So I went with a 645

[Big Dawg]

Got one coming since I lost out on the P6. Now to get an adapter for those P6 lenses.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320713796657&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Questions about it are sure to follow...Fair warning guys!!

[iangreenhalgh1]

Well done, I think, as a user, that is a much much better camera than a P6.

P6 looks nice and is a nice collector's item but as a useable camera, it would be like stepping back to an early 60's all manual SLR like a Praktica Nova, but the 645 is like buying a modern K-mount Pentax instad of the Nova - you can still use all the same lenses but with a much more modern and practical camera.

Now you need some lenses!!!

Vega-12 or Biometar 80mm would be a good start, then a Mir or Flektogon wide angle...

I'd also get a set of bellows then you can use all manner of enlarger, repro and large format lenses.

P6 bellows are not that expensive:

http://www.rockycameras.com/pentacon-six-macro-bellows-3499-15414-p.asp

[Excalibur]

Nice... a 645 neg now puts an amateur (using film) on a par, for quality, with the best 35mm digital cameras at a fraction of the price.

[Nesster]

What an excellent idea about the bellows - I hadn't thought of that approach! Sure, a lot of vintage lenses will go on a bellows!

Congrats on the p645. These are very nice cameras, though the electronic interface is, shall we say, very '80s.

Of the Pentax mf 645 lenses, the 75 and 150 are still reasonably priced, and truly excellent, but anything wide especially has been bid way up.

[iangreenhalgh1]

As long as the image circle is at least 6cm in diameter it will work on bellows with the 645 I reckon.

So that means any lens from an old folder can be used, whether it was intended for 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x9 or one of the larger dead formats like 116 and 122. There are tons of broken folders out there with nice lenses, luisalegria is the man to ask for recommendations I think. Shutter can just be held open at the B position with a spring from an old writing pen or jam a sliver of wood between the shutter lever and the shutter body, I did that with a Zeiss Novar Anastigmat, non destructive as you just remove the piece of wood and it still works, the end of a toothpick would suffice.

Then there are all the enlarger lenses, I think most 50mm ELs will cover a 6cm circle, certainly 75mm and up will.

But what I'd really want to be strapping on a set of P6 bellows would be the large format lenses like the Ross Xpress, Kodak Aero Ektar, Dallmeyer Pentac, Cooke Aviar, even the more modern ones from Schneider, Tominon etc can be had for reasonable prices these days.

I bet Big Dawg could have a lot of fun comparing Zeiss P6 lenses to Schneider LF/Repro ones on the 645!

[Big Dawg]

[Big Dawg]

[Nesster]

btw, I posted some information on this in a pentaxforum 'user review':
http://www.pentaxforums.com/camerareviews/pentax-645.html

Re film - if you don't want to do your own developent, there are the usual suspects in color print and slide films.

I've used Dwayne's for both print and slide, with good service. Others use Wal Mart's service - they send to Fuji - with excellent results.

I'm about to try this place, they have good feedback and are slighly cheaper than Dwayne's:
Click here to see on Ebay

[Big Dawg]

[Attila]

Great tutorial Jussi, please publish it here to if you don't mind. This is an essential reading for all new owners.

[Big Dawg]

[iangreenhalgh1]

The Volna has a good rep, should be a nice lens.

Here's some suggestions for cheapies but goodies you could have fun with:

Schneider Repro Claron f9 150mm, 99c no reserve, should make a great macro lens:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Schneider-Repro-Claron-150mm-f-9-Clear-Glass-L-K-SAVE-/150628696388?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item23122b8144

This is the type of Schneider lens I would be most interested in though, a LF Xenotar 2.8/150mm, that one has a stuck aperture sadly:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Schneider-Kreuznach-Xenotar-Camera-Lens-1-2-8-150mm-/110711474901?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item19c6eb0ad5

Rodenstock also make some interesting lenses like this 180mm Rodagon:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rodenstock-Rodagon-1-5-6-180mm-/140571130852?pt=UK_Photography_DarkroomSupplies_SM&hash=item20bab13be4

Just saying, apart from the Zeiss and Russian MF lenses there are other options of equal quality that won't break the bank.

[Big Dawg]

[Big Dawg]

[Excalibur]

[Big Dawg]

[Attila]

Almost any film can be good and bad , matter is really processing and scan.
I had badly processed Fuji Superia I thought it crap and Excalibur, Katastropho did show me a well processed one... Now I know that is a valuable film and I love it.

So if film looks awful , better to give it a try to another lab.

I think for landscapes, cityscapes where is subject near infinity best results come from slide films. Fuji Provia, Velvia50, Velvia100, Sensia 100, Astia 100

what I did try all are just great I did never try any KODAK until today, roll is not developed yet so no opinion on Kodak.

For portraits, rocks, tools what made from wood , wall etc color film and b&w can be very good I don't see point waste more expensive slide film on it.

Kodak Portra 160VC, NC, Fuji Pro , Fujicolor 200, Konica Centuria etc, etc what I did try all are good 'unknown' supermarket branded film usually less good.


From B&W I vote for less expensive Fomapan great film I got better result with Foma than double priced Ilford films.

Agfa APX can be nice also.

Think about own processing , it can be fast , inexpensive

B&W ~ 50 cents /roll.

Color film C-41 ~ 1-2 USD /roll
Slide E-6 ~ 2 USD/roll

[Big Dawg]

[Attila]

Click here to see on Ebay

I found only this mine did came from Ukraine, I think no matter this adapter is good than others. This is a simple adapter so don't think so they are not same.

[Big Dawg]

[iangreenhalgh1]

Yes but the Mamiya has a shorter register so Mamiya lenses will only work for macro on a Pentax 645 body.

Mamiya 645 = 63.3mm
Pentax 645 = 70.87mm

[Attila]

[Attila]

I didn't find any on Ebay now.


http://www.hartblei.com/price_list.htm 45 USD.

[cooltouch]

With regard to film, I've used both Portra and Ektar and really like both. Ektar I've only used in 35mm format so far, but I've heard really good things about it in 120.

Portra gives very good color saturation and very fine grain. Reminds me a lot of slide film. I really like the stuff and honestly I don't see how Ektar could offer much of an improvement.

For B&W, 400TX all the way. I love it in medium format.

For slides, Fuji Provia or Velvia. Velvia has a very narrow exposure latitude, so you really have to pay attention to shadow areas when you use it. Provia is a bit more forgiving.

But you know what? I'd also be willing to dabble. Like go to Freestyle and see what's on sale or priced cheap and try some. Who knows? Right now, I'm pretty well set on 120 and 220 film, so this hasn't occurred to me until just now.

[Big Dawg]

I found this one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pentacon-Kiev-88CM-Lens-Pentax-645-Camera-Adapter-/130458498771

And this one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/adapter-Pentacon-6-Kiev-60-88CM-Pentax-645-BR-NEW-/390301246671

and this one.

http://www.dvdtechnik.com/?p=res&pn=1&p_t=view&id=60&mid=82&cur=usd

And this one.

http://www.dvdtechcameras.com/other/adapter/9/9.htm