P�l wrote: > I have the 055nat with the even larger 229 head and I can see the > difference when using the Gitzo 505 instead. The images shot with the much > larger Gitzo are often visibly crisper. This is with the 645N. Hence, I've > replaced my Manfrotto 055nat with a Berlebach (www.berlebach.de).
To be honest I haven't tried a sturdier tripod than the 055 but I have been satisfied with its performance. Anything better is a bit on the expensive side for my liking and in NZ there is not a lot of choice available apart from Manfrotto and the occasional Gitzo. I saw a Benbo once. I always use MLU and I am quite careful about my tripod technique when shooting with the 6x7, which may help a little. A Berlebach would be nice but is probably out of my price range for the time being. I bet the wood is nicer to carry in cold weather. [6x7 shutter] > Well, there are countless of comments to the contrary or various Pentax 67 > forums and medium format discussion groups. For now I'll just have to disagree with them, based on my own experience. I have shot with the 67 Takumar 300mm f/4 at different shutter speeds up to a copule of seconds using MLU while mounted on my 055. I was shooting against the SMCP 135mm f/2.5 (similar angle of view), and the A*300/4, both on a Z-1p using mirror prefire. Under a 10x loupe the 67 slides weren't quite as sharp as the A*300/4, but there wasn't a huge amount of difference. The detail blew away the 135mm lens as you might expect for the bigger slide. This is not with resolution targets BTW, but with real-world subjects which is the only kind of test that means anything to me. I have done similar field-tests with my 6x7 45mm f/4 with results that impressed me. One reason I switched to the Pentax 6x7 system over the RB67 was for better optics. I am getting much better results from the Pentax, despite the Mamiya being much heavier and using leaf shutters. There are several features I miss (especially the rotating back) but I wouldn't go back. Despite the supposed shortcomings of the Pentax I am still getting technically superior images. Cheers, - Dave - 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 .
