Re: Need feedback on move into medium format for IR

["Willem-Jan Markerink" <w.j.markerink@xxxxx>]

On  5 Jul 98 at 21:19, David M. Young wrote:

> I need some validation on my choice of equipment of moving to Medium
> Format, and would appreciate any or all comments.
> 
> My requirements:
> Larger negative than 35mm.
> Ability to handle 70mm film  (Specifically HIE). 
>   (could also go to 4x5, but I don't want to make that leap yet)

Mmm....the latter suggests that Mamiya RB 6x7 shouldn't be ruled out 
either....since that's the upper limit as far as size and weight goes in 
medium format....gives you not only the largest modern 70mm negative, 
but also portrait and landscape mode with a simple turn of the 
back....
It also gives you access to a fisheye, something that will be a pricy 
adventure with Hasselblad, and impossible with Rollei and Pentax.
And, last but not least: used RB 70mm backs in mint condition are
rarely more than US$3-400, and are not that hard to find. 
And if you want to freak out, Beattie even makes a long-roll 70mm 
back, even motorized and with data imprint I believe....
If you are interested, I might still have a line on two
mint/new-in-box 70mm units for US$350. Would have to check if they
are still available.

> My choices:
> Pentax 645n
> Hasselblad 503
> Bronica ETRsi
> Rollei 6003
> 
> Comments:
> 
> Rollei is out simply on price.  I can't see paying over $5000 for just  the
> back alone.

I once found (and sold) a used back for US$700 or so....there aren't
many around though, so chances of finding more are quite small. There 
are a few members who use one though, but mostly 
professiona/aerial/agricultural. But I hardly see used prices of more 
than US$1500 overhere. And I think your price is for the data-imprint 
version, not sure how frequent those are on the used market (the one 
I sold was a normal one).
And it is basically a modified Mamiya RB back, Rollei choose this 
modification instead of a design from scratch because they didn't 
thought they would sell that many. In hindsight they were wrong, but 
I believe current sales still don't warrant a design from scratch.

> Pentax 645N: Has good qualifications, including the attractiveness of the
> integral motor drive, metering, and data imprinting... and I can get a 70mm
> back... but I don't really like the idea of not being able to change backs
> mid-roll. I might be able to overlook that one if there are enough other
> reasons to go this route.

Just for the record: my Dutch article specifically mentions a 70mm 
back....US$1200 (Dutch price, B+H lists it for US$800).
 
> Hasselblad.  Has the name, the quality and doesn't have the drawbacks of
> the 645.  Also doesn't have an integral motor drive or metering, and a
> meter prism won't work with the 70mm back.  Also a bit on the pricey side
> and known for being a bit sensitive to field conditions.
> 
> Bronica:  My leading choice right now.  Has the advantages of the
> Hasselblad, without being so pricey, but I still don't have the integral
> metering (Meter prism doesn't mount well with the 70mm back).  Has
> reasonable price and performance.  Also will have to buy 70mm back used...
> they're out of production where they're current items for the Hassey and
> 645n. 

Mmm....interesting problem, the mounting of metered prisms.
I never even thought about that aspect on my Mamiya RB, but the 70mm 
backs doesn't stick out much more, at least not in the same way the 
645 systems do. Though I did choose a metered magnifying hood right 
away, as my fisheye/wide angle addiction makes the frog-perspective 
much more easy. And this option is only available with Rollei and 
Mamiya (not made any more though, neither for RB nor for RZ, although 
both had one, the RZ even with spot/integral/auto metering....but 
the RZ doesn't work well with the RB 70mm back....wish I could have 
some spot-functionality by mounting the RZ unit on my RB, but it 
seems as if that combination doesn't work)

Note that there is a view-finder extender for the Bronica, I think 
mostly to suit these 70mm backs....not sure if these extenders are 
still being made.


- -- 
Bye,

Willem-Jan Markerink


      The desire to understand 
is sometimes far less intelligent than
     the inability to understand


<w.j.markerink@xxxxx>
[note: 'a-one' & 'en-el'!]
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End of Infrared-Digest V0 #649
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