Medium Format camera -> start?

[Maël]

Hi all,

I've been eye balling medium format camera's the past weeks and I've gained quiet an interest in a medium format camera.
Now I was wondering which would be my options and therefore started this topic.
What I shoot mostly: Interiors, Objects, Spaces, and sometimes a bit landscape
My style: I like compact, I like that I can take it easily with me so the smaller the form the better..
Aspect ratio, because of what I shoot I assume 6x6, 6x7, 6x8 and 6x9 are my formats. But then again I could be wrong at this?
Budget (probably the most important part): it's not much it's as small as 300 ish in Euro, small budget because I'm only a student and because I don't photograph every day I can lose the interest for a month and then regain the interest. It's an on / off relationship.
Lens: because of the budget I hope on one allround lens which fits my needs for all the things I want to shoot. Probably something at the wider end?

Camera's I looked at: Mamiya 6 and 7 though too expensive, Mamiya 67 less expensive but still above my budget most of the time, and it's kinda big
Kiev probably isn't a wise choice, and hasselblad is expensive and not too small either.

thanks ahead,

[EthanFrank]

Why not start with a TLR? A Yashica or even a used Rolleicord will be well within your budget, and they're great fun.

[Dan Daniel]

Get a 6x4.5 SLR. Good bang for the buck, lots of lens options, not too big to carry around in a pack, easy to sell when you get bored or figure out what you really want out of medium format.

Or a TLR. My favorite kind of camera.

[snederhiser]

Hello;
Mamiya 645 is a good system, 55mm lens is cheap. Also have a Kiev 60 mlu that works well, like the russian glass. TLR's are also a good choice, if you can get by with a 80mm lens. Steven.

[holmburgers]

I just picked up a Kowa Six, "the poor man's Hasselblad". It's a good camera, with a wide range of lenses. 6x6, not small but not huge, and fairly well made. One in good condition should last you a long time.

I also toyed with getting a Mamiya 645; the older style can be had for good prices.

[ntenny]

I love TLRs, but a fixed lens might be kind of limiting for interiors (and maybe "spaces", depending on what you mean by it). That said, they're still an inexpensive and fun port of entry into the MF world, and a decent one (Rolleicord or Yashica, e.g.) is an excellent camera for applications where a normal lens is appropriate.

-NT

[PaulMD]

A TLR will not be the best thing for your needs. If you shoot interiors, you probably want a 35mm or 28mm equivalent wideangle. The Bronica gear is cheap, Mamiya 645 is a bit more, Kowa is good but the wideangles are rare-ish. If you can swing it, the Fuji GS645S/GS645W 60mm/45mm rangefinders are really great shooters.

[Rick A]

If you like compact, a Mamiya 6 or 7 range finder models, Bessa 667, Yashica TLR for light weight slightly larger than a RF camera. I also recommenr the Kowa 6 or Super66.

[keithwms]

Well, first of all, medium format offers more diversity than any other area in photography. Way more diversity. There are medium format SLRs, RFs, TLRs, view cameras of every type, you name it. So take a tour if you can- try to get some gear in your hands and get a feeling for what will help you feel productive when you use it.

I know this isn't practical for everyone, but when I first got into medium format, I tried literally a dozen or so cameras of all sorts. And actually I never settled on any one particular camera- they all have particular strengths. So I wound up keeping more cameras than I probably should have Their specialized abilities are what made them attractive to me. So... as of now my most productive medium format cameras are 6x7 SLRs and 6x6 RFs.

I am not sure why big old TLRs tend to come up as people's favourite starters, I find them very limited for most of what I do, but everybody's mileage varies.... so definitely try them and try everything you can.

If you like the Mamiya RFs but the price tag was too high, consider the older fixed lens Fuji RFs. Similar ergonomics and ease of use, fantastic level of detail, but much lower cost. Look at the GA645W in particular, that one is good fun. The GA645Zi is now overpriced in my opinion, it's is a lot of fun but the price has gotten a bit ridiculous. I mean, the zoom range is rather narrow. I had one and a 645W and used the latter more than the Zi. The older folders are fun too but don't base your impression of medium format performance on those, most of them are not up to par with what you can get from their nonfolding cousins, notwithstandign the pricey bessa 3.

[Aristophanes]

I picked up a Mamiya 645e with 45mm/2.8 N lens and 80mm/2.8 lens for under US$200, with an extra insert.

45mm is not architecture super-wide, but it's pretty good, and a Mamiya package with a 45mm is actually fairly common. They are not small cameras, but they're not that big either. and they usually can be found close to your price range,.