anthony_harrison

Just acquired my first Pentax 67 kit - two oldish bodies, three lenses

(current type 45, older style 105 and 200). I�m reeling a bit from the

quotes I received from Pentax UK for servicing - like 180 UKP + VAT

for a body service. And my 45 lens, with which I�m already impressed,

has a dented front rim, replacement of which is quoted at around 50

UKP. Can anyone recommend a reliable camera-fixer in the UK who

undercuts Pentax? BTW Pentax told me they have stopped servicing

non-MU bodies, which seems a bad idea.

What filters do people use for the 45mm lens, with its 82mm thread?

I use B+W, but to avoid the fiendish cost of big filters specially for

the 45, am inclined to use HiTech 75mm rectangular resin filters

taped direct to the front rim. Anyone got experience of either the

Lee or HiTech WA filter holders?

I�m increasingly interested in getting a MF rangefinder camera such as

Fuji or Mamiya to complement my MF SLR. I�ve learned a lot from MFD

postings about the 6x7 and 6x9 cameras, but does anyone have

experience yet with the Fuji GA645, for documentary and reportage?

How fast are the autofocus and motor wind? Have you got used to

up-ending the camera for landscape-format shots? Which end do you

hold uppermost? Is it a lot better than the manual GS645S? Should I

spend 400UKP on a s/h GS645 or 700UKP on a s/h GA645?

I�m shooting more pics than ever on my Mamiya 645 Super, and am faced

with filing and cataloguing my transparencies. I sell a few, and aim

to increase this activity, so it�s important to establish a good

system at the outset. Filing is OK: I settled on a UK system from

DW Viewpacks which permits different formats in black masks to go in

10-pocket filing-cabinet sheets . What database system can anyone

recommend? I have info on the US Cradoc Caption Writer already

- though I don�t have a laser printer and can�t print labels. Anyone

tried MS Excel or MS Works for photo cataloguing? Are there other

dedicated dbase programs for this purpose?

William Robinson asked about the Fuji GA645 metering system. I too am

very interested in this camera, indeed if I had the money I�d buy one

right now. The most comprehensive review I know is a 2-part feature

from December 1995 in the British Journal of Photography; the reviewer

Geoffrey Crawley writes, "The first pressure on the shutter release

locks the (exposure) setting. So a selected area can be centred, the

reading locked and the picture recomposed. The same action also locks

autofocus but pressing the MF button down on the body left front will

lock focus separately."

So it seems very flexible. I�d love to get one to complement my Mamiya

645.

Second, Carlo Falco asks whether he�ll learn more about light if he

incident-meters or uses the AE prism metering on his Mamiya. Other

contributors have offered good advice about metering methods, but to

answer Carlo�s actual question, I offer an unreserved Yes - but you�ll

learn even more if you get a spotmeter. The Mamiya�s AE prism metering

s extremely easy to use, and remarkably good (at least as efficient as

Olympus and Nikon IMHO), but it�s designed to minimise active

cogitation about exposure - not to encourage you to analyse your

exposure technique.

I found the acquisition of a spotmeter made me think more about

exposure, and taught me more about it, more quickly, than any camera�s

built-in meter ever did.

Finally, thanks to those who offered their advice about switching from

645 to 6x7 - thanks, fellers, you were very helpful, and for the moment

I�m hanging onto my M645. It does seem impossible to make one camera

do everything well, so I�m looking into getting a Fuji 645, or Mamiya

or 7, for certain tasks.

I�m still considering a move from Mamiya 645 to a bigger MF system,

partly for physically bigger transparencies and partly to try and get

better, more instinctive handling - I still find the M645 a bit

awkward to handle, even though I use it 100 percent on a tripod. Not

too happy about its build quality either, too much plastic.

I would particularly appreciate guidance from those who have made this

move themselves, especially those who chose either Pentax 67, Bronica

SQA, or Bronica GS1. I like the idea of the big Pentax very much, but

would be reluctant to lose multi-exposure capability; I understand

Pentax USA do a multi conversion, though not sure the UK distributors

offer this service. The slower sync speed is discouraging too. The SQA

, though I am unenthused by a square format, offers leaf-shutter

lenses which I know are excellent, and it would be good for the studio

shots I need as well as landscapes. The GS1 sounds very interesting,

but the lens prices are frightening; I assume its standard format is

portrait�?

I�ve had excellent advice before from MFD readers, and would be

grateful for more.

If I can offer a little of my own, to those wondering about flash

meters, I have to say that a terrific bonus with my Minolta Spotmeter F

is the easy precision of its flash capability - once you�ve used spot

-metering for flash, you�ll be reluctant to revert to anything else.

Best wishes - Tony Harrison