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Which 6x6 Medium-Format camera should you buy?
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- čas přidán 13. 02. 2018
- Following on from the previous video this one looks at the different options for cameras shooting 6x6 frames.
The big matchup in this category is between the Rollei TLRs and the Hasselblad V-mount cameras but there's also room for some cheaper yashy TLRs and also the Bronica SQ series.
I also mention the Mamiya 6, the Mamiya c220/c330 interchangeable lens TLRs and also the slightly wacky pentacon 6.
Kowa 6 and Kowa 6mm are fabulous, I still have mine which I bought in the seventies. Glass is amazing. Kowa are famous for cinema lenses and also for cinematography. Leaf shutter means sync to 1/500th sec. Perfect wedding camera.
Here, some 5 years later, you can assemble a Kowa Super 66 body (last and best), a few magazines and a three lens set for $1,000-1,200. Hasselblads are better known, but the Kowas are smaller and cheaper. The lenses are exceptional, and the parts can still be serviced. I have never acquired one because I have a lack of preference for the 6x6cm format. IMO, 6x6 is just 645 with the convenience of not having to rotate the camera between portrait and landscape modes. I'd rather have a smaller camera, more exposures per roll, and just turn the camera. I did collect a number of 6x6 TLR models in the 1990s (a phase), but frankly, I never use them.
I am missing the Rolleiflex SL66. Especially for working in the studio it is a great system: a bellow for focusing and tilding (up and down), the possibillity to take pictures on the schale of 1:1 with the standard lens, built-in lightmeter (SL66 E, SL66 SE, also for flashlight) a wide range of lenses and attachments.
I am glad you included the Yashica! Surprised too. I have the Yashica 124 and the Mamiya C220, plus a Super Ikonta, and a Bronica S2A. Nice video, very well done.
I’d throw in a mention for the Minolta Autocord in the TLR section. Excellent image quality and the Autocord’s are more inline with the Yashica’s as far as price. They also have great accessories like the Autopole for a polarizing filter. Focusing is achieved with a lever on the bottom front which is a nice alternative to the focusing knob on the side of the camera.
Minolta Autocord really amazing cheap but excellent image quality
@@user-95276 Unfortunately, so many people now know what a fantastic camera the Minolta Autocord is that prices have risen dramatically. Autocord has been given such a high status that it is exposed to considerable speculation and overpricing. Yes, the Autocord takes better pictures than the Rolleiflex with Xenar and Tessar lenses, but it is no longer worth the price. Not good because Minolta Autocord was the real "hidden gem" not long ago!
My first medium format roll film camera is/was a Rolleicord V. It was interesting, but hard to use under low light until I sent it in to Rollei for a CLA. The focusing screen was replaced with a much better one, and minor adjustments brought it up to "good enough for Verichrome Pan or even Tri-X Pan." I still have it, since there's nothing electronic or battery-dependent in it. The Rolleiflex crowd sneer at it, but Ye Olde 75mm f/3.5 Schneider Xenar is a goodTessar-type lens design.
Gotta say I really enjoy your channel. At first I thought "oh gahd, another hipster kid", but you turned out to be much less annoying and pretentious than I expected. You got my subscription!
Hasselblad !!! I had the 2000FC, Distagon 50mm 2.8, Planar 110mm 2.0, Tele-Tessar 350mm 4.0 and 2x Mutar a very great set ! The 110mm plus the 2x Mutar works great for close-up !
No Rolleiflex sl66?
You forgot the humble Kiev 60 - a solid and pretty fun 6x6
Should look at the Arax 60, it's an improved Kiev 60 which uses Pentagon Six lenses which are superb and negates the Pentagon Six's film advancing issues
Thanks for parroting opinions that You saw here on CZcams. So original.
Like your videos....you forgot to mention that the Mamiya C series can natively focus at about 20 cm....it's a very nice feature if you don't want to spend money on a Rolleiflex (or Yashica ) and a set of 3 Rolleinar close up lenses (quite expensive)
Kowa Six. 'the poor man's Hasselblad'.
Love my Hasselblad 503 cxi. Great lenses and all mechanical just what the Dr ordered.
Seagull 4a & Bronica s2a got my money recently as the best knockoff options for TLR and modular design 6x6 cameras to start the journey with.
I was never drawn to the 6x6 format as I have shot landscapes and subjects outside a studio and its requirements. In considering what system to make a long term investment, I realized that a square format was, for me, always going to be cropped down to some rectangle, and the original reason for the 8x6 SLR format was to avoid the huge inconvenience having to turn the camera on its side to shoot verticals. A 645 system would be better all around for me. In the end, I went for 6x7, several different ending with the Pentax 67. However, were I to go for a 6x6, the only system I would consider is the Rollei SL66. Last year, 40 years too late, I passed on a mint SL66E, 3 lens kit with all related accessories and three backs (for zone system work). $1,700 total. I almost cried.
These are not human prices, these are London prices! Pentacon 6 is a system camera. Not only regarding the fact, that you can change the lens, but you can change the viewfinder as well (you just press the little knobs on the sides). It doesn't come with any given viewfinder, you can swap them in the field. And mine was 12 GBP 4 years ago, 30 more for servicing it and it works perfectly.
Very helpful video I love my Rolleiflex 3.5 from 1937
The TLR oim currently looking at is a Minolta Autlocord
Hi, You did an excellent job covering so many 6x6 cameras, however you forgot one important one ! Think hard..here it is: The Rolleiflex SLX followed by the 6000 series. Having been a Rolleiflex user for over 60 years I could not miss buying an SLX as soon as I saw one at the N.Y. photo show as it came out in the US.. You could get a great prism finder for $100 at the same time and what a camera it has been especially for shooting action photos such as weddings. It was not perfect but once you had experienced one of the missing safety features you never had problems with it !... The other small bad features could be easily overlooked. The 6000 series because of their film loading was less convenient for fast reloading but great in other ways like for going from one film emulsion to another in the middle of a shoot.The 45 degree prism is the best for convenience. Their 😅lenses are the same as for the Hasselblad.
love medium format cameras.
I have a Mamiya C33 with the 55mm, 65mm, 80mm, 105mm and 180mm lenses. Its a nice and cheap system wich i recommend if you dont need interchangeable backs. You dont need large filter and you dont have to see through the filter which is very handy with IR or ND filter. The lenses dont like back light, but the effect can be beautiful.
But i changed to a Rolleiflex Sl66 with the 50mm, 80mm and 150mm Lenses. Its more expensive and you probably need a service, but its a beautiful and a well thought out system.
I recently got a Mamiya 6 with the 50mm, it was a good deal but still a big chunk of change. It's worth every penny though, the image quality is just ridiculous and after lugging around an RB67 it's as easy to shoot as my Leica.
why ridiculous ? no good lense ?
RB67 ridiculous? Mamiya RB series has some of the best lenses around. It's the weight he is referring to not lenses.
@@waynesimon2963 I agree. I have an RB67 and have no issues at all with the images the lenses produce. all the shots I've taken with mine so far have been tack sharp. Mamiya glass has a very good reputation and I have to agree with it. why pay the premium for a Hasselbald if you can spend 2 thirds less, if not more and get pics that rival the quality of a Hassy.
@@waynesimon2963 Do you speak English not or? He was saying the image quality of Mamiya 6 is ridiculous which means it's very good. He didn't say RB lenses are bad. Learn to read.
@@fangxusun1723 Your question should have been "Do I read English or not" since I an obviously reading and typing not speaking. I see I may have taken Joseph's statement the wrong way looking at my initial answer but that does not qualify you to attack my ability to read, understand and write English. In future you may want to take a different tact and rely on a statement before asking a foolish question. Can you read my response or not?
You call Hasselblad mechanical marvel? My 500cm jammed all the time, and the aperture blades in the lenses also became sticky and needed service. My Mamiya RB67 on the other hand works like a champion after 40+ years since it was made.
Wish he would look at hartblei 1006-1008; basically a hassy clone without horrid reliability issues
Even their version of the kiev 60 has good quality control.
Mamiya 6 - Leaf shutter medium format rangefinder camera - SWEET! Too bad I got stupid and sold it a few years ago.
Great video lad ! ❤
There are a lot more TLR camera's:
NOCOFLEX , GREAT WALL, LUBITEL, SEMFLEX, MINOLTA AUTOCORD,MPP. FLEXARET etc.
Plus an Italian TLR and tons of made in Japan and Germany.
Thank you very much. Bronica SQ-A it is, I was looking for square because of not only prints but that's the Instagram aspect ratio.
The Yashica’s have gone up like crazy, good call. Lens seems pretty soft though from what I’ve seen
I remember them going for about $120-180 USD. Now it’s hard to find one below $200
The Kiev 88 is a Hasselblad 100/1600 clone not a 500 clone. I'd also like to have seen the Rollie SL66 in the review...
The lenses made for the PENTACON SIX are made by Meyer and Carl Zeiss.
Do not forget to mention the SLR made by Kowa with lenses from 19 mm up 500 mm
one tip IMPORTANT: the battery "slugs" (no matter the vintage-original Hasselblad or non-oem cells, single use Crxx's ) MUST insert NEG (---) towards YOU, (+ to the center of the camera body); THIS is the main trouble, they go all tiretts on you (no offence), winding continually, not responding to the operation switch, etc, THE only thing wrong is the POLARITY of the cells, re-install as above!, then all is right with the world.
They run magasines great, ALWAYS leave the camera cocked (to take lenses off, etc), but one more thing, they jam just as sure as the 500 c/m's do, so make sure the lens is on the mount propperly, and if it does jam, FIRST, switch OFF, and think, take the mag off, try a cycle, does it work 'normally'?; if NOT, wiggle the lens, it should wind-on automatically, IF NOT, switch OFF, try the
'screwdriver trick' (POWER OFF) : open the Bottom baffell, place a flat head screwdriver on the SILVER screw inside below the lens, BE CAREFUL the mirror is down, and the lens rear element is close, ROTATE the screw clockwise about a turn (it may be less!, just be prepared to turn a full 360 deg. it depends where in the cycle it jammed); this should allow you to push the lens release, and dismount the lens, STOP, with everything off, run a cycle to cock it propperly!!, then it is SAFE to re-assemble, and continue shooting.
Rolleiflex 6008 integral and 6008 professional?!?
Rolleiflex with the "F" version (I believe) 2.8F added a light meter.
They do have a light meter, however they used selenium cells which produces a slight current when hit by light, and this cell eventually consumes and run out. My father was kind enough to never use the rolleiflex so much and left it 30 years in pitch black darkness so mine still meters to this day, but most of them don't.
there is one 6 x 6 you forgot and thats the Rollei 6001 and 6008 series, they have a lot of electrics, but have a great lens selection, and apparently rival hasselblads for the crown in this category.
The Rolleiflex 6000 series is for sure the best medium format camera to buy! Rock solid, same lenses than Hasselblad, easy to use and features which are normally only available in 35mm format.
Personally, I don't want a fixed lens TLR like the Rollei because I believe that the excellent Mamiya C330 has the 55mm, 65mm, 80mm, 105mm, 135mm, 180mm, 250mm lenses for it and I can shoot within 2" of my subject because it has bellows focusing and I can use my little $50 Paramender to eliminate parallax focusing errors. It has excellent optics as all Mamiya cameras have. I just don't see the value tradeoff of the one focal length Rollei vs a complete system with interchangeable lenses and bellows. Just one man's opinion.
Mamiya C330S is a great camera for 6x6, but what is often left out is they are built like a tank (just like a RB), and a tad on the heavy side
For some reason, I don't find the Mamiya C330 near as bulky and heavy as my Mamiya 645 Pro with a lens. It may be that the C330 hangs more vertically and with its leaf shutters, it just feels very quiet. I love both of these cameras for different reasons.
I like to use both for there different purposes: Rolleiflex when travelling light - black-white. Mamiya C33 when I feel I need to change lenses, for colour and close ups... great image qualitiy!
Well explained 👍
One of each? 4 Rolleiflexes, 1 Rolleicord, 1 Flexaret, 3 Yashica-mats, 1 Minolta Autocord, 1 Ricoh Diacord, 1 Hasselblad 500CM with 5 lenses, a Voigtlander I've missed some, numerous 6x6 folders... I sold a Mamiya 6 outfit to purchase a couple of Fujica GSW's (6x7, 6x9) and the Mamiya C330f outfit to get an RB67 and regret selling both. Always liked the Rollei 6006, but couldn't justify buying one.
I'm sorry I bought all of my film cameras. Film and processing costs have left me penniless
Jonathan, Several comments:
1) In the TLR domain, you ignore the Minolta Autocord. It's a first cousin of the Yashica 124 with an important improvement: it uses a film pressure plate to ensure that the film lies perfectly flat across the breech. Granted, it is not as well known as the 124, but the negatives it can produce are at least as good.
2) You completely ignore the classic 6x6 folder! My $200 Zeiss can easily produce B&W negatives that I can enlarge to 11x14. I grant you that the resolving power of my f3.5 Novar cannot approach that of your system cameras, but I think that resolving power has been vastly overrated in modern photography. My Zeiss travels in my backpack across the karstic limestone of the Balkans. It smiles at rough useage. It is tough enough to hammer tent pegs. I can abandon it on a Montenegran Cafe table. No one will glance at it. And if something tragic happened to it, I would be out...$200.
Prices have skyrocketed since this video was made. Even the previously "budget" Kievs are going for like 500+.
Man there’s a whole series and I’m shocked at the increase. For the record I based the prices on the eBay section that shows you recently ended auctions.
Super Ikonta 👍
Mamiya C3 also has interchangeable lenses.
Very good video, but all the really good Rolleiflex (later versions) do have a light meter.
It should be noted that the Zeiss lenses for the Pentacon Six, though different in name, are identical to the Hasselblad lenses.
Nils L - not really, they were made in different countries, East and West-Germany, different glass types, different coating, slightly different designs. But both great in their own way...
The Zeiss-lenses for the Rollei Sl66 and Rollei 6000-System are the same type. Most of the SL66 lenses have no shutter in the lens, unlike the Hasselblad because the shutter is in the camera.
@@sentimental7167 the designs are the same. In the DDR they just weren't allowed to use the same names. At same point they weren't even allowed to call them Zeiss anymore.
Nils L Distagons are definitley different designs from Flektogons. The latter are retrofocus versions of Biogons, which are basically triplets like the Sonnar. Their design dates to prewar lenses. Distagons are different, look in the catalog of Hasselblads. Planars have different glass types and different lens curvature in their designs even though both are Double Gaussians.
What about Bronica s2a? 100% mechanical, nikkor lenses, beautifull modular body, cheaper than sq...
I have one and it’s great!!! It’s harder find accessories for them as they are less popular
me seeing the price difference from 2018 to 2021 is wild
thanks for the insight i will keep this in my when i will look in to medium format cameras :)
Zeiss Ikon series. Cheap and reliable, even though only 1 lens.
Got one just today. Sure, 75mm f 4.5 isn't exactly lightning fast, but for 12€ it's impossible to complain :)
Alex M still a good thing. Mine is a relic from my grandfather, so I’m not changing it for anything
Love the simplicity of it, taking the top off to clean the (really dirty) viewfinder was really easy
Alex M all I need now is screw out the main lens (not the outside one) and clean it a bit
In the uk....all zenith equipment was examined reassembled by TOE London. The only importer to the uk....so comments about quality are somewhat made up. Design.....was a different matter. Parallax with TLR is only an issue close up....or zoomed.
Kiev 60🥰
good overview, thx. but you should have mentioned the Rolleiflex SLX / 600x cameras.
Problem is justifying the price over some of the cheaper V mount bodies. The Rollei is so over-engineered and obviously is a great option. It's just a step up from the 'starter' options
Yep. Pretty hefty price tags. I'm still close to buying a 6003. Cheaper than the Rolleiflex 2.8/3.5 models with exposure meters. And way cheaper than the Hassis without meter :-) so compared to the Rolleiflex TLX the SLX models are bargains but 2 kilo blocks. BTW, I saw several films in your Chanel now and really like it! Thx al lot for it!
@jonahan Notley what are your thoughts on a Kiev 60?
You forgot the Rollei sl66 series and the Kowa Six series.
will the lenses for bronica etrsi work on the bronica 6x6 bodies
No they do not a different mount,such a shame that, as I believe Bronica missed a trick there.
Rolleiflex 2,8F has a lightmeter on camera.
Having a matching back for Hasselblad cameras is not important at all. I have three backs for my two houses, and they're roughly 40 years apart in age! All three work equally well. They're not that expensive anymore either, I got my Hasselblad 500c cheaper than most Mamiya RZ67 houses go for on ebay.
I also have a Pentacon Six. Love both my Hassies and my Pentacon! They're both surprisingly light and easy to carry around. Plus no battery, so you'll never get caught out with a non-functioning camera.
Hi. To be fair a scientific sample of 1(you) or 3(your backs) is not enough to broadly state something about the entire line of equipment. I'm glad it works for you though.
I don't think Hasselblad would have bothered to make interchangeable backs if you weren't supposed to change them. The whole point of having a system like that is that all the parts can be changed even with film in the camera. I have a matching back, but to be honest I would think a newer back will always be the better one if there is any difference.
When people say ‘matching backs’ they mean the film-holding insert matching with the back itself. When they went through quality control before leaving the factory the backs were checked for spacing and tolerances as a pair and if you start mixing up the inserts you risk a less accurate combination. Obviously backs can be exchanged with other backs!
Jonathan Notley thanks for the above. I wonder why you didn't mention bronica focal plane shutter line up. Ec Tl has aperture priority auto exposure and can be picked up for 300 to 400 quid. 6x6
Jonathan Notley Ah, that clears it up! Thanks for your reply!
what are the defernces between mat 124 and mat 124 G ?
Body trim, sometimes optics and often the price
in this case the optics are the same ? or witch is better ?
They changed the lens over during the last production run of the 124 and then used it for the G as well. I’d say go with a 124g, they’re newer and should last longer
Hasselblad, if funds allowed
Does anyone here hand develop prints in a wet darkroom? IMO, if the negatives are scanned for digital printing much would be lost, and that would defeat the purpose of using film.
Absolutely. I develop and print my own images from a Yashicmat 124G. You have total control over everything when you print yourself. Darkroom equipment is cheap as chips these days and there is no end of brilliant youtube videos to help you learn and develop..
I just developed some yesterday and the day before. Mostly pictures taken by Rolleiflex original from the early thirties, even on 10x12 inch (24x30,5 cm), it is a great image quality. I use scanner as well, it is a great help in having all the negatives in fine detail at your disposal, without the need to touch them more, than just for enlarging.
I develop my own 120 B&W, and on occasion have ventured into E6, then later I have a scanning service (we are fortunate to have a few good ones here in the States) scan them hi-res (generally around 27mp), as I am saving to afford the scanner I want. Analog photography (especially medium format) yields so much information, not to mention unrivaled results, that it is definitely worth the seeming inconvenience. Plus, when's the last time you saw a digital shot with amazing bokeh? I also have a Nikon D3400, and while it's a great camera (I use it for weddings), it simply can not compare to the shots I get on my RB67
It’s kinda unfair to compare a D3400 to RB67..
💯
One take? Not bad
I'm interested in buying a tlr camera and I'm really short. In your opinion, would my height be an issue?
You’re not always stuck looking down into a TLR, you can buy prism finders that slot over the ground glass and allow you an eye level view. You can also stand on a footstool 🐸
Oh that’s mainly for rollieflexes and Mamiya C- series by the way - not the yashicas
Lol. Thank you for the insight. Planning to buy the Mint TL70. I guess I'll have to carry along a footstool everywhere I go... :)
I can recommend the Yashica Mat 124G. I'm pretty short myself but I've never had a situation where I thought "damn, I wish I was a bit taller". They are beautiful cameras and produce fine images. There is a built in magnifier that makes focusing accurately very easy and for small change these days you can develop and print your own work at home. Go for it and have fun.. you won't regret it
John C Thank you. I feel much better now. Struggles of being short... :D The reason why I want the TL70 is because it's an instant camera. Quite excited to get it.
The Bronica SQ-A is not comparable to the Hasselblad. The Bronica S2 is.
I think Hassie and Leica are over priced and overhyped. The Kiev and the Pentacon 6 are a minefield as you say.
I shoot medium format and what I use is a Rolleicord VA and two Pentax 67 cameras.
I use the Rollei for black and white and the 6x7s for colour.
If I was setting out to buy now I would look at Rolleiflex 6008 as a system camera.
If I could get a 6000 series Rolleiflex with a Schnieder 90 mm macro lens I would be over the moon.
Also the basic Yashica mats which go very cheaply.
Pentacon 6 are easy and cheap to get repaired though
Rolleiflex usualy have light meters
Is there any Digital Back available for Yashika 124G or other TLRs ?
None that I know of. It wouldn't be easy given their design - closest I can think of would be digital backs for V-mount blads
Kolkata Sarkar no
Hi, just watched about half of your Video, nice setup, but while talking about so much camerastuff, esp. medium format, just saw you fiddling around with a Canon AE-1, for some tenths of a second. Did it happened to have that you never got in touch with any of that cameras your´e talking about in the first half of that video? I hardly doubt, esp. when introducing the Pentacon-Six, fitted cleaerly with a KIEV 60 metered prism finder - without any mentioning/commenting from your side. I don´t want to go any further in details, but I clearly can see a principle: analogue photography is hip, equipment prices and therefore film prices are rising rapidly - why not jump on that train? Economywise absolutly correct, but - what was the intention of that video?
I confess - I did´n watch the second half of that video. I was afraid, not to get any additional substantial information on medium format photography. Was I wrong?
Kiev60
Nonsense; Hasselblad have now stated that the images purporting to have been taken on the Moon with their cameras were not. It is impossible today as it was in 1969 to travel through the Van Allen belt.
So it was just a publicity stunt? 🤔
Could we have some sources for your comment, or is it just imagination?
Ok moron
Why do I feel like he is being held at gun-point to say this?
The comment section is better at recommending cameras than you. So just stop now.
Alright gramps, you stop buying these ones and leave more for the rest of us :^)
@@JonathanNotley Your a wanna be, I'm the real deal.
Coolio
@@JonathanNotley @gyst_photographic
i find it strange when a 15 or 17 year old guy talks ablut cameras as if he would be in the business since the 70ies hehe
Also a rolleiflex 2.8f for 1200 bucks? i would buy that instantly, but sadly they are at least double the prize
hi there, 17 year old here.
@@jgarcia8776 nice, make a youtube video talking about when you bought your first Model T after coming back from your WW1 service :)
@@inevitablecraftslab i think it went over your head, but lol