$6000 budget

I am now virtually camera free, with only a prosumer d/c and 35mm point and
shoot to my name... and now i'm planning for the future. I hope that within
the next twelve months i'll be able to get together enough money for some
serious kit. I have experience with both the Bronica ETRSi and Hasselblad
500CM, and like them both (although the Bronica feels far too flimsy).

I like available light, though flash isn't out of the question. Portraiture
is likely to be the primary application, though I won't rule out any others
(bar weddings). In general I prefer to get lose in to my subjects.
Handholding and monopods will be the order of the day, and non-SLR viewing
is not to my taste. I've researched extensively Hassy 503s, 553s and 20xs,
Rollei 6006 and 6008, and Mamiya RB/RZ. Mamiya RZ would be ideal, but it's a
little heavy. Fast glass would be great, but not absolutely necessary (maybe
with the option to buy later). Obsolete systems are out of the question as I
want this stuff to last me a while. I owned an Eastern European 6x6cm SLR
for a while and will not be going back, either :-).

My budget is assuming I can save £300+ per month over 12 months, meaning
UK£3600 tops (which translates to something like $6600, but stuff over here
is generally more expensive). A standard lens would be lower priority but
preferred, so i'd be prepared to leave it as a later purchase. I'm fairly au
fait with the specs and abilities/shortcomings of each system, so ideally
i'm looking for personal accounts of what each one is like to shoot with.
Hearing from people with similar style/needs to myself would be great (check
out the link below for a couple of examples). Some cameras I may be able to
try before I buy as I work in a camera store, but more esoteric cameras like
Contax 645 and Rollei 600x are hard to find anywhere but mail-order.

So, given the money and limitations (and buying used, of course), what would
you buy?

--
Martin Francis http://www.sixbysix.co.uk
"Go not to Usenet for counsel, for it will say both no, and yes, and
no, and yes...."

On Sun, 15 Aug 2004 11:32:44 +0000 (UTC), "Martin Francis"
wrote:

I am now virtually camera free, with only a prosumer d/c and 35mm point and
shoot to my name... and now i'm planning for the future. I hope that within
the next twelve months i'll be able to get together enough money for some
serious kit. I have experience with both the Bronica ETRSi and Hasselblad
500CM, and like them both (although the Bronica feels far too flimsy).

So, given the money and limitations (and buying used, of course), what would
you buy?


I own a complete Bronica system, have used 500 CM and 503 CX
Hasselblads for the last 17 years at work, and also own an old Mamiya
RB system.

I find the Bronica system less reliable than the Hasselblads. Some of
the older Bronica lenses are definitely not as sharp as the Zeiss
lenses. The reliance on battery power to operate the shutter can be a
problem, especially if it's night time and you are 20 miles from the
nearest store that sells that particular battery size.

I have never had a problem with Hasselblads that couldn't be fixed in
time to continue a shoot. Usually the magazines fail gradually, so
the spacing gets worse slowly over time. The annoying jamming problem
of Hasselblads is, in my experience easily fixed. I usually carry a
long thin screwdriver in my camera bag just in case. The major
problem with Hasselblads is the price. Try buying additional lenses
after you already own the camera. You only need one kidney anyway,
right?

One of the things I didn't see mentioned was the Mamiya 645. I would
rate Mamiya lenses as good as the legendary Hasselblad lenses, IMHO.
All Mamiya cameras I have used have sharper lenses than the Bronica (I
haven't used the PE lenses, they may be better). Even the Mamiya C330
S I used to have had a noticeably better lenses than the Bronica
lenses when enlarged to 16x20 or more. If I were going out to buy a
medium format system now knowing what I know I would seriously look at
Mamiya 645. I have little experience with them but I know you can buy
leaf shutter lenses if you ever do get into flash work. There are
many different versions of the camera so you will want to research
which one would be best for you. They have a lens lineup which is
much better than Bronica and Hasselblad as well.

On Sun, 15 Aug 2004 11:32:44 +0000 (UTC), "Martin Francis"
wrote:

I am now virtually camera free, with only a prosumer d/c and 35mm point and
shoot to my name... and now i'm planning for the future. I hope that within
the next twelve months i'll be able to get together enough money for some
serious kit. I have experience with both the Bronica ETRSi and Hasselblad
500CM, and like them both (although the Bronica feels far too flimsy).

So, given the money and limitations (and buying used, of course), what would
you buy?


I own a complete Bronica system, have used 500 CM and 503 CX
Hasselblads for the last 17 years at work, and also own an old Mamiya
RB system.

I find the Bronica system less reliable than the Hasselblads. Some of
the older Bronica lenses are definitely not as sharp as the Zeiss
lenses. The reliance on battery power to operate the shutter can be a
problem, especially if it's night time and you are 20 miles from the
nearest store that sells that particular battery size.

I have never had a problem with Hasselblads that couldn't be fixed in
time to continue a shoot. Usually the magazines fail gradually, so
the spacing gets worse slowly over time. The annoying jamming problem
of Hasselblads is, in my experience easily fixed. I usually carry a
long thin screwdriver in my camera bag just in case. The major
problem with Hasselblads is the price. Try buying additional lenses
after you already own the camera. You only need one kidney anyway,
right?

One of the things I didn't see mentioned was the Mamiya 645. I would
rate Mamiya lenses as good as the legendary Hasselblad lenses, IMHO.
All Mamiya cameras I have used have sharper lenses than the Bronica (I
haven't used the PE lenses, they may be better). Even the Mamiya C330
S I used to have had a noticeably better lenses than the Bronica
lenses when enlarged to 16x20 or more. If I were going out to buy a
medium format system now knowing what I know I would seriously look at
Mamiya 645. I have little experience with them but I know you can buy
leaf shutter lenses if you ever do get into flash work. There are
many different versions of the camera so you will want to research
which one would be best for you. They have a lens lineup which is
much better than Bronica and Hasselblad as well.

I would get the Mamiya 7 and I would buy it brand new from Robert White in
the UK.

Mamiya products are horribly overpriced in North America because the
distributor insists on actling like the South African diamond cartel.

For example -

Mamiya 7II kit from Robert White - camera, lens 1034 UK Pounds

Mamiya 7II Kit from B&H - camera lens 1366 UK Pounds



"Martin Francis" wrote in message
...
I am now virtually camera free, with only a prosumer d/c and 35mm point
and
shoot to my name... and now i'm planning for the future. I hope that
within
the next twelve months i'll be able to get together enough money for some
serious kit. I have experience with both the Bronica ETRSi and Hasselblad
500CM, and like them both (although the Bronica feels far too flimsy).

I like available light, though flash isn't out of the question.
Portraiture
is likely to be the primary application, though I won't rule out any
others
(bar weddings). In general I prefer to get lose in to my subjects.
Handholding and monopods will be the order of the day, and non-SLR viewing
is not to my taste. I've researched extensively Hassy 503s, 553s and 20xs,
Rollei 6006 and 6008, and Mamiya RB/RZ. Mamiya RZ would be ideal, but it's
a
little heavy. Fast glass would be great, but not absolutely necessary
(maybe
with the option to buy later). Obsolete systems are out of the question as
I
want this stuff to last me a while. I owned an Eastern European 6x6cm SLR
for a while and will not be going back, either :-).

My budget is assuming I can save £300+ per month over 12 months, meaning
UK£3600 tops (which translates to something like $6600, but stuff over
here
is generally more expensive). A standard lens would be lower priority but
preferred, so i'd be prepared to leave it as a later purchase. I'm fairly
au
fait with the specs and abilities/shortcomings of each system, so ideally
i'm looking for personal accounts of what each one is like to shoot with.
Hearing from people with similar style/needs to myself would be great
(check
out the link below for a couple of examples). Some cameras I may be able
to
try before I buy as I work in a camera store, but more esoteric cameras
like
Contax 645 and Rollei 600x are hard to find anywhere but mail-order.

So, given the money and limitations (and buying used, of course), what
would
you buy?

--
Martin Francis http://www.sixbysix.co.uk
"Go not to Usenet for counsel, for it will say both no, and yes, and
no, and yes...."

"No One" wrote in message
.. .
I would get the Mamiya 7 and I would buy it brand new from Robert White in
the UK.

Mamiya products are horribly overpriced in North America because the
distributor insists on actling like the South African diamond cartel.

For example -

Mamiya 7II kit from Robert White - camera, lens 1034 UK Pounds

Mamiya 7II Kit from B&H - camera lens 1366 UK Pounds

I'm *in* the UK. Besides, from what I have read about the Mamiya 7 its not
the ideal portrait camera.

--
Martin Francis http://www.sixbysix.co.uk
"Go not to Usenet for counsel, for it will say both no, and yes, and
no, and yes...."

"No One" wrote in message
.. .
I would get the Mamiya 7 and I would buy it brand new from Robert White in
the UK.

Mamiya products are horribly overpriced in North America because the
distributor insists on actling like the South African diamond cartel.

For example -

Mamiya 7II kit from Robert White - camera, lens 1034 UK Pounds

Mamiya 7II Kit from B&H - camera lens 1366 UK Pounds

I'm *in* the UK. Besides, from what I have read about the Mamiya 7 its not
the ideal portrait camera.

--
Martin Francis http://www.sixbysix.co.uk
"Go not to Usenet for counsel, for it will say both no, and yes, and
no, and yes...."

"No One" wrote in message
.. .
I would get the Mamiya 7 and I would buy it brand new from Robert White in
the UK.

Mamiya products are horribly overpriced in North America because the
distributor insists on actling like the South African diamond cartel.

For example -

Mamiya 7II kit from Robert White - camera, lens 1034 UK Pounds

Mamiya 7II Kit from B&H - camera lens 1366 UK Pounds

I'm *in* the UK. Besides, from what I have read about the Mamiya 7 its not
the ideal portrait camera.

--
Martin Francis http://www.sixbysix.co.uk
"Go not to Usenet for counsel, for it will say both no, and yes, and
no, and yes...."

I would get the Mamiya 7 and I would buy it brand new from Robert White
in
the UK.

Mamiya products are horribly overpriced in North America because the
distributor insists on actling like the South African diamond cartel.

For example -

Mamiya 7II kit from Robert White - camera, lens 1034 UK Pounds

Mamiya 7II Kit from B&H - camera lens 1366 UK Pounds

I'm *in* the UK. Besides, from what I have read about the Mamiya 7 its not
the ideal portrait camera.

Sorry I failed to realize. In that case buy the ideal portrait camera if
that is what you seek. Great website by the way. Nice design.

I would get the Mamiya 7 and I would buy it brand new from Robert White
in
the UK.

Mamiya products are horribly overpriced in North America because the
distributor insists on actling like the South African diamond cartel.

For example -

Mamiya 7II kit from Robert White - camera, lens 1034 UK Pounds

Mamiya 7II Kit from B&H - camera lens 1366 UK Pounds

I'm *in* the UK. Besides, from what I have read about the Mamiya 7 its not
the ideal portrait camera.

Sorry I failed to realize. In that case buy the ideal portrait camera if
that is what you seek. Great website by the way. Nice design.

I would get the Mamiya 7 and I would buy it brand new from Robert White
in
the UK.

Mamiya products are horribly overpriced in North America because the
distributor insists on actling like the South African diamond cartel.

For example -

Mamiya 7II kit from Robert White - camera, lens 1034 UK Pounds

Mamiya 7II Kit from B&H - camera lens 1366 UK Pounds

I'm *in* the UK. Besides, from what I have read about the Mamiya 7 its not
the ideal portrait camera.

Sorry I failed to realize. In that case buy the ideal portrait camera if
that is what you seek. Great website by the way. Nice design.