[Sandy Hancock]

I had a rush of blood to the head, and took the plunge on an offer that seemed too good to refuse.

Coming soon: a 645Z with DFA35/3.5, DFA55/2.8, FA75/2.8, A120/4.0 macro and FA150/2.8

I can't wait to get amongst it. I had a Mamiya 645 with the legendary 80/1.9 many years ago, and sold it for a song without hardly using it. Still kicking myself.

[BigMackCam]

Wow. That's a *nice* setup, Sandy.

Can't wait to see what you do with it!

[Sandy Hancock]

I'll have to lift my game and start making decent photos....

[Digitalis]

A good set of primes, the New DFA35mm f/3.5 is a solid performer. The A 120mm f/4 macro is optically on the level* of the FA version, the lack of AF for a macro lens shouldn't be a problem.

* There are slight differences in flare control between them, the FA version has improved coatings. Lens resolving power is basically identical.

[Heie]

I'll have to lift my game and start making decent photos....

• doing the dishes
• folding the laundry
• cleaning the garage
• taking masseuse classes
• booking that vacation
• installing that garden
• replacing that leaky faucet
• apologizing to the neighbor
• washing the car
• de-weeding the driveway
• assembling that bookshelf

-Heie

[IgorZ]

That's quite a "starter kit"! Congratulations!

[pinholecam]

Congrats!

[Sandy Hancock]

• doing the dishes
• folding the laundry
• cleaning the garage
• taking masseuse classes
• booking that vacation
• installing that garden
• replacing that leaky faucet
• apologizing to the neighbor
• washing the car
• de-weeding the driveway
• assembling that bookshelf

Apart from the masseuse classes, pretty much all done

The crucial part will be passing it off for the K-1 on our vacation....

[BigMackCam]

Apart from the masseuse classes, pretty much all done

Seriously? I ticked off the vacation, then took a natural break for coffee

[robgski]

Enjoy it, I look forward to seeing the results.

[chuck_c]

Very nice set up to jump in with. Enjoy!!!

[monochrome]

Single In should be interesting next month.

[texandrews]

Good luck. Don't be put off by its size/weight if you haven't tried it already. In use it seems to me just right except one handed, which becomes a chore at times. Of course, with these lenses the kit is at its lightest, or nearly.

Add to your kit the slightly pricey but worth it RRS plates for both mounts----you'll thank yourself later. Also find a good strap, makes a huge difference in this case. The weight is such that a bad or even middling strap will make the kit seem heavier than it really is.

Also do yourself a favor by immediately doing some torture test shooting: high isos's, high contrast situations, extreme underexposures, night shots, &etc. Work them in PP. Compare the results to your other cameras, and prepare to be astounded. Especially do some critical looking at tonality gradations from deep darks into lights---once you see the big difference here, and it may take some looking to see it, then you can't help noticing it all the time. To me it was like the experience of finally noticing a particular girl's beauty, and then falling in love with it. Sounds romantic but it isn't, really. The resolution stuff is so obvious, this other is the subtle part that makes the images richer.

There are only several knocks on the camera: the slow sync speed, now somewhat mitigated; the video bit, which is sad; tethering connectivity, also sad; and the one that will probably mean most for you, the narrow highlight ceiling. This last one isn't killer. You can either remember to be aware of it in certain situations, or do what I and some others have done, just leave exposure comp at -1.

Enjoy.

[ramseybuckeye]

Wow Sandy, nice kit! We'll look forward to watching your venture into MF. Have fun!

[mikeSF]

wooo - congrats!