Medium Format Rangefinder Cameras

if you want the bigger format and exchangable lenses, but yet a compact system (for example for fine art travel photography)

Medium format rangefinders are a rather new development. They are rather light-weight and quiet and have excellent image quality, but don't have as large systems, and they are not well suited for close-up photography. They're excellent for reportage or travel photography. The first of this kind was the Mamiya 6 (6x6). Today Mamiya produce the 7II (6x7). There's also the new RF 645 (4.5x6) by Zenza Bronica. Both bodies are rather expensive, but excellent. Mamiya offers a broader variety of lenses, but they are also rather expensive. The Bronica lenses are rather inexpensive, but at the moment there are only three of them. After all, it depends on the format which one to choose.

Fuji offers three rather specialised 6x7 and 6x9 rangefinder cameras with built-in mechanical leaf shutter lenses. They are attractively priced, and offer excellent optical quality backed by the famous Fujinon lenses (read more below). The GW 690 III Professional has a 3.5/90 lens with 6x9 format, the GSW 690 III Professional a 5.6/65 with 6x9 format, the GW 670 III Professional a 3.5/90 with 6x7 format. All three cameras accept both 120 and 220 type roll film.

Not exactly a rangefinder camera, Fuji also offers one of the most highly specialised cameras available. The GX 617 Professional is a 6x17cm (!) panoramic camera with four interchangeable lenses (electromechanical leaf shutter lenses). It is truly expensive, but also absolutely unique. It accepts both 120 and 220 type roll film.

Again not exactly rangefinders, Fuji also offers three AF cameras in 6x4.5 format which resemble overgrown compact cameras. The GA 645i Professional has a built-in 4.0/60 lens, the GA 645 Wi Professional a 4.0/45, the GA 645 Zi Professional a 4.5-6.9/55-90 zoom. They are again rather specialised, but nonetheless interesting to those who may need such cameras, as they are compact, attractively priced and equipped with the famous Fujinon lenses (Fuji manufactures excellent medium format and large format lenses, the Hasselblad FE 4.8/60-120 zoom lens also is being made by Fuji). All three cameras accept both 120 and 220 type roll film.

advantages: rather small, rather flexible, excellent image quality
disadvantage: currently available systems very expensive and not yet very huge