A little art deco, as seen by the black glossy top with three view windows. Oversized buttons with artful black and white circles. A leather bellows held firmly in place by a cleverly engineered and sturdy cover plate. On the front, an advanced Compur Rapid shutter containing a bright Helomar lens. We are talking about the legendary 1938 Voigtlander Bessa RF Rangefinder. One of the best medium format cameras ever made.
Continue reading “Voigtlander: Better, Best, Bessa”German ambitions from Japan: Review Mamiya C3
Japan became the heir apparent to Germany in the 1970s in terms of innovation and quality of cameras. Not surprisingly, they spent decades learning and copying from the Germans. But production, innovation and quality could be cheaper and ultimately better in Japan. Mamiya has been one of the best students of the German class. The legendary C3 is a good example in this review.
Continue reading “German ambitions from Japan: Review Mamiya C3”Hasselblad or Kiev – close encounters of the medium format
From a price point of view there is a world of difference between a Swedish Hasselblad and a Russian Kiev. Both are medium format cameras and are hardly different from the outside. That’s why the Kiev is mockingly called the ‘Hasselbladski’. But our test shows that the Kiev should not be underestimated.
Continue reading “Hasselblad or Kiev – close encounters of the medium format”Made in Sweden: Hasselblad 500 CM
Volvo, Saab, Ikea, ABBA and…Hasselblad. Sweden has exported famous brands. Quality and innovation. This certainly applies to the King of medium format cameras, the famous Hasselblad. What Leica is for 35mm, the Hasselblad is for 120 film. Expensive, but quality down to the last detail.
Continue reading “Made in Sweden: Hasselblad 500 CM”