The Agfa Chief is an old metal box camera that takes 6×9 medium format negatives. I have watched other 6×9 cameras, the Agfa Clack, on Ebay in the past but it seems like they go for way more than they are worth. Needless to say I was pleasently surprised by the Agfa Chief and happy to add it to my collection. I couldn’t find much information about it, but the model I own was in good enough shape to motivate me to try and use it. With a couple very minor hacks I had the camera modified so it could shoot 120 film. If you ever come accross one of these at a thrift store I encourage you to pick it up because unlike some “bargain cameras” the Agfa Chief actually has plenty of life left. Here is what you need to know if you are going to convert it to a working camera…

The Agfa Chief takes 616 film. At least I think it is 616 because it isn’t marked. I thought it was 620 film at first, but after a little research I learned that 620 film is slightly smaller than a 120 spool. The 616 spool is about 1/4 inch longer than a 120 spool. This is actually makes the Agfa Chief a little bit easier to modify to accept 120 film because you don’t have to respool the film – you can just use the 120 rolls as is.

In order to let the Agfa Chief accept 120 film we need to fill the gap between the bottom of the spool and where it connects to the bottom of the film holder.

There are probably a bunch of things that you could use for this purpose, but what I found to work really well was a couple of “saucer” pieces from my box of Legos. As you know, this isn’t the first time I have used Lego bricks in a camera mod. Here is what they look like:

The nice thing about the Lego conversion was that it was the perfect size and the round shape allowed the spool to turn freely without any glueing or adaptation.

The next step of the process is to adjust the film guide. The opening is a bit too large for 120 film and as a result the bottom edge of the film won’t have any support unless we add a guide to the bottom.

Find a piece of plastic or thin and stiff cardboard about the weight of a cereal box. Cut the piece to 4.25 inches long by 0.4 inches tall.

Slide it into the back of the film guide. There is a lip that should hold this piece in place without any glue or tape.

If the piece doesn’t naturally match the curve of the back, you may need to cut the piece down a little more. Here is what it looks like after the piece is in place:

Now you are ready to load the film in the camera. It should look like this:

Insert the film holder into the camera body:

Close the back of the camera and turn the film advance knob until you see numbers in the little red box on the back.

Advance past the number one and stop when you see a two in the window. You are now ready to take your first picture. After you take your picture you will advance the film again until you see a 4 in the red window. We advance two numbers because this is how far you want to go to get a 6×9 image. There will still be about a 0.5 inch overlap of the pictures. If this is something that bothers you will want to add a 0.25 inch mask or more on the right and left of the film holder.

This next picture shows you how the numbers on the back of the film look. Obviously you don’t want to do this becuase opening the back will expose your film.

When you get to the number 16 you are on your last picture. A roll of 120 film will give you 8 images.

There are a couple of other things to conside when you use the Agfa Chief. First, you might not know what the “F” “I” “B” and “N” are on the lens.

I couldn’t find this documented anywhere, but this is probably a good guess:

“F” means that you are focusing on something far away. The “F” could also stand for “filter” because when the lens is turned as far as it can go towards the “F” a yellow filter slides into place behind the lens. Since the camera only has one shutter speed, you can adjust the exposure by using (or not using) the filter.

“I” means that you are using the standard shutter speed. I am not sure exactly what the i stands for (interval maybe?), but it corresponds to maybe 1/60th of a second. I say maybe because these cameras are so old that the actual speed of the shutter will vary widely.

“B” stands for “bulb” which means that as long as the shutter button is pressed, the lens is open. It is the only way you will be able to get an exposure in low light situations.

Finally, “N” means that you are focusing on something close to you. Since there is no filter with this option, this would be for use when there is less light than normal.

A safe bet for film in this camera would be 400 speed. In daylight you will get close with the “F” setting. That worked well for me, but I would guess that 200 speed film would work, too, maybe even 100 speed if you are on a bright day. Like most of these old box cameras cameras it is a crap shoot as to whether or not your pictures will turn out. Don’t get discouraged though because that is part of the fun of using one of these old things.

That is pretty much all there is to it. If you tackle this project, I started an Agfa Chief group on Flickr where I would love to see some of your photos. Good luck and happy shooting!

Here are some of the auctions on Ebay for Agfa Chief cameras that you might be interested in:

Shutter improvements The biggest modification to the original design is an improved shutter mechanism. My first shutter was an external door that slid over the pinhole. My second shutter was an internal door that swung open. I wasn’t really happy with either solution. My most recent shutter is a piece that you lift on the top to open the shutter. To close it, you push it back in. I like this method because it is a more natural motion and it puts the mechanism at the top of the camera closer to where you think a shutter button would belong. I think the “up = open” and “down = closed” is also more intuitive. You can see how it works in the animation at the top of this post. Here is a view of the inside. You can see the white piece in the center is the part that moves up to uncover the pinhole:

Removed the frame counter The frame counter was a good idea in theory, but it wasn’t accurate, and the red window is quicker and easier. It was also nice to remove the bulk and get down to a simpler shape for the camera.

No more type on the front The old version said “Pinhole Lego” in giant Lego type. It was kind of funny, but it was clunky and not functional. I stripped it off and added a clean white square. I think the new design is simple and I dare say quite beautiful.

Made a film mask My first designs didn’t use a mask. The film was exposed from edge to edge. There is nothing wrong with this, but it makes it hard to scan the entire negative, and it is just a little sloppy. I cut a 6cm x6cm mask out of black paper and taped it into my camera. It gives a nice irregular border to the negatives. It also preserves the numbers on the film if I would ever need them for some reason.

Fixed some light leaks Light leaks can be hard to track down. When I first lightproof a camera I take it into a dark room with a flashlight. It seems like most of the leaks tend to be in the corners and tape edges. Each roll of film I shoot gets me a little closer to a leak free camera.

And there you have it. I am really starting to love this camera. If you are curious about the pictures it has been producing, check out my gallery of Lego camera photos.

If you are interested in pinhole photography, Ebay might be a good place to find a starter pinhole camera. Here are the pinhole camera auctions going on right now:

Gum Spy Cam DVR Clip Stick Camcord Pinhole 2GB Camera

US $39.98 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 0:50:10 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $39.98 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 2:24:47 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Wireless Mini CCTV hidden Color Pinhole Camera SPY

US $32.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 3:04:26 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $32.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Wireless COLOR Nanny Pinhole Camera Spy HIDDEN

US $78.87 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 3:22:40 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $78.87 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 3:24:20 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 4:24:05 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 5:24:01 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

CCD camera with pinhole lens OCB-662 (Night vision)

US $177.77 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 6:32:48 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $177.77 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Vivitar PN2011 pinhole camera GREAT FOR BEGINNERS! 35mm

US $17.50 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 7:17:49 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $17.50 Buy it now | Add to watch list

New Wire Mini Pinhole Color Camera Spy Cam CCTV+Power$0

US $16.50 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 7:54:14 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $16.50 Buy it now | Add to watch list

I have wanted a medium format folding camera for a long time now, so my birthday was the perfect excuse to make this dream a reality. After some internet research and watching the Ebay auctions, I finally decided on the Iskra that I purchased from Jurgen Kreckel. Jurgen has a great reputation for restoring old folding cameras. His Ebay auctions are mini history lessons, and his website (certo6.com)is a great resource for anyone wanting to learn more about this genre of cameras. When buying a camera this old, it is nice to be able to trust the seller and have confidence that you are getting a completely usable camera.

I wanted a folder for several reasons. You can get a folder with a high quality lens, and folding cameras are capable of producing very nice negatives. They fold down to almost pocket size, so they are ideal for travel and everyday shooting. I also only wanted to spend around $150. In addition to the Iskra, I also looked at the Agfa Super Isolette, and the Super Baldax, but decided on an Iskra mainly because the price was a couple hundred dollars cheaper.

The Iskra may just be one of the most underrated medium format folding cameras available. I think it gets a bit of a bad reputation because there are so many worn-out Iskra’s on the market. This camera was very popular in Russia when they were being built and most Iskra’s have seen a great deal of wear. The poor condition of many of the cameras is due to heavy use rather than any defect in design or construction of the camera. It has some very unique features that set it apart as a really advanced machine. Let me run down the list:

Coupled Rangefinder “Coupled” means that when you set the rangefinder, it automatically sets the lens to the appropriate focusing distance. Looking through the rangefinder you see a slightly brighter box in the center. As you turn the rangefinder on the lens, you will see the image in this box move right or left. When the image in this box lines up with the image surrounding the box, you know that your lens has been set for the appropriate distance. In non-coupled rangefinders, this would give you the distance to the subject, and you would have to manually set the lens to the appropriate distance.

Film Counter The Iskra’s film counter is a rare feature in a camera this old. There is a gear with teeth that are turned by the film. When you are advancing the film after you first load it, the gear is able to sense when the film starts. Then the numbers start turning telling you what frame you are on. The gears are sharp enough that the actually puncture the film paper and film on the top edge. The film counters on many Iskra’s have worn out. These cameras are usually modified with a red window and are still completely usable. My camera’s film counter is in exceptional condition aside from some minor quirks. On the first and sometimes second frame, I have to push down the shutter button while advancing the film. Also, to get the film counter to reset to zero, I have to jiggle the shutter release and turn the film advance before I load the film.

Light Meter My Iskra is the first model, but there is an Iskra 2 that had a built-in light meter. That is an extremely rare feature in this type of camera. Whether or not a light meter from a camera built in the 60s is going to be reliable is another story.

Linked Shutter and Aperture Another unique feature is that the Iskra’s shutter and aperture link together so that changing the aperature also changes the shutter speed. This allows you to pick any of the possible shutter/aperture combinations for the particular exposure values. The only downside is that if you want to change the shutter speed by itself, you have to pull out the shutter ring and turn it.

If you decide to buy an Iskra, there are several things you want to watch for. The biggest thing is that the film counter works. Unless you have a film counter in perfect condition (which is rare) you will have problems with overlapping frames. It is very common for these cameras to be modified with a red window after the film counter breaks. If you want to bypass the frustration that comes with a unreliable film counter, just get one that has the red window modification. Also make sure that the camera’s bellows are light tight. Pinholes are a common defect in a camera this old. Another thing to watch for is whether or not the camera has been serviced recently. Any camera of this age needs to be CLA’d (Cleaned, Lubricated, and Adjusted). If the camera has had this service done recently, it greatly increases your chances of getting a usable camera.

I am very happy with this camera, and am looking forward to running a bunch of film through it. Here are a few more pictures of this beautiful machine for your viewing pleasure:

Here is the camera with the back off:

Here is the camera from the front all folded up:

Here is a front view without the leather case:

Finally, here is a front view:

Ebay is my favorite place to find deals on great old cameras. Here are the Iskra cameras on Ebay right now:

After making the Lego conversion of my old Polaroid 95a, I decided to tackle another Lego challenge: a medium format Pinhole Lego Camera. I had several goals for the lego camera:

1. First, I wanted to make sure that the film advance knob only turned one direction.

2. Secondly, I wanted to have a film counter in addition to the red window.

3. And last but not least, it would be nice to have some sort of viewfinder.

Originally, I was going to build the camera in Lego Digital Designer, so I could share better instructions with the blogosphere. I still might do that, but until I get a computer that can run that software better, you will have to survive with just my photos. Let’s get started…

Here is the main Lego Camera assembly:

There are a couple things to notice. First, notice that the top of this part is covered by the smooth sided Legos. This is done so that the lid of our camera doesn’t stick to the “lid” we make later. Second, note the spring “shock absorber” at the top center. This piece pushes a block into the gear to keep it from turning backwards. There is only one piece that will have to be fabricated. There isn’t a Lego piece that will fit perfectly in a 120 spool so we will have to fabricate our own. A Dremmel and some sand paper should do the trick. Here is the before and after photo:

This is the part that will be turning the spool.

Next, attach the following piece to the bottom of the assembly:

The two pieces at the bottom pivot to hold the medium format spools. The circle hole in the center is where our pinhole will be located.

Turning this piece over gives you a look at our shutter system. By moving the slider back and forth, we open and close the shutter. The animation below shows what I mean:

Here is what it looks like put together:

You can see that I lightproofed the inside, and added the pinhole.

Now it is time to build the lid of our lego camera. Nothing to fancy here:

You can see the red window as well as the top of the lid that has been light-proofed with tape. Here is the top view:

Now all that is left is to add some Lego Type to decorate it a bit:

This view gives you a better idea of how the film counter works. Basically, when you advance the film, this knob turns about an eighth of an inch. To make it accurate, I loaded the camera with film, and used the red window to see what frame I was on. As I got to a new frame, I marked the paper. It isn’t completely accurate, but it is pretty close. There is always the red window if I want to double check. I also count the number of clicks from turning the knob. It takes about 23 clicks to advance one frame. You can see my viewfinder also from the last picture. Pretty basic: you just look through the hole and the square masks off an estimate of what you will be shooting towards.

I am hoping to post some photos from my first roll of film later on this week. Please let me know if you decide to build your own camera out of Legos, or if you have any questions about my design.

If you are interested in pinhole photography, Ebay might be a good place to find a starter pinhole camera. Here are the pinhole camera auctions going on right now:

Gum Spy Cam DVR Clip Stick Camcord Pinhole 2GB Camera

US $39.98 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 0:50:10 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $39.98 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 2:24:47 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Wireless Mini CCTV hidden Color Pinhole Camera SPY

US $32.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 3:04:26 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $32.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Wireless COLOR Nanny Pinhole Camera Spy HIDDEN

US $78.87 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 3:22:40 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $78.87 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 3:24:20 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 4:24:05 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVR CAMERA CLOCK digital voice record pinhole cam spy i

US $99.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 5:24:01 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $99.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

CCD camera with pinhole lens OCB-662 (Night vision)

US $177.77 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 6:32:48 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $177.77 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Vivitar PN2011 pinhole camera GREAT FOR BEGINNERS! 35mm

US $17.50 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 7:17:49 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $17.50 Buy it now | Add to watch list

New Wire Mini Pinhole Color Camera Spy Cam CCTV+Power$0

US $16.50 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 7:54:14 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $16.50 Buy it now | Add to watch list

After being overshadowed in my collection by my Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex 1a, I finally got around to shooting a roll of film on my Lubitel 166 Universal. The Lubitel is the poor man’s twin lens reflex camera. Being made of plastic, it is sometimes lumped into the toy camera category, but it does have a glass lens and other features like several aperatures and shutter speeds. Despite the apparent ability to “control” this camera, I have to admit that this isn’t my favorite machine. Although bright, the screen is really hard to focus. It has a ground circle in the center and a small magnifying glass to help with the task, but the results don’t seem worth the effort. You are almost better off estimating the distance Holga-style. But all-in-all, it is capable of taking pretty sharp photos, and if you are willing to put up with its idiosyncracies, it can be a nice little camera. Here is a link to my Lubitel 166U gallery for your amusement.

Ebay is my favorite place to find deals on great old cameras. Here are the Lubitel 166 Universal cameras on Ebay right now:

Lubitel 166 Universal Medium Format 6x6 camera in USA

US $20.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 20:11:47 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

New Lomo Lubitel 166+ w/ Lubiken 35mm Outfit Free Film

US $305.90 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 23:30:41 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $337.95 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Lomographic Lubitel 166+ Twin Lens Reflex Med Frmt Cam

US $339.95 End Date: Friday Aug-06-2010 10:16:08 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $339.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list

LOMO LUBITEL 166+ 166 + CAMERA W/LUBEKIN 35MM KIT TLR

US $335.00 End Date: Tuesday Aug-10-2010 23:30:12 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $335.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Lomo Lubitel 166 Universal 6x6 & 4.5x6 TLR Camera

US $289.99 End Date: Monday Aug-16-2010 14:13:10 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $289.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Brand New Lomo Lubitel 166+ TLR w/ Lubiken 35mm Outfit

US $349.95 End Date: Thursday Aug-19-2010 17:18:31 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $349.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Lomography Lubitel 166+ Twin Lens Medium Format Camera

US $379.99 End Date: Thursday Aug-19-2010 18:02:14 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $379.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

The Polaroid 95a Land camera was manufactured from 1954-1957. It is a beautiful camera, and it is a shame that they don’t make film for it anymore. When my friend gave me this camera, I knew I had to modify it somehow to make it usable. I came close to modifying it so I could use it with my Polaroid 545 back, but I couldn’t bring myself to hack off the back of this camera. So, I decided to convert the Polaroid 95a to accept medium format 120 film. A quick measurement showed that I should be able to get a 6×10 image on 120 film. Here are the instructions for how to modify a Polaroid 95a to a usable 6×10 medium format camera. Oh, and I fabricated most of the new camera assembly out of Legos.

The first, and maybe the hardest part of modifying our Polaroid 95a camera is going to be stripping out all the rollers and unnecessary parts. We need to make as much room for our medium format Lego assembly as possible. I used a needle nose pliers, a drill to drill out the rivets, a hammer, and alot of elbow grease. Here is what your gutted Polaroid 95a looks like after you remove all the rollers:

With the hard part out of the way, you are ready to play with legos. To advance the film, you will need to drill a hole in the top of the camera to put your film advance knob through. My hole wasn’t in exactly the right place so you can see where I used a dremmel to make a little more room on the right (this is looking at it from the top):

I used a larger gear to turn a smaller gear. This allows one turn of the knob to advance the film one frame. The downside is that it puts a little too much pressure on the gears and if I am not careful it will miss a gear.

The next step is to build the part that will hold the spool. Here is a closer look at my assembly with and without the spool:

There isn’t a lego piece that will fit perfectly in a 120 spool so we will have to fabricate our own. A Dremmel and some sand paper should do the trick. Here is the before and after photo:

The left side of the camera is where the unexposed roll of film will sit. This side is less complex than the film advance side because all it has to do is hold the film. A size 8 lego fits almost perfectly here. Keep in mind that you want the spool to be exactly straight accross from the spool on the other side so it doesn’t bind. It should look like this:

Now that we have a place for the spool on both sides, it is time to build a guide in the center. This keeps the film tight and prevents it from getting off the spool on the right. I used matte board and it looked like this after the film is loaded:

Now all you have to do is fill any holes and test it out. It is a good idea to waste a roll of 120 film so that you can test your advance knob and make sure everything lines up. If any piece is loose or not perfectly aligned it will cause problems. I had to tweak things quite a bit before it loaded and advanced properly.

You are now ready to take pictures. There is one other thing to keep in mind before you start shooting up film. Old Polaroid cameras had their own system of “light values.” Rather than setting the shutter and aperture separately, the Polaroid 95a has 8 different settings (1-8). Don’t ask me the reason for this setup, but I can show you this chart that shows what each setting actually is in terms of shutter speed and aperture:

Polaroid #	Aperature	Shutter Speed
1	f/8.8	1/12
2	f/8.8	1/25
3	f/8.8	1/50
4	f/8.8	1/100
5	f/12.5	1/100
6	f/17.5	1/100
7	f/25	1/100
8	f/35	1/100

The chart above uses information taken from www.rhwhirled.com which is a great resource if you want to learn more about the Polaroid 95a or many other older Polaroid cameras. Good luck with your modifications and drop me an email if you decide to undertake this hack.

Ebay is my favorite place to find deals on great old cameras. Here are the Polaroid 95a cameras on Ebay right now:

vintage Polaroid 95 A land camera NICE POLAROID 95 A

US $9.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday Aug-02-2010 8:17:23 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

VINTAGE POLAROID LAND CAMERA 95 A W/ CASE AND EXTRAS

US $14.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday Aug-02-2010 19:04:38 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Ebay is my favorite place to find deals on great old cameras and film. Here are the 3200 film on Ebay right now:

10 ROLLS FRESH dated ILFORD DELTA 3200 120 film ASA

US $56.99 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 10:16:25 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $56.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

5 Rolls Ilford Delta 3200 ISO 35mm 36 Exp. Film

US $39.95 End Date: Monday Aug-02-2010 11:17:59 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $39.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list

5 Rolls Ilford Delta 3200 ISO 35mm 36 Exp. Film

US $39.95 End Date: Monday Aug-02-2010 13:48:08 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $39.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Ilford Delta 3200 ISO 35mm 36 Exp. Film from Colorado

US $8.95 End Date: Monday Aug-02-2010 13:48:27 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $8.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list

KONICA MINOLTA DiMAGE Scan Dual IV AF-3200 Film Scanner

US $51.01 (11 Bids) End Date: Monday Aug-02-2010 14:26:15 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

5 Rolls Ilford Delta 3200 ISO 120 Film from Colorado

US $29.95 End Date: Monday Aug-02-2010 16:47:15 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $29.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list

LJ HP 1100/1100A/3200 Fuser Film Sleeve-made in Korea

US $6.00 End Date: Thursday Aug-05-2010 15:11:56 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $6.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

ILFORD DELTA 3200 ASA 120 Roll Film 10 ROLLS DP3200-120

US $47.33 End Date: Sunday Aug-08-2010 21:05:35 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $47.33 Buy it now | Add to watch list

(2 Pack) Fuser Film Sleeve for HP LJ 1100/3200

US $13.99 End Date: Sunday Aug-08-2010 21:15:56 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $13.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

(4 Pack) Fuser Film Sleeve for HP LJ 1100/3200

US $27.75 End Date: Sunday Aug-08-2010 21:18:53 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $27.75 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Ebay is my favorite place to find deals on great old cameras. Here are the Yashicamat cameras on Ebay right now:

Rolleiflex Rolleicord Yashicamat Walz meter holder

US $4.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 18:13:52 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Yashicamat 124G Yashica Mat 124 G Meter Works!

US $122.50 (7 Bids) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 18:44:17 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Yashicamat 124G Body for PARTS/Repair NO RES

US $8.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 19:50:57 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Rolleiflex Yashicamat Bayonet 1 Mount Accessories

US $90.00 End Date: Tuesday Aug-10-2010 2:05:09 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $90.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Hoya Bay 30 b30 80C Lens Filter f/Rollei Yashicamat NEW

US $24.99 End Date: Tuesday Aug-10-2010 8:09:55 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $24.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

NEW B30 BAY 1 I to 52mm FILTER ADAPTER FOR YASHICAMAT

US $23.00 End Date: Friday Aug-13-2010 10:34:20 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $23.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

YASHICAMAT 124G Camera 22" Locking Cable Release GERMAN

US $19.75 End Date: Friday Aug-13-2010 21:56:57 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $19.75 Buy it now | Add to watch list

ORIGINAL SYSTEM BOOKLET 4 CLASSIC YASHICAMAT 124G TLR !

US $20.00 End Date: Monday Aug-16-2010 8:54:19 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $20.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

40" Locking Cable Release for YASHICAMAT 124G GERMAN

US $24.99 End Date: Tuesday Aug-17-2010 12:47:37 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $24.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

B30 BAY 1 I RED FILTER FOR YASHICAMAT ROLLEI

US $15.00 End Date: Friday Aug-20-2010 6:54:50 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $15.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

The obvious benefit of shooting medium format is that you get a negative that is 4 times bigger than 35mm film. The major drawback to the cameras I will be mentioning is that most of them won’t have a light meter. Don’t let that scare you though because you can always use a light meter from your 35mm camera, or better yet just get comfortable with the sunny 16 rule.

Processing and Purchasing Film I know what you are thinking. Even if you got a cheap medium format camera, the processing is going to break the bank. I buy my film from B&H or through Amazon, but you can buy 120 film at most camera stores. Expect to pay about $3 per roll.

Photo processing is affordable, too. The real cheap route is Sam’s Club (processing and 12 four inch prints is only $3.21), but the local camera store should be able to do the processing for around $10. I don’t know for sure, but most places that process film could probably send your film away to get processed. It will take two weeks for Sam’s to get your prints back to you, and the local camera store should have it back in a day or two.

Used Cameras The best route for getting an affordable medium format camera is to buy used. I recommend Ebay, but there are many other sources for used cameras if you look around. Here are some classic medium format cameras that you should be able to find for relatively cheap.

The Rolleiflex and Rolleicords are popular and well known cameras. They are good quality cameras with a proven record. Depending on the model you buy, you can expect to pay $100 and up.

The Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex is an even more affordable option. It is a German Engineered twin lens reflex camera that is very well built. Later models have a light meter, but since the cameras are pretty old, they might not be accurate, if they work at all. This camera was never as popular as the Rolleiflex mainly because it is less stylish. Mechanically, it works as well if not better than a Rolleiflex, and should take photos of comparable quality. It’s pretty much a tank, and not as pretty, but you can expect to pay much less for it. I got a bargain on mine for less than $50.

Yashicamat and the Minolta Autocord are two other options to research when you are shopping in this range.

New Cameras If you want a brand new camera, your options are much more limited. The only option is the Chinese built Seagull. The Seagull gets mixed reviews, but it’s quality should be able to compete with the Rolleiflex. I haven’t used one, but it’s about your only option for a new camera in the price range of $120-250.

Toy Cameras Toy cameras are made mostly of plastic and are known for their unique and unpredictable results. Light leaks, lens distortion, and vignetting can be expected with these cameras. Toy cameras have a cult following of artist’s who embrace happy accidents. Toy cameras appeal to people who are looking for a unique alternative to the modern computerized cameras.

The best known toy camera is the Holga. The Holga is still in production, and you should be able to buy a Holga for under $25. It’s simple design and plastic construction make it easy to modify.

Another very popular toy camera is The Diana. Although it is no longer in production, you can pick them up on Ebay. A real Diana will fetch over $100, but you can get Diana clones for much cheaper.

It’s quality may be too good to classify it as a toy camera, but the Lubitel 166 Universal is worth mentioning here. The Lubitel 166 is a Twin Lens Reflex camera made mostly of plastic. It was in production until 1996, and you should be able to get one used for under $50. With a glass lens, and many more features than the toy cameras, you should be able to take high quality photos with this camera.

The Agfa Isola is another option for someone looking for a cheap medium format camera with a few more features than a stripped down Holga or Diana. It has a mostly metal construction, and a much more complex lens/shutter system.

That’s about it. I’m not an expert on the subject, so if you have any additional tips about medium format on a budget, I would be glad to here it.

Ebay is my favorite place to find deals on great old cameras. Here are the medium format cameras on Ebay right now:

Mamiya RB67 Medium Format Film Camera

US $535.00 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 8:36:37 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $535.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Vintage Zeiss Ikoflex TLR Medium Format Camera 6x6

US $49.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 8:45:21 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

HOLGA 120SF MEDIUM FORMAT CAMERA

US $19.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 10:00:45 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $29.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

VINTAGE KODAK DUAFLEX IV MEDIUM FORMAT CAMERA W/FLASH

US $69.99 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 10:16:19 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $69.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

1950's ARGUS 75 Medium Format Twin Lens Camera, Working

US $9.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 11:48:23 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

HASSELBLAD 1600F MEDIUM FORMAT CAMERA W/ 80MM LENS

US $355.00 (8 Bids) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 13:48:31 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

BRONICA RF645 MEDIUM FORMAT CAMERA W/65MM & 45MM LENSES

US $355.00 (16 Bids) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 14:09:28 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Yashica Mat-124 Medium Format Film Camera

US $19.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 14:56:57 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Mamiya 645 Super Medium Format Camera AE 80mm Lens etc

US $265.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 15:00:16 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Holga 120N Medium Format Fixed Focus Camera with Lens

US $23.93 End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 15:05:46 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $23.93 Buy it now | Add to watch list