Whew, that's a huge topic to try to approach. I've loved working with medium format cameras since my grandfather loaned me his 1949 Rolleiflex TLR in late 1967. Can't seem to feel right without one in the closet, even if I only use it rarely.
Simple things first: the Pentax 645s are very very nice. I got interested in them last year and was given a loaner which I used a bit, loved it. Found a very nice two lens kit for a ridiculous price and couldn't help myself from buying it, but haven't actually used it yet. My kit is the 645 plus three 120 magazines, 45/2.8 and 75/2.8 lenses, case, strap, remote cable, and other accessories. Lovely stuff... Really do have to take it out for a shoot one of these days. There are many sources of information on the web regarding the Pentax 645 line. They made three versions ... the original manual focus model from about 1984 to 1997, I think, and then the AF models 645N and 645N II from 1998 to about 2004. Accurate dates ? ... look at the Pentax website's timelines to get them. You can probably get the user manuals for all three from there too. I would check Ebay and KEH.com for pricing before buying one. I've seen several decent looking two-lens kits on Ebay sell for pricing in the $400-500 range, and you can probably put together the same thing from KEH.com for around the same money if you're savvy about it. Godfrey On Aug 31, 2007, at 11:42 AM, Glen Tortorella wrote: > Hi all, > > I went to a somewhat "local" camera shop today to buy film. In one > of the used cases sat a Pentax 645. It looked like it was in nice > shape, and it came with a lens...I am not sure which one, though. > Anyway, they are asking $560 for it. I have had at least some > interest in the medium format domain ever since I saw my friend's > Hasselblad back in 1997. Since it seems like an expensive pursuit, I > have held out on buying a medium format setup. Any comments, folks? > I know little about this type of photography, and I would appreciate > any comments--either about the features of the 645 itself, or about > medium format photography (i.e. associated issues and "things to keep > in mind"). > > Thanks, > Glen > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
