Medium Format Camera reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 183 Reddit reviews across 10 subreddits and 47 posts to rank the best Medium Format Camera brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/AnalogCommunity, r/analog, r/Darkroom, r/mediumformat, r/photography. Top-rated brands include Mamiya (4.3/5), Yashica (4.3/5), Bronica (4.3/5).
Stats
Reviews183
Subreddits10
Posts47
Brands34
Products88
183 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Mamiya
4.3
(50)
"Excellent wide‑aperture lens for low‑light and shallow‑depth‑of‑field work."
"Hands down the best budget medium format you can get."
"I truly believe Mamiya has the most beautiful TLR."
"Grab a RB-67"
"Definitely a TLR... If you go for the mamiya c220, you can get interchangeable lenses and get other focal lengths."
"If you have the money just get an RB."
"Love my RZ 67 Pro II and Mamiya 645 AFD because they take the same digital back."
"I couldn't be more satisfied. It's reliable, cheap for its quality, and completely modular."
"Mamiya RB or RZ67 is great in studio settings."
"I want to second Mamiya, specifically the lightweight 645 series for a student."
#2
Yashica
4.3
(21)
"Lightweight, reliable TLR with a built‑in light meter – great for quick shooting."
"They’re the “best” of their letter series."
"Yashica D, late model with Yashinon lens."
"Yashica models aren’t too expensive and pack a big punch, I love my Yashica D"
"Yashica D all the way."
"I love my Yashica 635 and its dreamy lens."
"You can't go wrong with a Yashicamat."
"I have a similar model to this TLR (Yashica Mat 124) and recently got it CLA'd for about $350 at a camera store in my area."
"If it works, it's a good camera for a beginner."
"You can easily find another Yashika mat 124, within your budget, in unbelievable condition from Japan."
#3
Bronica
4.3
(21)
"Bronica SQ-A for the win"
"The SQ series is amazing."
"Leaf shutters are of tremendous benefit if you need to use flash."
"SLR with prism finder – good for waist‑level shooting."
"I’d recommend the Bronica’s."
"Incredibly affordable for quality just shy (in my opinion...) of the Hasselblad V/500 series."
"Boom bam all you need."
"I've been very happy with my recently purchased Bronica SQ."
"It's a bit of a quirky camera, but it's got Nikon lenses."
"Bronica S2...S2A, Pentacon Six TL, Flexaret I-VII,...."
#4
Fuji
4.4
(19)
"Lighter than the 645 AFD, no compromise on image quality – perfect for traveling."
"I have the GW690III and I love it."
"The camera is fantastic. Lens is sharp, camera is super easy to use and shoot, and it’s very light weight but still solidly built."
"Used to own the Gs645w and loved it, lens is really wide (28mm equivalent) so it worked for street photography in NY really well."
"They are both great camera with superb lenses."
"It’s an absolutely phenomenal camera."
"My favorite medium format is my GW690. Yes it's big and bulky but damn does it take fantastic images."
"+1 on Fuji GA645zi"
"Both are a joy to use and have bright finders and sharp lenses."
"I love my GW690 but the 8 frames per roll can be a bitch. Get the 645."
#5
Pentax
4.2
(9)
"We have a couple Pentax 645ns that we use for wedding work."
"Couldn't possibly recommend it highly enough."
"I personally have a 645N and it's truly a dream."
"Pentax is also nice as far as the electronic still works."
"Psntax 67 with 105 f/2.4 has quite a cult following if you are into portraits."
"Look into the Bronica ETRS or Pentax 645."
"Easy to use and is fun to shoot."
"Pentax 67, though the sync speed makes flash work a pain."
#6
Kiev
3.9
(8)
"They can be had well within your budget and have money for an extra lens."
"Compact, durable, and great for a tighter budget."
"I like the suggestion of kiev60/arax60"
"The Kievs are awesome for that."
"Hey! You’ve probably seen the Kiev 60 I’m selling."
"My first medium format was a Kiev-6C which I highly recommend."
"Its cheap and easy to use."
"I have a Kiev 88cm and I must say I'm getting quite bored of it."
#7
Zeiss
4.6
(5)
"I’ve found the Zeiss Super Ikontas to be an excellent option."
"It's just the best thing in the history of best things."
"Buy a Zeiss lens for your Kiev 88."
"You might try one of the Zeiss super iconta folders."
"You might try one of the Zeiss super iconta folders."
#8
Rolleicord
4.5
(4)
"Cheap old Rolleicord should fit your budget. They're really awesome cameras."
"Small TLR is good! I toss my Rolleicord in my backpack."
"Going to go with my standard late model Rolleicord recommendation."
"If you like 50mm lenses and square images, I'd really suggest a tlr (Rolleicord IV or later, Autocord, Yashica, Diacord, etc)."
#9
Holga
3.4
(5)
"A friend of mine bought a Holga ($30) and has had a blast with it."
"No one has mentioned the Holga yet."
"There are a lot of old 120 folders that can be had for less than a new holga."
"Honestly, don't knock a Holga if you're getting started."
"Definitely a HOLGA."
#10
Rolleiflex
4.3
(4)
"If you like the 6x6 format I would go for a rolleiflex or rolleicord."
"You can get a rolleiflex automat (K4A) for around that much."
"Start with a TLR. I shoot 6x6 on a Rolleiflex k4a and get decent results."
"I was drawn to the Rolleiflex because I wanted to try 6x6 medium format."
#11
Pentacon
4.0
(4)
"A Pentacon Six or Kiev-60 could also be worthwhile"
"They can be legitimate end game 6x6 cameras."
"Other, more affordable SLR options with good portrait lenses available would be the Pentacon 6."
"Great lens selection, not massive price."
#12
Seagull
4.0
(3)
"Seagull 4a for like ~ $110 USD."
"You might try looking around for a Seagull 4A in good condition."
"If you can get one of these it’s certainly a great beginner camera."
#13
Moskva
4.0
(3)
"Early model Moskva-4 can do 6x6."
"Probably the cheapest option would be the Moskva-5 folder."
"Moskva medium-format folding rangefinders -- the I.E. Moskva 5."
#14
Hasselblad
5.0
(2)
"I have 3 MF cameras. Yashica 124, Hasselblad 500CM and a Mamiya RB67."
"They're simple and beautiful."
#15
Fujifilm
5.0
(2)
"Compact option that still delivers the 645 format’s image quality."
"Fuji GFX series"
#16
Fuji GA645
4.5
(2)
"Fuji GA645 is affordable, light weight, slim and gives great image quality."
"I back the GA645 series."
#17
Zeiss Ikon
4.5
(2)
"My favorite thing to shoot with is my 1948 Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta."
"A good folder or TLR is what you should be looking at."
#18
Meopta
4.0
(2)
"Sweet little cameras and quite handy."
"Meopta Flexaret, Minolta Autocord, any Rolliecord with Xenar lens."
#19
Yashicaflex
4.0
(2)
"It produces really beautiful pictures."
"I started medium format photography with a yashicaflex."
#20
Contax
5.0
(1)
"Is amazing for film and digital back"
#21
Rollei
5.0
(1)
"The 6000 system is IMO the most comprehensive 6x6 medium format system ever."
#22
Agfa
4.0
(1)
"The Agfa Clack is a no-frills 6x9 camera."
#23
Arax
4.0
(1)
"You can get a new Arax for less than your budget. Either an 88 (which is a Hasselblad clone) or a 60."
#24
Adox
4.0
(1)
"If you can find Adox CMS II in 120 size that’ll get you insane results."
#25
Bessas
4.0
(1)
"Bessas are good, common, and inexpensive."
#26
Ricohflex
4.0
(1)
"Ricohflexes are good, reliable, and cheap."
#27
Olympus
4.0
(1)
"Rolleicord Iii - you can get a Xenar version for less than 200."
#28
CIRO-flex
4.0
(1)
"All very simple to operate but also very little to go wrong."
#29
Minolta
4.0
(1)
"The Autocord is just a ton of fun and gets consistent use for me."
#30
Fujica
4.0
(1)
"Isn't a bad option, except I don't think any of them are metered."
#31
Flexaret
4.0
(1)
"Flexaret 4, 5 or 6 if you want a TLR."
#32
C3
4.0
(1)
"I really like my C3, it’s a good overall Experience."
#33
Soviet
3.0
(1)
"Cheap and often good looking, but watch for serious quality issues."
#34
Reflecta
3.0
(1)
"Cheap as heck, try to find the one with the Zeiss lens"
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