After a couple of weeks of using the Pentax 6x7 I feel inclined to make a couple of comments. Some positive, some not :)
1) This is a fun camera to use handheld. I still like the "clunk" noise it makes. I was mindful to keep the shutter speed high [1/250 with the 45mm lens] just to be on the paranoid side, because I hadn't experimented very much with handheld shots before the trip. 2) It's a real pain trying to compose a portrait-orientation shot with the waist- level finder, especially when you need to do it _quickly_ to shoot that waterfall before your cruise boat moves away, just after they gave you a total soaking by piloting to within a couple of metres of it :) I come from the Mamiya RB67 where shooting vertical means a quick twist of the film back and you just use the vertical composing lines in the viewfinder. I might pick up a prism someday although I'm not too happy about the 85% coverage despite the weight saving this would give over 100% (the RB's prism weighs a ton). 3) Shooting verticals on a tripod isn't too great either, but thats the RB67 speaking again. Luckily enough the Pentax 6x7 is light enough that it doesn't significantly unbalance the tripod when tilted over... with the 45mm lens anyway. I use a Manfrotto 055 with 029 head. And my right arm still aches occasionally from carrying it around so much last week :) 4) I really don't like changing the film. I find it hard to get enough grip on the exposed film spool to remove it. I'm scared I'll get it out just far enough to lose my grip and drop the roll before sealing it. I'll need to get some more practice but I am seriously thinking of going to 220 so I won't have to do it as often :) 5) I still don't know how the body "knows" exactly how far to wind the film on to get to the first frame after you've advanced to the "start" index before closing the back. The film advance lever can be in any position at this time depending on how you fiddled with it to get the leader into the takeup spool, and it doesn't spring back when you close the back, as I'd expected. So you get anywhere from 1% to 99% of a frame advance, then a certain amount of winds to get to the first frame. I hope I haven't been doing it wrong :) 6) Battery dependence on the mirror lockup. I wish there was at least a way to release the mirror without taking a picture, otherwise it either costs you a frame of film or a drained battery. Despite all my whinging I do like the camera and look forward to using it more. I'd love to get some more glass for it but the credit card is looking a bit overweight at the moment (thankfully I got a pay rise at the start of the month). Maybe I'll ask Santa.... Cheers, - Dave David A. Mann, B.E. (Elec) http://www.digistar.com/~dmann/ "Why is it that if an adult behaves like a child they lock him up, while children are allowed to run free on the streets?" -- Garfield - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
