terri said:
I would love to learn that there is a medium format camera out there that is relatively compact, lightweight and basically doesn't act like it's going to be cumbersome outside a studio environment. I'd like a nimble system with good lens selection.
We can pretend that price is no object, but I dread hearing that Rollei and Hasselblad are the only cameras meeting this crieteria... :roll:
If price is no object then Rollei, Hassy, Mamiya, and Pentax all have modern med format SLR systems with an assortment of interchangable lenses and accessories. They are all a little different, and you'll find a wide range of opinions about each. They all do a superb job, although one system may be better for certain types of photography and photographers than another.
It seems to me that "light and compact" is not usually heard with "interchangable lenses" in MF camera systems. You will find that the fixed lens rangefinders, folders, and TLRs are much smaller, lighter, and compact than any MF camera with interchangable lenses. I take the Pentax 67 on the portrait shoots, and the Rollei TLR on the all day hike.
I have a Pentax 67II body with a 90mm leaf shutter lens and a 165mm leaf shutter lens. It is designed like a big 35mm SLR so the feel and operation is very familiar and easy. I've had pretty good luck using it hand-held, but I still use it with a tripod 99% of the time. It takes awesome quality pics; 16x20s and 20x24s look darn good with ISO 400, and look amazing with ISO 100. It is solidly built, and the weight reflects this; I mean, I don't think it's too heavy, but it's much heavier than a modern, plastic, 35mm SLR.
Used 67II bodies seem to go for about $1000+. The lenses range from $300 - $800 used. Older models such as the P6x7 and P67 are cheaper ($400 - $800), and they all use the same lenses (good ol' Pentax). I think that the older models are a good deal, just make sure you get one with mirror lock-up.
The two big criticisms you'll usually hear about P67s is no interchangeable film backs (okay for me, I shoot it with TMax 100 about 95% of the time), and some people think that the mirror and huge focal plane shutter move too much (camera shake). I use the mirror lock-up feature, and as I said, the pics are razor sharp. As in the 35mm market, Pentax gear goes for a bit cheaper than the other companies mentioned above(good ol' Pentax).
Now I'm going to give you my vintage camera pitch. If you don't want to spend $2000+, and are willing to give up some (or all) modern features, then quality medium format can be yours for cheap.
Norita 66: Designed by the guy who built the Nikon F; looks like a slightly smaller P67. Uncommon, but not rare, so there are some lenses and accessories on the market, and they can still be repaired by several folks around the country. Typically comes with a razor sharp, amazingly fast (for MF) 80mm f/2 lens. Built like a tank. I used one for about 2 years, and it was my first MF camera. I loved it. Then the shutter jammed, and I haven't gotten it repaired yet. Usually about $350 on
EBAY.
Rollieflex and Rolliecord TLRs: I am a new TLR convert; I love my Rollei. With a Zeiss Planar or Schnieder Xenotar lens I think that these TLRs easily compete with the latest modern MF cameras for image quality. Works great on and off the tripod. No interchangable lenses, but at 1/10th the cost of a modern MF camera and lens it's a deal. Most go for $150 to $350, with a few as high as $900+. If I were stranded on a desert island with only one MF camera, I'd choose my Rollei hands down.
MF folders: MF cameras do not get smaller and lighter than the old folders; I carry one almost all the time. They can usually fit (snugly) in your pocket when folded. I've been using a Zeiss Ikonta 6x9 ($150) and an Ansco Titan 6x6 ($70) for a year now. The pic quality is not as high as the P67 or the Rollei, but it is still noticeably better than 35mm. The models I own have no modern features, only shutter, aperture, and a focusing ring(no focusing indicator, so I estimate the distance and have to hope I'm close, I usually am). Some models do have rangefinders built in. These cameras require a bit of old-school photo skill, but for the price and size they are hard to beat.
I carry 2 35mm camera backs, my old Pentax ME (for infrared) and the MZ, with 4 lenses. The lenses are interchangable (yes indeed, GOOD old Pentax!!) so when I strap it all in my camera backpack, I'm good to march, even though I'm feeling it. Factor in an unwieldy four-pound tripod, though, and I'm begging to rest every half mile, depending on terrain. bah!! 
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