J. C. O'Connell wrote: > 1. Size/Weight - Fairly Bulky and quite heavy. I have > the wooden grip which is essential for hand held but > even then my left wrist started to feel pain when I > took too long to focus with my right.
I find it easiest to handle the camera like an overgrown 35mm. Right hand gripping the body with the finger over the shutter, and the left hand cradled under the lens (for support and focussing). I would only use the wooden grip for carraige, which is why I want to get one as its near-impossible to comfortably carry this camera without at least a strap. And I don't really want to attach a strap to it. I'm not worried about the size & weight myself, having come from an RB67 and some pretty heavy 35mm gear (like the K2 body). > 2. Finder - Wow! The view, even with a relatively slow F4 lens > is outstanding. Very sharp and contrasty. I like how its not > cluttered up with distracting displays. The central microprism > worked very well with this lens. It's bright too. > Rating = A , I love it! Its good isn't it :) Its even better with a waistlevel finder as the prism does lose a bit of light (and crops the frame quite a bit which is the price you pay for a good saving in weight). > 5. Loading - Not too bad but I had to help turn the > feeder roll in order for the paper leader to start > taking up the film, kinda slow. At least you can shoot > 220 to minimize film changes. My folders are easier to load. > Rating = C My heart always skips a beat when I'm trying to get the exposed film out. One slip and the roll could easily be history. I'm thinking 220 for the same reason... > 6. MLU - simple enuff, just push up on an easy to reach > button to activate. I like it. Also stops down the lens. > Draws battery power though. > Rating = B I just wish there was a way to release the MLU without taking a picture. If you're in the habit of winding immediately after you shoot, be careful when you put it in your bag :) > 7. Battery - This is a weak point. I hate battery dependent > cameras in general. I wish it had a mechanical shutter instead. > At least it has a battery check button but does it really > give good indication when the battery is weak? Only time will > tell. I'm going to carry a spare at all times which is a real > pain. BTW, is it OK to use the lithiums in this camera???? > Rating = C I think so, but thats not from experience. I have a silver oxide in there right now but my spare's a lithium which is all I could find at the time. > 8. Film Format - I am not really impressed with the 6X7 aspect > ratio. Its not really wide enuff ( 6X8 would be nice). I kinda > wish they had just gone with 6X6 instead because then it would > have been smaller and lighter. Also shooting verticals is a pain > when the cameras on a tripod. I'm quite fond of 6x7 myself. I've found that the Pentax 6x7 frame has a wider aspect ratio than the Mamiya RB67 frame. 6x9 cameras are available from other manufacturers, I'm sure you know, as well as 6x12 and 6x17 :) I agree with you about verticals but there's not a lot that can be done about that, apart from either a rotating back or a tripod hole on one side of the body. I seem to recall a right-angle bracket is available from Manfrotto which might help but might also be a bit cumbersome. > 9. Flash sync - 1/30 sucks. When using the wooden grip, the > sync terminal is hard to get at. Not sure if it will sync > at less than 1/30 as there is a dedicated x on the shutter speed > dial. > Rating C Leaf-shutter lenses are available for high sync speed. I'm not bothered as I rarely use flash... > 10. Shutter noise - Too loud to be inobtrusive. Guess the > mirror mass and big shutter cant help it. > Rating C Yeah, it comes with the SLR system. For low noise you'd be better off with a TLR or rangefinder. I think the shutter itself is actually pretty quiet. Most of the noise seems to come from the mirror clunking up and down. If only we had a fully mechanical MLU which stays up after you shoot. > One question : The auto/manual aperture switch doesnt lock > on manual, its only momentary. Is this normal??? > Lens Rating = B I think it should. The uppermost side of the switch should lever outwards slightly in the "manual" position. Press it back in to reset. I don't think its spring-loaded though so you might need to alter the way you set the switch. If you're pressing it inwards it won't lock. > Cant wait to get the > rest of the lenses I have ordered for it, especially the 45mm. Oh yes, that 45mm is nice. One reason I bought my 6x7 is because there was a 45mm available secondhand at a good price. It is a really good lens. Very sharp with remarkable contrast. Cheers, - Dave David A. Mann, B.E. (Elec) "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 .
