Camera Porn - Old School
Number six of my film camera porn series. A look at my medium format twin lens reflex cameras and Gossen Lunasix 3 light meter with a 7.5/15 degree spot attachment.
Some have asked me which one of the cameras do I prefer, or which one do I think is better. Each one is a fine camera and has it's own set of pluses and minuses. On the plus side for the Yashica is the fact that it is smaller and lighter than the Mamiya, and it has a built-in light meter that's quite accurate. The meter is limited by 400ASA being the fastest film speed that you can set it for. However, if you don't mind doing the math, you can always set it at 400 and make the needed calculations for 800, 1600, or 3200 speed film youself. It also has a built in timer that is only available on one version of lens for the Mamiya. One the down side, about the only thing I can say for the Yashica is that the lens is not interchangable. While there are wide angle and telephoto auxiliary lenses available that attach to the bayonet mount, they are extremely difficult to come by these days. About the only time I have seen them for sale is when they are part of a package being sold that always includes a camera.
For the Mamiya, the pluses include interchangable lenses that are available in seven different focal lengths from 55mm to 250mm. The Mamiya is capable of doing multiple exposures, while the Yashica is not. On the down side, there is only one model of lens that has a self-timer. The Mamiya is also larger and heavier than the Yashica (however, TLR's are generally lighters than medium format SLR's). And while it is larger and heavier, it is built like a tank and feels extremely sturdy in my hands. In fact, being larger for me is almost a plus as I have very large hands and it fits quite nicely in them. The last downside of the Mamiya that I can think of is the lack of a light meter, which was not uncommon for cameras that were designed at the time that Mamiya designed and produced the 'C' series of cameras. There are finders available that have a built in meter, but those were sold as accessories and not included when you purchase the camera body.
If I was told that I had to choose between one or the other, I would take the Mamiya for the ability to change lenses. However, both are excellent cameras and capable of producing amazing photographs. As of the day that I posted this image, three of my top four images based on interestingness were shot with the Yashica Mat-124G.
The light meter is a Gossen Lunasix 3 and came with a spot attachment that is selectable at either 7.5 degree or 15 degree field of view. It can do cine calculations and can handle film speeds from 0.8ASA up to 25000ASA. It reads both incident or reflected light, but does not read flash.
Check my blog posting on my Yashica Mat-124G by clicking on the link below:
douglasbawdenphotography.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/camera-...
Update: I just picked up a CdS Porrofinder for my Mamiya and after the first couple of rolls, I am very pleased with the results and accuracy of the meter. The biggest drawback to using the Porrofinder is it makes tripping the shutter a rather awkward movement because to the placement of the shutter release. So, I picked up a bracket with a short cable release and the problem is solved.
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC Macro @46mm
Exposure: 1/30 sec @ f/4.5 ISO 400
Lighting: Canon 430EX off camera right with custom light modifier and fired with Canon ST-E2
This image is © Douglas Bawden Photography, please do not use without prior permission.
Enjoy my photos and please feel free to comment. The only thing that I ask is no large or flashy graphics in the comments.
Camera Porn - Old School
Number six of my film camera porn series. A look at my medium format twin lens reflex cameras and Gossen Lunasix 3 light meter with a 7.5/15 degree spot attachment.
Some have asked me which one of the cameras do I prefer, or which one do I think is better. Each one is a fine camera and has it's own set of pluses and minuses. On the plus side for the Yashica is the fact that it is smaller and lighter than the Mamiya, and it has a built-in light meter that's quite accurate. The meter is limited by 400ASA being the fastest film speed that you can set it for. However, if you don't mind doing the math, you can always set it at 400 and make the needed calculations for 800, 1600, or 3200 speed film youself. It also has a built in timer that is only available on one version of lens for the Mamiya. One the down side, about the only thing I can say for the Yashica is that the lens is not interchangable. While there are wide angle and telephoto auxiliary lenses available that attach to the bayonet mount, they are extremely difficult to come by these days. About the only time I have seen them for sale is when they are part of a package being sold that always includes a camera.
For the Mamiya, the pluses include interchangable lenses that are available in seven different focal lengths from 55mm to 250mm. The Mamiya is capable of doing multiple exposures, while the Yashica is not. On the down side, there is only one model of lens that has a self-timer. The Mamiya is also larger and heavier than the Yashica (however, TLR's are generally lighters than medium format SLR's). And while it is larger and heavier, it is built like a tank and feels extremely sturdy in my hands. In fact, being larger for me is almost a plus as I have very large hands and it fits quite nicely in them. The last downside of the Mamiya that I can think of is the lack of a light meter, which was not uncommon for cameras that were designed at the time that Mamiya designed and produced the 'C' series of cameras. There are finders available that have a built in meter, but those were sold as accessories and not included when you purchase the camera body.
If I was told that I had to choose between one or the other, I would take the Mamiya for the ability to change lenses. However, both are excellent cameras and capable of producing amazing photographs. As of the day that I posted this image, three of my top four images based on interestingness were shot with the Yashica Mat-124G.
The light meter is a Gossen Lunasix 3 and came with a spot attachment that is selectable at either 7.5 degree or 15 degree field of view. It can do cine calculations and can handle film speeds from 0.8ASA up to 25000ASA. It reads both incident or reflected light, but does not read flash.
Check my blog posting on my Yashica Mat-124G by clicking on the link below:
douglasbawdenphotography.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/camera-...
Update: I just picked up a CdS Porrofinder for my Mamiya and after the first couple of rolls, I am very pleased with the results and accuracy of the meter. The biggest drawback to using the Porrofinder is it makes tripping the shutter a rather awkward movement because to the placement of the shutter release. So, I picked up a bracket with a short cable release and the problem is solved.
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC Macro @46mm
Exposure: 1/30 sec @ f/4.5 ISO 400
Lighting: Canon 430EX off camera right with custom light modifier and fired with Canon ST-E2
This image is © Douglas Bawden Photography, please do not use without prior permission.
Enjoy my photos and please feel free to comment. The only thing that I ask is no large or flashy graphics in the comments.