heidecke TLR's. I got into Hasselblad later. In today's market, a Super Ikonta or a Postwar Rolleiflex Automat 3 with a coated lens can be had for under $200, perhaps far under (I paid $30 for one of my Super Ikontas, and nothing for the other). A Hasselblad 500 body with a couple of C lenses will set you back $350 or so. And if you move over to the 2000/200 series, you can get some f/2 lenses. I admire Mark Rabiner as a fine photographer and excellent scholar of photography in general and of Leica and Rollei in particular but I must disagree with him on the best way to use MF gear. I almost never use a tripod for anything other than extreme telephotography or extreme macro work. My Super Ikonta B's and my 2.8F 12/24 and 2.8GX are VERY handy cameras. Those who shoot rifles know the trick for using the strap to steady the aim. Well, a Rolleiflex strap does the same: just hold the camera at waist level and push up on the strap with your neck to form a steady sight picture, and Bob's your uncle. Most of my MF work is done with relatively slow films and without a tripod, and I take pictures generally deficient in content due to my own lack of an artistic sense <he grins> but technically quite nice. I suspect that the major medium format systems have bottomed out. Only a few companies are still making these today, but there are a gazillion MF cameras out there. Marc msmall@aya.yale.edu Cha robh b?s fir gun ghr?s fir!