STORM TRACK: January 31, 1979 (Volume 2 Issue 2)

Several years ago, I was tempted to scrap my old 1962 Mamiyaflex C2 twin lens reflex camera for the ultimate in large format (2 1/4" slide) photography -Hasselblad! Being on good terms with a local camera store, I asked to make a test comparison between a new Hasselblad and my camera. I set up a tripod in front of the store and took two rolls of 120 Ektachrome (ASA 64) slide film (all exposures at infinity) within 30-45 minutes on a clear sunny day. I had previously discovered that the Mamiyaflex could be focused slightly past normal infinity, so that it had to be backed off a little for maximum sharpness. I placed small, closely spaced marks along its track and noted which pictures were taken at which mark. Not only were these a good objective reference, but when photographing under actual -sometimes overcast conditions- a preset reference mark hastens a fast, sharp focus. The test results were interesting. Using a magnifying glass and careful projection on a flat white surface, I concluded that my Mamiyaflex took pictures equally as sharp as the $900 Hasselblad. True, I did not have a test pattern and there may have been some distortion in the field. But, after examining the smallest tree limb and most distant telephone poles, I found no practical difference. I still have the old camera, although I don't use it, nearly as much as my 35 mm Nikkormat. However, each year, I bring it -waiting for the "big one," somewhere ... sometime. Bottom line: If the focus and lighting is correct, your camera may be just as good as the "heavyweights."