Looking to get a medium format film camera

You can get a Mamiya RB67 with a normal lens for well under $300. It is a bit heavy for non-tripod use.

The classic entry level was a TLR with a normal lens. The 124g was cheap, but even Rollicords and Mamiya TLRs (with interchangeble lenses) are modestly priced.

For $1000 I'm pretty sure you can get a Hassleblad setup. I'm seeing bodies for under $500 on KEH. Private party sales of lens, body, finder and back...under $1000 should be doable in decent condition (I'm pretty sure I've seen them for less at local stores). Less if you don't mind a more worn looking model.

If what you really want is a 'blad and you can handle $1000, I think you should get what you want.

Nick Aufiero wrote in post #18366055
Less than $1000

For everything I need

Prefer less than $600 but eh

The Mamiya C330 was a superb medium format camera back in the day, and not too expensive.
https://en.wikipedia.o​rg/wiki/Mamiya_C330

F2Bthere wrote in post #18366082
You can get a Mamiya RB67 with a normal lens for well under $300. It is a bit heavy for non-tripod use.

The classic entry level was a TLR with a normal lens. The 124g was cheap, but even Rollicords and Mamiya TLRs (with interchangeble lenses) are modestly priced.

For $1000 I'm pretty sure you can get a Hassleblad setup. I'm seeing bodies for under $500 on KEH. Private party sales of lens, body, finder and back...under $1000 should be doable in decent condition (I'm pretty sure I've seen them for less at local stores). Less if you don't mind a more worn looking model.

If what you really want is a 'blad and you can handle $1000, I think you should get what you want.

A $1k Hasselblad kit would better have a CFT lens instead....CF lens alone can cost as much as $500+.

TooManyShots wrote in post #18366098
A $1k Hasselblad kit would better have a CFT lens instead....CF lens alone can cost as much as $500+.

I searched my local craigslist just now. Three complete 500c setups. $800. $1000. $1025. They all include a waist level finder, an 80mm Zeiss lens and at least one film back. The most expensive one also has a prism finder. They all claim to be in good working condition. They also have a variety of accessories.

These were a workhorse for many professional photographers for decades and now they are mostly used by amateurs and hipsters. Supply and demand is not in favor of the sellers at this point in history.

There are just too many of these in private hands, retired film photographers, people who inherited them, etc.

There are even a few sitting on the moon

I understand that if you want to part together a camera from a full-service dealer it will cost more, but there are many opportunities to pick up a complete kit. If you are willing to spend a month being diligent you could probably do a lot better (more accessories, better quality options or lower cost).

As someone who is still building out their collection of Mamiya TLR cameras/lenses: They are terrible products and no one should buy any on the used market so that the price can go down even more...

But really, they are lovely cameras. I do suggest getting the newer black shuttered lenses rather than the chrome faced ones, or consider modifying the aperture adjustment lever on the older style lenses. The newer models put the shutter speed and aperture indicators on the lens's left hand side, while the older model puts the aperture read out on the right. A very trivial and minor thing, but it really does make a lot of difference in how convenient they are to use.

Actually, Hasselblad's could be quirky pains in okoles, and were really only worth it for the interchangeable lenses.

If there is no intent on interchanging lenses, I'd hop on a TLR in a heartbeat. It's a unique camera design (today) that actually has some portrait and street benefits.

Rolliflexes can be had for less than $1000, and that would be for a camera in great condition, easily reparable. A Yashicamat 124G is less expensive, but the price annoys me for their going for as much or more than they fetched new. My first money-making camera was a Yashicamat TLR, and I have a soft spot for them...but not at the current prices.

Earlier, I offered up consideration of the Bronica cameras...back in the 1990s tons of professional wedding shooters used Bronica because the lenses were virtually equal (especially in the customers eyes) to Hasselblad, without requiring as much capitol being locked up in equipment purchased to do the job.

Tamron bought Bronica 1998 for Bronica's optical lens manufacturing, and continued it for a very few years, before discontinuing the entire line in 2004. So as a result there is now far less name recognition in the hobbyist community. That has resulted in the $3000 'basic metered kit' devaluing on the market to the sub-$300 used market price today! Lenses that used to have MSRP $1200-1600 each today go for $70-260! But in its prime, Bronica was a highly valued alternative to the Hassy high capitol cost system... I recall sitting down to lunch at a wedding photography conference with a wedding pro from FL, and he commented that most pros shot with Bronica in his part of FL because "it kept more money in the pocket rather than in the lenses!"

and Bronica didn't have the Hassy penchant for lenses jamming on bodies and needing a special tool in the bag on hand to unjam and remove the lens.

For under 1K you could find Rolleiflex after CLA. Well under 600 - serviced Rolleicord.

Wilt wrote in post #18366490
and Bronica didn't have the Hassy penchant for lenses jamming on bodies and needing a special tool in the bag on hand to unjam and remove the lens.

Yeah, that.

Not to mention light leaks thru the dark slide slot. I got pretty good at installing new light seals in those magazines.

so if I purely wanted something that was a Full Frame 50mm equivalent that was 100% working and good condition what would yall recommend?

Links are encouraged.

I just want something unique

even if its a polaroid camera of some sort.

I just want a film camera to bring with on all my shoots to have that unique spin of all my portrait sessions or when I just want an organic feel.


I have 2x 35mm film cameras I can use but I really wanted like medium format or just something nicer.


$500 would be the ideal price but I can go up to $1000 if its an unbeatable deal.\

also hope I can post links but this is for sale locally btw

https://tulsa.craigsli​st.org/pho/6144420705.​html

Nick Aufiero wrote in post #18366970
so if I purely wanted something that was a Full Frame 50mm equivalent that was 100% working and good condition what would yall recommend?

Links are encouraged.

I just want something unique

even if its a polaroid camera of some sort.

I just want a film camera to bring with on all my shoots to have that unique spin of all my portrait sessions or when I just want an organic feel.


I have 2x 35mm film cameras I can use but I really wanted like medium format or just something nicer.


$500 would be the ideal price but I can go up to $1000 if its an unbeatable deal.\

Sounds like you just need a starting point and don't need anything specific. Visit pawn shops or eBay or Value Village and see what they have that might interest you. And your reference to "full frame 50mm equivalence" doesn't make much sense. Get whatever lens you need to do the job.

well I mean that saying if I got something larger than a 35mm I'd want it to be the equivalent of a 50mm focal length on it.

IE 80mm on a medium format I believe.

Just the "Normal" lens length for whatever I get.

and I have 2x film cameras already. I just wanted something a little more.

I really wanted a medium format but I would also settle by starting with something like a polaroid.

I'm just open to cool **** to make fun analog memories of my photoshoots and sessions with friends.

Nick Aufiero wrote in post #18367002
well I mean that saying if I got something larger than a 35mm I'd want it to be the equivalent of a 50mm focal length on it.

IE 80mm on a medium format I believe.

Just the "Normal" lens length for whatever I get.

and I have 2x film cameras already. I just wanted something a little more.

I really wanted a medium format but I would also settle by starting with something like a polaroid.

I'm just open to cool **** to make fun analog memories of my photoshoots and sessions with friends.

The 'normal' for 645 is 75mm
the 'normal' for 6x6 is 80mm
the 'normal for 6x7 is 90mm