MF Portrait Photography

[Wolfgang Sachse]

Hi -

I want to begin using MF for portraits. I have a Mamiya 7 (with
65/f4 lens) and love it for landscape photography. For portrait
work I'm considering adding the Mamiya 150/f4.5 lens? Any
opinions about using that combination for portraits? {According
to the literature, the closest focus distance of that lens is
1.5m and a field of view of 721 X 581mm (28 by 23 inches).
Filtering is difficult plus there's no TTL flash exposure meter
on the Mamiya 7.}

Would I be better off to look at the alternatives?

Specifically, a used Hassy with the Zeiss 150mm Sonnar? Or should
I save up my money and aim for a 503CXi? In that regard, I don't
understand why the 503CXi which is said to have flash TTL
metering, does not have full-time TTL metering (flash or no-flash
photography). We have no Hassy dealer near Ithaca that I can ask.

What about 645-Format for portrait work? It seems more affordable.

Thanks for your thoughts and advice.

-- W. Sachse

[Dick Weld]

You might also consider the RB67 with 150mm soft focus lens...it's a very
popular combination with portrait photographers.

Dick Weld

[jkenn...@aol.com]

For my money the RZ for studio work is the way to go. I also have the M7,
but use it mostly for outdoor stuff. The RZ (or RB) with a 180 is my
bread and butter lens camera combo. I also use the 150 SF and it is a
great lens too.

[dwigh...@aol.com]

I cannot speak about the different brands, but I shoot 645 with a 150 for
most of my protrait work. I like it. It would be too wide a lens on 6x7
for my taste.

My $.02.

------
Visit My web page at http://www.xmission.com/~dwightjr

Please visit my home page at www.xmission.com/~dwightjr

[weddi...@aol.com]

I can't comment on the larger Mamiya stuff, but I have been using the
Mamiya 645 equipment for years, and recently bought a 645 Pro to update my
used equipment, because I need backup equipment for my wedding work. Works
great with portraits and have enlarged up to 20x24 with great clarity. I
use a combination of the 150mm and the 50mm depending on the distance, of
course. No one really complains of the closeness of the camera in the
studio, though outdoors is better with the longer lens. I also prefer the
rectangular format because of the rectangular enlargements, ie, 5x7, 8x10,
11x14, 16x20, etc, so from a customers point of view, what you see in the
proof is what you get in the enlargement. (no cropping like necessary if
starting from a square proof). I use a basic manual camera, manual strobes
with handheld flash meter, prism with a handheld spot meter - - get the
point? I'm a basic guy with no desire to spend major bucks on potentially
faulty electronic equipment. Sorry I'm possibly cynical. After a while you
get the feel without having to always a light meter. I will admit I use an
automatic Vivitar 283 flash.
Good luck with your search.