What's your take on the 645 format ? I'm thinking of picking up a med format.?

Question

Specifically a used Pentax 645AF I found used at a Montreal camera shop this weekend. Anyone know any weak points/things I should check out on it before I buy ?

Yeah, 645 is similar to 35mm aspect ratio, my comfort zone.

Thanks veinna 'preciate the advice.

Thanks antoni, I'm a little nervous about graduating to the larger format, but I have always aspired to. Regretably , I know little to nothing about it, so all the advice helps !!!!

Thank you all for great answers, I guess i've got some things to think about and a bit more research to do. I find your advice invaluable, great support community here !!! Got to put this to the vote, I can never pick a best answer.

Thank you all again...!!!!!

Answer 1

http://photo.net/equipment/pentax/645N

Personally, I would forgo the AF.

A MF Pentax 645 can be had for a song. Even better, do yourself a favor, go to 6x7, a little more money and you can have Mamiya RZ67. 6x7cm is the same ratio as 35mm. You will like the picture quality.

If you are set on 645, you might also check out the Fuji 645 rangefinders.

http://www.digitaljournalist.org/issue0105/cameracorner.htm

Answer 2

I have to agree with the others and suggest that you forgo the autofocus.

Medium format autofocus is what 35mm autofocus was twenty years ago-slow, not all that accurate, and really expensive. In other words, its more of a gimmick than a valuable feature.

Given time, I think that it could have become very valuable, however I honestly don't see that happening given the fact that development on film equipment has all but stopped.

I have to confess too that I'm not all that fond of the 645 format, being much more of a 6x6 guy myself.

I admit, though, that I have been tempted by some of the really neat small 645 cameras. I'd kill for one of those Fuji 645 point and shoots, as I can definitely see where I would use a medium format point and shoot style camera.

If you're going to go with 645, I'd suggest that you take a long look at the cameras in the Bronica ETRS line. They're good, solidly built SLRs that are basically just scaled-down versions of their bigger SQ series 6x6 SLRs. The SQ series, was, in turn, heavily influenced by Hasselblad, as were most other medium format SLRs on the market.

The great thing about the Bronica system, though, is its cost. If you went that route, you could get a full-blow system with two or three camera bodies, several film backs, and several lenses for under $1000.

Answer 3

Actually 645 is the same ratio as a typical point and shoot digital camera - 4:3. (6:4.5) I think Pentax promoted 6x7 as the "perfect" format for a while, because it was close to an 8x10 crop.

I can't comment on brands the way the pro's can, but I can encourage you to try out medium format for a while, as long as you have the opportunity. Maybe you would want to use your digital camera for a "test" shot or two the way pro's use a Polaroid back before "wasting film."

I have experience in 6x6, but I only ever shot one or two rolls of color film. Black and white is simply awesome at this size. My sister was a pro for several years and she did all of her commercial work on Hasselblads. "Awesome" falls short in describing the possibilities. Of course, the lenses are great, but the size of the negative is so much of an improvement over 35 mm or any digital sensor.

I always liked the way that Pentax made their medium format cameras so that they handled more or less like a 35 mm camera. They knew that, in the modern age, they were trying to move photographers UP to medium format from 35 mm instead of down from medium format to 35 mm as it was in the 40's and 50's.

Personally, I think the Rollei medium format SLR's are the coolest looking, but I have no idea how they are to work with.

I didn't answer your question - AT ALL - but I do want to encourage you to try medium format. Even if you step away from it after a year or two, it is going to be a great experience.

Answer 4

Go with manual focus. You'll absolutely love the image quality with a slow film and good processing. Your tripod will definitely be getting a lot of use since medium format is not as portable as a 35mm camera.

Although never as popular as some other Twin Lens Reflex cameras, the Minolta Autocord has excellent optics. You'll really draw a crowd using a TLR unless you stumble into a group of view camera users. Others to consider would be Mamiya C330 (interchangeable lenses) or the Yashicamat or a Rollei.

Answer 5

Unless you're getting screaming deal on the AF I'd go for a manual focus camera.

There's less to break and you're not really going to shoot sports anyway.

Before you buy, check out the Mamiya 645.

They are more popular than the Pentax and appear to have more lenses and other stuff on the market, especially used.

The RB-RZ series is great, especially the rotating back. But the thing is huge and the image not that much bigger than 645.

Another option is the Mamiya 7, which is like a huge Leica. The lenses are superb but the price is not cheap.

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

some of the pentax lenses are very special, i'm with Vienna 100%. forget AF unless you need speed, and everything else Vienna said - have a hunt around ebay for mediums and see what else pops up

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