Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us
Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network
PhotoKB Home
Discussion Groups
Digital Photography
Digital PhotoDSLR CamerasZLR CamerasPoint & Shoot Cameras
Film Photography
35 mmLarge FormatMedium formatDarkroomFilm and LabsOther Equipment
Photo Technique
Nature PhotographyPeople PhotographyTechnique General
General Photo Topics
General TopicsAustralian PhotographyUK Photography
DirectoryPhoto Clubs

Photo Forum / Film Photography / Medium format / August 2004

Tip: Looking for answers? Try searching our database.

SLR for Macro and Portraits

Thread view: 
Enable EMail Alerts  Start New Thread
Thread rating: 
Ray Creveling - 29 Aug 2004 13:36 GMT
I have finally decided that within the next 6-9 months I will have an MF
kit. I am currently using a canon SLR that I love but I also love large
clear enlargements. The primary uses will be for Macro and portraiture with
the occasional landscape. A lot of times when I'm shooting portraits I like
going off of the tripod so that's a bit of a concern with the 6X7 cameras. I
have been very impressed with the Mamiyas I've used so that is where my
experience lies

Signature

Ray Creveling
http://www.blackcatblog.com

Martin Francis - 29 Aug 2004 18:52 GMT
> I have finally decided that within the next 6-9 months I will have an MF
> kit. I am currently using a canon SLR that I love but I also love large
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> have been very impressed with the Mamiyas I've used so that is where my
> experience lies

Close to my own needs, I think. I'll share what i've found;

Bronica- there are a few lenses for both ETRSi and SQAi that focus
particularly close. If I were you, a 60/105 macro/180mm kit would be my
choice. Slap an AEII/III and Speedgrip on an ETRSi and you'll think you're
using a big 35mm.

Hasselblad- There really aren't any lenses ideal for portrait or macro that
don't need an extension tube, so if you consider 'Blad (or most other
systems) factor a tube price in as well. Again, with the right accessories,
a 'Blad can be very easily handheld. Be careful with which model you choose-
500 series are great but lack certain "home comforts" like TTL flash
metering. A 503 would work well, but having handled a motorised ELX body i'd
recommend against one, as handholding is even more of a pain than with a
Mamiya RB. If you go with the 20*/200* series with focal plane shutters,
you'll have access to faster lenses and built-it AE, but even higher prices.
200* series are older and spares are all but unavailable. 20* series are
ideal, and will work with 500 series lenses and 200* lenses with stop-down
metering.

Mamiya- RB is too heavy and awkward for handholding (the shutter cocking and
wind-on are separate levers). RZ is marginally lighter, shutter cocking and
wind-on are in the same lever, and the whole system is more modern. Either
are ideal for tripod mounted portraits and macro, as i'm sure you're aware
the built-in bellows focusing allows to very close work- put a wideangle on
and you can get lifesize reproduction without tubes. Still a pain to
handhold, though.

The 6, 7 and 7II have *no* close focusing lenses. The 150mm (most people's
first portrait lens) focuses no closer than 6 feet, and any closeup adapters
would mean the rangefinder wouldn't be accurate.

Haven't looked into the Mamiya 645 much, though.

Rollei- similar to Hasselblad, thought with the 6008i there is a built in
handgrip which I think would help out a lot. Again, short tubes for
portraits are a must as most of the lenses are the same spec as Hassy
lenses. Like the 20* series, the 600* series largely have built in AE, but
also have built in motorised advance. Do your research for specifics on
models.

Pentax- the 67 looks like a worthwhile system, though the big instant-return
mirror and big shutter mean vibration is problematic- fast shutter speeds
are a must-have, I think. Lenses mostly fast, tubes are cheap, macro lenses
not uncommon.

Signature

Martin Francis  http://www.sixbysix.co.uk
"Go not to Usenet for counsel, for it will say both no, and yes, and
no, and yes...."

Randall Ainsworth - 29 Aug 2004 19:38 GMT
> Bronica- there are a few lenses for both ETRSi and SQAi that focus
> particularly close. If I were you, a 60/105 macro/180mm kit would be my
> choice. Slap an AEII/III and Speedgrip on an ETRSi and you'll think you're
> using a big 35mm.

Cheap crap, poorly constructed, favored by amateurs that don't know
what they're doing.

> Hasselblad- There really aren't any lenses ideal for portrait or macro that
> don't need an extension tube, so if you consider 'Blad (or most other
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> ideal, and will work with 500 series lenses and 200* lenses with stop-down
> metering.

Choice of pros the world over.  Outstanding lenses, excellent
ergonomics.  Who needs TTL flash metering for serious portraiture?

> Mamiya- RB is too heavy and awkward for handholding (the shutter cocking and
> wind-on are separate levers). RZ is marginally lighter, shutter cocking and
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> and you can get lifesize reproduction without tubes. Still a pain to
> handhold, though.

Yeah, I guess the guys that do portraits every day with 'me are kidding
themselves.  The RB is a great studio camera.  A bit much for handheld
but serious portraiture should be done with a tripod or camera stand
anyway.  Keep some extra backs around because they'll break down, but
otherwise the RB is an outstanding portrait camera.

> Rollei- similar to Hasselblad, thought with the 6008i there is a built in
> handgrip which I think would help out a lot. Again, short tubes for
> portraits are a must as most of the lenses are the same spec as Hassy
> lenses. Like the 20* series, the 600* series largely have built in AE, but
> also have built in motorised advance. Do your research for specifics on
> models.

Ergonomics perfectly suited for a mutant with three hands.  Great
lenses but Hasselblad and RB are better designed.

> Pentax- the 67 looks like a worthwhile system, though the big instant-return
> mirror and big shutter mean vibration is problematic- fast shutter speeds
> are a must-have, I think. Lenses mostly fast, tubes are cheap, macro lenses
> not uncommon.

Not my favorite for a studio camera but excellent on location.  Handles
well but in the end, it's a tripod camera.
Q.G. de Bakker - 29 Aug 2004 19:57 GMT
> Hasselblad- There really aren't any lenses ideal for portrait or macro that
> don't need an extension tube, so if you consider 'Blad (or most other
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> ideal, and will work with 500 series lenses and 200* lenses with stop-down
> metering.

Just to clarify things:

The 503 Cx, 503 CXi and 503 CW models offer TTL-flash control, and are not
(!) permanently motorized bodies like the 500 ELX, 553 ELX and 555 ELD,
which also offer TTL-flash control.
So if you don't like a motorised ELX body, that is no reason to recommend
against a 530 CW. (The word "but" in your sentence should better be replaced
with a full stop after "work well" and a capital "H" in "having". ;-))

A 503 CW is a 500 C/M with the "home comforts" you say you missed.

You're right about needing extension tubes.
I'm not sure about "very easily handheld". They are, yes. But you'll produce
better pictures, very much so, if you put the thing on a tripod (which is
true for any camera).
Martin Francis - 29 Aug 2004 22:08 GMT
> Just to clarify things:
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> against a 530 CW. (The word "but" in your sentence should better be replaced
> with a full stop after "work well" and a capital "H" in "having". ;-))

Pedant :-)

> A 503 CW is a 500 C/M with the "home comforts" you say you missed.

I never said I missed them, merely that they weren't there.

Yeah, I know, i'm a pedant too.

> You're right about needing extension tubes.
> I'm not sure about "very easily handheld". They are, yes. But you'll produce
> better pictures, very much so, if you put the thing on a tripod (which is
> true for any camera).

I prefer a monopod. Or flash.

Signature

Martin Francis  http://www.sixbysix.co.uk
"Go not to Usenet for counsel, for it will say both no, and yes, and
no, and yes...."

Stacey - 30 Aug 2004 06:58 GMT
> I have finally decided that within the next 6-9 months I will have an MF
> kit. I am currently using a canon SLR that I love but I also love large
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> cameras. I have been very impressed with the Mamiyas I've used so that is
> where my experience lies

 Mamiya 645, reliable, cheap, good optics and can use an adapter to use the
cheap/good P-6 mount optics like the 180mm F2.8 CZJ sonar and the
tilt/shift soviet lenses.
Signature


 Stacey

RolandRB - 31 Aug 2004 08:57 GMT
> I have finally decided that within the next 6-9 months I will have an MF
> kit. I am currently using a canon SLR that I love but I also love large
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> have been very impressed with the Mamiyas I've used so that is where my
> experience lies

If you wanted to do it on a budget then you could always try the
Pentacon 6TL. If you get a reversal ring you can use the standard 80mm
lens to do macro work. It is maybe too short for potraiture unless you
are doing groups. For landscape you could use the multi-coated version
of the f4 50mm Flektogon. Be very careful how you load the film,
though, or you will get overlaps.
 
Sign In
Join
My Latest Posts
My Monitored Threads
My Blog
My Photo Gallery
My Profile
My Homepage

Start New Thread
Enable EMail Alerts
Rate this Thread



©2008 Advenet LLC   Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.