budget MF camera

[Stoned]

Can anyone recommend a budget TLR with a good lens and has a meter? Budget is from 200-800.

[Tetrode]

Originally Posted by Stoned Can anyone recommend a budget TLR with a good lens and has a meter? Budget is from 200-800.

For $500, you can pick up a used but mint Rolleiflex T with light meter. For $800, a Rolleiflex F3.5 or E3.5 is possible but in average to excellent condition.

Otherwise for $400, a nice Rolleicord Vb can be had but w/o a light meter.

I'd try to stick to Rolleis because of their good resale value and robust/reliable construction.
They are also a pleasure to use.

[nightwolf75]

Originally Posted by Stoned Can anyone recommend a budget TLR with a good lens and has a meter? Budget is from 200-800.

some of the yashicamats come with a meter. another is fitting a kiev TTL/spot prism onto a rolleiflex.

http://www.photographical.net/tlr_ttl.html

however, do note cos these cameras are pretty old (except the prism from kiev. u can buy new from USA), most of them their meters dun work any more and can't be repaired, IIRC. the best is to get ur own hand-held meter or use ur SLR/DSLR as a meter.

[Stoned]

Originally Posted by Tetrode For $500, you can pick up a used but mint Rolleiflex T with light meter. For $800, a Rolleiflex F3.5 or E3.5 is possible but in average to excellent condition. Otherwise for $400, a nice Rolleicord Vb can be had but w/o a light meter. I'd try to stick to Rolleis because of their good resale value and robust/reliable construction. They are also a pleasure to use.

I didn't know Rolleis could be had at a price at 500 or below!
The rolleiflex T sounds interesting. I had always thought rolleis with meters were in the 1k plus range(based on past CS sales) What lens does the rolleiflex T come with?

Nightwolf--> I read too that many of the meters don't work well because they are old. I was considering using a seperate body to meter but it's really troublesome. Of course, ideally a TLR with an inbuilt working meter is the best as I don't have to lug so much stuff around, but in case I can't obtain one with a good working meter, how much does a simple external spot meter set you back by. I've never had to buy one before.
Any recommendations for external spot meters btw? Preference goes to portability rather than functionality.( dont need fancy stuff like flash metering, just like what an SLR's meter can provide or something similar)

Im afraid that since the last time i spoke to you about MF i've yet to properly enter MF . It's my new year resolution for next year, but I hope to get started by the end of this year.

[nightwolf75]

Originally Posted by Stoned I didn't know Rolleis could be had at a price at 500 or below! The rolleiflex T sounds interesting. I had always thought rolleis with meters were in the 1k plus range(based on past CS sales) What lens does the rolleiflex T come with? Nightwolf--> I read too that many of the meters don't work well because they are old. I was considering using a seperate body to meter but it's really troublesome. Of course, ideally a TLR with an inbuilt working meter is the best as I don't have to lug so much stuff around, but in case I can't obtain one with a good working meter, how much does a simple external spot meter set you back by. I've never had to buy one before. Any recommendations for external spot meters btw? Preference goes to portability rather than functionality.( dont need fancy stuff like flash metering, just like what an SLR's meter can provide or something similar) Im afraid that since the last time i spoke to you about MF i've yet to properly enter MF . It's my new year resolution for next year, but I hope to get started by the end of this year.

well.... if u dun mind REALLY beaten up condition rolleis, i do believe there might be some priced ard $500. but, buyers REALLY have to beware!

every now and then, there are some folks here who put their light meters up for sale. u can keep a look out for it? else, IMO, a nice and relatively low-cost meter would be like brands polaris. it will set u back ard $400+, new. u can find them at the usual places. i picked up one long time ago at ruby. its really quite useful as it has a spot meter attachment. but, for me the easiest is still using ur existing cam as a meter.

actually, if u want just a TLR as a way of intro into MF, u can always look out for a seagull TLR. not a bad piece of machinery for its price, despite its china-made status. i dun think u'll want to go for a russian lubitel? its really really cheap but with ur skills, i dun think u'll want to keep it for long as u'll outgrow it in a big hurry. just drop in on P&G or ron's cameras. u might find some there. shld be in the region of ard $200+.

dun sweat the small stuff like meters! MF photography is really quite fun! if all else fails, just use the sunny 16 rule and snap away. i had to do this most of the time with my ex-lubitel 166U and seagull.

[dreamseeker]

Depending on which Rollei TLR model you are looking at, for $500 or below. IMO it is really hard to find a good pc below $500.

If you are looking for mint, be prepared to pay a lot more as collectors are very eager on mint ones.

Rolleiflex T either comes with Tessar or Xenar lens if I'm not wrong. Simple light meters costs about $100+ but no spot metering.

You have to watch for the taking and viewing lens alignment if you get a Rollei. Better to do some test shots on slides b4 you cough out the dough.

[Stoned]

then wouldn't that mean I would have to meet the seller twice? Do sellers actually do that? (common practice for selling MF perhaps?)

How much then do rolleiflex Ts go for? and rolleicords?

If not spot metering then what do these light meters come with? evaluative? center-weighted?

I was considering a minolta autocord as a choice, but Im not sure now as rolleis seem within my budget too.

[ricohflex]

sorry off-thread

actually after trying out rollei TLR, hassel, rollei 6000 series, russian exakta-type slr and fuji 645. I like hassel the most.

but if i were starting all over again, i will just buy a fuji 645 medium format zoom.
it is value for money, portable, fuss free. all in 1 small complete package. 2nd hand about $1300 ? modern technology. no need to buy any extra lenses or accessories.
the idea is, just take and go, no fuss.

spotted one in TCW, but guess i will save $ for digital slr since i already have the nonzoom fuji 645

if you can get a new rollei tlr ok, is it $3000+? wow.
if you are getting a very old rollei tlr with potential repair problems, i think spare yourself the trouble. after all not cheap. tradition is fine but there are many good alternatives.

there is some mystique to rollei tlr due to the tradition. lenses are good if in good condition.

[edlye]

Totally second ricohflex's recommendation. I have the Rollieflex T (my dad's) and the Fuji GA645, and if I were to do it all again I would have saved the money spent on the repairs on the Rollie T and gotten the GA645Zi instead of the GA645. The Zi is a one-time purchase and then you concentrate on using it and maybe save up for a nice MF scanner instead of more MF lenses and other gizmos.

[Stoned]

Im actually looking at a 6x6 as im more interested in photographing in a square format. 645's 3:4 ratio is not quite what I want. I don't want to crop to a sq. after shooting.
I did see an RB67 with an 80mm lens today at TCW for 1k. I've also seen some people selling bronica sqa or sqb sets for about 1.3k, very worth it if I was looking for a system.

Unfortunately, as you've noticed my budget stands at max 800 for now. If i fall in love with the sq. format I will definitely take the plunge and buy into a system, but not yet.

I've found some TLRs at one of the second hand shops that seem to be what I need. At present will probably settle on either a minoltaflex, ricohflex, autocord or a yashicamat, which will set me back no more than 400 with an external meter, based on what I checked out today.

Thanks all for the suggestions and help. Appreciate them very much.

[nightwolf75]

Originally Posted by Stoned Im actually looking at a 6x6 as im more interested in photographing in a square format. 645's 3:4 ratio is not quite what I want. I don't want to crop to a sq. after shooting. I did see an RB67 with an 80mm lens today at TCW for 1k. I've also seen some people selling bronica sqa or sqb sets for about 1.3k, very worth it if I was looking for a system. Unfortunately, as you've noticed my budget stands at max 800 for now. If i fall in love with the sq. format I will definitely take the plunge and buy into a system, but not yet. I've found some TLRs at one of the second hand shops that seem to be what I need. At present will probably settle on either a minoltaflex, ricohflex, autocord or a yashicamat, which will set me back no more than 400 with an external meter, based on what I checked out today. Thanks all for the suggestions and help. Appreciate them very much.

ahhh... another 6x6 fan.

i once had a GA545 too, got it off another fella. it had a simple built-in meter. but i never got the hang of the cam and sold it off after a while.

for those used TLRs, be prepared to send them in for some form of servicing. so far, i heard good things of P&G's servicing of such cameras. a fren of mine was recently quoted $100 for cleaning the lens on his rollei @ P&G.

[Stoned]

hmm what about shops? do they CLA before selling?

[nightwolf75]

Originally Posted by Stoned hmm what about shops? do they CLA before selling?

u mean as in the shops which sells used TLRs? not dat i know of... usually they only do it upon request after purchase.

[jonathan_wong]

Hi guys

if you can read/write in Chinese, here is a good site:

http://www.sy916.com

I bought my Seagull 4A-109, 107 from them. They are pretty good. Got a lot of Russian equipment as well.