Fastest MF camera to load?

[Sirius Glass]

My Mamiya C330 and the Mamiya C220 I used to have were simple and straightforward to load, and therefore very quick.

I have owned a Mamiya C330 and I have two Hasselblads. It is faster to swap backs on a Hasselblad than load a C330. Furthermore one can change film types mid-roll on a Hasselblad without wasting a frame or the rest of the roll. The Mamiyia C330 is much more fiddlely requiring flipping from one side to the other to set and cock some of the lenses. There is no such nonsense with a Hasselblad.

[j_landecker]

For me, the mamiya 7 is the fastest non-interchangeable-back loading. Compared to other cameras I've used, the spools pop in and out very easily. If I'm out with the hasselblad and shoot multiple rolls of a couple of film types, I'm not going to carry multiple backs for each film, so eventually I'll have to reload a back, and it may not occur at the most opportune moment... So loading speed is still a factor for me.

[sbjornda]

My vote for the SLOWEST is the Pentax 6x7/67. I love it dearly, but.

As for fastest, carrying a whole bunch of sheet film holders for a baby Graflex (Century Graphic) can be pretty fast, especially if you have an assistant or really huge coat pockets. At least in comparison with the roll film back which takes a lot of winding to advance the frame.

[RalphLambrecht]

being left one-handd, this is an interesting subject to me. however, i'm afraidthe answer is 'digital!

[dpurdy]

My vote for the SLOWEST is the Pentax 6x7/67. I love it dearly, but.

The good thing about the Pentax 67 is that you don't have to take it off the tripod to load it.

[Sirius Glass]

For me, the mamiya 7 is the fastest non-interchangeable-back loading. Compared to other cameras I've used, the spools pop in and out very easily. If I'm out with the hasselblad and shoot multiple rolls of a couple of film types, I'm not going to carry multiple backs for each film, so eventually I'll have to reload a back, and it may not occur at the most opportune moment... So loading speed is still a factor for me.

I carry both black & white film backs and color film backs. Sometimes I will take a composition with both backs. I spent a week at Yosemite at the beginning of December one year. I was only planning of shooting color, but it had just snowed and after shooting a few scenes in color, I ended up shooting only black & white the rest of the time. I have some fantastic photographs from that trip. Be prepared for anything and wonderful opportunities arise.

Also when I am using the Hasselblad I already have the 50mm, 80mm, 150mm, 250mm lenses, the filters, close-up rings, 2X adapter and a 903 SWC available. How much more trouble does it take to have an extra film back too?

[rich815]

The Hasselblad is the fastest. You swap one back for the next back which you had already loaded.

By the way, after a while you learn load a roll of film quickly without swapping backs.

Yeah I agree with this nothing faster on the fly. Otherwise my Fuji GA645 loads pretty quickly.

[Nikonic]

Great responses.

About swapping out the backs. First, I would rather not have to buy extra backs. They're quite cheap, yes, but, many of one adds up. Seems like there are a few people on here who have ten lenses, five bodies, and all the trimmings--but that aint me.

Second, it certainly is fast to swap out the backs, but they have to be loaded sooner or later. And yes, 20 seconds IS a long time for me--as I suspect it is for many. It's not that I'm impatient, per se (I'll wait hours to get a shot), it's just that this is one area where I would rather be doing something else.

Third, those Hassy backs are bulky as all hell. I like to roll with just one camera, one lens.

[MattKing]

I have owned a Mamiya C330 and I have two Hasselblads. It is faster to swap backs on a Hasselblad than load a C330. Furthermore one can change film types mid-roll on a Hasselblad without wasting a frame or the rest of the roll. The Mamiyia C330 is much more fiddlely requiring flipping from one side to the other to set and cock some of the lenses. There is no such nonsense with a Hasselblad.

As regular APUG visitors will know, Sirius and his C330 did not get along well with each other, whereas he and his Hasselblads have bonded like family.

I'm just the opposite - when I used to sell cameras, I found the Hasselblad 500C awkward and difficult to handle and use.

Isn't it great that we have choices!

By the way, I think advocating for a camera with interchangeable backs in response to the OP's question is cheating .

And I can load my C330 faster than I can load the backs and inserts for either my Mamiya 645 Pro or my Mamiya RB67 - not much faster, but still faster.

[MattKing]

being left one-handd, this is an interesting subject to me. however, i'm afraidthe answer is 'digital!

Ralph:

I'm mostly left one-handed.

I have a bit of dexterity in my right hand (I can work the film crank on my cameras, but cannot accurately adjust shutter speeds or apertures).

A Mamiya C330 or 645 Pro with a left hand trigger grip works well for me.