Best supported 'old' MF camera?

[attack_donut]

I was bidding on a Bronica ETRS with a few lenses, and got outbid. No surprise really, the price was pretty cheap.

I have a few old TLR Yashicas I enjoy, but the lenses are a tad soft, which is why I wanted to move up to something with removeable lenses, backs, etc.

I got to thinking though, if the Bronica would be the best choice, or if there is something better out there with more options for lenses, attachments, etc, than the Bronica?

I was aiming to spend, let's see, do the math to British pounds, say 250 UK Pounds. (I'm in the USA, so, say 300$ or so)

I know the names Mamiya, Bronica and Hassiblad. Is there something out there that would be a better option that I'm missing?

Advice and suggestions are always appreciated.

Cheers!
AD

[Benchmark]

Good question.

I decided to buy a Mamiya 645 Pro TL system a few years ago, and have not regretted it. There seem to be plenty of backs, lenses and other accessories available at reasonable prices, including a few brand new ones.

I could be wrong here, but the Mamiya strikes me as being more up to date than the Bronica, but I have not used a Bronny so I cannot say more than that. Likewise the ‘Blad.

Mamiya certainly make plenty of accessories for the 645 Pro series, but if you get too carried away it can feel a bit Heath Robinson!

The N series lenses seem to be excellent; but whether they are as good as, or better than the Bronica I really don’t know. Both seem to have a very good reputation.

The metering prism (with selectable spot metering) is also good, and very accurate, and can be quickly removed and replaced with a waist level finder. The metering prism is coupled to both the film back and shutter to provide automated exposure. This makes it fairly idiot proof. Likewise, the dark slide is interlocked, so it cannot be removed unless the magazine is fitted to the camera, and the shutter cannot be fired unless the dark slide is removed.

In terms of size, the M645 is little bigger or heavier than my E1, and often takes its place in my camera bag. The camera is robust, reliable, quick and easy to use, and with the motor drive can manage around two exposures a second, although that will quickly demolish a 120 roll film.

Does it have any disadvantages? The only disadvantage that I have found is that shutter speed is limited to 1/60 second when using flash. Leaf shutter lenses are available, but are expensive, and a bit Heath Robinson in my view.

The only other roll film camera that I would consider at present would be a RB67, but they are much heavier and more expensive, and probably better suited to studio work.

HTH.

[Wheelu]

You could add Rollei to your list of MF SLRs, with their superb Zeiss lenses. There is a variant with a bellows extension that gives you some lens tilt for maximum depth of field.

However I am a relatively happy Bronica user, can't fault the lenses really, and they are good value for money.

[mediaman]

remember that if you have a 6X4.5, you will need a prism finder to view/compose, when going for an upright [portrait style] shot...instead of the landscape [group] type of image normally taken with a WLF. [refering to Bronica 6X4.5 not sure about mamiya]

[attack_donut]

Thanks for the tips. Anyone know how the Pentax MF offerings stand up? I've got a big soft spot for Pentax (k-1000 and K100D Super in my posession, along with Spotmatic and some others)

[Malcolm_Stewart]

You could add Rollei to your list of MF SLRs, with their superb Zeiss lenses. There is a variant with a bellows extension that gives you some lens tilt for maximum depth of field. ...

I bought a used Rollei 6006 (not the one with the bellows) with standard lens about a year ago hoping to benefit from the quality of the lens. It was a challenging engineering exercise with battery and poor connection problems. Although I have a Maplins locally (for parts), meters, soldering iron and many years of experience etc. I've not managed to get more than about 3 usable exposures on a film. I've bought several film inserts finding only 1 to be in decent working condition, and I now suspect that the film magazine mechanism is out of tolerance and responsible for many of my problems.

If you do decide to buy one, insist on it shooting off a roll of your film, and then check for transport evenness, blanks etc. Check the complex lens for proper operation at all of its apertures. The 6006 was a pioneering concept with linear motors in the lens, and relies on proper functioning of battery, lens, body and magazine.

The few decent exposures did show that it's a good lens with excellent contrast.

[Benchista]

I've got a few MF options, although all without interchangeable backs. I've a system built around the original version of the Mamiya M645 (later ones had interchangeable backs), and it's a nice little setup - I've got 35mm, 55mm, 70mm leaf shutter and 210mm lenses, which is fairly comprehensive. And although I can't change the backs, I've a number of inserts that can be preloaded, and make film changing reasonably quick, and also waist level and metered prism finders. I've got an Exakta 66 system (a Pentacon 6 development) with 30mm fisheye, 50mm, 80mm, 180mm and 300mm lenses, which covers most things. And I've got a Pentax 67 setup, with 55mm, 105mm and 200mm lenses and a 2x converter. All are decent systems in their own ways, but if I were to keep only one, it would probably be the Mamiya, simply because it's fairly compact.

[Wheelu]

Anyone know how the Pentax MF offerings stand up? I've got a big soft spot for Pentax (k-1000 and K100D Super in my posession, along with Spotmatic and some others)

Not used one myself but know of satisfied owners.

I borrowed a book of Verdun Anderson's steam railway photos recently, and in it was revealed that he regarded the big Pentax SLR as the "best camera for railway photography".

[parisian]

he regarded the big Pentax SLR as the "best camera for railway photography

Probably because he needed the train to carry the damn thing.
Mamiya 330's may be the way to go
The Rollei SL66 is now VERY old
Hasselblad 500C may be an option
If you were very lucky a Mamiya RB67 could fit all your needs

[Rhys]

he regarded the big Pentax SLR as the "best camera for railway photography

Probably because he needed the train to carry the damn thing.
Mamiya 330's may be the way to go
The Rollei SL66 is now VERY old
Hasselblad 500C may be an option
If you were very lucky a Mamiya RB67 could fit all your needs

I'd go for the RB personally, IIRC I saw one for sale for £220 recently. The lenses aren't that expensive either, maybe a couple of hundred each.
Although the 500c can be found quite cheaply the screens aren't that bright and can't be changed (they can in the 500cm) also the lenses are more expensive and so are film backs (you don't want an old one as it may leak light/not be matched) Anything with the name Hasselblad on will cost.. But they are very lovely to use (having owned two).
If I were getting another MF camera it would probably be a Mamiya 645 with a prism and maybe a grip.