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Forum: Post Your Photos!
10-24-2022, 10:00 AM
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I really enjoyed using the 645N camera I had for a few years just before digital really took over. In this case, the Sensia film offered warm brown shades to the foreground ferns, and vibrant blues and greens, without all the extra saturation of Velvia.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
10-24-2022, 10:35 AM
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Since you can't avoid people at National Parks, I've decided to start a photography project called People in Nature. In any case, how can you create a new take on iconic locations which have been photographed forever and ever.
In this image, I like how the people crawling up the incline. It is actually possible, but you need to get up pretty early to get ahead of the crowd at this location.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
04-04-2011, 09:51 AM
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| Pros | Size, ergonomics, handling, data-edge printing Cons | focus point setting Rating | 10 Price (U.S. Dollars) | $450 Years Owned | 1 |
I can recommend this camera: Yes
Value, Features, Performance & Size
Last of the best full-featured, automatic film cameras. Competes with Nikon F6 in features. Beats the F6 on size and weight. Desirable on used market. Occasional availability locally or on auction sites, but seldom inexpensive.
Camera Review
Handling, size, usage, are all wonderful. I love the quiet little hiss made by the shutter and motor when you trigger the shot. Data imprinting on the roll edge is very nice.
MZ-S makes it very logical and easy to change exposure mode: Tv by moving dial; Av by moving lens aperture ring; Manual by moving both. Hit Green button to reset back to automatic exposure mode. So the MZ-S has a very similar design philosophy to the 645N, even if the buttons look different. You can also see this same design philosophy carried through to the modern Pentax DSLRs like the K-5.
PF Menu [F12]: One useful feature is the ability to "Mid Roll Change" before the end of the roll. You have to set it up in Pentax Function menu setting [F12]:[3] "Leaves out the film leader and enables MRC frame advance". Write down the frame number on your film canister. When you reload: With the back open, press the "green button" (exposure mode) while turning the dial to set the frame number.
PF Menu [F2]: Auto exposure mode can be set to prefer Speed Priority, Aperture Priority or MTF Priority. In other words, hitting the "Green Button" resets exposure to auto, but you can choose whether the automatic exposure prefers Faster Shutter speeds, Wider Apertures for depth-of-field, or Best Lens Resolution.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR and Camera Articles
03-29-2011, 09:26 AM
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Just to highlight the significant differences:
(1) Autofocus on 645N & 645NII.
(2) Single-mode knobs with green-for-auto indicators 645N & 645NII. 645 has fewer knobs, and sets modes through LCD panel and menus.
(3) Data Edge Printing on 645N & 645NII.
(4) Matrix metering, auto-bracketing, and exposure lock on 645N & 645NII.
(5) Mirror Lock-up on 645NII. (Most people say the mirror is well-damped and this isn't important).
Everything else is pretty minor. Maybe lack of self-timer on 645 matters to some.
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
09-28-2010, 01:56 PM
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Denver Skyline. P645N and Velvia.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
03-23-2011, 07:37 PM
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When I bought the K-5, I also got the 31mm f /1.8 limited and the 50-135mm f/2.8, which gives me relatively fast 50mm and 70-200mm FF equivalent. This 2-lens combo works well on crop-sensor, but leaves me needing a wide and a Tele, maybe 20mm and 300mm f/4 DA. And, if I need macro or portrait, I have a couple choices.
The 31mm is an excellent focal length on my MZ-S film camera. On the K-5 it becomes a 50mm equivalent, which is useful, but I REALLY need a wider focal length for landscape, indoor, group photos and street.
Pentax has a sweet, "minimal" set of primes and WR zooms which makes it easy to get quality, inexpensive fast lenses on the crop-factor K-5. Since I have a FF MZ-S, I have to duplicate things a little, which means a 15mm wide for the K-5; the crop-factor and good high-ISO performance of the K-5 is very useful for telephoto.
Maybe the only thing we are missing from Pentax is a bird lens, like 400mm DA.
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
12-28-2010, 11:00 PM
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Pentax 645 and 645N systems are regularly being dumped by wedding photographers on your local Craig's listings. Maybe you can get a body and 75mm lens for $300-$500. If you are lucky, you can get a three lens set for under $800. The nicer autofocus lenses have gone way up in price on eBay, and they've pretty much disappeared from KEH. That means the local sellers sometimes don't know the real value, so you can get a good deal on a full system.
Some people seem to like the P645, but I much prefer the button layout on the P645N (the autofocus model). The mechanics of the manual lenses are truly wonderful, so you can't go wrong with a P645N and manual lenses. These handle just like a nice SLR camera, with a solid professional feel that gives you a lot of confidence.
For portraits, you might want to look into a 120mm macro, or better the 150mm f2.8.
Oh, I love the shutter and advance motor that roars like a jet plane taking off. Not quiet as you might desire, but you don't get any mirror slap.
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