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Medium Format Cameras |
Andy B
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from Surrey, UK
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|  Posted 26-09-2004 at 16:32
Has anyone apart from Tom Bullock used a medium format camera for stones photography?
If you want an inexpensive introduction I have a vintage Rollei Magic up for auction at the moment that should go for less than £100
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=11721&item=3842489504
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Thorgrim
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| Posted 26-09-2004 at 19:25
I used a Bronica - fantastic quality, but heavy.. Sounds like a bargain and the results of medium format are worth it
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Anonymous
User not Registered | Posted 26-09-2004 at 19:43
I use a Hasselblad 500C for selected shots. The difference is well worth the extra carry weight.
For best results use slide film, not negative: the quality is fantastic! The difference between a 35mm slide and a 6cm x 6cm one is staggering. The only problem is it's rather hard to get a medium format projector  , but Epson do make an affordable flatbed scanner that deals with them.
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Andy B
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| Posted 27-09-2004 at 00:59
Thorgrim,
Do you have any medium format photos on the Portal?
Anonymous person,
Tom Bullock gives medium format slide shows I'm told are outstanding. Very heavy to bring the equipment to the UK but I should try and arrange one.
Andy
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Thorgrim
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| Posted 27-09-2004 at 08:42
No - all my medium format stuff was on trannies and I can't scan them. It was when I was doing freelance magazine work and most glossies would not accept 35mm trannies. The world has moved on since then and I'm not sure of their requirements today
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wayland
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from Lancashire
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| Posted 05-10-2004 at 10:41
I use both medium format 6x4.5 cm and large format 4x5 inch. I can highly recomend the quality but scanning is a slight issue as you will need either a specialist lab to get the quality or one of the new flatbed scanners that will handle such formats. (Very high on my shopping list at the moment).
Incidentally Thorgrim the distibutors of Bronica have just anounced the discontinuation of the brand and as most professionals are making the move to digital there are question marks over the supply of 120 film.
Sad times. 
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Thorgrim
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| Posted 05-10-2004 at 11:57
No more Bronicas! They will beome collectors items I'm sure. Wonderful machines but so expensive and accessories also demand a second mortgage. I sold mine long ago. End of 120 film - now that is a great shame - all those twin lens reflex cameras are going to be museum pieces also.. I wonder how the long term photographic record will fare with the swing to digital. How many photos are deleted now and how many stored in a permanent form? No more negative files in archive quality storage?
Will new media make cd stored files unreadable just as early punched paper computer tapes are now unreadable?
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Anonymous
User not Registered | Posted 06-10-2004 at 09:22
And Ilford are in receivership too
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wayland
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from Lancashire
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| Posted 07-10-2004 at 00:02
You should be backing up your files regularly anyway. My CDs are doubled up in separete locations and dated for re-copying in five years time. By that stage I will probably transfer them to DVD and so on.
In theory, providing you maintain such a routine you should never have a problem, in fact I intend to start digitizing my negatives and slides as soon as I get a decent scanner.
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Andy B
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| Posted 07-10-2004 at 21:29
Is that '120 film' what's required for the TLR camera I had. In that case I'm glad I sold it while I did! I got £75 quid for it which I'm very pleased with as I don't know if it was fully working.
Andy
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Anonymous
User not Registered | Posted 08-10-2004 at 10:54
Well, most medium format cameras have digital backs available these days ... if you have a spare 5 to 15 grand available!
120 film will survive for a while yet, but probably not much beyond 2010 or so. By this time medium format digital backs will be 'cheap' enough to not mean taking out a remortgage to buy one.
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Anonymous
User not Registered | Posted 19-10-2004 at 23:07
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On 2004-10-05 11:57, Thorgrim wrote:
No more Bronicas! They will beome collectors items I'm sure. Wonderful machines but so expensive and accessories also demand a second mortgage. I sold mine long ago. End of 120 film - now that is a great shame - all those twin lens reflex cameras are going to be museum pieces also.. I wonder how the long term photographic record will fare with the swing to digital. How many photos are deleted now and how many stored in a permanent form? No more negative files in archive quality storage?
Will new media make cd stored files unreadable just as early punched paper computer tapes are now unreadable?
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I spent a fortune on a Nikon (35mm) in an underwater housing this year.I've just come back from holiday & have chosen 47pics from approx 360 pics taken as ones to save.I don't think digital is bad for pics,it's how you use it.
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wayland
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from Lancashire
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| Posted 20-10-2004 at 16:59
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On 2004-10-08 10:54, Anonymous wrote:
Well, most medium format cameras have digital backs available these days ... if you have a spare 5 to 15 grand available!
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I suspect that has been part of the problem for Bronica, of all the mainstream medium format manufacturers, Bronica has been the only one not catered for by the makers of digital backs.
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Anonymous
User not Registered |  Posted 23-10-2004 at 22:17
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On 2004-10-06 09:22, Anonymous wrote:
And Ilford are in receivership too
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it's a shame that 'ole-fashioned' photography is going the way of the dodo!
i still use 35ml, and will be doing for the immediate future.
a digital camera is on my 'wants' list; but will have to wait till i can afford it.
as for transferring my photos from traditional paper format, to digital; well i've got 30+ years worth of photos; not counting my childhood and family photos!
quite a daunting task! 
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Anonymous
User not Registered | Posted 25-11-2004 at 23:42
I will be once again visiting my 50 favourite stone circles in england scotland cornwall this xmas new year, will be taking 2 x bronica, with wide 50mm lense and 150 mm lenses, and 2 times olympus om1ns, these 35mm cameras provide enough clarity for really large images to be printed as long as the iso is low enough, and to be honest, for publication, allthough the medium format is larger, only really come into thier own, when, high resolution images require are to be reproduced in high quality glossy mags, i defy most proffessional photographers to tell the difference between medium format and good quality 35mm format, if they looked at images reproduced in a book for instance, 35 mm is more user friendly, more versatile, and of course less expensive, i have a couple of old 500cms, which i havnt used for years, 2and a quarter suare, larger than bronicas, and once more, only come into their own for publicity shots shot in the studio
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