Medium Format Cameras > Zenzabronica Medium Format Cameras

Medium format for the photographer on the move.

Advantages: Good price, light for a medium format, works like a SLR
Disadvantages: Difficult to use filters

OK. So you want to move up from 35mm to medium format and are on a budget or you want something that’s (relatively) light and easy to use> Then look no further than the Bronica RF645. This is a RangeFinder camera that takes 6x4.5 cm negatives or slides for super quality pictures, hence the name RF645. It looks and handles like a big SLR camera so is easier to use on the move unlike the big ‘boxy’ medium format cameras that are the norm. My Bronica ...
...is equivalent to a 40mm on a 35mm SLR. It is a super lens and can’t fault it. I also purchased a flash which is specifically made for this camera, the RF20. Also available are 45mm and 100mm lenses. As I said, this camera handles like a big SLR so if you have had experience with SLRs this camera will hold no fears for you. It is also fairly light for a camera of this type so is good when out and about taking landscape pics or for travel photography. ...

bloozeboy 27.02.2004 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Zenzabronica Bronica RF645

The beautiful Mamiya 7 medium format camera

Advantages: High quality images suitable for dramatic enlargements, well made camera and a pleasure to use.
Disadvantages: Could be difficult to use for a complete novice. Expensive though worth every penny.

...heavier medium format cameras the Mamiya RZ and I've only taken it out for the day once and it now remains mainly as a studio camera. It's the Mamiya 7 every time I leave the house. If you're interested in enlarging your photographs greatly and want superb detail then I would recommend this camera and medium format. Compared to 35mm and the digital equivalent, medium format is far superior in detail and overall image quality. The negative size is ...
...film compared to say the Mamiya RZ 67. The large rolls of film are pleasant to handle. This camera takes both 120 and 220 film rolls. (120 equals 10 photographs per film roll and is the most common I use and 220 is 20 photographs per roll). Focusing is manual only and a little tricky ( but you soon get used to it ) as it has two "squares" which you have to align in the view finder up to achieve a sharp image, a quirk of the range finder camera, ...

petermock 19.01.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Mamiya 7 II

Wow, wow, & wow!

Advantages: Fantastic image quality, good range of lenses
Disadvantages: Slow flash sync speed

Now discontinued, but if you are lucky, you can still purchase a 645 Pro TL (this model's successor). Even newer models to this are the AF & the AFD (Auto-Focus with easy digital capability). The 645 Pro is a modular medium format camera (unlike the 645E). Not only are the lenses interchangable, but the viewfinders, winders, and film backs are also. Lenses (and film inserts) dating back to the 1970s work perfectly on the 645 Pro, other accessories ...
...(or the 645 Pro TL) to fit the 645 Pro. The horizontally traversing cloth shutter gives a shutter speed range of 4 secs - 1/1000th sec & B, with the flash sync speed being 1/60th sec ("leaf-shutter" lenses will allow flash sync at speeds of up to 1/500th sec). Two of the available viewfinders allow the camera to offer aperture priority metering (one of these finders also allows spot metering). The camera can use 120, 220, 135 (35mm), and Polaroid ...

sillyconguru 27.11.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Mamiya 645 Pro

Pentax on Steroids?

Advantages: Handling similar to 35mm cameras. Large image size
Disadvantages: Heavy. No interchangable back.

The Pentax 67II is not a small camera. Neither is it light: it is built solidly to take the punishment professionals can deal out. However, if you can put up with those features, this is a serious camera designed for rugged use both in and out of the studio. I use mine for mountain and mountaineering shots and the slick handling really helps: anyone who has used a 35mm camera will feel at home with this beast. The handling is very intuitive. The ...
...befits a camera in production as long as this one. A word of warning: if buying second hand make sure you are getting the lastest model, the 67II [67 model 2], as there are a number of different incarnations of this camera floating about. Being a lage camera, there is a fair amount of camera shake when the shutter is fired. The mirror lock up facility reduces this to acceptable levels when working away from a tripod. One final point: the design ...

Slioch 22.06.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Pentax 6 X 7 II

The Best Medium Format There Is

Advantages: Ease of use, friendly none confused controls
Disadvantages: Handleing without a CW Winder

...you get! GO Hasselblad! Hasselblad offers the best optics in the market; Carl Zeiss are the most recognized optics in the planet, so when you get a Hasselblad camera you are getting the best combination of optics, camera and accessories that you can find on the medium format photography, if you buy a Hasselblad today you can use a film back built on the 1960's on a brand new camera; they are made to accept all accessories since the 500 series came ...
...In my opinion the Hasselblad system is the most versatile and convenient on the market, when you get a Hasselblad you are getting the best, at the long run it is cheaper to own a Hasselblad because you know that what ever they come up with in 10 years from now you will be able to use on your camera that way keeping up with the latest accessories! ...

valcor 19.03.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Hasselblad 500 Series