Advice on first medium format Camera
I'm looking to venture into the land of 120 film and I'd like to find a camera that, doesn't break the bank, is reliable and is relatively transportable as I'd mainly like to use it on hikes/trips.
Some cameras I've looked at but don't think will work are:
- Mamiya 6 or 7: Seem perfect but not affordable, especially given that I've heard their electronics make them a bit of a gamble with expensive repairs for an expensive camera.
- Fuji 645 rangefinders: nice and compact but the GAs are expensive & rely on electronics, the GS645 looks pretty ideal but I've heard it's fragile. Anything with bellows seems fragile and like it won't last.
My top choices right now are the Fuji GW690 (would prefer the 6x7 or 6x8 version but they are rarer and much more expensive) and the Mamiya 645. I know these cameras seem very different at first but they both review well, are reliable and are somewhat portable. My main question is: How does the portability/packability of these two cameras compare? The Fuji, being a big range finder seems easier to carry around but more awkward to fit into a bag compared to the 645 that is pretty much just the shape of a box (with the waist level VF at least).
Would appreciate any comments from people that have experience with these cameras and please let me know if any of my ideas about these cameras are wrong.