Medium format....
Discussion
So this MF thing... anybody else doing it? I was thinking about getting a Holga for a bit of fun but where do you get 120 film developed nowadays? Are the Lomographic Society ok to buy from or is there someone UK based?
I also thought it'd be good for the kids to have a go - it's a lot easier to explain how the basics work with a Holga than a D2x
I also thought it'd be good for the kids to have a go - it's a lot easier to explain how the basics work with a Holga than a D2x
Felters said:
So this MF thing... anybody else doing it? I was thinking about getting a Holga for a bit of fun but where do you get 120 film developed nowadays? Are the Lomographic Society ok to buy from or is there someone UK based?
I also thought it'd be good for the kids to have a go - it's a lot easier to explain how the basics work with a Holga than a D2x
i have a hasselblad as my MF toyI also thought it'd be good for the kids to have a go - it's a lot easier to explain how the basics work with a Holga than a D2x
the pictures are incredible, especially the quality of the depth of field and the resolution is bananas if you scan in or print large. I also adore square format for portraits, landscape, whetever ...
I keep meaning to get a holga but just havent got round to pressing that ebay button yet. I love holga pics and its a great inexpensive way to play with MF. Film you can buy and develop in most semi-professional outlets. Im not so up on that because I only use one place in the centre of the west end but certainly places like calumet stock it.
Edited by jackal on Sunday 4th November 09:13
I bought a Holga the other day whilst I was in the states - have yet to get any film processed but it's been fun working with the limitations (f8 or f11, trying to remember if you wound it on or not, etc)
At £35 it's certainly a cheaper avenue into MF than most other options! It came with a nice book as well, and a roll of film (albeit ISO 100 which is pretty useless when you can only shoot at f8).
At £35 it's certainly a cheaper avenue into MF than most other options! It came with a nice book as well, and a roll of film (albeit ISO 100 which is pretty useless when you can only shoot at f8).
Peak Imaging are very good 
IMHO, while they're great for 'art', a Praktica MTL or the like would be a better bet for kids than a Holga - heck, you can get a Nikon FM2, possibly the best manual SLR ever made, for a ton on Fleabay. They'll be learning on something that shares the basic layout of a current SLR, and will give them excellent results. A Holga brings "daaaaad, why are my pictures all fuzzy ?" frustrations.
IMHO, while they're great for 'art', a Praktica MTL or the like would be a better bet for kids than a Holga - heck, you can get a Nikon FM2, possibly the best manual SLR ever made, for a ton on Fleabay. They'll be learning on something that shares the basic layout of a current SLR, and will give them excellent results. A Holga brings "daaaaad, why are my pictures all fuzzy ?" frustrations.
_dobbo_ said:
At £35 it's certainly a cheaper avenue into MF than most other options!
Fifteen quid more than my mint Rolleicord IV !^Dude, you got lucky!
Back when Jessops Classic used to exist (and they did Commission Sales) they managed to bag me over £250 for my very, very tatty Rolleiflex 3.5F Planar.
God I loved that camera, a true work of art.
Regarding Medium Format; Here's my 'daily driver'...
It's a 503CXi, complete with CW Winder, 80mm f2.8 CFE Planar and Magnifying 'chimney' Hood.
The back is a rented PhaseOne P30, though I occasionally shoot B&W film and have a couple of A12s and a Pola mag.
Back when Jessops Classic used to exist (and they did Commission Sales) they managed to bag me over £250 for my very, very tatty Rolleiflex 3.5F Planar.
God I loved that camera, a true work of art.
Regarding Medium Format; Here's my 'daily driver'...
It's a 503CXi, complete with CW Winder, 80mm f2.8 CFE Planar and Magnifying 'chimney' Hood.
The back is a rented PhaseOne P30, though I occasionally shoot B&W film and have a couple of A12s and a Pola mag.
190Evoluzione said:
^Dude, you got lucky!
Although the sad truth is that, in the unlikely event of my parting with it, I'd be lucky to get more than a ton 
190Evoluzione said:
It's a 503CXi, complete with CW Winder, 80mm f2.8 CFE Planar and Magnifying 'chimney' Hood.
The back is a rented PhaseOne P30, though I occasionally shoot B&W film and have a couple of A12s and a Pola mag.
Very nice The back is a rented PhaseOne P30, though I occasionally shoot B&W film and have a couple of A12s and a Pola mag.
I use Metro too, even worked there at one stage.
In the industry in London, you're never more than 10 feet away from somebody who works or has worked for Metro or Direct Lighting (now owned by Metro).
I liked the Bronica SQ (my best mate had one) but its one drawback was the lack of rental kit available.
This is where old Hasselblad has Bronica beat, but you're right - they are amazing value.
Pentax 67 kit (though much less versatile) can also be picked up for peanuts nowadays.
I'd personally love another Rolleiflex 3.5F... (or 2.8F!)
In the industry in London, you're never more than 10 feet away from somebody who works or has worked for Metro or Direct Lighting (now owned by Metro).
I liked the Bronica SQ (my best mate had one) but its one drawback was the lack of rental kit available.
This is where old Hasselblad has Bronica beat, but you're right - they are amazing value.
Pentax 67 kit (though much less versatile) can also be picked up for peanuts nowadays.
I'd personally love another Rolleiflex 3.5F... (or 2.8F!)
Been using PhaseOne for about 5 years or so now, and wouldn't use anything else in terms of MF digital kit.
The 31-million-pixel P30 (now also the P30+) is great, but does have a minor crop-factor on Hass 'V' lenses - unlike its slightly older P25 (22MP) sibling and the monster P45.
Quality is great, but hey - it can always get better.
I rent mine from either Teamwork Digital or The Horsemen (part of the Metro Imaging group) and it's about £250+VAT & Insurance per day.
The P45 is incredible, but tbh I never need 39-million-pixel resolution and the PowerBook gets too hot trying to keep up!
The main advantage of the P30 is its speed...
The 31-million-pixel P30 (now also the P30+) is great, but does have a minor crop-factor on Hass 'V' lenses - unlike its slightly older P25 (22MP) sibling and the monster P45.
Quality is great, but hey - it can always get better.
I rent mine from either Teamwork Digital or The Horsemen (part of the Metro Imaging group) and it's about £250+VAT & Insurance per day.
The P45 is incredible, but tbh I never need 39-million-pixel resolution and the PowerBook gets too hot trying to keep up!
The main advantage of the P30 is its speed...
Edited by 190Evoluzione on Sunday 4th November 22:23
I tried my hand at mf earlier this year, renting a blad from a place in Manchester for a week. I really enjoyed the way I had to slow down and consider the shot I was about to take. I was able to take a few portraits of people as well that perhaps wouldn't normally want their picture taken, as the blad was a lot less intimadating than a conventional slr. I was in a churchyard at one point, taken shots of the sunset, and this elderly chap came along, sat on the bench, and I was able to take his protrait while we chatted about old school photography 
Unfortunatly, I had a lot of trouble actually loading the film and getting the camera to work properly, so most of my efforts were in vain However, this little set worked:
and:
I do still hanker after getting one, although funds are tight atm
Full thread here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Unfortunatly, I had a lot of trouble actually loading the film and getting the camera to work properly, so most of my efforts were in vain
However, this little set worked: and:
I do still hanker after getting one, although funds are tight atm
Full thread here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I run a Mamiya RZ and still use film.
Purchasing is easy and can be done by mail order.
Processing is also easy, most locals (Kodak Express, Snappy Snaps etc (not Boots)) still process 120 C45 & B&W, it comes from Wedding Photographers. E6 usually requires postal services unless you are in a centre like London or Manchester.
Just changed from 35mm film to digital this year, and see no reason to change from MF film to digital either on cost or quality grounds....but who knows in 5 or 10 years time.
Enjoy,
Mike
Purchasing is easy and can be done by mail order.
Processing is also easy, most locals (Kodak Express, Snappy Snaps etc (not Boots)) still process 120 C45 & B&W, it comes from Wedding Photographers. E6 usually requires postal services unless you are in a centre like London or Manchester.
Just changed from 35mm film to digital this year, and see no reason to change from MF film to digital either on cost or quality grounds....but who knows in 5 or 10 years time.
Enjoy,
Mike
Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff