The Agfa Clack is a toy camera in name only. The 6x9 negative size yields amazing images when used right. I have three and I always makes sure one is in my gear bag.
My favorite is the Mamiya c330. It's so versatile and still relatively affordable. I have 2 mamiya 645's which are also affordable but I like my c330 better ♥️
@@pushingfilm The C330 is a heavy beast for a TLR. Especially with a 180mm lens. So is the Mamiya Press but you have a lot of film options. Polaroid, 120, sheet film, even adapted 35mm.
I think folder cameras offer the best value for money! You get 645, 6x6, 6x7 all the way up to 6x9. The lenses have a vintage rendering that looks beautiful. They probably aren't coated but they're still sharp. They're also extremely compact and doesn't rely on batteries!
Mamiya press cameras are rarely mentioned. $400-$550 fro eBay/Japan. Interchangeable lenses, rangefinder focussing and almost indestructible. I used them professionally for years. Highly recommended.
My first medium format camera was a Yashicamat 124G in 1978, in 1979 I got my first Diana ... lobe simple and complex cameras ... they are all just tools ... I currently obsessed with 6x9 folders ... they are both beautiful objects and give an awesome sized negative!!! I have also used Kiev 60 and 88s since the 90s ... I will always say that you should get a camera an experiment until you are happy or ready to move on!!!
Any folder camera can be a good option; Ikon, Isolette, Konica Pearl, Fujica 6, Mamiya 6 (the one from the 50s)... waaay better than any toy camera and as good as a TLR, with the added benefit of doble expossure size (6x6 or 6x4.5). Good quality and bellow a $100.
I bought a Lubitel 166 from Ukraine and used it to get the hang of Medium format. Then upgraded to a Kiev 6C (Kiev 60) which I sent over to Arax foto for repair and CLA. This is now my favorite medium format camera even after using a Bronica and Pentax 6x7. It's simple and reliable no matter the temp or weather assuming you remember to cock the shutter before changing the shutter speed. You can pick them up working with a lens for around $80 and cla is $100 or more depending on upgrades. After the services, the camera will easily last a lifetime!
Good instructional video. Another alternative is the Kodak Brownie family of cameras. It takes a 620 film, which is 120 on a smaller spool. Here in the US, Film Photography Project sells 120 on 620 rolls. You can also find Brownies at thrift stores (like I did).
Loved this video, your production quality just keeps getting better and better 💯 also I really like that you support and share other artist's works 😊 I absolutely love my Zenza Bronica ETRSi, I just need to shoot it more! Really proud of you, great work Hashem :) ❤️
Maybe been mentioned in the comments already, but another great option is the Yashica D! The later models use the same Yashinon taking lens found on the 124, but it’s less automated and less popular. I started with a C330, and still prefer that over the Yashica D... but the C330’s are going up in price and have more that can go wrong with them. Yashica D is excellent bang for your buck and the IQ will no it disappoint whatsoever!
Nice! That's pretty much the exact camera I mentioned buying myself in the video (in Japan it was just called "YashicaFlex", version B I think?) except its the earlier version with the Yashikor lenses. It seems to be a lens with nice character, so I'm really looking forward to its eventual arrival and trying it out. Definitely a great option, and worth keeping in mind the different naming conventions can affect what comes up in search results when buying!
Very glad I got into medium format, such a fun experience to shoot. Also, it just puts your photography as a whole into perspective, seeing the size of the negatives, pros and cons of slower format, and how much light can be gathered into this box that makes photos. Great video. Oh, love all the insert shots you added, I know it takes alot of effort, and it makes the production look really good. So, worth the effort if you ask me.
Writer: Hey! You're shooting nice photos; you must have a great camera! Photographer: I love your books - they are fantastic. Guess you have a great typewriter. The downside with medium cameras are the number of photos you get from a film. I have two (four) cameras: Kershaw 450, which is supposed to be the best of the Kershaw foldables and a Zeiss Ikon Nettar 517/2, that, due to its 6x9 format gives just 8 photos. The Nettar is my absolute favourite, because of the larger frame size. Both cameras were
I started shooting 120 when I first started along with 35mm. I used my grandma's Kodak Brownie Hawkeye Flash Model. It's a toy camera from the 40s/50s made from bakelite. Y'all can find them for around $25 online usually from what I have seen. I actually looked into getting another one after dropping this one on concrete and cracking it in half. I glued it back together and it now works fine, but with a little light leak in a bottom corner giving a ghostly look which I actually like.
I bought my first medium format camera last year, a Semflex, for 50 euros. It is a very basic 6x6 tlr, but it does the job just perfectly and the images that it produces are to me, very good. I think it is a French brand though so maybe not available everywhere, but you should definitely keep an eye on it!
Diana F+ with Portra 400 is the best!!! No batteries, not worried about fungus damage, weather damage, dropping it, or losing it ( I mean misplacing it). Holga is the same way. Light too! Find a shutter release and go to town. So many options with these two cameras. Sometimes my neck and back need a break from carrying a heavy medium format camera. Holga and Diana F+ will always stay in my collection. My next medium format cameras are the TLR (any that works), Mamiya Universal, Konica Omega, and Fuji GW690. Folding cameras are nice. Plus depends on the person. I prefer rangefinder cameras vs. SLR style. Thats because I can't make up my mind on a medium format SLR. Don't forget the pinhole medium format!! Ondu and Zero Image! ❤️
Started MF on a Pentax 645 myself (first gen, not the N), has been fantastic and reliable - although it's noisy as anything. One of the MF sizes I never see spoken about, is the 6x9 - often missing from sizing charts too. Picked up an untested Fujica GW690 for not a lot, and was a lucky pickup! Hard to learn if new to MF or FIlm photography, but amazing results once get the mojo going :) Only gripe I have, is that all pricing is in USD.
Great suggestions! I managed to purchase my rolleicord for $150 5-6 years ago which still serves as one of my favourite medium format cameras. Not sure how much they are now but it's a great option to the more expensive rolleiflex
I have a RB67 , had it for years, bought a new 180mm lens for it at the time. It came with a Polaroid back as well-do Polaroid packs even exist anymore? I managed to find a cable release as well. Glad I found this channel 👍
Nice! Although I'm not sure if there are many polaroid packs floating around for decent prices, or well-preserved enough! Thank you for finding it! Hope you enjoy the videos
Still can't believe you are actually Australian. After being in Australia for more than a year now I still realise that so many artists or musicians I have been following for so long are from here.
If I was in that situation to start new, but knowing what I know now, then I would probably still go with a 645. I was never able to warm up to rangefinders, even when shooting 35mm. Alternatively, I would get something like a Mamiya C330, which has interchangeable lenses...and if you keep an eyes open you will find a good deal for one. And yes, 645 is a great format in terms of "bang for buck", aka frames per roll, although some say that 645 is "just 35 mm on steroids". My first medium format camera that I still love today is a Mamiya 645 (and yes, I have a soft spot for and am therefore heavily biased towards Mamiya). I would advise against going directly to 6x7, especially if you are new to photography in general. The reason being purely the price for that learning curve. So if you are new to photography and are keen on learning the "old ways": Welcome, great to have you on board! But 6x7 is (at least in my fallible opinion) not an ideal format for a beginner. If you absolutely want to shoot medium format, go with a 645 for starters - it is a great format and there are very good cameras out there for it. But to each their own. Sure, there are also all those wonderful Hasselblad cameras out there that everyone is drooling over (me included), but those can get crazy expensive. Also, if you are on the fence for a Hasselblad, try to stick with a more mechanical model (eg the 500 C/M) because there are people around who can still service them. Once you are dealing with electronics (eg in a 500 EL/M), if anything goes sideways in there you are very likely S.O.L..
Pentacon six tl, with Carl zeiss 80 2.8 cost me around 46$, and this is with a metering prism included. You can easily buy one of these for 50-100$. Now I moved to m645 with sekor 80 1.9, metering prism and 150 f4 it cost me only 500$. You know what we say in Russia about Kiev cameras, hasselblyadski.
Hmm id suggest Agfa Isolette or Zeiss Ikon for start too. You can get them for under £50 in good condition and it gives you full range of control, plus they're foldable.
Nice suggestions! The Zeiss Ikon I showed in the video actually only cost me $10, but I've not tried to use it yet 😁 Its very worn and I love it as a shelf piece
Half a year ago I watched a lot of W. Verbeeck videos that I wanted to buy a medium format camera. As a start, I bought a petacon six TTL with CLR. After a roll of portra I was so fed up that I sent the camera back and bought a Mamiya RB 67 Pro SD. It was definitely the better decision to pay more than to spend all my time with a mediocre camera.
I see! As long as you find something that serves you well, and the RB67 is fantastic. It's interesting how mixed people's experiences are with cameras like the Pentacon!
@@pushingfilm My pentacon was CLAed so everything worked for the time being. I really liked the size but not the quality of the construction. Inserting the film was very tricky and if you didn't do it correctly you had frame overlaps. Even with the Ted Forbes method, I had problems and I am not clumsy at all. The focusing screen is relatively small and dark and you lose 30%! of the image content you don't see. no mirror lockup. The Zeiss lens is unfortunately only just ok especially compared to the Mamiya lenses. There were just too many things that were annoying.
Really well put together and narrated. Great work! Personally I started on 6x9 and worked my way down 😅 my first film camera as a grown up was a Voigtländer Bessa RF, got it for about $200US and never regretted it!
I would definitely getting a Kiew88 in good condition. They are a little quirky sometimes but still a good value for money especially considering that they are a Hasselblad copy. I have one and made really nice pictures with it. It was my first medium format camera.
Just got a minty Yashica mat 124 for $200 from a neighbor! I’ve ran 2 rolls through it so far. Sending them out soon to hopefully see if I made a decent photo or two 🤣 TLR is definitely a learning curve with the inverted ground glass
Great list!! What I find lacking in staying away from big brands is some kind of metrics on the quality vs the more expensive ones. I know it's not about the pixel peeping, but it's really hardd to guess what to expect, say, from a ricohflex compared to a yashica. It would be great to have some head to head review, same conditions, same shots with different cameras.... otherwise one has to rely on a few, low res samole images online, taken from different people, most of them handheld at low shutter speeds, it really gets hard..
Patience it's a huge advice here. I was looking for a entry level medium format camera and my best options were the Zenza Bronica ETR and ETRs. It took me like 3 months of searching and then, out of the blue, a brand new mamiya 645 super with polaroid back and other acessories for 300$! So... be patience!
You might as well look for Kiev 60 and Kiev 88 Medium format SLRs. But the price vary depending on the proximity to ex-USSR territory. I have a full kit of Kiev 88, but I am yet to switch from my Zenit TTL. My first photoshoot - I loaded 120 the wrong side :)
Oh, and they still make Kiev 88, but the name is different. They call it ARAX 88, made in Ukraine (same factory basically), but has some tweaks and modern materials. They even offer you to make a custom leopard or camo print for the body. But take into consideration that Soviet cameras were mass produced, numbers counted in hundreds of thousands and sometimes millions. Quality and features are limited, but on the other side you can repair them on your knee with a hammer and screwdriver. I literally repaired my PhS-12 with Tair-3 photorifle with a screwdriver, and all my Helios-44 lens with paperclip hammered into a metal leaf.
Mamiya Universal I used to shoot weddings with before everything went digital. I have a seagull tlr and Kiev 88s. graflex xl and koni omegas are great cameras. the koni omega rapid is another one I have its film back has an overlapping issue.
I got a Mamiya 645 Super body for £25 on ebay. It was listed as "spares or repair", so I took a gamble as I already had backs and lenses etc. Whem it arrived I put in a fresh battery and it worked perfectly, and was in better condition than my other body. I struck lucky, and it was a couple of years ago, but waiting and taking a chance paid off.
My first medium format camera was a Walzflex IIa - A great japanese made tlr camera, fairly hard to find but fantastic build quality and images! (Also only paid £40!) Just moved onto a Kiev 6C, so look foward to shooting that soon and delving into the world of medium format glass...
I'd say the Yashica TLRs are the most slept on even still. They produce wonderful results (I can't tell the difference in the negs between my Rolleiflex and my Yashica MAT). They are still serviceable (did a full overhaul on a Yashica LM for a friend last week) and the prices haven't gone crazy yet. Even the Yashica 635 are great performers. In saying that though, nothing will beat the Pentax 6x7 with the 105mm f2.4 haha
Large Format is my favorite format, but now that I have my Yashica Mat back from CLA, been having a lot of fun trying to chase our puppy around. I just wish Ultrafine had their film back in stock...
In the $20 to $100 range I would add folding cameras. There are many cheap ones. My first medium format camera was a G.B. Kershaw for £20. The main downside for me is having to set the distance blind, so I constantly shoot it at infinity. But to be honest, I shoot a lot of my photos at infinity anyway so it's not a major issue for me.
Yes! They're great options. I wasn't sure whether to include them in the first or second bracket (I think I ended up putting them in the second) because they range so much in variety, as with TLRs. Funny enough, the Zeiss Ikon I used for the B-roll only cost $10, but it's rather rusty 🤣
I have been shopping around on ebay. Some success, some failure. I have avoided folding cameras so far because they just look so delicate. Most of them are fairly old, and I'm afraid I will get one with holes in the bellows. However, what about the Agfa Isolette (6x6cm on 120 film)? I have one, and it seems to go through the motions, but the lens feels a little loose, so I'm not sure the film will come out. That cost me £7.50 ($9.60). I also got an Ilford Sporti (6x6cm on 120 film). This is actually a re-badged Dacora from West Germany. This seems to be working fine and cost me £10.69 ($13.68) including postage. Neither of these are particular sophisticated cameras - only one shutter speed, a choice of sunny or cloudy, and zone focussing from 5ft to infinity - but I imagine they must be at least as good as the plastic toy cameras. It's just a matter of finding one that works. I even tried a box camera - a Coronet Ambassador (6x9cm on 120 film) for £7.30 ($9.34) including postage, which looked in pretty good condition, but the rotary shutter just didn't quite work reliably. It all seems to rely on a spring shaped rather like a safety pin, and my one had lost some of its spring. I had a go at bending the spring and wrecked it. So now I have a camera which would work if it only had a little spring. If we are talking toy cameras, how about an Agfa Clack, a Kodak Cresta (make sure you get a 120 film version), or a Coronet 6-6? There are others.
Nico’s (Nico’s Photography Show) is a working carpenter that does his photography YT channel on the side. He shared that while explaining the new set he built for his YT channel. Nico is one of my favorite film channels.
Yeah Nico is great! I've actually got a video conversation with him on his channel, and have mentioned him a few times on my videos as a very helpful guy, creating great content.
If you dig a bit, you can get Flexaret for 40-80 euro, or if you know someone who lives in ex-eastern block, pentacon six kit can run you 60-100 euro, and they can ship it to you, shame is better prices are only on local trading websites.
Great video! Always so down to earth. I also feel the big clunka burnin' love which is the Pentax 67 is way too much of a hipster camera. Many more options out there.
Pushing Film I have been eyeballing the Pentax 645(N). Do you have any experience with that camera and would you say that 645 is a good format to get in to medium format? I know 6x7 is an even larger format so more detail but somehow 645 speaks to me.
Nothing can beat Joe Greer's medium format find. He made a whole video about how fun, awesome, and life changing his medium format camera is. He wishes we could have one to feel as good as he does!
Pro tip: if anyone here wants to buy a Pentacon Six, check all the shutter speeds before giving any money to the seller, especially the 1/125. That's a common problem with all the sixes, and definitely don't be surprised if 125 stops working after a day. It doesn't work on mine. Does it render the camera useless? Nope. Is it a pain in the ass? Hell yes!
Definitely pick up a Holga if you have never shot 120. I have got some great results from mine. My medium format camera of choice is the Mamiya 645 1000s.
I recently snagged a Lomo Belaire (impulsively). I haven't broken it in yet. I think I'm waiting for the right project. I think you only get 5 shots with it. lol
I really think a TLR like a Yashica Mat is the ideal for beginners in medium format. They're no less user friendly than Bronicas, which I would see as the "gold standard" under 500 quid here in the UK. Some TLRs are properly cheap: it's easy to get a Yashica Mat for unde 100 pounds. They're very reliable - pretty much entirely mechanical and simpler than SLRs. The lenses have great bang for buck. And, most importantly, they're compact - the size of a Bronica or Pentax 67 dwarfs them.
"sometimes it takes months to find a great deal" this is so underrated, and I think a lot of people don't understand that. in fact, some of the best deals I've come across have been when I've taken a couple days or weeks off from searching and randomly checked. you gotta stay patient with it and the universe will reward you ✨
Fujica GW 690 all the way. Very big format with 6 x 9 in a relatively "compact" rangefinder formfactor (due to the formal still massive) and on top of this a ultrasharp Fujinon 90 mm lens. I bought mine for 350 EUR (incl. taxes and shipment) in mint condition.
Just got one and it's glorious but I'd recommend it for more advanced shooters since 8 shots is really unforgiving. The mark ii is the best imo as well
Whenever I watch such videos, i leave anything I'm doing and almost instantly start looking for film cameras as if I don't already have enough hahahaha. Its becoming a problem XD (P.S. You'll never have enough)
IMO... 1 : Kiev 6S (about 65$, same for lenses basically) 2 : Kiev 60 (about 130$, uses the same lenses as the Kiev 6S) 3 : Flexaret VI or VII (no idea of the exact price, but around 100$) 4 : Iskra alias Agfa Super Isolette copy but it's actually better (around 140$ for a fully working one) 5 : Zenza Bronica ETRs (around 120$ if I remember correctly) (so low on the list because ugh plastic lol) I can also recommend the ARAX-CM/MLU for a Hasselblad equivalent (about 600$ for a full kit or so), except the soviet glass is as good and won't cost you an arm like Zeiss glass will, so IMO better value. (I don't recommend Salyuts and Kiev 88s because they are really unreliable, even though I sorta like their mount better) Soviet cameras are THE alternative that very few people actually considers, but it's really a bargain. Especially the Kiev 6S and 60, which are basically Pentacon 6 but mechanically way superior, and cheaper somehow. PS : the prices I'm presenting here are EBay ones PPS : if anyone wants better insights on these cameras or other soviet cameras, feel free to reach me, I'm @redturian on instagram (this isn't self-advertising, I'm inactive here)
something to think about it the state of the camera. i recently bought a nikon f4 (i know it's not medium format) for really cheap. there were some issues with the display in the viewfinder but that didn't affect how I intended to use the camera and I got it for a steal.
Kiev 6c camera with 90mm Vega 2.8 lens,£70, Lubitel 2 and a Kodak Brownie number 2 120 film. £60, £30 and £12 respectively. Seagull 4bi tlr, prices have gone up to £100 I would stay away from toy cameras. .
I don't recommend seagull tlr. Same as Soviet camera they are not reliable and you might be lucky but the build quality is weak and you often end up having them broken after two rolls.
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My recomendation would be thrift shops, got my Yashica TLR in perfect condition for aprox 25 $..
The Agfa Clack is a toy camera in name only. The 6x9 negative size yields amazing images when used right. I have three and I always makes sure one is in my gear bag.
My favorite is the Mamiya c330. It's so versatile and still relatively affordable. I have 2 mamiya 645's which are also affordable but I like my c330 better ♥️
I've only heard good things about the Mamiya C cameras! Always been intrigued by the Mamiya Press too...
Saw one at eBay 2 years ago that was sold for ~280€ or something with 3 lenses in excelent shape... omg... when I remember I did not pick that one...
I, too, have a Mamiya C 330. Absolutely love using this beast.
@@pushingfilm The C330 is a heavy beast for a TLR. Especially with a 180mm lens. So is the Mamiya Press but you have a lot of film options. Polaroid, 120, sheet film, even adapted 35mm.
Yes it's good... but it's so heavy! 😁
I think folder cameras offer the best value for money! You get 645, 6x6, 6x7 all the way up to 6x9. The lenses have a vintage rendering that looks beautiful. They probably aren't coated but they're still sharp. They're also extremely compact and doesn't rely on batteries!
If you can get your hands on a Yashica 635 with the 35mm adapter kit, you have yourself a super sleeper🔥
Got a Pentacon Six, I like it, the square format is pretty cool and unusual to shoot.
In the 20 to 100$ range I'd suggest a Flexaret TLR. I bought a Flexaret VI for 60$ and the optics quality blew my mind, definitely worth the price
What a great idea to set up search terms! Also, this vid was nicely laid out for different budgets and full of good advice.
Thank you!
Mamiya press cameras are rarely mentioned. $400-$550 fro eBay/Japan. Interchangeable lenses, rangefinder focussing and almost indestructible. I used them professionally for years. Highly recommended.
Another GREAT video!
Doing research is so important. Great cameras don’t always take the best pictures.
My first medium format camera was a Yashicamat 124G in 1978, in 1979 I got my first Diana ... lobe simple and complex cameras ... they are all just tools ... I currently obsessed with 6x9 folders ... they are both beautiful objects and give an awesome sized negative!!! I have also used Kiev 60 and 88s since the 90s ... I will always say that you should get a camera an experiment until you are happy or ready to move on!!!
Bought a voigtlander bessa 6x9 for 80 dollar , totally worth it
It also challenges me to do sunny 16 ,guessing focus
Yes! Old folders are great fun
And everyone else is paying $800 for them
Any folder camera can be a good option; Ikon, Isolette, Konica Pearl, Fujica 6, Mamiya 6 (the one from the 50s)... waaay better than any toy camera and as good as a TLR, with the added benefit of doble expossure size (6x6 or 6x4.5).
Good quality and bellow a $100.
I bought a Lubitel 166 from Ukraine and used it to get the hang of Medium format. Then upgraded to a Kiev 6C (Kiev 60) which I sent over to Arax foto for repair and CLA. This is now my favorite medium format camera even after using a Bronica and Pentax 6x7. It's simple and reliable no matter the temp or weather assuming you remember to cock the shutter before changing the shutter speed. You can pick them up working with a lens for around $80 and cla is $100 or more depending on upgrades. After the services, the camera will easily last a lifetime!
The cost of processing is a major factor
Good instructional video. Another alternative is the Kodak Brownie family of cameras. It takes a 620 film, which is 120 on a smaller spool. Here in the US, Film Photography Project sells 120 on 620 rolls. You can also find Brownies at thrift stores (like I did).
Loved this video, your production quality just keeps getting better and better 💯 also I really like that you support and share other artist's works 😊 I absolutely love my Zenza Bronica ETRSi, I just need to shoot it more! Really proud of you, great work Hashem :) ❤️
Thank you as always, for all your support 😊😊 Yep you gotta use that Bronica more ;-)
Maybe been mentioned in the comments already, but another great option is the Yashica D! The later models use the same Yashinon taking lens found on the 124, but it’s less automated and less popular. I started with a C330, and still prefer that over the Yashica D... but the C330’s are going up in price and have more that can go wrong with them. Yashica D is excellent bang for your buck and the IQ will no it disappoint whatsoever!
Nice! That's pretty much the exact camera I mentioned buying myself in the video (in Japan it was just called "YashicaFlex", version B I think?) except its the earlier version with the Yashikor lenses. It seems to be a lens with nice character, so I'm really looking forward to its eventual arrival and trying it out. Definitely a great option, and worth keeping in mind the different naming conventions can affect what comes up in search results when buying!
The Bronica ETRSi is a gem📷❤️
I have the Praktisix II A and shot 120 film on it. I can shot 12 pictures per roll. It does have a variety of lens that will fit on it.
Kiev 60
Good tips! I didn't realise some of the differences. A restored Kiev 60 seems like a great option
Very glad I got into medium format, such a fun experience to shoot. Also, it just puts your photography as a whole into perspective, seeing the size of the negatives, pros and cons of slower format, and how much light can be gathered into this box that makes photos. Great video. Oh, love all the insert shots you added, I know it takes alot of effort, and it makes the production look really good. So, worth the effort if you ask me.
Yes! Great that you decided to dive into that pool 😁 And thanks man, it's been good having extra time in that sense, to pour some into creative stuff
Awesome video, I've had great experiences with folding medium format cameras like the Agfa Isolette.
Writer: Hey! You're shooting nice photos; you must have a great camera!
Photographer: I love your books - they are fantastic. Guess you have a great typewriter.
The downside with medium cameras are the number of photos you get from a film. I have two (four) cameras: Kershaw 450, which is supposed to be the best of the Kershaw foldables and a Zeiss Ikon Nettar 517/2, that, due to its 6x9 format gives just 8 photos. The Nettar is my absolute favourite, because of the larger frame size.
Both cameras were
I started shooting 120 when I first started along with 35mm. I used my grandma's Kodak Brownie Hawkeye Flash Model. It's a toy camera from the 40s/50s made from bakelite. Y'all can find them for around $25 online usually from what I have seen. I actually looked into getting another one after dropping this one on concrete and cracking it in half. I glued it back together and it now works fine, but with a little light leak in a bottom corner giving a ghostly look which I actually like.
Have definitely seen good deals on marketplace too if people need more places to look for cameras!
I bought my first medium format camera last year, a Semflex, for 50 euros. It is a very basic 6x6 tlr, but it does the job just perfectly and the images that it produces are to me, very good. I think it is a French brand though so maybe not available everywhere, but you should definitely keep an eye on it!
Nice!
Diana F+ with Portra 400 is the best!!! No batteries, not worried about fungus damage, weather damage, dropping it, or losing it ( I mean misplacing it). Holga is the same way. Light too! Find a shutter release and go to town. So many options with these two cameras. Sometimes my neck and back need a break from carrying a heavy medium format camera. Holga and Diana F+ will always stay in my collection.
My next medium format cameras are the TLR (any that works), Mamiya Universal, Konica Omega, and Fuji GW690. Folding cameras are nice.
Plus depends on the person. I prefer rangefinder cameras vs. SLR style. Thats because I can't make up my mind on a medium format SLR.
Don't forget the pinhole medium format!! Ondu and Zero Image! ❤️
My first medium format camera was a Yashica Mat LM, superb camera, lens was just WOW and under 200 $
Started MF on a Pentax 645 myself (first gen, not the N), has been fantastic and reliable - although it's noisy as anything.
One of the MF sizes I never see spoken about, is the 6x9 - often missing from sizing charts too.
Picked up an untested Fujica GW690 for not a lot, and was a lucky pickup! Hard to learn if new to MF or FIlm photography, but amazing results once get the mojo going :)
Only gripe I have, is that all pricing is in USD.
Hard to beat a Koni-Omega Rapid. $200. for the "recent" model 200. Great sharp lens, large 6x7 negative.
Great suggestions! I managed to purchase my rolleicord for $150 5-6 years ago which still serves as one of my favourite medium format cameras. Not sure how much they are now but it's a great option to the more expensive rolleiflex
Oh duude 🙂 thats a such a good deal! Yeah they've definitely gone up now
@@pushingfilm double and rising
I have a RB67 , had it for years, bought a new 180mm lens for it at the time. It came with a Polaroid back as well-do Polaroid packs even exist anymore? I managed to find a cable release as well. Glad I found this channel 👍
Nice! Although I'm not sure if there are many polaroid packs floating around for decent prices, or well-preserved enough! Thank you for finding it! Hope you enjoy the videos
Still can't believe you are actually Australian. After being in Australia for more than a year now I still realise that so many artists or musicians I have been following for so long are from here.
I'm getting a yashica 124mat G from a local seller. pretty happy. he accepted to keep the camera for me until i have the money.
If I was in that situation to start new, but knowing what I know now, then I would probably still go with a 645. I was never able to warm up to rangefinders, even when shooting 35mm. Alternatively, I would get something like a Mamiya C330, which has interchangeable lenses...and if you keep an eyes open you will find a good deal for one.
And yes, 645 is a great format in terms of "bang for buck", aka frames per roll, although some say that 645 is "just 35 mm on steroids". My first medium format camera that I still love today is a Mamiya 645 (and yes, I have a soft spot for and am therefore heavily biased towards Mamiya). I would advise against going directly to 6x7, especially if you are new to photography in general. The reason being purely the price for that learning curve. So if you are new to photography and are keen on learning the "old ways": Welcome, great to have you on board!
But 6x7 is (at least in my fallible opinion) not an ideal format for a beginner. If you absolutely want to shoot medium format, go with a 645 for starters - it is a great format and there are very good cameras out there for it. But to each their own.
Sure, there are also all those wonderful Hasselblad cameras out there that everyone is drooling over (me included), but those can get crazy expensive. Also, if you are on the fence for a Hasselblad, try to stick with a more mechanical model (eg the 500 C/M) because there are people around who can still service them. Once you are dealing with electronics (eg in a 500 EL/M), if anything goes sideways in there you are very likely S.O.L..
Nice man! All very good points, completely agree on the 645 front especially 👌🏼
Pentacon six tl, with Carl zeiss 80 2.8 cost me around 46$, and this is with a metering prism included. You can easily buy one of these for 50-100$. Now I moved to m645 with sekor 80 1.9, metering prism and 150 f4 it cost me only 500$. You know what we say in Russia about Kiev cameras, hasselblyadski.
Might try a LUBITEL-166 however looks like the lens is a little slower then the yashika 124g.
Hmm id suggest Agfa Isolette or Zeiss Ikon for start too. You can get them for under £50 in good condition and it gives you full range of control, plus they're foldable.
Nice suggestions! The Zeiss Ikon I showed in the video actually only cost me $10, but I've not tried to use it yet 😁 Its very worn and I love it as a shelf piece
Half a year ago I watched a lot of W. Verbeeck videos that I wanted to buy a medium format camera. As a start, I bought a petacon six TTL with CLR. After a roll of portra I was so fed up that I sent the camera back and bought a Mamiya RB 67 Pro SD. It was definitely the better decision to pay more than to spend all my time with a mediocre camera.
I see! As long as you find something that serves you well, and the RB67 is fantastic. It's interesting how mixed people's experiences are with cameras like the Pentacon!
@@pushingfilm My pentacon was CLAed so everything worked for the time being. I really liked the size but not the quality of the construction. Inserting the film was very tricky and if you didn't do it correctly you had frame overlaps. Even with the Ted Forbes method, I had problems and I am not clumsy at all. The focusing screen is relatively small and dark and you lose 30%! of the image content you don't see. no mirror lockup. The Zeiss lens is unfortunately only just ok especially compared to the Mamiya lenses.
There were just too many things that were annoying.
@@TheBigNegative-PhotoChannel Fair enough! I can imagine those things become draining, especially as you gain experience
Really well put together and narrated. Great work! Personally I started on 6x9 and worked my way down 😅 my first film camera as a grown up was a Voigtländer Bessa RF, got it for about $200US and never regretted it!
If you have a pawn shop that has a few dozen cameras you can find a deal too sometimes.
Thanks Hasham. Outstanding review into Medium Format analogue equipment. I jumped into a Mamiya RB67 Pro SD "Godzilla", and loving it.
I would definitely getting a Kiew88 in good condition. They are a little quirky sometimes but still a good value for money especially considering that they are a Hasselblad copy. I have one and made really nice pictures with it. It was my first medium format camera.
Just got a minty Yashica mat 124 for $200 from a neighbor! I’ve ran 2 rolls through it so far. Sending them out soon to hopefully see if I made a decent photo or two 🤣 TLR is definitely a learning curve with the inverted ground glass
Awesome! What a great camera for the price, good luck with those first rolls. The inverted viewfinder will be second nature eventually 👍
Great list!! What I find lacking in staying away from big brands is some kind of metrics on the quality vs the more expensive ones. I know it's not about the pixel peeping, but it's really hardd to guess what to expect, say, from a ricohflex compared to a yashica. It would be great to have some head to head review, same conditions, same shots with different cameras.... otherwise one has to rely on a few, low res samole images online, taken from different people, most of them handheld at low shutter speeds, it really gets hard..
Patience it's a huge advice here. I was looking for a entry level medium format camera and my best options were the Zenza Bronica ETR and ETRs. It took me like 3 months of searching and then, out of the blue, a brand new mamiya 645 super with polaroid back and other acessories for 300$! So... be patience!
Nice! that's the way :-)
Great video. These are all great options. I would also suggest looking into press cameras like the Koni Omega Rapid series.
Hell yeah, this was great. Also, awesome thumbnail :)
Hey thanks man! Appreciate it 🙂
You might as well look for Kiev 60 and Kiev 88 Medium format SLRs. But the price vary depending on the proximity to ex-USSR territory. I have a full kit of Kiev 88, but I am yet to switch from my Zenit TTL. My first photoshoot - I loaded 120 the wrong side :)
Oh, and they still make Kiev 88, but the name is different. They call it ARAX 88, made in Ukraine (same factory basically), but has some tweaks and modern materials. They even offer you to make a custom leopard or camo print for the body. But take into consideration that Soviet cameras were mass produced, numbers counted in hundreds of thousands and sometimes millions. Quality and features are limited, but on the other side you can repair them on your knee with a hammer and screwdriver. I literally repaired my PhS-12 with Tair-3 photorifle with a screwdriver, and all my Helios-44 lens with paperclip hammered into a metal leaf.
A cheap Japanese TLR would be a nice choice， I believe.
Mamiya Universal I used to shoot weddings with before everything went digital. I have a seagull tlr and Kiev 88s. graflex xl and koni omegas are great cameras. the koni omega rapid is another one I have its film back has an overlapping issue.
I got a Mamiya 645 Super body for £25 on ebay. It was listed as "spares or repair", so I took a gamble as I already had backs and lenses etc. Whem it arrived I put in a fresh battery and it worked perfectly, and was in better condition than my other body. I struck lucky, and it was a couple of years ago, but waiting and taking a chance paid off.
Very nice! That happens more often than you'd expect! I had it happen recently with a Yashica point and shoot on eBay
My first medium format camera was a Walzflex IIa - A great japanese made tlr camera, fairly hard to find but fantastic build quality and images! (Also only paid £40!)
Just moved onto a Kiev 6C, so look foward to shooting that soon and delving into the world of medium format glass...
I'd say the Yashica TLRs are the most slept on even still. They produce wonderful results (I can't tell the difference in the negs between my Rolleiflex and my Yashica MAT).
They are still serviceable (did a full overhaul on a Yashica LM for a friend last week) and the prices haven't gone crazy yet. Even the Yashica 635 are great performers.
In saying that though, nothing will beat the Pentax 6x7 with the 105mm f2.4 haha
That's awesome. Those lenses seem great, I can't wait to receive and try my yashicaflex 😁
Got Mamiya 645 with 80mm 2.8 for $450 - Solid lens and camera
Nice man! It seems like they've been steadily going up in price too
Pentacon six is great option. It Has beautiful glasses of Carl Zeiss Jena. & its budget option.
Large Format is my favorite format, but now that I have my Yashica Mat back from CLA, been having a lot of fun trying to chase our puppy around. I just wish Ultrafine had their film back in stock...
In the $20 to $100 range I would add folding cameras. There are many cheap ones. My first medium format camera was a G.B. Kershaw for £20. The main downside for me is having to set the distance blind, so I constantly shoot it at infinity. But to be honest, I shoot a lot of my photos at infinity anyway so it's not a major issue for me.
Yes! They're great options. I wasn't sure whether to include them in the first or second bracket (I think I ended up putting them in the second) because they range so much in variety, as with TLRs. Funny enough, the Zeiss Ikon I used for the B-roll only cost $10, but it's rather rusty 🤣
Using a Holga and a Bronco SQA, both great bits of kit.
Nice! Bronicas deserve more appreciation
I have been shopping around on ebay. Some success, some failure. I have avoided folding cameras so far because they just look so delicate. Most of them are fairly old, and I'm afraid I will get one with holes in the bellows.
However, what about the Agfa Isolette (6x6cm on 120 film)? I have one, and it seems to go through the motions, but the lens feels a little loose, so I'm not sure the film will come out. That cost me £7.50 ($9.60). I also got an Ilford Sporti (6x6cm on 120 film). This is actually a re-badged Dacora from West Germany. This seems to be working fine and cost me £10.69 ($13.68) including postage. Neither of these are particular sophisticated cameras - only one shutter speed, a choice of sunny or cloudy, and zone focussing from 5ft to infinity - but I imagine they must be at least as good as the plastic toy cameras. It's just a matter of finding one that works.
I even tried a box camera - a Coronet Ambassador (6x9cm on 120 film) for £7.30 ($9.34) including postage, which looked in pretty good condition, but the rotary shutter just didn't quite work reliably. It all seems to rely on a spring shaped rather like a safety pin, and my one had lost some of its spring. I had a go at bending the spring and wrecked it. So now I have a camera which would work if it only had a little spring.
If we are talking toy cameras, how about an Agfa Clack, a Kodak Cresta (make sure you get a 120 film version), or a Coronet 6-6? There are others.
Richard Ellingworth depending on the model the Agfa Isolette had brilliant lenses. One of the best folders. Has a cult following
Nico’s (Nico’s Photography Show) is a working carpenter that does his photography YT channel on the side. He shared that while explaining the new set he built for his YT channel. Nico is one of my favorite film channels.
Yeah Nico is great! I've actually got a video conversation with him on his channel, and have mentioned him a few times on my videos as a very helpful guy, creating great content.
Pushing Film - I just found your channel while looking for 120 film YT channels. You have a new sub. Thank you for your channel.
@@msmarji oh great! Thank you, and I hope you enjoy some of the content moving forward 🙂
Very nice video!
If you dig a bit, you can get Flexaret for 40-80 euro, or if you know someone who lives in ex-eastern block, pentacon six kit can run you 60-100 euro, and they can ship it to you, shame is better prices are only on local trading websites.
Great video! Always so down to earth. I also feel the big clunka burnin' love which is the Pentax 67 is way too much of a hipster camera. Many more options out there.
Thank you! Haha I do love my Pentax 67, but you're right that there are so many other options out there 😁
Pushing Film I have been eyeballing the Pentax 645(N). Do you have any experience with that camera and would you say that 645 is a good format to get in to medium format? I know 6x7 is an even larger format so more detail but somehow 645 speaks to me.
Very helpful. The film camera market has got a bit inflated. I have a hard time paying $300+ for a Kiev 88.
Enjoyed this, thanks man!
Nothing can beat Joe Greer's medium format find. He made a whole video about how fun, awesome, and life changing his medium format camera is. He wishes we could have one to feel as good as he does!
Oh man, what a find right! I really enjoyed watching that inspiring video, made me wanna get out and appreciate life 😁
Pro tip: if anyone here wants to buy a Pentacon Six, check all the shutter speeds before giving any money to the seller, especially the 1/125. That's a common problem with all the sixes, and definitely don't be surprised if 125 stops working after a day. It doesn't work on mine. Does it render the camera useless? Nope. Is it a pain in the ass? Hell yes!
Definitely pick up a Holga if you have never shot 120. I have got some great results from mine. My medium format camera of choice is the Mamiya 645 1000s.
I recently snagged a Lomo Belaire (impulsively). I haven't broken it in yet. I think I'm waiting for the right project. I think you only get 5 shots with it. lol
They look really cool! I think you can also shoot squares or maybe other ratios than 6x12, to get more for your film :-)
@@pushingfilm yep. You definitely can. It came with a couple of other templates. It also came with a 35mm film holder for smaller panoramic images.
My Argoflex is an amazing camera. My Lubitel 2 is pretty sweet too.
my recomendação worked well, i found this channel through this. fantastic content. i expected you to speak Yiddish for some reason
I got my Pentax 6x7 MLU for $60 and my Leica M3 for $400. Great deals are out there, just gotta be patient!
That's it! 🙂
I really think a TLR like a Yashica Mat is the ideal for beginners in medium format. They're no less user friendly than Bronicas, which I would see as the "gold standard" under 500 quid here in the UK. Some TLRs are properly cheap: it's easy to get a Yashica Mat for unde 100 pounds. They're very reliable - pretty much entirely mechanical and simpler than SLRs. The lenses have great bang for buck. And, most importantly, they're compact - the size of a Bronica or Pentax 67 dwarfs them.
Agreed! Yashica TLRs are great options
"sometimes it takes months to find a great deal" this is so underrated, and I think a lot of people don't understand that. in fact, some of the best deals I've come across have been when I've taken a couple days or weeks off from searching and randomly checked. you gotta stay patient with it and the universe will reward you ✨
Exactly! 😁
I was on eBay for a couple days when I thought to take a chance at craigslist and I found a one-owner Yashica Mat 124 for a steal!
Fujica GW 690 all the way. Very big format with 6 x 9 in a relatively "compact" rangefinder formfactor (due to the formal still massive) and on top of this a ultrasharp Fujinon 90 mm lens. I bought mine for 350 EUR (incl. taxes and shipment) in mint condition.
I've always wanted a "texas leica", that was almost my first MF camera instead of the Pentax 645!
Just got one and it's glorious but I'd recommend it for more advanced shooters since 8 shots is really unforgiving. The mark ii is the best imo as well
Thank you so much :-)
what is the nikon at 0.13? it's super nice looking
Nikon FE. Best looking Nikon ever next to the F3, in my opinion 😁
I think a M645 also still should go within the
My Rolleicord VBII 👍
Nice, love Rolleicords 👍
I got myself a Yashica Mat 124 in mint condition for $150!
Nice! 😃
Kiev as underrated as well
Whenever I watch such videos, i leave anything I'm doing and almost instantly start looking for film cameras as if I don't already have enough hahahaha. Its becoming a problem XD (P.S. You'll never have enough)
The Jacqueline Walters' website link doesn't work, change it to "http", because her site is not secured it will not work with "s":)
Thanks! Fixed :-)
IMO...
1 : Kiev 6S (about 65$, same for lenses basically)
2 : Kiev 60 (about 130$, uses the same lenses as the Kiev 6S)
3 : Flexaret VI or VII (no idea of the exact price, but around 100$)
4 : Iskra alias Agfa Super Isolette copy but it's actually better (around 140$ for a fully working one)
5 : Zenza Bronica ETRs (around 120$ if I remember correctly) (so low on the list because ugh plastic lol)
I can also recommend the ARAX-CM/MLU for a Hasselblad equivalent (about 600$ for a full kit or so), except the soviet glass is as good and won't cost you an arm like Zeiss glass will, so IMO better value.
(I don't recommend Salyuts and Kiev 88s because they are really unreliable, even though I sorta like their mount better)
Soviet cameras are THE alternative that very few people actually considers, but it's really a bargain. Especially the Kiev 6S and 60, which are basically Pentacon 6 but mechanically way superior, and cheaper somehow.
PS : the prices I'm presenting here are EBay ones
PPS : if anyone wants better insights on these cameras or other soviet cameras, feel free to reach me, I'm @redturian on instagram (this isn't self-advertising, I'm inactive here)
I went and bought a Kiev 6c because of this comment, thanks for the advice.
@@samcoates7519 wow ! No problem man, my pleasure. I hope you will have a blast shooting with it :)
This is a great list of options. My first MF camera was a Koni Omega 6X7, a rather unique , underrated and less expensive option.
Agreed. $50 and just needed new foam and cleaning. 👌
👍Got my collection of MF cameras together a couple of years ago...just need to get out there and use them 🙄
You gotta! 😁
something to think about it the state of the camera. i recently bought a nikon f4 (i know it's not medium format) for really cheap. there were some issues with the display in the viewfinder but that didn't affect how I intended to use the camera and I got it for a steal.
Kiev 6c camera with 90mm Vega 2.8 lens,£70, Lubitel 2 and a Kodak Brownie number 2 120 film.
£60, £30 and £12 respectively.
Seagull 4bi tlr, prices have gone up to £100
I would stay away from toy cameras. .
OMG ! Thats chinese garden in sydney !
I got lucky a few months ago bought a mint Yashica A Tlr for $12 dollars off Facebook marketplace
Nice! What a find 🙂
@@pushingfilm case and everything pristine shoots like a dream
@@erivera1993 Awesome 😁
I don't recommend seagull tlr. Same as Soviet camera they are not reliable and you might be lucky but the build quality is weak and you often end up having them broken after two rolls.
There’s no way because you always have to buy the film and the chemicals and a scanner or pay to get it developed and scanned.
You forgot the Mamiya 7
lol
😂
Are you the Gigachad 🤣
Kiev camera has nothing to do with Russian. It is the same like saying that Yashica is Chinese or Korean.
My mistake... that was pretty ignorant and I didn't get my information straight.
I can't find a slr under $600
A Pentacon Six for 30-100€, thats imo the best MF camera to start with :D
No way you get a pentacon six for that price
@@saintoftheblindshadow multiple times, i paid for 3 only 70€
@@_joka9 That's crazy! Where do you find them? eBay?
@@saintoftheblindshadow jup 👍🏼 most of the times only the lenses are expensive, the body goes for really cheap
Holgas and Diana's are a fantastic way to waste film