Medium Format Autofocus for use with film

[nick james]

I am an amateur photographer with a visual imparement, very desirous of getting into medium format.  I would really like to make some larger prints.  
I am partial to film and am not likely to go digital until I have to.

The three systems I have considered buying into are the Contax, the Mamiya, and the Hasselblad.  
What have your experiences been with these or other viable cameras?  
How well do they take regular wear?
How reliable are they?
Have you had to have them serviced?
What problems have you had with the cameras? if any
What do you like about them?
How do you like their otpics?
Has Hasselblad worked out all their firmware bugs?
Are there other systems I should be looking at? keeping in mind my visual imparement.

[Morgan_Moore]

I am an amateur photographer with a visual imparement, very desirous of getting into medium format.  I would really like to make some larger prints. 
I am partial to film and am not likely to go digital until I have to.

The three systems I have considered buying into are the Contax, the Mamiya, and the Hasselblad. 
What have your experiences been with these or other viable cameras? 
How well do they take regular wear?
How reliable are they?
Have you had to have them serviced?
What problems have you had with the cameras? if any
What do you like about them?
How do you like their otpics?
Has Hasselblad worked out all their firmware bugs?
Are there other systems I should be looking at? keeping in mind my visual imparement.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=138646\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

it is my opinion that the H series hassy has the brightest view and best AF

followed by a mam then contax

The rollie 6008 is 66 not 645 and will therefore have a bigger brighter view

the rollie 6008 has the upcoming replacement the Hy6

this should be bright and fast focussing

I dont know about 67 options I think they are all manual focus

All MF AF is centerpoint only and pretty  slow compared  to the offeriengs on DSLRs

The view through the H is a bit barrelled that some find unpleasant

I have owned H and mam 645AFD (notAFD2) - the H is in a different class

some consider the optics of the H series to lack character compared to older lenses mountable on the contax

The mamiya is of course half the price and has an expensive 28mm lense for film

If you use flash the H is great becuase of the 800 synch speed

They are all reliable



S

[nick james]

The view through the H is a bit barrelled that some find unpleasant

I have owned H and mam 645AFD (notAFD2) - the H is in a different class
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=138753\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

What is meant by "barrelled"?

How is the H in a different class?

[Morgan_Moore]

What is meant by "barrelled"?

How is the H in a different class?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=138761\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

-If you look at a scene with a load of vertical lines they dont look straight - they look a bit curved like a barrell

-Brightness and non grainy ness of screen, trustable non hunting AF

(I have not tried the MamAFD2 which is suppoosed to be less rubbish than the AFD)

S

[Rob C]

Hmmm... so much money, so little clue. Or is that a clue?

[nick james]

Rob C,

Are you telling me that if I have the money I should buy the Hasselblad?

The benefit of your experience would be appreciated.

[awofinden]

-If you look at a scene with a load of vertical lines they dont look straight - they look a bit curved like a barrell

-Brightness and non grainy ness of screen, trustable non hunting AF

(I have not tried the MamAFD2 which is suppoosed to be less rubbish than the AFD)

S
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=138804\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Eh hem mr Moore, I very much disagree with you about the mamiya 645AFD. The AF isn't up to much though I find all MF AF to be virtually useless unless you have fairly static subjects in good light and then whats the point? Apart from that I've used this camera for about 4 years and haven't had a single problem with it and when it comes to handling it's nicely balanced and fits well in your hand whereas the hasselblad can best be described as a pig. Also lets not talk about the lenses, we could go on for ever but basically there on a par. (oh yes the Mamiya isn't all that pretty if thats a concern).

[Morgan_Moore]

Eh hem mr Moore, I very much disagree with you about the mamiya 645AFD. The AF isn't up to much though I find all MF AF to be virtually useless unless you have fairly static subjects in good light and then whats the point? Apart from that I've used this camera for about 4 years and haven't had a single problem with it and when it comes to handling it's nicely balanced and fits well in your hand whereas the hasselblad can best be described as a pig. Also lets not talk about the lenses, we could go on for ever but basically there on a par. (oh yes the Mamiya isn't all that pretty if thats a concern).
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=138855\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Well you will need the best AF if you are an "amateur photographer with a visual imparement"

I beleive AF of the H to be the best of a pretty sorry bunch

I also beleive the AFD is darker to look through and the AF even worse.

In terms of ergonomics they both seem fine to me

The (mam) lenses are indeed on a par and a bargain too

Personally as a heavy user of flash the 125 synch of the mam makes it a useless pile of junk that is completely infuriating as soon as you step out of the studio but that may not be the case for many users

The OP should handle both and choose form himself

Both are ultimately superb photographic instruments

I bellive the H to have the edge if you are not constrained by budget

I have owned both and lost significant cash trading from M to H - it was worth it for me

The OP should handle both and choose for himself


S

[awofinden]

Well you will need the best AF if you are an "amateur photographer with a visual imparement"

I beleive AF of the H to be the best of a pretty sorry bunch

I also beleive the AFD is darker to look through and the AF even worse.

In terms of ergonomics they both seem fine to me

The (mam) lenses are indeed on a par and a bargain too

Personally as a heavy user of flash the 125 synch of the mam makes it a useless pile of junk that is completely infuriating as soon as you step out of the studio but that may not be the case for many users

The OP should handle both and choose form himself

Both are ultimately superb photographic instruments

I bellive the H to have the edge if you are not constrained by budget

I have owned both and lost significant cash trading from M to H - it was worth it for me

The OP should handle both and choose for himself
S
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=138901\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Sorry, I must  have skimmed the visual impairment bit. Really if you do have to rely on AF and can't focus manually then my advice would be to wait for the new 1ds mark 3. I would hate to have to rely on the AF of any MF camera.

[nick james]

Mr. Moore,
Is it just the slow flash synch that you found infuriating about the Mamiya, or was there something else?

Just for clarification, it is only the view through the H that is barrelled, not the captured images?

Do you still own the H? If not, what do you currently use? - autofocus or not

[Morgan_Moore]

Mr. Moore,
Is it just the slow flash synch that you found infuriating about the Mamiya, or was there something else?

Just for clarification, it is only the view through the H that is barrelled, not the captured images?

Do you still own the H? If not, what do you currently use? - autofocus or not
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139244\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

The mamiya  AFD (not AFD2) has slower AF and a darker screen too but it was mainly the flash synch whicj a thing that actually effects what I can do with the camera

I have not used an AFD2 but I believe it s basically the same

The barrelling is the viewfinder

There is MINOR barrelling in the lenses too - but this is the same for all cameras that are not view cameras

The seen view is different from the recorded image

I currently use an H system

I would consider changing to a system which had many point auto focus

S

[nick james]

I would consider changing to a system which had many point auto focus
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139325\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

What are the advantages to a multi-point autofocus?  When would it be used instead of single point?
Should these advantages be enough to deter me from getting the H?

[Morgan_Moore]

What are the advantages to a multi-point autofocus?  When would it be used instead of single point?
Should these advantages be enough to deter me from getting the H?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139375\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

'Many point AF ' like in nikons and canons. You can place the camera on a tripod with your subject off center and use the AF,

You can track a moving subject that is off centre using AF

ALL MF systems have just one AF point the centre

I am not AF expert but I hope I am not confusing the phraseology - dynamic AF is another matter - where a subject is loked on as it moves around the frame - not available in MF either

Basically on the H orf other MF systems you choose only a point in the middle - DSRLS have lots of blobs to choose

MF shooting is slower shooting than a DSLR

Detered from the H?

Well many people use this camera using the 'focus and recompose' method OR manual focus

If you are set on 645 or bigger camera you have no choice there is no multipoint AF available exept on DSLRs

These are all expensive toys - I think you need to go to a dealer and play with some of them

S