[Jeff Bennett]

What was I thinking? Looks darn near new and I only paid just over $100. Any advice on shooting this thing? Never shot medium format at all. Also I posted in the wanted section looking for a lens or two but I'll mention it here too. If you have any duplicates or focal lengths you don't like let me know. Scuffs on the body don't scare me if the glass is good. I just need something to learn with.

[Adam]

75mm is the normal FL on 645, so that's what you should try to get. Do the camera have a film insert in it? If not, you'll need to get one. I'd start with 120 film, shoot a roll, and take it from there.

[Jeff Bennett]

Thanks Adam. I was just about to reply and ask about focal lengths on that format. It did come with a couple of 120 backs.

[DougLee]

Congrats on the new camera! I have a 67 so I can't advise you on lenses but I am betting you will love medium format, I am excited for you!

[Smolk]

Congrats! The 75mm is a great lens, all A lenses are in fact (with the exception, perhaps, of the 45mm which I have never owned). It does no seem to matter much which 75mm you get (A, LS, FA), although the FA is less solid than the A and LS, and the LS has less aperture leaves than the A and FA (5 vs 8).

[asahijock]

A 645 with two inserts for $100 is great value by U.K. standards. I think you will enjoy it

asahijock

[Bigvern1263]

Let me know if you cant find any, i bought a full 645 kit for lenses when i got my 645D and i have a few duplicates, in OZ though, not sure your location, they are schmick as well not a mark on them. I think a spare 45mm and maybe a 55mm as i got the 55mm digital version with the D.

[Jeff Bennett]

What should I pay for a 75mm A lens? There is a nice looking one available for 2x what I paid for the camera. Is $200 too much too pay for the SMC A 75mm? Wish I could find as good a deal on the lenses. lol

[Bigvern1263]

No not really, check the KEH website, they are usually a fair guide although always on the higher side, but a guide none the less. Check the lens forum page on here too, as a rough guide as well. With the D being out , many are grabbing or hanging onto the original glass, the 75A gets a great rap, i use it and IQ is stunning. Also Fleabay which is where i located all mine and wasnt disappointed as the original owners had coveted them...

[Smolk]

By the end of this month, I have a 75A and 55A up for sale, with a 645, that came in a lot I bought for the 120mm lens. I had this macro lens before, sold it, now I'm getting it back. I also have the original soft case coming my way—large camera to use as a walk-around, but also interesting to use just the one lens.

[tlong423]

With every Pentax-A 645 lens I buy, I am always delighted. They just so totally blow away my Nikon primes -- they are simply beautiful. And as Bigvern1263 hinted at, any of these used 645 lenses you find will have almost certainly been lovingly taken care of. If you are used to shooting 35mm, just compare lenses:

645 Lens 35mm Lens Equivalent
========= ==========================
35mm ---> 21mm
45mm ---> 28mm
55mm ---> 35mm
75mm ---> 45mm
120mm ---> 75mm
150mm ---> 90mm
200mm ---> 135mm
300mm ---> 180mm

And if you got two inserts and a 645 body for $100, man you got a terrific deal! Congratulations!

[Pwn4g3_P13]

Looks like I will also be joining the 645 crowd. As a penniless student its the only real way for me to get into medium format, also my first format into film at all ^^.

May be a stupid question.

Okey it's a stupid question;

But does the larger 120mm film mean that the same DOF shallowing effect that you see on full frame sensors will be apparent, compared to my K20D?

[klaus123]

..........does the larger 120mm film mean that the same DOF shallowing effect that you see on full frame sensors will be apparent, compared to my K20D?

Yes, you are right - and because there is app. another 1,4..1,5 factor from 24x36 to 645 it is app. twice the effect (for the 67 its ~ Factor 3)