Medium format help

[jools230575]

Originally posted this on Equipment and Techniques

Good morning folks

I am thinking of going from 35mm to medium format. of course, the question begs as to what do you go for! I don't have oodles of money but I'd like to make a sensible choice that I won't regret.

So far I have looked into the following:

Bronica SQ series
Mamiya RB series
Mamiya RZ series

I shoot landscapes in the main and I find the interchangeable backs on all of them to be great. However, I have some nitty gritty details that I am not sure of, which is mainly based on shutter speed/ aperture.

Which ones of the above will allow you to adjust the shutter speed by half stop/ thirds increments? Having a camera that only allows 1 stop between shutter speeds seems a tad restrictive. Am I being overly picky with that requirement?

Any advice is greatly welcomed.

Jools

[Graham Mitchell]

Do you want a wide angle in your system? Those 67 cameras don't have any short focal lengths and on a 48x36mm sensor that's a big problem.

[jools230575]

Hi there

Yes. I'd like to be able to do wide angle shots. Will that be an issue with the ones that I mentioned

[Graham Mitchell]

Hi there

Yes. I'd like to be able to do wide angle shots. Will that be an issue with the ones that I mentioned

Have a look at the rectilinear lenses available for those cameras. I think the RZ's shortest focal length is 50mm, for example, and it is not a great lens (from what I've heard). That would give you a 35mm equivalency of around 38mm.

[Dick Roadnight]

Bronica SQ series
Mamiya RB series
Mamiya RZ series

Jools

What is your budget, and how little could you get a Hasselblad system for?

Roll film "V" system Hasselblads were very popular with pros... and they must be out there somewhere.

[jools230575]

I guess, from looking at Ebay and various shops online in the UK, that I am looking to get started for around £200 to £250. After that it would be a case of buying whatever lenses I feel I would need.

[MichaelKan]

If you shoot film, have you considered 4x5 or 5x7 large format systems?  
You can shoot either sheet film or use a roll film back to shoot panoramas.
If you are sticking to medium format only, give the Fuji GX680 some consideration.  I have the III series and it is a wonderful system, albeit heavy. The Fuji lenses are superb and the front element can be raised and swiveled for perspective control.