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Anonymous
Shame on me for starting a hardware thread, but the image is new content. Critique away if you want.

Anyway. I had a crazy idea tonight: what if I sold my Rebel XT and bought a medium format box? I've been wanting to start working in medium format for a while now, but I don't know if I'm willing to sacrifice my digital for it. I hardly use her, but it's nice to have her around when I need photos of something *now* as opposed to whenever I finish the roll. Thoughts, /p/?
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>> Anonymous
since you'll be new to MF, my suggestion would be to keep the rebel, and get a Rolleicord/Yashica Mat/Autocord/Mamiya C* off of ebay to mess around with first. These cameras are of excellent quality and they're relatively affordable as a way to get into medium format photography (bought my rolleicord for 65 bucks, and I love it)

might take a bit of getting used to the TLR system, but it's a MUCH better way to get into MF on the cheap as opposed to getting a Kiev or a Holga.

Another thing you could do is go vintage, and try to find an old Voigtlander Perkeo, perkeo II, bessa, etc, or an older folding kodak, or whatever, which also comes cheap and is an excellent foot in the door of MF. (looking at a perkeo II on ebay right now, actually. Very tempting.)
>> Anonymous
>>43813

Just to add on to that, if after using one of those you feel like you want to continue with MF, then i'd say upgrade the TLR to a Rolleiflex or Mamiya with interchangeable lenses, or if you dont like the TLR way, the good ol mamiya 645 would be a good choice.

If you're obscenely rich, there's always Hasselblad. Actually, you can get good hasselblad kit for relatively little (key word being relative), but you'd have to stick to more vintage hassy to get lower prices (like the 500/500c.) Lenses are expensive though, new or old.
>> Anonymous
>>43815

I'm guessing he isn't rich if he's thinking of selling the existing camera. It's alright, I lust after Hasselblads too.
I wouldn't give up the rebel, digital offers you so much latitude in terms of experimentation - if something doesn't work out you haven't wasted a lot of money finding out so.
>> ac
I'll trade you my Yashica A for your Rebel XT. ;)

(But yeah, if you don't want to take that deal, I'd say keep your Rebel and get something cheap and medium format.)
>> Anonymous
>>43800
Keep the digital camera, it has a versatility that is unmatched by film. In this I mean that the digital allows very quick turnaround times.

Get a medium format camera to explore the areas that the digital allows you to bypass. For instance, you only get 12 or 24 shots per roll of film. You are forced to think a little more about composition this way, whereas with digital you can shoot away for several hundred shots, download the pictures and erase the digital medium to start afresh. Unless you find yourself enjoying the processing of multiple rolls of film over the course of a few hours/days...

Black and white also is a great way to explore light in different ways and it's relatively inexpensive to do your own for a modest sum spent on a film tank, changing bag and chemicals. Film scanners are anywhere from 50 to 100's of dollars.

Good luck with your decision!
>> Anonymous
>>43834
OH! I forgot to mention, if you can't afford a medium format, then look at the *bay prices for 35mm cameras. I have an EOS Rebel 2000 that I picked up for 100 bucks with a 35-70mm lens.
>> ac
>>43835
The implication from the OP is that he or she not only already has 35mm gear (or large format gear, but probably 35mm) but prefers that to his or her digital SLR.
>> Anonymous
>>43837
OP here.

Bingo, mon ami. I have an old Pentax ME that I adore, do 95% of my shooting with her right now. Like I said, I'm not putting much milage on the XT. I haven't recharged the batteries in six weeks because she's hardly been on. I like working on film; it has a certain craftsmanship that digital's speed sort of bypasses. I'll definately invest in a 30D or a 5D when I need something digital for studio or assignment work, but for now I'm just shooting for pleasure and I want to play with medium format. I'd love a Hasselblad, and I could get one relatively cheap on consignment, but I have heard they are extremely expensive if repairs are needed.

I don't really want to spend more than $1000 if possible; I only paid $600 for the XT. Thanks for your suggestions nonetheless.

(As a note, I work at a camera store and once I've been there for a while I get everything at cost, so getting back into digital later on won't be too painful.)
>> Anonymous
>>43800
Critique:

The picture looks great, and underexposing it was a good decision. It's just a little bit too unexposed, or rather, the part of it farthest from the wall is. I know it's supposed to go over to dark, but it goes too dark or too quickly to dark; I can't tell which.

There's a third option for you in your debate: I don't know how much this would cost (I imagine more than a Rebel XT) but you might consider getting a medium format camera that can use a digital back. That way, you don't sacrifice anything.
>> Anonymous
>>43854
Or, you could sell the Rebel XT and get a medium format camera, and for digital shots, get a high-end point and shoot. Cameras like the S3IS or the FZ8 aren't bad at all, though having shot with both I can tell you the S3IS doesn't have RAW and has bad grain at ISO 800 (its highest setting) and though the FZ8 has RAW, it starts getting horrible grain at ISO 400. Otherwise, they're great cameras. If I had options, I wouldn't use the FZ8 for night shooting, but otherwise it is better than the S3IS.
>> Anonymous
>>43857
Well, if he does most of his serious photography in film, and he just wants digital for the rare shot he doesn't have time to develop, a high-end P&S would probably work for him.
>> Anonymous
>>43857
Oh, here: It's selling a Mercedes to buy an Aston-Martin and a Hyundai, when one also has a Porsche sitting around.
>> Anonymous
>>43857

ITT, elitist fucks
>> ac
>>43863
"ITT" is a funny way to abbreviate "In this entire message board"
>> Anonymous
>>43863

I dont see what's so elitist about pointing out the simple fact that a P&S would be a step down from the nice dSLR OP has.
>> Anonymous
>>43862
If he's happy tudoring around in an Aston-Martin and not happy with the Mercedes handling or whatnot...

Then who are you to impose your mindset on his actions?
>> Anonymous
>>43862
Wait wait.. you lost me, which one is which and what are you saying?
>> Anonymous
>>43908

I am>>43855,>>43861, and>>43862.

>>43862was me, a few seconds after I posted the last post, thinking of a different comparison.
>> Anonymous
OP here.

I agree, anything not-a-30D would be a downgrade. But I don't really feel like working in digital right now. I want to establish myself in film before I get too deeply ingrained in digital.

>>43854
Thanks, that's a good idea. I was looking at older Bronica stuff, but it might be worth investigating Mamiya (or, eek, Hasselblad) since there are digital backs available for each.

Just to be clear, I don't have any EF lenses save the 17-55 kit lens, so getting out of Canon now won't hurt too bad. I've got more flexibility with the ME anyway.
>> Anonymous
>>43936
I haven't used it (or any other medium format camera, yet), but Contax makes a medium format camera (the 645) that takes digital backs. Probably would be cheaper than Hasselblad.

I've no clue how Contax's prices would compare to Mamiya's.