Manual focus pentax 645 question

[jay_d5]

I am considering buying the Pentax 645 manual focus camera with a manual focus

45-85mm lens. I have never used a manual focus lens before on film cameras.

On my digital D50, it is difficult to achieve accurate focus manually. I know

the 645 has a better viewfinder, but still, I wonder how difficult it will be

to obtain well focused prints at dusk or in other conditions.

 

Can anyone give me some input on this who has used the 645 (and ideally the

645n or nii with AF lenses as comparison between auto and manual focus).

 

Thank you very much.

[vital1]

buy the 645n it's a huge difference!

[mark f]

I've never used the slower zoom lenses, but the prime lenses are amazingly easy to focus. Much easier than a 35mm. The mirror is throwing much more light into the viewfinder than a 35m mirror can.

[p_l_jensen]

I find it much easier to manual focus than AF with any camera except for moving subjects. The viewfinder on the Pentax 645's are better than anything you find on a DSLR. I use my AF 645NII in manual focus always except for moving subjects. I only use a feature when it can do a better job than I can do myself.

[jeff_drew4]

One can easily swap a focus screen for a Beattie all-matte screen! It provides a 2-stop improvement thru the eyepiece. These are still available.