Thinking of trying medium format.
Discussion
Been reading a few things recently and quite fancy trying some medium format for landscapes. I cant fault the 40D for sports but when it comes to landscapes i tend to go out and end up with a bunch of average pictures. I figure medium format would slow me down and make me think about it more and give better results, only thing is I dont really know anything about the different cameras and associated bits.
At the moment i dont want to spend too much (maybe a couple of hundred if possible) and have seen a couple of bronica ETRS' on eBay but not sure whether there any good or not. I was thinking I could just use my 40d to work out exposures at first but after reading a few things it seems thats not a very good way of doing it and id be better off with a light meter, so any advice on where to get a good light meter would be appreciated.
Really what I'm asking is for a couple of hundred pounds what would you reccomend i buy to do medium format photography?
At the moment i dont want to spend too much (maybe a couple of hundred if possible) and have seen a couple of bronica ETRS' on eBay but not sure whether there any good or not. I was thinking I could just use my 40d to work out exposures at first but after reading a few things it seems thats not a very good way of doing it and id be better off with a light meter, so any advice on where to get a good light meter would be appreciated.
Really what I'm asking is for a couple of hundred pounds what would you reccomend i buy to do medium format photography?
Hi Alan,
I don't think it's possible to do it on a couple of hundred quid. You will probably spend at least that on film and development before you see any results that you are happy with, particularly if you haven't shot it before, and by not investing in the kit you would need to almost guarantee that you won't get good results. It's a false economy I think: spend a couple of hundred pounds and you will need to spend a whole load more to be able to do anything, so you may as well go the whole hog or not spend it at all if that makes sense?
For example: If you want to shoot landscapes you will need grad and colour correction filters (there's no white balance with film and the dynamic range is much narrower with transparencies). You have to be perfectly accurate with exposure so you need a decent spot meter for landscapes (I'm not sure you can use the 40d for this, although I suppose it depends on the film...I always meter velvia 100 at ISO 64 which I don't think is an option). You will also need everything from a rock solid tripod through to cable releases, probably a scanner etc if you want to get any photos printed or share them with anyone over the web. Oh yeah and a light table to look at them...the list is endless...film photography is an absolute money pit.
I don't want to frighten you off as it's great fun, but it's just not possible on such a small budget IMO.
Matt
I don't think it's possible to do it on a couple of hundred quid. You will probably spend at least that on film and development before you see any results that you are happy with, particularly if you haven't shot it before, and by not investing in the kit you would need to almost guarantee that you won't get good results. It's a false economy I think: spend a couple of hundred pounds and you will need to spend a whole load more to be able to do anything, so you may as well go the whole hog or not spend it at all if that makes sense?
For example: If you want to shoot landscapes you will need grad and colour correction filters (there's no white balance with film and the dynamic range is much narrower with transparencies). You have to be perfectly accurate with exposure so you need a decent spot meter for landscapes (I'm not sure you can use the 40d for this, although I suppose it depends on the film...I always meter velvia 100 at ISO 64 which I don't think is an option). You will also need everything from a rock solid tripod through to cable releases, probably a scanner etc if you want to get any photos printed or share them with anyone over the web. Oh yeah and a light table to look at them...the list is endless...film photography is an absolute money pit.
I don't want to frighten you off as it's great fun, but it's just not possible on such a small budget IMO.
Matt
Hmmm, not as simple as i thought then, how much do you think i would need to spend to get basic kit then. Just the very basic needed to take a picture and get me started, I've got a scanner although if I got into it I'd probably get another one. Thing is if i dont buy something ill probably just end up forgetting about it, so just now what i want is basic kit that i could add to over time. I'm expecting it to be a pretty long process what with the cost of consumables and everything and I'm prepared to spend money over time, but just now i wouldnt like to spend a huge sum in one go.
It's actually your pictures from tokyo australia and new zealand that first got me interested and since then ive kept wanting to try it out, I can always sell whatever I buy if i dont like it.
It's actually your pictures from tokyo australia and new zealand that first got me interested and since then ive kept wanting to try it out, I can always sell whatever I buy if i dont like it.
alanw89 said:
Hmmm, not as simple as i thought then, how much do you think i would need to spend to get basic kit then. Just the very basic needed to take a picture and get me started, I've got a scanner although if I got into it I'd probably get another one. Thing is if i dont buy something ill probably just end up forgetting about it, so just now what i want is basic kit that i could add to over time. I'm expecting it to be a pretty long process what with the cost of consumables and everything and I'm prepared to spend money over time, but just now i wouldnt like to spend a huge sum in one go.
It's actually your pictures from tokyo australia and new zealand that first got me interested and since then ive kept wanting to try it out, I can always sell whatever I buy if i dont like it.
Hmmm...how long is a piece of string It's actually your pictures from tokyo australia and new zealand that first got me interested and since then ive kept wanting to try it out, I can always sell whatever I buy if i dont like it.
You'd need:
A camera and a wide lens. You can pick this up pretty cheap. I've got a hasseblad v-series which is an excellent long-term platform choice, but they are quite expensive, especially lenses. You could always start with a cheap one like the bronica and chop it in if it all takes off.
Tripod. It's aways worth having a great pod because they are used for everything and last forever. I've a manfrotto 190 with a 410 geared head. It's important to have a good head because of the weight of the camera
I'd go with the lee filter system..you can use it on your digital or on your MF set up. Again the system is expensive but you can't take landscape photos on film without a set of grads so this is an absolute must. Also you will need an 81B warmup at least I would have thought. It's a couple of hundred quid all in but it's pretty much inescapable
Cable release. few quid.
Light meter: I've a pentax digital spot meter which is fantastic and is the standard professionally choice (used by ansel adams no less). You might be able to get one cheap on ebay...any spot meter will do the trick though so just find a second hand one online somewhere.
Film...I'd go for velvia 100F when starting landscapes as the shutter speeds are more manageable and it just feels more forgiving than the velvia 50. Get some pro-packs from calumet...I think they are the cheapest.
You need a light table to look at the slides (I am just assuming you want to shoot transparencies by the way) and a loupe to view them. Just get the table from calumet again, it's 50 odd quid at a guess. Loupes aren't too bad, just have a look around.
A local E6 lab! You don't want to get into it and then realise your nearest lab is miles away!
I think that's it. You are looking at a few hundred quid at least there. I started by just buying the v-series blad with a standard lens for 800 quid and just went from there. I had all the filters and stuff from before so it wasn't too much of a hit. For what it's worth my approach to kit is to just buy once and buy right because ultimately it's cheaper in the long run. If you've any more questions don't hesitate!
Matt
Im not sure if the OP would want to shoot tran, in fact unless they are being commercially printed I wouldn't bother. Stick with negative as you have so much more exposure latitude.
You could always get one of these,
http://www.peartreerental.com/sales-aptus-65s.htm
I might be replacing mine in about 6 months.
You could always get one of these,
http://www.peartreerental.com/sales-aptus-65s.htm
I might be replacing mine in about 6 months.
Edited by andybuk99 on Thursday 14th August 12:25
Rather than go for a film MF SLR, you might also be able to pick up something like a Mamiya, or Fuji rangefinder quite cheaply... if you're lucky. This sort of thing...
http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/fuji670.htm
http://www.leicagallery.com/mediumformat.htm
Although they most probably hold value better than an old Bronica, I don't know, haven't been looking. Might be nicer to use as an introduction. Another option might be something like a Mamiya C330/220 TLR... just to have a play.
And this would be nice if Fuji make it, great for travel...
http://dvice.com/archives/2008/02/the_coolest_and....
Spot meters are nice but you could start cheap with an old Western or Sekonic, or just use your 40D and work it out from that.
I'm sure you could pick up a good dirt cheap s/h tripod that would do the trick.
Grads and Polarisers are useful though.
So I think you could get a useable starter kit quite cheaply. The film and processing will most probably cost you more. Shooting colour negs will give you more room for error over tranny, but I don't recall ever getting a good scan out of one. You could also consider B&W and process your own which is quite fun, cheap and it used to work quite well for the already mention Mr Adams.
I wouldn't go for the Aptus though, well not if you want to do long exposures
http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/fuji670.htm
http://www.leicagallery.com/mediumformat.htm
Although they most probably hold value better than an old Bronica, I don't know, haven't been looking. Might be nicer to use as an introduction. Another option might be something like a Mamiya C330/220 TLR... just to have a play.
And this would be nice if Fuji make it, great for travel...
http://dvice.com/archives/2008/02/the_coolest_and....
Spot meters are nice but you could start cheap with an old Western or Sekonic, or just use your 40D and work it out from that.
I'm sure you could pick up a good dirt cheap s/h tripod that would do the trick.
Grads and Polarisers are useful though.
So I think you could get a useable starter kit quite cheaply. The film and processing will most probably cost you more. Shooting colour negs will give you more room for error over tranny, but I don't recall ever getting a good scan out of one. You could also consider B&W and process your own which is quite fun, cheap and it used to work quite well for the already mention Mr Adams.
I wouldn't go for the Aptus though, well not if you want to do long exposures
Thanks for all the replies,
Ive already got a manfrotto tripod for my 40D so wont have to spend anything on that, the biggest extra cost will be the filters i think but i could use them for my 40D aswell so its not too bad.
ive been looking on ebay at a few bronicas as they seem to be in my price range,
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Zenza-Bronica-ETR-Si-MF-Came...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bronica-SQ-A-Waistlevel-find...
Any particular reason to avoid something like that or do you think it would be worth a go.
Ive already got a manfrotto tripod for my 40D so wont have to spend anything on that, the biggest extra cost will be the filters i think but i could use them for my 40D aswell so its not too bad.
ive been looking on ebay at a few bronicas as they seem to be in my price range,
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Zenza-Bronica-ETR-Si-MF-Came...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bronica-SQ-A-Waistlevel-find...
Any particular reason to avoid something like that or do you think it would be worth a go.
This one could be a goer:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bronica-SQ-A-Medium-Format-C...
It's got a 50mm wide angle lens with it as well which is more than adequate for landscapes. No reserve mentioned!
The Bronica is a fine camera, and a good alternative for those who can't run to Hasselblads. Many wedding photographers used them.
Use http://www.ezsniper.com/ to snipe the auction so no-one knows you're after it! If you can get the whole lot for about £200/250 you'll have a bit of a bargain, and an economical way of getting into medium format.
If you don't like it, bung it all back on EBay!!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bronica-SQ-A-Medium-Format-C...
It's got a 50mm wide angle lens with it as well which is more than adequate for landscapes. No reserve mentioned!
The Bronica is a fine camera, and a good alternative for those who can't run to Hasselblads. Many wedding photographers used them.
Use http://www.ezsniper.com/ to snipe the auction so no-one knows you're after it! If you can get the whole lot for about £200/250 you'll have a bit of a bargain, and an economical way of getting into medium format.
If you don't like it, bung it all back on EBay!!
Well, on a complete impulse i bought a Bronica ETR-Si and even though I only payed for it yesterday afternoon i got it this morning. And overall I'm quite surprised with the condition, There was a covering of dust etc but no marks at all.
The camera itself feels really solid and the viewfinder seems huge compared to the 40D, really looking forward to getting some film in it and having a try so I might just take you up on that offer Dobbo.
Thanks for all the replies, I'll probably be asking a lot more questions in the near future
The camera itself feels really solid and the viewfinder seems huge compared to the 40D, really looking forward to getting some film in it and having a try so I might just take you up on that offer Dobbo.
Thanks for all the replies, I'll probably be asking a lot more questions in the near future
alanw89 said:
Well, on a complete impulse i bought a Bronica ETR-Si and even though I only payed for it yesterday afternoon i got it this morning. And overall I'm quite surprised with the condition, There was a covering of dust etc but no marks at all.
The camera itself feels really solid and the viewfinder seems huge compared to the 40D, really looking forward to getting some film in it and having a try so I might just take you up on that offer Dobbo.
Thanks for all the replies, I'll probably be asking a lot more questions in the near future
Hopefully it came with a prism and grip - very difficult to use the ETRS without!! If it hasn't, get them! The camera will be transformed for you!The camera itself feels really solid and the viewfinder seems huge compared to the 40D, really looking forward to getting some film in it and having a try so I might just take you up on that offer Dobbo.
Thanks for all the replies, I'll probably be asking a lot more questions in the near future
took a couple of quick pictures, the camera came with a prism viewfinder and a 150mm lens which ill probably sell after a while to get a wider one. I wanted to get a waist level finder but will use the other one for a while till i work it all out. I'm not that bothered about a grip as most of the time I'll be using a tripod i think. Still trying to work out what everything does and what else I need to buy, but I'm already feeling more enthusiastic about going out to get some pictures than i have for a while.
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