Best Cheap Medium Format Cameras 2024!

started Medium Format photography with a Linhof Technika 6x9 in 1982. The camera was built 1956 and i got it as a present with three interchangeable lenses : 65mm, 105mm and 180mmm . One magazine for rollfilms (120 or 220 was added and later I bought a Polaroid back for using 667, 669 and BW Material with negatives, which is sadly not produced anymore. so I moved to Fuji FP 100 sheets which are costwise not affordable in todays offers. 140€ for 10 sheets does not make fun! in my professional career I shot with Hasselblads, Mamyas, and the Fuji GS 680...heavy beasts! Now in my retirement phase I bought 2 old Roleiflex SL66 bodies with 3 Lenses, four film magazines and start workshops for beginners in analogue photography. I still own the Linhof and it works properly until now, which shows the high precision of production in the 1950s. But it needs accurate handling and a lot of time. Slows down to : every shot has to be considered. No street photography camera!

I like the confidence when you said bronica c220.

when it comes to film medium format, TLR cameras are what first comes to my mind and 6x6 format. I am shooting now with Yashica LM, really really enjoying it. Before that I had Yashica-12, but it had some small issues, attempted to fix it, wasn't anything difficult but the small parts said hell no, and went flying God knows where. So know I have Yashica-12 with broken shutter.
Know I am looking to upgrade the viewfinder with brighter focusing screen and a new mirror on Yashica LM.

Nice Mamiya C330 you were showing while talking about the c220. Either way, good cameras.

I've got Kowa Super 66 and Fuji GW680III, dunno the prices now, but I've picked them up for around 800€/each (in perfect condition and serviced). Fuji is more comfortable to shoot in my opinion and Kowa is so heavy! Results are fantastic on both though.

RB67 was the industry standard.

Medium format will change your life especially if you do your own prints in the darkroom. The amount of detail you see it's mind blowing...

My first medium format camera was a Mamiya C330 with a 105mm lens that I purchased several years ago. I like it and the images that I can produce with it. You are right about TLR cameras being great conversation starters as they are not something regularly seen these days.

This is a super useful list! Being a big cheapskate, I have a Konica Pearl II, which is a 6x4.5 folder. The Olympus in this list was a close second choice, but I think the uncoupled rangefinder would've been a big annoyance. My Pearl is already super slow to shoot.

I’d like to know where you found these prices?!

Another camera to mention is the 2x3 crown graphic. You can get one for only $250-300. This medium format rangefinder camera features tilt, shift, and rise capabilties, removeable backs from 645 to 6x9. Camera is pretty small considering it can do 6x7 and 6x9, the only downside is the lens selection.

Pentacon Six is a fantastic system

My first medium format camera was a Yashicamat 124G that I got new in 1978 ... I then taught basic photography at a summer camp in 1979 and ended up with a Diana to use and teach the kids to use. Somewhere in the 1990s I went down the Soviet rabbit hole and got Lubitels, Kiev 60s, Salyuts and Kiev 88s ... in the last decade I got a Mamiya 6, Mamiya C3 and Mamiya RB67 ... not to mention dozens of old folders that take either 120 or 620 ... I tend to cycle through them all and have yet to have a bad experience shooting and processing the film!!!

Kiev 88 or Kiev 60 with Volna-3 lens is the budget god!

The c220 does not have a lens beyond 250mm please clarify

so I have mamiya 645 pro (6x4.5) and I must say - an excellent camera! got if for like $700 but is totally worth it.

I'm just waiting to get my impulse bought Pentax 6x7 back from the repair guy. It needed a lotta work done... But in the end I'll be very happy to use it because I'm also getting a brightscreen installed, which will make it very appealing to use.

nice the cabazon dinosaurs during the Pee Wee tribute paintjob

WHEN to use medium format, now that’s an interesting point. Curious to hear your take on that and guidance 🎞️

Mamiya 645 and 1000s is a cheap great way to start.

My first medium-format camera was a Hasselblad 503CX. It changed my life. ✨

Why are you presenting these cameras at half the prices that they go for on ebay and the local auction sites?

I am surprised that you do not mentioned Lubitels, Moskva 2/4/5, or Kievs...

Got into medium format on the Pentacon Six, massive lens selection from both Carl Zeiss Jena and Arsenal, prices for serviced bodies are pretty reasonable, and you can fit 13 shots on a roll consistently if the frame spacing is properly calibrated.

1. Autocord. Great quality TLR. Not $150 per video. Try $300+ for a good condition, working unit.
2. Olympus 6. A collector, not a used. See lens problems under Mamiya 6. Alternative: Voigtlander Isollete III.
3. Mamiya 6 folder. Less than half of these models used the Olympus lens. Far fewer remain today because the Oly lens, a sharp lens new, used low quality glass and poor coatings, both of which degraded over time, making soft, cloudy images. Great user around $200-250, if using a non-Olympus lens.

Major W for the Minolta autochord, most underrated camera I’ve shot.

I fell in love with my Yashica Mat 124 G. I took it for a spin at 6 Flags years ago. I enjoyed everything about it. It made me use my photographic eye more. I loved the square format so much, I bought a Hasselblad 2000 FCM. Later I purchased another Hasselblad at a trade show. My customers loved the 10x10 and 5x5 prints.

What about Russian made cameras?

Someone really loves 6x6...
i mostly agree with the list but instead of the Bronica S2A i would take the Bronica ETRS(or any version of it) the lenses greatly improved from what the S2A had (although they were already really good) you can shoot in 645 which gives you quite a few more exposures... and you have a lot more options on how you build the camera... prism or waist level view finder... prism with aperture priority... there's backs for polaroid and 35mm panorama... you can even slap some of the Leaf medium backs on it and they work perfectly without any hassle it's a fantastic cheap poormans hassleblad

The Rolleicord TLR is the poor man’s Rolleiflex. They sell for between $200-$400 depending on the condition and lens. I’ve had one for a decade and have had no problems.

A good TLR that is similar to the autocord is the meopta flexaret series, the V (5) notably. I have one and it's quite . Was made in what was still called Czechoslovakia

Bronica ETRS 645 size is a very good camera for medium format. Would like to get the S2A , maybe someday.

dont start medium format if you havent even learned on 35mm

Bought my C220 about 19.5 years ago with the 80mm. Love it. Also have a RB67 with the 127. Earlier this year I found a Minolta Autocord early version with the non standard shutter speeds. I will need to send that out for a full CLA, handles nice but I can see why the C220 cost more.

Started my medium format journey with Pentax 645 but not too long I found out about the RB67 I got it almost immediately, I've only had the camera for a year but it's my favorite camera out of all my collection

And the bronics uses Nikon lenses. The Mamiya has a tele lens. Rollei tele is boo coo bucks.
Would akso the Kowa Six.

Only look at Bronica that were made from S2a! The rest are crap! CRAP!

My first was a Mamiya 645 that I bought back in the 80's...still have it, and it still works like new. Added an RZ-67 boat anchor several years ago, and now shoot 6x17 on 120 film with a Shen Hao view camera. Still shoot plenty of digital, but medium format is a cut above since you really can't 'spray and pray'...proper metering is much more critical and satisfying.

I love my Yashica 635. First MF film I got and adore it

Fujica GW690 pretty straightforward and easy to use.

Wouldn’t recommend Bronica Zenza, too fiddly

My first medium format camera is a Yashica A. Good camera but easy to make mistakes. I always wanted a Pentax 6x7, so that was my next one. My go to lens is the Macro 130mm f4. 3rd M Format is the Yashica 124g. Nice camera but not my favorite and I don’t know why. Might be the whole twr viewer and focus system. Takes good pictures.

Bought a Zeiss super ikonta iv for like $50 once, other than needing to tighten the film advance screw ever 3 shots it’s in real good condition




This was like a week before I bought a Zeiss contax iiia that just needed a cla for $35. That was a really good week for me

A couple more. Kowa 6, Voitlander Perkeo, Super Ikonta B.

Yashica 124, Fuji Super SIX, All fuji 645, Pentax 645, Mamiya AFd 645..........

NO NAMES ON SCREEN OR LINKS ? common bro

Don't waste money on Soviet cameras unless the specific one you're looking at was serviced recently. Please.

Yashicaflex New Model B is better than more that those cameras in your list and quite cheaper, Bronica S2 cost to much for repair

my first, third, and 6th, medium format cameras were RB67 lol

I keep looking at the Mamiya Press line. A lot of lenses, can shoot 6x7 or 6x9 depending on back. Giant beastie machines, but oddly tempting. Also, the fact that they typically have Seiko shutters is a great bit of camera-geek/watch-geek overlap. Often around $300.

One thing in my mind, however: shopping for medium format often lends itself to a wait and see. Check local classifieds, things like Craigslist and Facebook marketplace and such. Don’t rush, don’t press. Just wait, be patient (like you often have to be when shooting medium format). You might just find a good deal. I found someone selling a very nice TLR and a Nikon FM for $260. That was kind of hitting the mother load, but I’ve seen Pentax 67 at reasonable prices, Bronica ETRS, and more. Not often, maybe a tempting cameras every few months.

I love medium format but the cost of film is going crazy, $20 a roll not including dev and scanning 😂.

At this point going for GFX wil be considered budget for me