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Photo Forum / General Photo Topics / UK Photography / November 2006Future of Medium Format Film Cameras?
Hi all, I've owned a Mamiya 645 Pro with a selection of lenses from 35mm to 300mm including both zooms for about 8 years. I have the metering prism and three 120 film backs. As I'm sure that you're aware the range is no longer manufactured. I still enjoy using the camera and recently invested in a medium format film scanner to digitise my transparancies. 120 film processing is becoming more and more difficult to find and I now have to use a mail based service - although they are very good, but on the expensive side. Given the recent deveopments in digital medium format cameras such as the Hasslebald H2/3 and Mamiya ZD etc, (all way beyond my budget unless I win the lottery!) what are the groups feelings on how long film based medium format equipment will continue to be available and supported? Also any suggestions and recommendations of 120 film processors would be gratefully received. I've gone digital with a Canon 30D and a 10D (2nd body) with 7 lenses that I use mainly for work but for sheer pleasure and the highest quality results on 35mm film, I just love my Contax RT3, RX and ST bodies with the 8 lenses. (no I'm not a millionaire, I acquired this kit over 10 years all second hand - buying new would have bankrupted me!) Many thanks in advance for your views on these subjects. All the best Richard Film might become a bit of a specialist product (there is a theory that this has already happened...) bit it will be around for a long time. Look at cine film. Super-8 was supposed to have been killed by video,but it wasn't - it just got a bit expensive. And you can still get 8-mm., which Super-8 was supposed to replace forty years ago. Sure, film will get more expensive, but don't ditch your kit- you'll get peanuts for it, certainly not enough to buy MF digital. Keep doing what you've always done. Lab? I always used my usual pro lab, Dunns. (No relation). > Hi all, > [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > > Richard > Film might become a bit of a specialist product (there is a theory that this > has already happened...) bit it will be around for a long time. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > you've always done. > Lab? I always used my usual pro lab, Dunns. (No relation). Yes indeed. Given the quality of medium format and the fact that |Mamiya equipment is getting cheaper by the month second hand, I keep my eyes on the second hand adverts with the aim of expanding my collection. Still interested in recommendations for high quality 120 film processing services. Richard > Still interested in recommendations for high quality 120 film > processing services. Transpacolour/K&S Photgraphic of Leicester. I dont use their mail order service, as I go past their place 3 times a week, but their std.process and print of 120 is excellent in my experience,it is typically £15-20 a roll, though looking at their online prices, the mailorder is cheaper by a few pounds: http://www.transpacolor.com/film_negpack.html Alan.  SignatureTo reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'. >> Still interested in recommendations for high quality 120 film >> processing services. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > http://www.transpacolor.com/film_negpack.html I've used Transpacolor for 120 processing, and been very happy with the service and results. The image of the old brewery in the thread "Epson 4490 Scanner - Tests and Settings" was done at Transpacolor, £3.34 for processing a 120 film, and this includes p&p both ways. Thanks to both Alan and Harry, I'll give Transpacolour a go, I've got about 5 rolls ready to be processed. Once again, thanks for your recommendations. Richard > >> Still interested in recommendations for high quality 120 film > >> processing services. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > 4490 Scanner - Tests and Settings" was done at Transpacolor, £3.34 for > processing a 120 film, and this includes p&p both ways. Also try Peak Imaging in Sheffield - not expensive and superb quality IME. www.peak-imaging.co.uk -- Woody harrogate3 at ntlworld dot com >>>>Still interested in recommendations for high quality 120 film >>>>processing services. [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > > harrogate3 at ntlworld dot com agreed, Peak are very good. [SNIP] > Also any suggestions and recommendations of 120 film processors > would be gratefully received. I like The Darkroom in Cheltenham, though they are not the cheapest. For C41 (they don't do E6) True Colour Imaging has been good for me, and are not expensive. Peter Hi Richard I also have a 645 Mamyia. However I also have and use a 6x9 Agfa folding camera that is much older. I use this with B&w film, or colour with a view to printing them in B&W, in order to better appreaciate the different skills needed to use them compared to a digital camera. The company that I use to develope the film is Loxley Colour in Glasgow, They can develope it for ?2 per roll and scan it for an additional ?8 for 4.5 Mbyte and ?18 for 30 Mbyte. As for spare parts I'm not to bothered because when I replace it it will probabally be with a 6x9 field/technical camera with a Roll Fill Holder thus allowing me access to equipement thar is still being made, and will be for the forseeable future, and have the pic's available in digital format. All I did was do my sums Loads of money(Cost of H1-2-3 with digital back) minus (Cost ofWalker Titan with RFH) divided by a few quid for film and processing equals Gallerys of pictures for many years. regards john1320 |
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