3 Must Have Film Cameras in Your Photography Arsenal
According to The Westons
The Pentax 67
The Pentax 67 is a medium format SLR camera that takes 120 or 220 sized film and the negatives that it produces are 6mm by 7mm. It very closely resembles that of a traditional 35mm camera in style but is quite a bit heavier. On average a camera weighs about 5 lbs! The Pentax provides a handle attachment to allow better handheld capability when shooting in lower lighting situations. What is great about the Pentax is that it allows a sense of freedom when photographing while still obtaining a medium format negative. It is called by some a 35mm on steroids! The camera has an interchangeable prism finder allowing some models to have a light meter synched with the camera. We have found the prism light meter to be a stop or two off, so take that into consideration when out photographing. One important thing to note about this camera is that it is totally battery dependent. Without a battery, it will not operate. When you are out in the field always make sure to have an extra battery on hand in your camera bag! We love this camera as it can really open you up to shooting on the go and getting those quick shots you might not get if attached to a tripod. That being said, Zach has used his Pentax on a tripod for lots of shoots and has always been satisfied with the results. Our favorite lenses are the 90mm and 45mm which provide quality and sharpness like no other!
This is a great entry level medium format camera that you can find online for relatively cheap. Be sure to check all the specs before ordering such as what kind of lenses it comes with, if it has a prism with a light meter and that it is free from fungus and dust.
The Mamiya RB67
The Mamiya RB67 is our go to camera in our photography arsenal these days. It is relatively light, versatile, easy to frame, and allows for ultimate creativity when shooting the figure. This camera works wonders when photographing the fine art nude as you can easily change framing and angle on the go. When you are working with a model, it is super important to be cognizant of your surroundings which include: how the model interpreting the shot, the lighting, and the framing. The Mamiya RB67 allows you to keep those all into consideration when working and coming away with the best experience and the best shot. Brett Weston called the Mamiya “My Camera with Wings” as he felt so much freedom when using it. That being said, we always use the Mamiya RB67 on a tripod. While we have seen some handhold the camera, we don’t recommend it as it will severely limit the situations where you can get a good shot in.
The Mamiya RB67 is another medium format camera that takes 120 and 220 sized film. The RB stands for rotating back which is an awesome feature of the camera. You can easily rotate the back to switch between horizontal and vertical formats. The backs are also removable, allowing you to pre-load a number of backs before starting your shoot. This awesome feature saves time and sanity when you are out in the field trying to get the desired shot. The camera is built like a tank and is totally manual, meaning you don’t need a battery for operation. The RB offers a variety of different viewfinder options including a waist level finder and a prism. We lean toward the prism finder as it is a bit easier to frame on the go when shooting the figure. However, we do use the waist level finder when access tricky angles so having both of them in your camera bag is definitely necessary. The prism attachment has a built in light meter so if you are planning on using the waist level attachment, make sure to have a spot meter on hand. Our favorite lenses for this camera are the 90mm and the 120mm.
The 4x5 View Camera
No camera arsenal would be complete without a large format camera! Working with a view camera is really stepping up the game when it comes to photography. No longer are you working with roll film but now you are handling sheet film which requires more attention to detail not only when you are photographing, but when you are developing as well. The 4x5 view camera takes sheet film that is 4in by 5in in dimensions. Instead of getting 10 or 20 shots per roll, you only get 2 shots per back when shooting large format. This is what we mean when we say the process slows way down! These cameras are totally manual, meaning you must be attentive to each step in the process, as there are many. One major step that can be easily forgotten is to close the lens before loading the back into the rear standard. When you are focusing and framing your image, you must have the lens open to see the scene, but you must manually close the lens after you have focused or you will ruin your film before you can take the shot. This will happen because after you insert your back, you will pull the slide to expose your film but the lens will already be open exposing the film to too much light thus immediately overexposing your image. This small simple step can be easily forgotten, so pay attention!
What is really sought after in using a view camera is the control the photographer has on focus and perspective. The view camera consists of three parts: The front standard, the bellows and the rear standard. The front standard holds the lens and shutter release, the bellows trap the light, and the rear standard holds the ground glass and where you ultimately put your film holder before taking the shot. Being each part can move independently of each other, the photographer can tilt and shift the lens to correct perspective when shooting architecture photography and extending focus when shooting a landscape scene. Kim photographed with an 8x10 in his studio for years and years. He had his view camera mounted to a tripod with wheels which made it easier for him to frame and transport the camera around. What enabled him to be so successful with such a big camera was that he knew what he wanted to photograph. He carefully constructed sets and knew where every part should fall before the day of the shoot.
The quality of the big negative is hard to beat with a large format view camera. You also learn to slow down and take careful consideration when capturing a scene. Learning how to shoot a view camera can greatly improve your photographic process and make you appreciate the medium that much more. We recommend working with one of the two medium format cameras mentioned above before diving head first into the large format world.