Originally posted by jtkratzer Bumping this now that I’ve had a chance to go out and shoot with the 6x7 a bit. For those with a 6x7 variant and a 645(n/ii), what conditions make you pick the 645 vs 67 camera/format? The 645n and four lenses I have aren’t exactly a small kit for traveling. Yes, lighter, but still bulky. Just trying to think through if a shot is expected to be good enough for MF film, why would one choose 6x4.5 if 6x7 is available?
I don't have a P645, but do have a Mamiya 645 Pro with winder & AE prism (effectively the same thing without AF - perhaps a bit bulkier). For me, a motorised 645 sits in a different place to a 6x7 - faster & easier to shoot, more frames per roll and better suited to action subjects or where you'd like to use long lenses. The lenses are scarcely bigger than 35mm, and apart from fewer and more expensive zooms, telephoto lenses don't loose their coverage as quickly as 6x7.
I used to shoot aircraft/air shows with a 210/4 lens and a 2x teleconverter (longer lenses then were really expensive) - where I used to use an xx-300mm zoom on 35mm, I was using 400 reasonably comfortably on 645 (I'd have needed 600 on 6x7 - totally impractical). I've thought about selling it several times, but it's always redeemed itself by being so useful - if I had a P645 system today, there's no way I'd sell it given the prospects of a 645D or Z somewhere along the line.
My dilemma with 6x7 is that the lenses are much bulkier (physically larger diameter, larger hoods & filters etc), a two lens kit is hard to cover my needs, a three lens kit becomes bulky & heavy - at this point there's always the thought that you're so bulky and heavy you need a bigger bag and a fourth lens will just about fit... and is only 'slightly' heavier...
With 645 the kit is easier but you're wondering whether the format will do justice to your application, and why leave the 6x7 at home...