Hmmm, Im not really interested in getting anything more then a 80mm lens. Maybe a wide angle later on or a 140 ish. How does the rollei perform? image quality results vs. the hasselblad. Right now im more set on a contax 645 for an actual autofocus and light meter camera. but i will keep an eye out for the market of 6x6 cameras. Ive yet to have that much time on the actual computer to look up all the models you suggested but i will chris. thank you for the tips on the negative scanning. it actually makes perfect sense to just do them individually. I only get five to six golden shots per roll at times

I scan individually, since I process nearly all my film my self, and I know which frames are the golden ones. If I were doing high volume stuff for pay though, I would have my lab hand me a CD of tiffs when I went to pick up the chromes or negs at the end of the day.

Hasselblads are not fragile cameras, in the typical sense of the word, quirky is the best way to describe them. The body and lens shutter states must coincide when mounting (ie. if your lens is cocked but the body isn't, you will jam the camera). Solving a Hass jam can be done at home, but you have to know exactly what you're doing, and must be extraordinarily careful, as you'll be sticking a jeweler's screw driver through the film gate and mirror box to access a tiny screw which is located (conveniently) right next to the rear element of the lens (which has to be mounted in order to solve the problem). They are also very expensive to maintain and have serviced, and you will pay a premium for lenses and accessories.

If you're really stuck on 6x6, the Bronica SQ-Ai cameras are also awesome.

I also use two twin lens reflex cameras when I'm just on the go, a Rollei Automat X and a Yashica Mat 124G. They're lightweight, compact, and I love the results they give. The Rollei is a especially prized possession of mine.

What is the bron rtsd cameras like?

I still dont know which path to go. what is so wrong with the hasselblads Breaking?

ive been meaning to ask you. What is some tips. for high dpi scanning? once i get the medium format camera, at this moment wont be till june. But in the mean time i want to start scanning my Negatives myself. I dont know, how youd do it, but my scanner has a negative pallet. It can hold about a 9 frame strip in 4 columns. Also has medium format and large format trays. But when i load my negatives and scan them in, they are cropped out in some cases. theres a automatic setting to mass scan, where itll automatically scan each negative and not the negative space between. or is it better to just to scan them indvidually

and as to the Bronica ETR cameras, wedding photographers used to use them in droves, so if that's what you're going in to, don't think it's a sub standard system just cause it's not a Hasselblad. Instead of renting the Hass for 125 for the weekend, you could just buy an ETRS setup for 250-300 and hold onto the camera. Lenses are fantastically cheap right now too.

The Pentax lenses are also very cheap to get your hands on, compared to the ones from hassy

Pete

I had a chance to get a Pentax 6X7 a few years ago, should have done it

I'd give a vote for a Mamiya RB67. I paid less than $400 for mine used about a year ago. It is completely mechanical, so you never have to worry about changing batteries (or other electronic issues) unless you buy the optional PD metering prism (which I did. The setup isn't light, but I'd think that it is better than a Monorail view camera.) If you want even cheaper, the Mamiya C-TLR series seems to be good, so long as you buy a "Black" lens.

cut your losses and buy a mamiya RB67 or Pentax 6x7, you'll get a bigger neg for less money, and top notch optics. The hasselblads are also finnicky cameras, and I wouldn't just leap into them. If you jam the shutter or mirror, you're in for a treat, and you don't want to gouge the back element of a hassy lens with a jeweler's screw driver.

Or try it all out with a Bronica ETR/ETRS/ETRS-I first, I love my ETRS, it's a fantastic camera, I just don't shoot it as much anymore since I got my Pentax 6x7.

I want to ask again... What every bodies personal opinions on either camera. Pros and cons of each camera. Which one has better image quality?

Also theres a local antique store here. (more like a pawn shop). But Hes a photographer on the side and one of his specialties is to collect cameras. He has probably 4 hasselblad set ups i could go and check right now from 500-800 that i could use personally right now to test them out. He also has some old leicas and nikons.

Oh iknow :). Ive held both of those cameras. Ive yet to take pictures on either of them. I have loaded the contax 645 before when i was working for a photographer locally as his assisitant during a wedding. I dont mind if the hasselblad is a little under the average wear. I just love the 6x6 and clarity of them. I have a 1500$ wedding coming up this june and i was thinking about renting a Contax 645 or a Hasselblad H2 for it. ( 85- 125) for weekend rates.

why is it different? Different as in bad and new things to learn or what? I know the hasselblad 500 i woudl have to use a off camera lightmeter.

Yeah good luck finding a complete hasselblad in good condition for less $1,000USD. The cheapest I've seen was $1400USD and they usually go up from there. Hassey's hold their value very well. Especially now that you "youngsters" are all into film again, your driving the market upwards. Medium format is NOT like a 35mm film camera though. From loading the film to holding the camera, it's a totally different beast.

Im looking at Keh where they have a Hasselblad 500 c/m kit as a BRG which is about 70-79% grade quality. No marks on lenses that would effect image quality for 700-800.

Ive also came across several contax 645 kits on ebay for 1200 range. that look in pretty good condition. I dont mind scratchs or dents on the body.

I would really like to use medium format for some portraiture purposes. Id use the 645 with jobs i would have. But if i got the hasselblad. It would be just for fun and personal work. I already have a F5 and good digital cameras and i have always loved film. Im also am going to start school for photography (Im a senior in highschool). and would do alot darkroom work in college.

No way, it is 645 period.
For 1k budget you will hardly be able to get usable set at all.
Maybe you should reconsider the whole thing, why do you need a film body 645 or else?

I was just curious... I am planning on either getting a Hasselblad 500 c/m or a contax 645 this coming summer. I love the hasselblads 6x6 look. but crave the lightmeter and autofocus in the contax camera system. Is there any back or way that the contax 645 can use a 6x6 magazine to get the square picture? Or if its a straight 6x4.5 (hint the name Contax 645). I have little knowledge to medium format equipment or infomation besides the fact i dont want to pay 15k for a hassy digital or 6k for a H2. My budgit is in the 1k range.