Some more info: I'm using a Toyo 23G with Toyo's 6x7 and 6x9 backs. Then do an honest blind test to see if the '3D' quality is really from the Minolta, or from your favorite subjects.

For a fair test, you must shoot the Minolta side-by-side with the view camera using the same film and lighting. We all have a built in bias for our 'old favorite' images. Old graflex goodies from the parts bin just don't work as well.

Use good, modern roll film holders (Toyo, Linhof, Horseman, Wista). so I try to use no smaller than f/16 unless DOF demands. You need to find the 'sweet spot' f-stops for your lens. Medium format lenses peak at wider f-stops, but for most of my scenic work, I need the smaller stops for DOF anyway, so the MF lenses don't hold any advantage. Resolution maxed out at 75 lp/mm which is not only outstanding, but is also just at the diffraction limit at the corresponding f-stop. I have just finished testing a 55mm Apo-Grandagon on an ArcaSwiss 69FC. There have been a number of discussions of medium format vs. Ideally, I'd like to fi nd a few lenses to cover the 55mm to 150mm range, but if I'm limited to just one, it would need to be in the 75mm to 100mm range since this is what I use most o f the time.Īny suggestions or pointers will be greatly appreciated! What's the secret? I enjoy the process of shooting with a view camera and would hate to give mine up but unless I can find at least one lens that can capture a n image with Autocord-like qualities, it'll have to go. Recently, I have bought and rented a handful of modern lenses and while they've been able to yield an impressive degree of sharpness, t he '3D' quality that I want simply isn't there. Obviously, it must be the lens that's responsible for this quality and to that e nd, I've tried a variety of older uncoated, single-coated and multi-coated lense s, all without success. Laugh if you must but the Autocords that I own have the ability to capture a bitingly sharp image yet also impart a rounded, almost 3D-like qua lity that I am unable to duplicate when shooting with my view camera. A recent review of my favorite images surprised me when I realized the majority of them had been shot using a humble Minolta Autocord TLR and NOT my medium-form at view camera.

Minolta autocord cds iii review