graham_martin2

Thanks for the info, but I am not sure what you mean by a "standard PC connector". Could you elaborate for me?

 

Thanks

I am going to be buying a leaf shutter lens probably the 135mm one. In looking

at a picture of one there appears to be some kind of socket. Since I am new to

the MF world, could someone explain what is the function of that socket? I am

assuming that some kind of cord gets attached, perhaps a flash sync cord. Where

can I buy the right cord and/or does someone have a part number?

Thanks Doug:

 

I plan on buying one LS lens so that I can use it outdoors with fill flash. KEH has a couple of good 135mm f/4 LS lenses at very good prices. In looking at the picture I see what looks like a flash sync terminal. I am assuming I need a cord that connects to the lens and the flash. Do you know what the part number I should get? I am also going to need a flash. I have the camera manual which lists the different flashes available. I am going to shoot for one that is as high as possible above the lens.

 

What does SMC signify on a lens? Does it refer to the quality of the glass?

 

I can see myself starting to spend money here. That's not a good thing. Oh well, can't take it with you.

Thanks fellas. I went by Ritz camera today, and one of the sales assistants knew how to load the film. I did indeed have the film on the wrong spool and facing in the wrong direction. She showed me how to do and that, combined with your advice here, makes me feel a lot more comfortable.

 

Tomorrow I am going to run off a roll and get some prints made.

Thanks for your advice. I am beginning to understand the process now. Since the camera is a Pentax 645 I posted the question in the Pentax 645 forum. I was able to find a manual on line for the Pentax 645N, and it clearly shows that the new film goes on the spool holder marked "S". The diagram was much easier to follow, but I am going to go to a camera store and have them help me.

I know this has been asked before, but I wasn't able to find a definitive

answer. If there is one, please respond with a link. The pdf version of the

manual isn't that easy to follow.

 

My questions are theses:

 

1) Does the new roll go on the spool that has the red "S" and the red "mark", or

does it go on the other spool?

 

2)Should the nomenclature on the film (in this case Portra 400NC), be at the end

that has the red S, or at the end with the red mark. Right now I have set up

where, looking from the back of the film case with the 220 dial on it on the

right hand side of the case, the yellow side of the film is coming out of the

bottom.

 

3) Does the film wind up over the pressure plate with the black side facing out?

 

I really need someone who is good with words to walk me through this. I am

pretty sure that I am doing this wrong. Perhaps someone has a picture or two

that they could upload which clearly shows which end is up.

 

Thanks

I just got my Pentax 645 today with a 75mm f/2.8 lens. If I really start to get

into this new realm I will be buying 2 or 3 additional lenses. What suggestions

do you have for some basic lenses? What about a leaf shutter lenses for flash

use? There was one on eB*y that ended without a bid. I was interested but had no

idea as to what would be a reasonable price to bid up to. This was a 135mm f/4

Leaf Shutter lens. Am I correct that this would correspond to about an 85mm lens

on a 35mm camera?

 

Lots of questions, but I would like to become an educated consumer.

 

 

Thanks

So does this mean that with the Pentax 645 I have to use up all the film before changing inserts unlike other makes where you can change mid-stream? Is there an advantage of Pentak 67 lenses over 645s? Also do the 645 lenses come in both manual focus and auto-focus like a 35mm SLR? Why aren't the lenses interchangeable between 645 and 67 in the same way that a Nikon lens can be used on a whole variety of models without an adapter? I'm not knocking the Pentax system. I am just trying to learn the differences between the two formats.

 

Is there any kind of adapter that will let me use my Nikon lenses on the Pentax camera?

Rockwell's review was, as usual, mixed. While he did complain about the cheap feel of the Mamiya 7, he also said that it was a great camera and that he had won a trip to Hawaii with a picture he had taken with that camera. Poor old Ken, everyone has an opinion of him. Personally I find his reviews quite helpful.

Oh well, I just bought a Pentax 645 on eBay. I got it at a reasonable price. If I don't like it I will just put it back for auction. However, I do see that one can get both 120 and 220 backs from KEH. Wouldn't that make it interchangeable?

I have 2 SB-800s so I should be good to go. Thanks

I have just purchased a 645 with the standard lens. I am in a tryout mode and

don't want to spend a lot of money on add-ons until I decide if I want to keep

this setup. I have a Nikon SB-16A as well as 2 Nikon SB-800s. Can I use either

flash and, if so, what settings should I use.

You know, I think I am over analyzing this. Time to just do it. I am going to buy that Pentax 645 because of the price. If I like the results, but maybe find in the future that I would like one with different features then I can probably sell it for close to what I paid for it.

 

Thanks Sergio

In looking at the Bronica, which I liked for the reasons you mention, I see that they are priced higher on KEH than Pentax. Right now this would be an exploratory purchase and so I don't want to spend over $1,000, but $400-$500 would make me happier. If you look on eBay, Mamiya is second only to Hasselblad in terms of number of cameras and parts (986) compared to only 216 for Bronica. Of course, Pentax only had 162 listings.

 

It was based on accesory availability that I was drawn to the Mamiya. However, the Pentax does have somewhat of a price advantage.

So far as lenses are concerned, can one buy leaf shutter lenses for use on the Pentax 645? If so, does that mean I have an effectively faster flash sync speed?

So now it's coming down to the Pentax 645 versus the Mamiya 645. Kelly, you are exactly right about being able to buy a Pentax 645 + 75mm lens for about $300. I found one for right about that price.

So now it's coming down to the Pentax 645 versus the Mamiya 645. Kelly, you are exactly right about eing able to buy a Pentax 645 + 75mm lens for about $300. I found one for right about that price.

You certainly are right about what you can do with a $1,000. I did some pricing at KEH on a Mamiya 645e plus accesories and here is what I came up with. Would appreciate any comments as to what I should add or delete. Thanks

 

1) 645 E BODY WITH 120 INSERT MEDIUM FORMAT CAMERA BODY EX+ $275.00

 

2) 220 INSERT EX $14.00

 

3) 45 F2.8 (77) MANUAL FOCUS WIDE ANGLE LENS BGN $149.00

 

4) FRONT 77 SNAP-ON CAP EX $12.00

 

5)BEATTIE INTENSCREEN PLUS WITH GRID (SUPER, PRO), BGN $45.00

 

6) 645 E INSTRUCTION BOOK EX $14.00

 

7)AE PRISM N (SUPER) BGN $84.00

 

8) SV AE REFLEX FINDER FK402 (PRO) BGN $79.00

 

Total Amount: $672.00

I have been looking at KEH. I've done a lot of business with them, and I trust them implicitly. They are closed today, but I will call them in the moring. I prefer chatting with one of the sales people on a purchase like this where I am not totally sure of what I am buying. Pentax and Mamiya are certainly included in my list of mfgrs. to consider.

It sounds like the best thing, since I can't rent one locally, would be to buy an inexpensive one and invest in a heavier duty tripod. Right now, I have a Bogen 3021N. Any suggestions on a tripod?

Regrettably (or maybe not since I prefer small towns), there are no camera rental shops where I live. I think your idea is a good one. just not practical for me. The closest I could come would be to buy a couple of different formats from KEH, and then return the(s) I didn't like. I don't care to do that though as it doesn't seem right to do business that way.

Thanks for the great, helpful responses in such a short time. Two things that I would like some more advice on are Mirror Slap, and leaf type shutter versus focal plane. I believe I would prefer a camera where I didn't have to worry about mirror slap (or am I being overly concerned here?). So far as the shutter types are concerned, I understand the the faster flash sync is no quicker than 1/30 or 1/60, whereas with a leaf shutter I woudn't have that problem. Any thoghts on those issues?

 

So far as manual focus at weddings is concerned, I just used my "new" Nikon F3HP with B&W film at a wedding. This was my first time out and I got 67% of my shots in focus. Not a great hit rate, but the ones that were in focus pleased me and the groom's parents very much.

I currently own 5 nikon SLRs as follows: D200, D2H, D70 (IR converted), F100 and

F3HP with a range of good lenses. With the exception of the D70, everything was

bought used. As you can see I tend to enjoy buying "new" cameras. Now my

thoughts are turning to Medium Format because I have heard about the superior

image quality due to the much larger size of the negatives.

 

I have read the Which Camera Should I buy section, and starting to digest that

information. I sense that the 6x6 format is preferred by many. Ken Rockwell is

not impressed with 645, but seems to like the 6x7 although he admits that he

hardly ever uses his Mamiya 6 now.

 

My questions is an open ended one. Please help me to understand the overall

benefits of Medium Format. I would use it for landscapes and some amateur

wedding photography. One factor would be availability of accessories such as

lenses, backs, flashes etc. At this point I am not willing to spend more than

$1,000.

 

Looking forward to your advice.

 

Thank you

 

Graham

I see that this question has come up a few times on this forum, but I would like

some current feedback on whether or not this lens will AF on either my D200 or

D2h. KEH and Roberts Camera in Indianapolis both state that this is a film only

camera. I even call Tamron and they said well maybe it would and maybe it

wouldn't AF on a DSLR. Tamron even said that one could different results using

different 300s on the same camera!

 

I have researched on Nikonians and have exchanged emails with folks who have had

differing results. I would like to get some feedback from anyone here who has

used this combination. I have also heard mention about getting the lens

re-chipped by Tamron at a cost of around $250. If I have to do that I am getting

into the $1,000 range, and I think I would then start looking at a MF Nikon.

 

Any help would be appreciated.