Film photography has made a remarkable comeback. Despite the impressive progress in digital photography, there are many photographers who have rediscovered the charm of the analog camera and the roll of film. Many photographers are new to the world of film photography and therefore often stick to the smaller and cheaper 35mm film cameras. But for a bit more of a challenge or more professional photos of better quality, you will quickly end up with 120 film. In this article I therefore share the 5 best medium format analog cameras.
5 best medium format cameras (120 film)
Analog photography, also known as film photography, has a rich history and has long been the primary photographic medium. The wide range of analog cameras and lenses can therefore be very overwhelming, especially for beginners. Because are you going for an SLR camera or do you prefer a rangefinder camera? And if you opt for 120 film, will you go for a compact 6×4.5 or would you rather choose a 6×7? And which brand and type is best to choose?
Ask different film photographers and you will get different answers. Everyone has their own preferences, which doesn’t make it any easier to choose your first medium format camera. For this reason, I have done extensive research to discover which medium format cameras are most often recommended. I have read through countless blog articles, watched about as many YouTube videos and consulted analogue photographers on social media via a poll. Based on the results, the top 5 below emerged, with a diverse range of 120 film camera formats.
Would you like to know more about the differences between 35mm and 120 film? Then read this blog.
#1 Mamiya 645 1000S
Introduced by the renowned Japanese manufacturer Mamiya in the late 1970s, the Mamiya 645 1000S is a medium format camera that stood out for its good build quality and advanced features. The camera quickly became a favorite with both professional photographers and amateurs. Moreover, the Mamiya 645 1000s with 6×4.5 medium format film is a good compromise between the larger medium format cameras and the small, handy 35mm analog cameras. This makes it not only one of the most compact medium format cameras, but also one that is still readily available and reasonably affordable. This makes it the perfect camera for those who are just starting with 120 film or who are mainly involved in travel and documentary photography.
Thanks to the manual mode and the versatile exposure control with the ability to set the aperture and shutter speed yourself, you as a photographer have full control over the exposure. The built-in mirror lock is also a welcome addition. This ensures minimal vibrations during photography. Together with the somewhat light weight, this camera still makes it possible to shoot by hand. Furthermore, the Mamiya 645 1000S has a strong housing, which means the camera can withstand knocks and intensive use.
There are various Mamiya 645 models available, but an important reason to choose the 1000S is because of the shutter speed. Unlike other 645 models, you can set the shutter speed of the 1000S up to 1/1000 second. This makes it easier to photograph with this model in low light conditions and easier to photograph handheld without the image being completely blurred.
#2 Hasselblad 500 C/M
Another ‘compact’ medium format camera is the Hasselblad 500 C/M. Hasselblad is a Swedish manufacturer of photo cameras and is best known for cameras with the 6×6 format, which produces square photos. Hasselblad can safely be called an icon in the world of photography. For example, the company has been around since 1841 and their cameras were used by NASA during the Apollo program missions when the first people landed on the moon. But the company’s real breakthrough came earlier, in 1957, when the Hasselblad 500 C was released. The distinctive 500 C design formed the basis for the V-system product line for the next 60 years, with variants continuing to be produced until 2013.
A classic from the V-system is the Hasselblad C/M, which is the successor to the first of the 500 series, the Hasselblad 500 C. The Hasselblad C/M was introduced in the early 1970s and is loved by both professional and enthusiastic amateur photographers. Just like the Mamiya 645 1000S, this camera also has a versatile exposure control with manual mode where you can set the shutter speed and aperture independently of each other. Moreover, you can easily change lenses, viewfinder prisms and film backs with this camera. This gives you a lot of flexibility in the style you want to photograph with. Also popular are the Carl Zeiss lenses that you can use and which provide beautiful image quality.
Compared to the original Hasselblad 500 C, the 500 C/M brought a number of welcome improvements. Although the simple and somewhat compact design remained, the 500 C/M did give you the option to replace the frosted glass screen. This gives you as a photographer the freedom to adjust the viewfinder image to your own needs. In addition, the Hasselblad 500 C/M has a film rewind lever, which makes rewinding the film easier and faster compared to the manual rewind of the 500C. The C/M is also compatible with a motor drive.
#3 Bronica GS-1
The Bronica GS-1 is a medium format SLR camera that was introduced by the Japanese manufacturer Zenza Bronica in the late 1970s. Designed for both professionals and serious amateurs, the camera stands out from other Bronica models due to its focus on the 6×7 film format. This format produces rectangular images just like the 6×4.5, but larger, giving you higher quality. This film format is perfect for landscape and portrait photography, for example.
Furthermore, the Bronica GS-1 offers many options when it comes to exchanging different components. Think of the viewfinder and lenses with a wide availability of very nice Bronica lenses. You also have full control over the exposure, because the camera has a manual mode and you can set the aperture and shutter speed yourself and independently of each other. In addition, the camera has a built-in flash connection, which gives you more options for photographing in low light conditions.
The Bronica GS-1 is one of the most compact 6×7 medium format cameras. The models mentioned below are much larger and heavier. The Bronica GS-1 is therefore perfect if you want to shoot with high-quality film format, but are still looking for some form of flexibility in using the camera when it comes to size and weight.
#4 Mamiya RB67
The Mamiya RB67 was also introduced in the 1970s and has become one of the best 6×7 medium format cameras among analog photographers. The camera may be large and heavy, but for many photographers it is all worth it. The Mamiya RB67 is very reliable, versatile and of high quality (this applies to both the camera itself and the photos you take with it). Together with the many options in terms of components, this is enough reason for many photographers to choose the Mamiya RB67.
Just like with the previously mentioned cameras, you have the option to set the aperture and shutter speed yourself and independently of each other and you can choose from different viewfinders and lenses, among other things. But an extra big advantage of the Mamiya RB67 is that it has a rotating film back. This allows you to quickly switch between horizontal and vertical positions without moving the camera. This is especially useful when you work with different compositions, for example when you shoot both portraits and landscapes. A similar model is the Mamiya RZ67, but it contains more plastic and electronics. The Mamiya RB67 is completely mechanical and therefore more reliable and also much easier to repair.
#5 Mamiya 7
The youngest analog medium format camera in this list is the Mamiya 7. The camera was introduced in the mid-1990s and is considered the best of the best. The Mamiya 7 is known for its compact design and impressive quality (this applies to both the camera itself and the photos you take with it). For example, the camera shoots in 6×7 film format, resulting in high-quality photos, but the camera is not too heavy, not too fragile and fits very well in the hand. It feels a bit like a large point & shoot camera, which works very well.
The camera owes these properties to the system with which it works. Because the Mamiya 7 is a rangefinder camera, unlike all the previously mentioned SLR cameras. This system provides a direct, non-through-the-lens view of the subject, which not only allows for a compact camera design, but also for precise focusing. Because of this combination, the Mamiya 7 is seen as one of the best medium format cameras. The compact design also makes it the perfect choice for different types of photography, ranging from travel and street photography to portraits and documentary.
Furthermore, this camera also has a range of setting options and lenses. The camera has a manual mode, which gives you full control over the aperture and shutter speed. Also the lenses are fantastic and you have a wide choice, ranging from wide angle to telephoto lenses. However, the Mamiya 7 also has a high price tag, making the camera especially interesting if you do a lot of analog and/or professional analog photography.
