Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
03-03-2020, 08:06 AM - 5 Likes   #1
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: NW Oregon
Posts: 905
The move to Medium Format, so far......

A little over a month ago I decided to finally give medium format a try. Poured over the information on this forum and others trying to learn as much as possible. Priorities were manual focus, weight and price/availability, in the end chose the Pentax 645, the original. Got one with a A 45mm lens, listed as near mint but more like excellent condition, more importantly it functions great and meter is accurate. Picked up some Delta 400 because it's a film I know well and went to Silver Falls State Park to try it out. Once I seen those big negatives (much bigger than 35mm at least) come out of the tank I was hooked.
Now have added the A 35mm, A 55mm, A 75mm, 120mm macro, A 150mm & A 45-85mm and a few accessories including 2 extra inserts w/cases. Have been using FP4 Plus lately, which I like better for landscape. Fortunately, I already had a sturdy tripod, a Really Right Stuff TVC-24, which was great for the long exposure shots in surf & high winds and supporting the weight solidly. Below are a few of the photos so far.











03-03-2020, 08:51 AM   #2
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
gofour3's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 8,085
QuoteOriginally posted by longbow Quote
Now have added the A 35mm, A 55mm, A 75mm, 120mm macro, A 150mm & A 45-85mm and a few accessories including 2 extra inserts w/cases.
Warning, MF LBA can be on the expensive side....

Phil.
03-03-2020, 09:56 AM   #3
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: NW Oregon
Posts: 905
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by gofour3 Quote
Warning, MF LBA can be on the expensive side....

Phil.
Another reason for going with the manual focus 645, not tempted by all of those wonderful auto focus lenses
03-03-2020, 10:16 AM   #4
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Alex645's Avatar

Join Date: May 2015
Location: Kaneohe, HI
Photos: Albums
Posts: 3,526
QuoteOriginally posted by longbow Quote
A little over a month ago I decided to finally give medium format a try. Poured over the information on this forum and others trying to learn as much as possible. Priorities were manual focus, weight and price/availability, in the end chose the Pentax 645, the original. Have been using FP4 Plus lately, which I like better for landscape. Below are a few of the photos so far.
Welcome to the MF PF. Love your last shot posted.

Just beware, as you may have already noticed, that the original 645 has a tendency to over react to highlights and underexposes, so for negs, I almost always +1EV or bracket.

When and if you want to explore color, Ektar and Velvia are amazing and worth exploring if you have a medium format film scanner.

03-03-2020, 10:31 AM   #5
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
gofour3's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 8,085
QuoteOriginally posted by Alex645 Quote
When and if you want to explore color, Ektar and Velvia are amazing and worth exploring if you have a medium format film scanner.
and the just released Ektachrome 100 in 120, just shot my first roll on the weekend.

Phil.
03-03-2020, 10:56 AM   #6
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Alex645's Avatar

Join Date: May 2015
Location: Kaneohe, HI
Photos: Albums
Posts: 3,526
QuoteOriginally posted by gofour3 Quote
and the just released Ektachrome 100 in 120, just shot my first roll on the weekend.

Phil.
....and how does that compare to the Velvia 50 or Velvia 100? I would imagine the new Ektrachrome would rival Fujifilm's Provia 100. Often the edge will go to the chems (Kodak vs. Fujifilm) chems used in processing.
03-03-2020, 11:08 AM - 1 Like   #7
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
gofour3's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 8,085
QuoteOriginally posted by Alex645 Quote
....and how does that compare to the Velvia 50 or Velvia 100? I would imagine the new Ektrachrome would rival Fujifilm's Provia 100. Often the edge will go to the chems (Kodak vs. Fujifilm) chems used in processing.
The roll of 120 is still at the lab being scanned, but comparing the 135 version of E100 to Fuji E6 films then yes Provia 100 is the closest.

I like the new E100 better than any of the Velvia versions and it's now my go to colour film.

Phil.

03-03-2020, 11:25 AM - 1 Like   #8
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: NW Oregon
Posts: 905
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by Alex645 Quote
Welcome to the MF PF. Love your last shot posted.

Just beware, as you may have already noticed, that the original 645 has a tendency to over react to highlights and underexposes, so for negs, I almost always +1EV or bracket.

When and if you want to explore color, Ektar and Velvia are amazing and worth exploring if you have a medium format film scanner.
Thanks
Been using +1 or 2 EV if there's any hint of backlight or bright area, it's worked well and have started using ND Grad filters again for that reason. Thats one of the reasons the la st shot turned out well, especially for a 4sec exposure and thanks to my wife holding still for it. Have a few rolls of Portra 400 will try when things start blooming. Have started doing more color (35mm) since getting the Cinestill TCS-1000, easy to get chemicals up to temp and not having to monitor temp has been great. Have a Epson V800, the 120 film holder that came with it was terrible, so ordered a V700/750 version, much better.

Would like to try Ektrachrome at some point, but only when I'm ready to develop it, part of the fun of doing film.
03-03-2020, 01:50 PM   #9
Pentaxian




Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Pugetopolis
Posts: 11,008
Congrats on the new gear!
Hey, I recognize The Wreck of The Peter Iredale. I took a long exposure of it on my Pentax 67 once passing by the place.
03-03-2020, 02:45 PM   #10
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: NW Oregon
Posts: 905
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by tuco Quote
Congrats on the new gear!
Hey, I recognize The Wreck of The Peter Iredale. I took a long exposure of it on my Pentax 67 once passing by the place.
Thanks, that was an 8 second exposure before sunrise, filled my boots, but wasn't going to abandon the camera or the shot. Glad for a solid tripod, not a bit of vibration when the water hit it. Was near freezing & windy, feet got real cold after that, wife asked if it was worth it......
03-03-2020, 07:23 PM   #11
Veteran Member
Silent Street's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Castlemaine, Victoria, AUS
Photos: Albums
Posts: 1,149
QuoteOriginally posted by Alex645 Quote
....and how does that compare to the Velvia 50 or Velvia 100? I would imagine the new Ektrachrome would rival Fujifilm's Provia 100. Often the edge will go to the chems (Kodak vs. Fujifilm) chems used in processing.

You have quite an appealing set of first-off images there, albeit heavily cliched, but nonetheless easy on the eye. I'm probably smitten by the rusty ruins at the surf edge -- reflecting the fact I live close to the surf myself!

Re E6 films. I have compared Ektachrome 100 to be more akin to Ektar in the way shadows and cool tones are rendered. It certainly is nowhere near a comparison with Provia 100F, and not at all with Velvia (50), an emulsion which has significantly more contrast than either Provia 100 or Ektachrome 100. All of the E6 emulsions are much easier to meter (in-camera or separate meter) in MF to LF than the tiny 35mm form which packs a lot of contrast into a very small area which many cameras (even those with evaluative/matrix/multipattern meters) don't quite nail getting both highlights and shadows in equilibrium.

It is best to find your own speed specific to circumstances with Ektachrome 100; but this advice also applies to Velvia 50, often rated EI32, EI40 or EI64 to moderate contrast in soft/overcast light (it is not a bright/point-light film).
03-05-2020, 08:28 AM - 1 Like   #12
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: United States
Posts: 793
QuoteOriginally posted by gofour3 Quote
Warning, MF LBA can be on the expensive side....

Phil.
I bought a P645 body with a 220 holder from Roberts Camera for $110 to get into shooting 120 film...now I have a 120 Holder, 150mm f3.5, FA 45-85mm and a 75mm f2.8...
03-05-2020, 11:43 AM   #13
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Alex645's Avatar

Join Date: May 2015
Location: Kaneohe, HI
Photos: Albums
Posts: 3,526
QuoteOriginally posted by y0chang Quote
I bought a P645 body with a 220 holder from Roberts Camera for $110 to get into shooting 120 film...now I have a 120 Holder, 150mm f3.5, FA 45-85mm and a 75mm f2.8...
Wow, a 645 body with 220 holder at that price is a bargain. Congrats on that find and building your system.
03-05-2020, 01:51 PM   #14
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: United States
Posts: 793
QuoteOriginally posted by Alex645 Quote
Wow, a 645 body with 220 holder at that price is a bargain. Congrats on that find and building your system.
What I saved on the body I lost on the 120 holder which was $77 dollars. I have heard you can convert 220 backs but I didn't want to risk the motor on my body. The lenses were ridiculously reasonable if you are willing to avoid buying inflated prices from certain hoarder sellers, which I couldn't avoid when buying the 120 holder.
03-06-2020, 06:11 AM - 2 Likes   #15
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: NW Oregon
Posts: 905
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by y0chang Quote
What I saved on the body I lost on the 120 holder which was $77 dollars. I have heard you can convert 220 backs but I didn't want to risk the motor on my body. The lenses were ridiculously reasonable if you are willing to avoid buying inflated prices from certain hoarder sellers, which I couldn't avoid when buying the 120 holder.
That's still a good buy on the 120 insert, you've done good. Now you need the A 35mm, it really is as good as others say, fast becoming my favorite.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
35mm, format, medium, move to medium, weight
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Post your non-pentax medium-format and large-format pictures DenisG Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 26 12-07-2020 08:02 PM
Travel Cactus and sea: Water; so near, yet so far ismaelg Post Your Photos! 5 12-15-2019 07:56 PM
considering move to medium format cdd29 Pentax Medium Format 23 11-29-2017 01:16 AM
So close but so far away... pentagor Post Your Photos! 4 07-06-2008 06:41 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:08 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top