Medium format analogue with digital back?

canned · 2006-07-12T11:18:21+00:00

Hallo, Mit welchem Preis muss ich für eine analoge Mittelformat-Kamera mit Digital-Rückteil und Balgengerät auf dem Gebrauchtmarkt rechnen (Bsp. Mamiya)? Wa...

canned

Hello, What sort of price should I expect to pay on the second-hand market for an analogue medium-format camera with a digital back and bellows (e.g. Mamiya)? Which manufacturers or camera models are available? Alternatively, how much does an analogue medium-format camera with an additional Polaroid back cost? I’ve already had a look on eBay and was a bit shocked by the five-figure sums. I’m not looking for a high-tech camera, but something simple and practical. The digital back can be fairly basic; it’s only needed for image review. Does anyone perhaps know of a camera shop in Berlin that rents out such cameras? Best regards and thanks for any replies, canned

max

Hi canned, That’s quite a nice wish list... Analogue medium format is certainly the simplest option; RBs are currently available for well under €1,000 (with a standard lens, magazine and light well). As for even (much) cheaper options, Mephisto is arguing vehemently for the Kievs here; plenty has been written on that, though I’d just check the compatibility with digital backs again (is it really Hasselblad-compatible, or does it need further tinkering? Borrow a back!!!). In terms of price, Bronica sits somewhere in between (though its quality is beyond dispute). Problem 1: There needs to be a bellows adapter for the Mamiya; I know there’s one for the Zenza SQA(i), and for the Kiev, a Novoflex can probably be adapted. But that’s not an automatic bellows, so you’ll have to stop down manually! Incidentally, Novoflex doesn’t work with the other two – they have central shutters, so you need original bellows for those. And anyway, you rarely find these second-hand and cheap. Problem 2: Digital backs; Polaroid backs are available for all models, and are now quite cheap too, as everything’s switching to digital. Don’t forget the running costs (film). Digital backs are either ancient or expensive. What do you expect – they cost a fortune new. Still do. They’re produced in very small batches and yet are already obsolete after just two years. The alternative would be http://webres.calumetphoto.com/webres/pdfs...ste_2006_01.pdf . According to the list, unfortunately no bellows, just extension rings, and for two days’ worth of a digital back, you’d have already shot the RB with a bit of luck. I’ve also been searching unsuccessfully for a digital Polaroid replacement for ages. No cash, no luck. Regards Martin

canned

Hi Martin, Thanks for your detailed reply, and thanks for the tip about camera hire. I suppose the digital question has been settled by necessity... Do you perhaps know (or Mephisto, if he can help) whether a polarising filter for the Kiev would also fit a Pentacon Six? – As a stopgap solution, so to speak. Best regards, canned

SamuliSchielke

As the owner of a Pola back for the Kiev 88, I would guess the following: only if a standard Kiev back also fits the Pentacon Six. That would be news to me, though. Incidentally, I think the Pola back is a brilliant piece of kit, particularly for portrait photography, where it not only allows you to check the lighting yourself, but also gives the people you’re photographing a chance to judge their own appearance in the picture (plus you can give them the Polaroid as a keepsake) – of course, you can do the same, and even better, with a digital back, but for that purpose alone, these things are still quite valuable... Samuli

max

Hi canned, Something I’d unfortunately forgotten to mention regarding digital cameras... have a look at the sensor sizes. You’ll be working your fingers to the bone trying to make everything fit, and at best you’ll end up with a 1/4-sized frame... Regards Martin

Thomas73

Prices for full-frame DSLR cameras (from Canon) have fallen so much that adapting a DSLR to the Horseman view camera is probably the best solution. I’d also like a digital back for my medium-format kit, but second-hand ones are still quite expensive. I’ve seen some cheap offers on eBay, but they’re probably all junk that you can’t even check to see if it works. The more satisfactory solution is probably to use a DSLR and analogue film in the wide-angle panorama format. DBacks also have a reduced format, so the lovely wide-angle lens would be cropped with the smaller sensor.

Wolf_XL

...I’d say, quite casually, just forget it... Because what a digital sensor delivers has hardly anything in common with what analogue film delivers... Or can you use software to set which film you currently have in the camera? If you’re only concerned with the composition of the image, you can use almost any ‘standard’ digital camera for this purpose that can replicate your focal lengths.

cfb_de

Hi Wolf, As far as Kiev/Pentacon is concerned, I’d like to point out that there was a perfectly serviceable bellows attachment from Pentacon for those using the Six bayonet mount. There’s also a focusing slider that supports the whole heavy mechanism wonderfully and is really top-notch (I’ve got that bit at home for my Kiev-60). As for whether you can take decent macro shots with a cheap digital back from the clearance bin... I won’t comment on that. At work, I do that sort of thing with an old clunker, a bellows and transparency. Best regards, Franz