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Medium Format Film Portraits

jdphoto

Well-known member
I've owned the Hasselblad 501cm and the Mamiya RZ and sold them here and there to fund other gear. I don't hoard camera gear, but now am looking to right this wrong by purchasing MF film gear again! I absolutely loved the RZ 110mm f/2.8 for very shallow DOF. The hot shoe and bellows focusing are a nice touch too. However, I would love a fully mechanical camera (yes, RZ shoots at 1/400th w/no battery), but love the build of the Hasselblad and it's a tad easier to handhold too. The 500CM is a camera I'm interested in and was curious what others would recommend for portraits w/ the 500CM? I've never used any other lens then the CF 80mm f/2.8, and actually think the RZ 110mm is nicer in rendering, so what are the other stellar V lenses with shallow DOF for portraits? Thanks for any input.
 

pgmj

Member
The 150 and 180 V lenses are both very nice for portraits. The 180 is sharper. You’d need an extension ring to get reasonably short focus.

A much cheaper option could be a Mamiya C series TLR (c220 or c330) with 105/3.5 or 135/4.5 or 180/4.5. It uses bellows and is more flexible on close focus.
 
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jdphoto

Well-known member
Not often thought of for portraits, but the 50mm Distagon f/4 does nicely to incorporate more elements of a scene. This was taken with a 500CM and a 50mm f/4 Distagon at f/4, 1/250th. Kodak Portra 400.
 
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