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In 2005 a coworker asked me to take a group photo of his family reunion with over 40 people. I had a Nikon D100 at the time. After realizing that each face would only get a few pixels resolution, I dusted off the Mamiya RB67 I’d bought new in ‘76. Sure glad I did as everyone wanted enlargements. Your video convinced me to have a cla done on it and both lenses. Time to bring it back into play.

Kids, old dude here. I've shot the Hassy, Mamiya 6x6 (like the Rollei) and the Pentax 6x7, as well as 35mm, 4x5, 8x10. The Hassy is a great studio camera, the Mamiya/Rollei.... very slow to work with - I don't recommend them at all. The Pentax 6x7? That's the one I'd haul around to get larger B&W negatives - so here are a couple of tips from my experience. Pentax: get the big wooden handle (unless you're always using a tripod), and practice, practice, practice - that huge mirror swinging around inside at first ruins every handheld shot you'll take. Too much vibration. For a while I thought - no tripod, no go. But I got better at it. (It's probably more like shooting a pistol than taking a photograph). I also had a Kowa - Japanese knock off of the Hassy. The 55mm wide angle lens had to be stopped down or most of your frame would be out of focus. But the lenses were a bit soft and so were better portrait lenses (80 and 150) than the Hassy's (which was designed for map making not people.) However, the Kowa has a stamped sheet metal main gear that will warp and jam - so mechanically they're unreliable. Definite no go (I think I've still got mine - jammed if anyone wants it.) To buy any of this gear 30 years after its manufacture? Hassys are good, reliable, but I think a Pentax 6x7 is basically bullet proof. The point about slow flash sync shutter speed for the Pentax is very important point. Do you think you're Annie Leibowitz or Diane Arbus? You're going to need a faster sync speed for controlling flash outdoors. Good point. (I'd want at least a 1/250 flash sync leaf shutter -otherwise you'd need large flash units with long extension cords.) Would I shoot film again? Maybe B&W, T-Max 400..... I wouldn't take it to a lab. Since the mid-1980s I've used pyro developers. These are compensating developers. This is really really important. A compensating developer will develop the highlights (densest darkest part of the neg) and then it will peter out - so not too much. In the shadow areas (thinnest lightest part of the neg) the developer will keep working building up the density. You will then get a negative that is easier to print - gives you more options. (None of that 1950s - 70s D76 blank white skies, D-Max shadows- if later you decide you want that? Just crank up the contrast - it's impossible going the other way.) Edward Weston had no light meter, guessed at his exposures, used a pyro compensating film developer... and changed photography. I would probably only shoot B&W if after I process it myself (easy) I could get really high res scans. I wouldn't want to go anywhere near a darkroom again. Things that would take me hours and days; that I wouldn't know if they worked or not until weeks later when I toned the prints... I can do in seconds on a computer. (And I've got Epson Photo inkjet prints from 1995 on watercolor paper that still look like new - so any of the archival inks made since then should be brilliant. They're also behind UV protective OP1 plex.) Should young photographers shoot film? Sure. It slows you down, connects you to the history. (But anybody saying "I only want to shoot film," "Film is the only real photography," "film is better," should be left on the side of the road someplace. Color film is a complete dead end. There's no more Kodachrome (and I could talk your ears off for hours about how brilliant Kodak film was in the 1990s.) There is nothing that color negative can do that just about any digital system can't do infinitely better - meaning if you want something to look like 1950s Kodachrome - you can only do it digitally. So film slows you down, but so does spending hours chasing that idea using Photoshop and a good digital printer. You do want this, later you'll be able to do things much quicker.

5 out of 10 of the presented cameras are in my possession! And all are working great. Thx for your video.

Thank you for this really good overview, presented with very high knowledge and competence. Great.

Thanks for a great video. I began shooting medium format cameras at the age of 5. During my childhood, I used a variety of fixed-lens medium format cameras such as Ansco, Diana, Holga, Kodak Brownie, and Kodak Bullet. In college, the YashicaMat TLR was my first professional quality medium format camera. The Mamiya TLR was my second professional quality medium format camera. Fuji 6x7 and 6x9cm fixed-lens rangefinders replaced my worn Mamiya TLR wedding cameras. The Mamiya RB67 SLR was my last professional quality medium format camera.

Love your work.

Thank you Kamerastore for your nice and helpful reviews. I had a Pentax 67-2 for many years until recently. I had the wooden left hand grip, and it has a hot shoe on it. Only the version for the Pentax 67-2 has this. I started to have some electronic issues with it and I replaced it with the Bronica Gs-1 6x7. So far I am very pleased with it and with the results. Better than I had expected. My other MF kamera's are a late Rolleiflex 3.5F with the very sharp Carl Zeiss 6 element lens, a Fuji gs645s and a Fuji gsw690 rangefinder.

Hasselblad 500c - I bought second hand in 1978. That sound. I love the square format, a challenge for composition but beautiful when you get it right. This camera is still going strong, everything works; it's been serviced a few times but never broke down. You can also attach a V system digital back like a Phase One.

Just found you guys… thanks for the presentation. Best regards 😀

I'm just getting into 120 medium format. I havnt invested yet but love the look of the photos and want to try it. I'm used to 35mm film and know there is a learning curve. But I love this video, I know it has narrowed my search down especially to affordability.

Subscribed. Awesome content.

I decided to make the move into medium format earlier this year, and I'd always liked the Mamiya C series, so I managed to get a bargain..a C2 that had been fully serviced and has the 80mm "Blue Dot" lens. It's over 60 years old, but takes some awesome images!

Great channel

I own a Bronica ETRS and SQA absolutely gorgeous both of them I won’t part with either lens are superb SQ - A is sometimes called the Japanese Hasselblad I can see why for less than 1/3 of the price of a 500 series yep I do love my Bronnyblad 👍🏻greetings from the UK 🇬🇧

Great video, I was surprised that the Bronica SQ series and Mamiya C330 series.

Great video

I have a Yashica 635 that I love and shoot with often.

Lovely and very fair review. I own the Mamiya 6 and 330f, and I have previously owned a Mamiya 645 and RZ67 and your review was spot on. Interesting that none of the Fuji medium format cameras made it into the top ten, I wonder why people weren't searching for them?

Great selection! I have the Mamiya 7, RB and 645 Pro TL and the briefly mentioned Fuji GX680 III. All those which I could not afford in the nineties. ;-)

Fuji GF670 for me! It’s light, folds up so it’s quite small, rangefinder, sharp optics, 6x6 and 6x7 modes, meter, it’s pretty much perfect

One can always add others, like the economical 645 rangefinder cameras , but great talk and coverage.

I think the Mamiya 645 has some of the most underrated glass of any cameras!

Besides owning Leica cameras.M6 and R4 I also owned pre Leica a Bronica 645 camera. This was a great camera backed up with a few accessories, Backs, prism viewfinder etc! plus of course lenses. I agree with your comment about these types of cameras being more at home in Studio condition. However, for the more posed or none immediacy picture these were great cameras. especially when doing your own processing. The larger format giving a superior negative to work from....Horses for course I suppose...

I've had a lot of cameras and te RB had to be the best overall. Amazing lens system too, plenty to choose from.

I have a couple of the yashica mat cameras, what I didn’t see in your list is the Mamiya twin lens cameras. The C 220 and 330 cameras are great and the lens selection is great.

So glad I kept my Pentax, a high quality image maker.

I had a medium format film camera which I treasured ... my old Mamiya 6 camera. Very small, lightweight, and not terribly expensive compared to plenty of other cameras. It was great for doing wedding photography. If I maybe wanted to give it another try these days, I might want to sample a Pentax 6 by 7 camera.

I used the RB-67 in my studio for years and it never failed me buts not a true ideal format (1-1.25 ration). That's why I eventually went to the RZ-67. I also had the Pentax 645N and a bunch of lenses which all fit the Pentax 645Z 51mp digital.

I am very satisfied with my Bronica GS-1! I had bad luck with a Yashica Mat124, now have the D. I kind if like the separate film advance and shutter cock levers, makes multiple exposures easy.

The 645’s are great. I decided on the Pentax 67 for the more unique aspect ratio

I shoot 6x6 with a Pentacon six TL. Equipped with Carl Zeiss Jena MC lenses you really get excellent results. And I really like the camera's somehow agricultural feel... 😄

Hey Connor, nice watch!

all great cameras thank you ,2 super cameras missing of the list is Bronica ETRsi and Fuji GW 690 also very affordable but are going up in price

Would love to have a Diacord. A mechanical Mamiya 645 is an intriguing choice too.

In my collection of wonderful things, I have a Hasselblad 500CM, two Mamiya RB67s, a Fujica GSW670, a Fujica GSW690, a Fujica GSW645, four Rolleiflexes, a Rolleicord, a Graflex XL, a Minolta Autocord, two Yashicamat 124s, a Flexaret, a Zeis Ikon Ikonta, a Kodak Brownie Hawkeye, numerous medium format folders, a Holga and stuff i cannot remember. Except for the Hawkeye and Graflex, they all get used. When I die, my kids can have one helluva yard sale!

I love my RB67, I have the Pro SD version with 6x8 motor advancing film backs. This is my go to camera and great as a gal's tote about camera. If the best camera is the one you have with you when you need to capture a shot, then why not just always carry your favorite and best camera.

😍Mamiya RZ67!!!!!!!

A word of warning: the RB67 is not a camera for beginners. There are so many interlocks on them that they are extremely -difficult- complicated to use, compared to a Mamiya 645 or Hasselblad. I used a Bronica in the brief period I was a working photographer in the 1980s and it was a much simpler camera to use. I also used the Mamiya 645. The RB is a great camera - I own one - but it requires the photographer to think before every step. Focusing is different, especially with floating element lenses, there are no electronic connections between the various components and the body. Cocking is a two step process - cocking the mirror and the shutter and winding the film. You can really screw up if you don't know what you're doing. It’s a great camera - I have taken spectacular pictures with it - but it's hard to use and not a good place for beginners to start.

I have the Hasselblad 500CM, the Pentax 67II, and the Rollei2.8F, 3.5F and the Mamiya 645 Super for about 2- 5 years now, what can I say, happily ever after 😆

Nico, the RZ also had a motor winder you could attach to the bottom, and for fashon photography, (what these were mainly used for at that time); so this was better for that; and YES I do know that a "power advance" back was available for the RB, Pro II ? but I presume this was only for single shooting aka like an autowind 35 mm camera, on S, NOT C or H burst shooting!, but the mamiya winder I think was capable of burst shooting, at least for this format!

The Hasselblad C was produced from 1957 to 1970/71 and then followed by the 500 CM....cheers

I bought the Mamiya M645 around 1978 and used it till 2007 (when I started digital), with two lenses: the 80mm standard lens and the 150mm portrait lens. Many years later I bought the Hasselblad x1d and with an adapter I could again also use these Mamiya lenses, suddenly I had, beside my two HB lenses, two extra lenses. The only disadvantage is that I have to use the electronic shutter on the HB and so cannot use my strobes. But with my old Canon Eos Mark II (also with an other adapter for the Mamiya lenses) I can use these lenses and trigger my strobes. The Mamiya lenses are great and I'm happy to use them again on a digital camera starting their second life!

The Mamiya also had a parallax corrector that was placed on the tripod.

Surprised didn't mention the Fuji GX680. It is more robust than the Mamiya RB67. One thing I love about the 680 is the ability can do movements similar to a large format camera- rise and fall/tilt and shift, it also has amazing optics and not to mention the ability to go from 6x8 to 6x7, 6x6, 645 to even Polaroid.

The hasselblad 500c has no instant return mirror. You forgot to mention.. For me who have a Pentax 6x7 with a 75mm f4.5 lens and a Pentax 67 with a 55mm f4 lens. Rubber grip lens. These two cameras blow all other medium formats away. I also have a 1957 Yashica Mat with the 75mm Lumaxar f3.5 lens. Pretty rare. Excellent results.

Its brilliant learning about these cameras, it would be great to see a list (across the 3 videos that you have put up) on under appreciated alternatives. I find that a lot of the cameras that we see in these lists are hyped (medium format not so much but SLR and Rangefinder) when there are many many alternatives to these cameras that are in some cases over priced IMO. It would also be good to hear from Camera Rescue the most well built cameras, ones that done like to break. Love that you mention the Mamiya C3 as an alternative, the "speed" of taking a photo isn't possible on a TLR so the extra cocking of the shutter is no problem. I own a C3 and love it! Great video thanks team.

I use a Pentax 67 for my medium format needs. I have the 90mm leaf shutter lens which comes in very handy with hand held exposures, since the mirror action on this camera can be brutal. That lens, which can be very hard to find, is tack sharp and allows different flash sync exposure times. All in all, its a great piece of equipment.

Fuji GW series! There’s not many videos on them and theres one I got my eye on

I'll search for Zenzas until Easter, to influence the next year's list :)

my personal list from best to 1. Rolleiflex 2.8GX 6x6 cm 2. Horsman 612 6x12 cm and 6x9 cm 3. Rolleiflex 6800 AF or i2 or Hy6 6x6 cm 4. Contax 645 with AF Zeiss lenses. 6. Mamiya 7 6x7 cm for landscape or travel photography 7. Hasselblad 205 6x6 cm 8. Rolleiflex SL 66 SE 6x6 cm 9. Fuji GW 690 6x9 cm 10. Mamiya 6 6x6 cm

Literally just hit the “buy now” button on EBay for my Bronica etr. Now I impatiently wait like a kid on Christmas Eve lol

Hey! Would be great if you guys cover the Mamiya M Time Machine, there’s barely any info of it, found one for peanuts and seems pretty decent

A very affordable Medium Format camera is the Mamiya Press Super 23. The 50mm F6.3 and the 100mm F2.8 lenses are outstanding and it has interchangeable 6x9 and 6x7 backs known for their film flatness. It also has a fast 250mm F5 telephoto lens. The camera has a back bellows which provide the equivalent of swing for providing foreground to background focus.

I am surprised the Bronica did not make the list. I have an Icoflex, which I,did not expect to be on the list, but they are really nice (I also have a rolleiflex, but not with the 2.8 lens)

I have an older Pentax 6 x 7 and it has a leaf shutter in its lens, in the front, which does about 4-5 speeds . This shutter and the main shutter are designed to work together for flash use, I think

I went for the second best thing. Instead of Rolleiflex I have Minolta Autocord III, instead of Mamiya 7II I have Fuji GSW690III and instead of Pentax 67 or Mamiya RB/RZ I have Bronica GS-1. Much cheaper, but good enough for me and my customers

I had a Mamiya RZ with lots of accessories. It was big, bulky and heavy. Paid about $ 1000 for it. Then I found one who would like to swap his Mamiya 6MF with two lenses. Then I got a 4x5" to do the slow stuff. Some months ago I got a superdeal with a Mamiya 7 with 43mm, and there went all my money I had saved for a Fuji GFX. Hope I did the right decision, and hopefully don't lose any money, and maybe do better pictures.

My voigtlander perkeo would be on the list, lens almost as good as a rollei (at f8) fits into my jeans pocket and OK you have to guess the distance.

I have a C220 and it is heavy. I have a 80mm 2.8 on there and it is beautiful. I will say go for the C330 if you have to choose.

Suprised you didn't mention any foldables.. My overall #1 is Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 532/16. It has a 80mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar, exact same optics as Rolleiflex, has shutter from 1s to 1/400, has self timer, and most importantly, its about as compact as a big point and shoot and weigh less than a kg. Sure some cameras on this list offers somewhat better image quality, or more versitality as a system, but most of the cameras here won't be with you when you go out without a clear intent of photographing something.

Yeah there is Aperture priority on the Mamiya 6, just choose the square or circle on the speed dial.

Great video, however, as usual they have forgotten to mention the revolutionary Rolleiflex SL66 that in the year of its introduction in Photokina in 1966 marked a milestone in the design of Medium Format cameras, its characteristics are so many that it is not possible to list them in my comment, unfortunately to date, has not received the recognition it deserves. As is tradition in innovation, Rolleiflex also contributed with the 6000 series, but that's another story. Thank you for your interesting videos. Greetings.

RB means "Really Big".

Hasselblad 500cm that what I shoot very dependable. I’ve scuba dived with my hassy

Pretty cool, pretty cool. Mamiya stonks are erecting. The c330 is my favourite camera of all time. Try taking it out in the field, it's how it feels that gives it that edge

I have never seen a review for the Norita 66 with the Noritar 80mm f2.0 lens. I hear the lens is considered the Noctilux for medium format. Any opinions?

I one roleflex with a flash on the front

ZBronica SQ 6x6 square .. that’s the format 4 me .. the ZBronica SQ I’ve wanted one 4 ages / circumstances allow now so pulled trigger on the SQ. Expecting 2 take delivery later 2day. It’s a given ur gonna get CLA done on ur used camera. The Blad’s expensive but reliable .. no electronics all mechanical in 500 series. Nup, ZBronica 4 me. That Rolleiflex loox interesting .. had one yonx ago but too old so too hard 2 kit out.

Why no bronica? Its a really phenomenal camera line. And affordable

I own three cameras from this list: M645, C330 and RB67. I started with M645 late 2018, then got a C330 May last year and a RB67 now a year ago. All had service at Mamiya service in the Netherlands (that guy is doing Mamiya's over 45 years) After a year I can say that the C330 is my favourite. I find it rather compact and not that heavy. At least much lighter than the RB. Other than the needle that shows the parallax, you can also choose to use the paramender. Only disadvantage of that you have to use a tripod. I understand why the M645 is the most searched for, because it's a nice system for medium format beginners. You can't do so much wrong (not cocking the shutter, chance for double exposures) and it are good and reliable cameras. I have to disagree about the 4:3 ratio being similar to 3:2. With 35mm cameras I tend to shoot a lot in portrait mode and with my GW690 also. I think I'll get a GSW680III one day.

Love my Hasselblad 2000 FC/M, the only MF camera that I own. Cannot improve on perfection, especially with those Carl Zeiss lenses...:)

Love these top 10 reviews ,the snapping of the hasselblad backs were making me cringe everytime,i kept looking at nico to see his expression as i learnt from his video it's not the way to mount the backs 😂

How could you forget the most brilliant and sought-after medium format camera of all time-the Contax 645? Even today, 17 years after it was last manufactured, it's commanding $$$$ prices for used ones.

❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

What is your thoughts on the Minolta Auto cord

No Plaubel Makina 67, such a top camera

A Medium format or the canon r7 if I want to spend no more than 1500€ for the body?

You failed to mention the Mamiya Six, with interchangeable 6x4.5 and 6x6 formats

Note Yashicamat LM: LM = light metre.

What about the Ertc? sQ-1?

I have an RZ67 Pro II, overall great condition but have a strange issue with the shutter. When it hasn’t been shot for a few days, the first shot no matter what, takes around 1 second, even when set at 1/400. Takes a few shots until the shutter speed starts to quicken up until normal accurate speeds. It’s useable as I take the back off, warm her up, and then continue the film in between different days. Any experience with this before? Thanks!

34:08 Tessar? I have a Rolliflex with a Zeiss Tessar 75mm f 3.5.

1/30 th flash sync isn't a big deal. The flash duration will decide, particularly in studio.

Nuno is the only guy i've seen to effortlessly match Nico's level when it comes to cameras 📸 😂

Or a Rolliflex SL 2000 0r Mamiya R bX - 1000

Para mi falta mencionar la Zenza Bronica S2 que creo es mejor que la pentax y la RZ67.

What about Fuji GW690?

Does the way the photos look really depens on the camera or the photo paper?

Hasselblad 503CW?

rollei 6008 is better than than the selection presented, I've used all but the pentax 6x7 and the mam RX. also where is the Bronica GS1, sqam etc both easily hand usable.

The bronicas are also becoming more popular specially because they are so much cheaper! I owned a etrs for a a few months and I loved it!

where is the Bronica love?

You forgot the rollei 6008

Yo why no Bronica love?

why no contax 645?

NO, Nico, Hasselblad 500C/M's did NOT have a fisheye lens (the Hasselblad system had a SWC, a special thin camera body, like the flex and arc body, NO movements!, but a fixed 38mm bio-gon lens!! ( think of the more recent 907x camera, same shape!!)

Correction rapid m

I have camera AT1 canon I want Film Rool Wear available in Kuwait and Pakistan

MPB is the real deal