Often one of the cheapest ways to start in medium format is to find an old folding or box camera. You can often find cameras that take 120 film for under $50, and a fair number of later cameras have coated lenses for improved resolution. These cameras often provide reasonable results in prints up to 8x10, particularly if you shoot in black and white. In return, you must put up with a complete lack of meter, scale focusing, and the red window advance system. Better folding cameras, such as the later Zeiss Ikontas, offer coupled rangefinders, semi-automatic film advance, and excellent Tessar lenses, but the price usually jumps up into the $200 range ofr such cameras. However, for the budget minded, there are plenty of cheap folding and box cameras to play with.
One of the nice things about many folding cameras is their size - you can often carry one of these cameras in a pocket without too much difficulty. This makes them ideal carry cameras, and are relatively inexpensive losses should it be broken or stolen. However, because of the medium format negative, these cameras are quite capable of producing good results.
Those who enjoy using the plastic Diana-type cameras should also consider some of these old folders - just as a Diana can produce very interesting results, so can many of these old folders (particularly those with uncoated lenses), but without the light leaks and other problems commonly associated with the plastic cameras. Likewise, many of the old box cameras can be very interesting to use. Some, like my Box Tengor, even have coated lenses, but most have uncoated lenses that produce very soft images.
In all, I am an advocate of owning one of these cameras, even if only as a conversation piece. They're fun to use and can be found in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, all with unique personalities.
A few selected cameras:
Ansco Titan
Folding 6x6 camera, red window advance system.
90mm f4.5-22 Ansco Anastigmat (coated)
Shutter offers 1/2 sec - 1/400 sec plus B and T.
Shutter must be set before each exposure.
Has old-style non-PC flash sync post.
Zeiss-Ikon Box Tengor
6x9 box camera, red window advance
Goerz Frontar-Achromat f9-16 (coated!)
Three position focusing - 3-6ft, 6-20ft, 20ft-infinity
Shutter fires at one speed only, but also has option for Bulb.
Cable release and PC flash terminal.
Double exposure prevention!
Zeiss Ikonta C
Folding 6x9 camera, red window advance.
105mm Novar Anastigmat (uncoated)
Derval Shutter offers 1/25, 1/50, and 1/100 sec plus B and T.
Shutter automatically resets for each exposure.
General Note on Zeiss Ikonta Cameras:
A, B, and C refer to the format. A = 645, B = 6x6, and C = 6x9. Later Ikontas (the Supers?) have coupled rangefinders, and may offer a semi-automatic film advance. Some models also offer better Tessar lenses - coated versions are especially sought after.
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