If you have followed this blog for a while, you know that I made the switch from 35 mm to medium format 645 (largely before I started the blog). I still use 35mm, but over time the Minolta posts have gone down and the Mamiya 645 posts have gone up. The Mamiya 645, though, is still a single lens reflex camera (SLR), meaning basically that you view, focus and meter through the same lens.
One of my many Minoltas:
And Yes, we have His & Hers Mamiya 645's:
I had a small Canonet 35 mm Rangefinder, but never really took to it:
Then my husband read about the Mamiya 6X6 and wanted one. So we got one. Then it sat around for a while because he was more focussed on digital and so I started using it. Of course he then wanted it back!
I'd learned the ins and outs of Rangefinders by then and was ready to take the plunge. I had observed photographers using the Mamiya 6X7 on workshops and field trips. And since I prefer the landscape format to the square, the Mamiya 7 became my rangefinder of choice.
But I found, that although a Canonet Rangefinder might serve well for street photography, the 10-shot per roll M7 didn't quite work. So in my camera evolution (any by learning a lot about different camera options on the 52 rolls project). I acquired the Fuji GA645 for medium format street photography. We've already taken this on out for a spin at recent rally's. I can't wait for Zombie Crawl 2017!
And yet, I still find uses for my 35 mm cameras, for special projects, as as my easy access ride along camera on road trips. And now that I know more about Rangefinders, I use the Canonet more.
In a future Saturday Online offering, we'll take a look at some Experimental Cameras I Have Known.........
Gotta love those old work horse Minolta SLRs. I started with an SRT-102 and my small collection grew.
ReplyDeleteI don't have any nice new medium format range finders. I use one of my Mamiya Super 23 with various format backs. Then there is always 4x5.