Choice of Medium Format film cameras

[CraigBTE]

A very knowledgeable friend of mine is buying a camera for me in Korea, and over the weekend he scoped out a few for me. I'm looking for some advice and reasons on the following options.

Unfortunately I don't have exact model numbers, which I know is crucial, but comments on the systems overall and recommended models would still help.

The 3 options are

A) Bronica Zenza (not sure about model) with 75mm 2.8
$420

B) Pentax 645 (I'm hoping the NII) with similar lens
$550

Double the price

C) Hasselblad 503CX with awesome Zeiss 80mm
$1100

I could also get the Bronica with 2 lenses for about the same price as the Pentax.

What would you recommend and why?

 

[CraigBTE]

Anyone? I need to decide by the weekend!

 

[Mike_E]

That's not much of a deal on the bronica.

645 is bigger than 35mm format but not really enough to warrant using 120 film.

You can always get your money back with the Blad but take a look at what you could get with a Mamiya RZ 67. The glass is as good as the Ziess, you could get a couple of lenses and backs and they go on forever unless you're pounding them every day.

An RZ is also a 6X7 format if that matters to you.

If you wanted to go fully manual you could go with an RB67 and get a whole kit including a spot meter for $1100.



ps you will get quicker responses in the film section.

 

[tirediron]

Can I ask why only these three choices? There seems to me to be a couple of good options that you've not covered. These are the Mamiya 645 series (esp. the AFD, II) and the Contax 645.

I would probably pass on the Hasselblad for a couple of reasons; thinking square is an art, and if you're not familiar with it, it's going to throw off your composition for a while. The accessories/lenses are a lot more expensive, and unless it comes with a metered prism, you're going to have to tote around an external light meter.

The Pentax 645s are okay, but they never struck as particularily great. The build-quality is mediocre, and the the glass is okay (The Pentax 67 is another story). As well, IIRC, the 645 requires an odd-ball battery for the meter.

Out of the three you've listed I would go with the Bronica. Chances are it's an SQ, which seem to be the most prevelant, so you're back to a square negative, but at a more reasonable price.

 

[Derrel]

If the Bronica has the word "Zenza" associated with it, it's probably older than the SQ series--perhaps mid 1970's, and quite possibly NOT a good value. The Pentax 645 was designed as an affordable, simple camera without the flexibility of interchangeable backs, but instead just film inserts...The Hassy 503CX....square....getting older now....

Ehhh....boy....none of these three cameras really have a lot of appeal to me. Because the Bronica has the word Zenza associated with it, AND because it has a 75mm f/2.8 and not an 80mm, I do NOT think it is an SQ...if it were an SQ, I'd definitely say go with that for the money, but I think this is the earlier, less-reliable vintage Bronica with Nikkor lenses.

 

[photocist]

The hasselblad will produce amazing images, dont know about the other 2.

If you have the money, id say go with the blad. dont worry about it being square, you can always crop it later...