gfen, Pretty good list. I would say however, that it is dated. Based on what I read, the Mamiya 645D, Contaxt 645 and Hasselblad 645 are pressing very hard on the Pentax and in many circles are considered superior.
The 67 data is for the old 67 not the 67ii. There are some refinements that should be noted. The finder/remount lens problem doesn't exist anymore. The AE finder provides aperture priority and spot/center weighted/matrix metering with AE override and lock. Shutter slap has been improved (lessened) and manual winder has been improved. There are others, as I think of them I will mention. Bruce Monday, February 24, 2003, 12:45:47 PM, you wrote: g> Also, here's some notes culled from http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/go2.html: g> Pentax 645/Pentax 645N AF. g> Advantages: g> Ability to operate most Ptx 67 lenses with full auto diaphragm operation. g> (best 645) g> Most consistently excellent lens series in 645 (IMO).(best 645) g> Quietest shutter/mirror/motor in any MF SLRs.(best 645) g> Best dollar value of any 645 camera or lens series.(best 645) g> 120 macro is the only currently available MF macro that achieves 1:1 g> without tubes (though Mamiya has announced a new 120 APO macro that does g> this as well). g> Supplied with Motor and AE prism standard.(best 645) g> Best 35mm wide angle in 645.(best 645) g> Smallest and lightest 645 SLR (best 645) g> Only 300/4 EDIF in 645 which, along with the beautiful 600 5.6 EDIf are g> the least expensive APO tele's in 645.(best 645) g> Insert system is quick to change/load, well sprung and well built. g> Inexpensive to buy and with good film flatness as well. g> Only 645 system w shutter preferred and program modes.(best 645) g> TTL Autoflash. g> All metal lens barrels have silky smooth action.(best 645) g> OEM 70mm back option. (best 645) g> Single mechanical shutter speed. g> 1/1000th sec. top speed g> Holds its value well on the used market.(best 645) g> Pentax 645N AF advantages: g> include all of the above Ptx 645 advantages. g> 3 point and spot predictive AF with FA lens series(best 645) g> Auto bracketing (best 645) g> matrix metering (best 645) g> Spot metering g> 2fps motor (best 645) g> data imprint on film edge (best 645) g> Dial contrlled shutter speeds and exposure compensation g> Focus confirmation light (best 645) g> finder info below image g> Memory lock button g> Manual metering scale g> Disadvantages: g> No finder or motor interchangeability. (worst 645) g> No AE lock option. (worst 645) [see note] g> Kepplerian finder must be dead centered on your eye and is hard to use g> when wearing glasses. g> Leaf lenses limited to 75 and 135mm focal lengths and cancel any meter g> function.(worst 645). g> Plasticky body panels. g> Finder eyepiece is vulnerable and fragile. g> Polaroid back is aftermarket only, requires a dedicated body and costs g> well g> over $1100 (worst 645) g> From http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/go1.html: g> Pentax 67: g> Advantage: g> Fastest lens selection in 6x7. g> Least expensive modern (relatively<s>) MF SLR (May be the only system to g> break my earlier 645 as 'best value' generalization). g> Lenses are also relatively inexpensive. g> 45mm is shortest available rectilinear in 67. g> 800 6.7 ED is longest available in 67. g> Lenses adapt with AE diaphragm to Pentax's 645 creating only cross camera g> system compatibility of modern Mf SLR'dom g> 105 2.4 is fastest 67 lens available. g> Well built and mostly metal. g> Beautifully smooth lens helicoids. g> 1/1000th of a second top speed (fastest 67 SLR) g> Most rental houses carry the full line. g> Disadvantage: g> 1/30th of a second flash sync. g> Heavy mirror/shutter slap. g> Incredibly loud! g> Camera is of archaic design. g> No interchangeable backs. g> Polaroid back requires dedicated body and costs $800+ without it! g> You can't pull the prism to look at the waist level view without ceasing g> meter function (unmount and remount lens after replacing ttl prism to g> regain metering) g> No auto or spotmeter options in system. g> It's a pain to load quickly.
