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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
01-03-2013, 01:57 AM
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Walking around town today with my 645N over my shoulder. Nice how the strap mounting points let it hang lens-down. Easy to carry, to walk with.
Felt self-conscious at first, with this highly-visible gigantic camera (at least compared to my shirt-pocket XZ-1). But then I noticed that nobody on our busy main street was paying me any attention at all. As an average-looking 68-year-old, I was still as invisible to younger people as I was before the 645N. Which made me feel very happy. Now, if this changes in future, I'll report on it -- am slightly worried that some younger Iraq vet with PTSD might think I'm pointing an RPG at him... but we'll see.
Am I the only person who has felt self-conscious with this large camera, or have you felt like this also?
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
12-29-2012, 03:31 AM
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KEH is excellent. So is Amazon, where I found a simple sturdy Mithra camera bag ... shown in their product pic with a Pentax 645! (sold me on it right there) Amazon.com: Mithra Edition Stylish DSLR Camera Carrying Bag with Removable Shoulder Strap for Pentax 645D / Pentax K-7 / Pentax K-5/ Pentax K-r/ Pentax K-x: Camera & Photo ... it holds my 645N with lens, and a second lens in a lens case, and several filters and rolls of film, no problem. Also works just fine for larger 35mm cameras, like an old Nikon FM3a with motor-winder, extra lens, filters, film, etc. The bag comes with a really good shoulder strap. Best of all, it is generically stupid-looking... just an old bag... nothing to indicate that it is a camera bag. No logos, nothing that screams 'steal me!' Cool.
KEH consistently delivers top-quality cameras and lenses. And Amazon's got tons of film, filters, all the other stuff... with really fast delivery. Two great companies for photographers.
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
12-19-2012, 07:11 PM
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Today, the sun came out after the rain. Chilly clear air. Went into town to the post office, then walked to an overlook above the sea. A small park -- the same spot where I'd previously taken a digital photo and a 35mm film photo. Today, used the 645N. Will compare all three images later on.
Below the park, train rails along the bluff. And a train was coming! I had no trouble at all focusing and composing -- the 645N is so easy! Click! But then, I realized that I'd taken a picture of the end of the train, since Antrak runs them backwards here a lot. But I was able to take a second shot before the train passed -- with the locomotive this time. Very, very happy that the camera is so intuitive and easy to use. It is a joy to have lenses with real hyperfocal-distance marks. And to know that, unlike digital, when I set the lens focus, it will not change between shots.
Anyway, I'm preaching to the choir here. So I'll stop. Next step -- maybe -- noticed from your posts that the 35mm lens is a treasure... 20mm in 35mm terms, right? So I think I'll check out prices. But they will probably be high, since that's the kind of lens you could make money with... architectural, landscape. We'll see.
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
12-19-2012, 12:39 AM
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Redrock -- "There is the right camera for each of us..." isn't that the truth.
Today, I looked out the window near sunset, saw the sky lighting up, grabbed the 645N, and drove over to the beach. Arrived just as the sun was right at the horizon. No time, no time at all to think about how to set my new camera. But all I had to do was turn it on, point, focus, shoot. Because I had previously set the aperture, shutter, and meter settings on 'green' ... instant box Brownie on steroids! The viewfinder is huge and very bright. No problem at all seeing in the dim light. Noticed that the programmed exposure kept the shutter speed as high as possible, to avoid camera shake blurring... not bad at all, at sunset.
Carrying the 645N is a kick. It is about as heavy as an old film Nikon with a motor winder, or about half the weight of an old Speed Graphic. Or, about the same as three or four digital point 'n shoots. Ergonomics -- the hand grip is REALLY a hand grip, not just a little bump. So I've already gotten over my fear of dropping it by mistake. And, a Pentax camera strap is on order.
But it IS big. Think I'll make a press pass to go with it. After all. Maybe something like this:
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
12-17-2012, 03:06 AM
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Loaded my first roll of film today. Like going back in time, Christmas at age 10, my new Kodak Hawkeye, a roll of 620 film then, and 120 Ektar 100 this morning. The same excited feeling, opening the roll package, taking off the tape, feeding it onto the takeup spool.
So easy to load the film. Hasn't changed in what, 75 years? The user manual shows so clearly how to do it. And then the 645N made this wonderful noise as it advanced to the first frame, and I went out to the garden to photograph impatiens flowers, vividly bright in the soft overcast daylight, just before the rain.
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
12-14-2012, 09:26 PM
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Thanks Gary -- will have to get a Federal Grant for these lenses, before Congress gets serious about cost-cutting!
The 645N -- for me -- is a perfect blend of old and new. I enjoy manual focusing... and, to my surprise and delight, it shows a little in-focus light... with a beep if I turn on the sound. Had no idea it would do that with the older manual-focus lenses. VERY cool. And again, the controls are so easy to use. A photographer must've designed it, instead of the marketing people. I really like the little over-under exposure bar display, in manual mode. Anyway, I'm preaching to the choir here, aren't I? And thanks for the pictures, too... do you get your film scanned, or are you using a 645D?
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
12-14-2012, 08:25 PM
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Thanks -- yes, KEH is super. The way online buying should be. Also, I'm impressed with Amazon -- for items that Amazon themselves ships. They arrive really, really fast via USPS.
Will remember your tip about the 120 macro lens. Must say though, for closeups, I am really happy with my digital XZ-1... you can get the lens about 1/2" away from the subject and it still has focus. Non-threatening -- it is a small camera and doesn't seem to scare spiders, who might just be terrified and bite me if I hovered over them with the gigantic (by comparison) 645N.
Anyway, thanks for the tip. Was thinking about the 150mm f/3.5 for my next lens -- its smaller and lighter than the 120 macro -- any comments on that one?
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
12-14-2012, 04:04 PM
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The 645N with 75mm lens that I ordered from KEH came today... luckily, just ahead of the rain.
It is exactly as advertised. Actually, better than that -- this is the first camera I've had in a very long time that just feels 'right.' It is amazingly simple and easy to use, particularly compared to digital cameras with all those weird menus. Don't misunderstand -- this isn't a knock on digital photography. I have a little Olympus XZ-1, which I'll be using as a monochrome previewer with the 645N. But there is just such a total ergonomic difference, which I'm experiencing for the first time. Well, maybe not the first time -- had a Kodak Hawkeye when I was 10, so I guess I can claim a medium-format heritage.
Downloaded a 645N PDF manual... like the camera, clear and easy to understand. Back to KEH -- ordered a second lens, a 45mm, with a few filters and a Pentax strap (with lugs!). The other day, got some Kodak Ektar 100 and Portra 400 film. I've had 35mm color negatives developed and scanned at NorthCoastPhoto.com in Carlsbad, CA, and they also do a lot of 120. It will be interesting to compare a 35mm scan to a 120mm scan of the same scene.
Lastly, I'd like to thank everybody on this forum for the comments you've posted. Your opinions helped me choose the 645N instead of other medium-format alternatives. Thank you all very much!
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