Suitable medium format camera for photography student?

kickstart

kickstart

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My daughter is doing a degree in documentary photography and has decided that she would like to try a medium format camera for some of her college work.

I'm looking for something like a Bronica or Mamiya 645 (or Hassleblad but I don't think the budget would stretch to this).

Ideally i would rather not pay much more than £200 as I'm not convinced she will want to use it more than a couple of times.

These are a few I found on ebay but I don't know enough about them to see if they are suitable.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRONICA-6x6cm-S2-NIKKOR-P-75mm-f2-8-BEAUTIFUL-COND-/310227041723?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item483af8fdbb#ht_500wt_1123

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330443782098&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1820wt_882

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250655746411&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1123

Not sure about this one, feels a bit cheap?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170504777857&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1123

This is the one I thought seemed like a good buy?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mamiya-645-J-80mm-lens-PD-Prism-LED-exposure-read-out-/280526933506?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4150b54e02#ht_1856wt_1108

Can anyone offer me some advice as to what I should be looking for?

I've also posted in the Wanted section in case anyone has something suitable cluttering up their loft!
 
have a look for a hasselblad 500c - you will see them for little more... and you'll get back what you paid

A mamiya C330 twin lens is exceptional value - and if you looking for something even cheaper a seagul or yaschica 124 are both good too

The twin lens camera have a few limitations over the slr's but are robust and have a few advantages too....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mamiya-C330-F...ultDomain_3&hash=item415096c40a#ht_548wt_1139

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YASHICA-MAT-1...ultDomain_3&hash=item335e3daf34#ht_500wt_1154
 
Speaking as a photography student I think the best choice in terms of age, lens quality, maintainability, and film area is a Bronica SQB 6X6. about £200 - 250 with one back, WLF and an 80mm lens

They are relatively new, I think they stopped making them around 2005. They have an electronically timed shutter so they are not prone to needing regular servicing to keep them working well. The SQB is fully manual which is good for students and make the camera more reliable. The later PS lenses are sharp and cheap. The 6x6 format is a bit tricky to work with initially but the format will give her work a more individual look, which is very important in a college environment.
 
snappingsam said:
have a look for a hasselblad 500c - you will see them for little more... and you'll get back what you paid
Click to expand...

Personally I'd love to get her one of these, and I know it would keep it's value more, but I think it stretches the budget too far on this occasion.
 
What does she want it for? If it's just to experience medium format, then a Yashica 124 will do that for relatively little money. It's a sound camera, twin-lens reflex.
 
Thanks for the offer, and the advice.

I was browsing ebay last night and put a cheeky bid in on a Hasselblad 500C/M. I was fully expecting to be outbid and, although it was over the original budget I'd discussed, I got it for £400, with lens, finder and back.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260623632646&ssPageName=ADME:L:COSI:GB:1123#ht_1060wt_1141

Hopefully she will be more than delighted with this (she actually cried with excitement when she got her Canon 40D last year).
 
kickstart said:
Thanks for the offer, and the advice.

I was browsing ebay last night and put a cheeky bid in on a Hasselblad 500C/M. I was fully expecting to be outbid and, although it was over the original budget I'd discussed, I got it for £400, with lens, finder and back.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260623632646&ssPageName=ADME:L:COSI:GB:1123#ht_1060wt_1141

Hopefully she will be more than delighted with this (she actually cried with excitement when she got her Canon 40D last year).
Click to expand...

thats better than I thought they went for :O
 
kickstart said:
Thanks for the offer, and the advice.

I was browsing ebay last night and put a cheeky bid in on a Hasselblad 500C/M. I was fully expecting to be outbid and, although it was over the original budget I'd discussed, I got it for £400, with lens, finder and back.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....ssPageName=ADME:L:COSI:GB:1123#ht_1060wt_1141
Click to expand...
Well done! Just get her to put a film through it as soon as she gets it to check for light leaks - always a possibility with cameras of this vintage, but pretty easily sorted out.
 
Although I'm not a fan of 6x6 Carl Zeiss lenses are absolutely legendary so that's enough for me to be seriously impressed. Very nice find.
 
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