I'm sure this is going to be an awfully weird, and stupid, message. Please, bear with and input on the important question with me (and sorry abou all the extraenous info, I like to babble).
I'm torn, I like everything about my 645 except teh fact that its "only" 645.. It feels underwhelming to see the negs, and I'm wondering if I've talked myself into something for the conviences it offers me (autowinder, higher flash, easier handholdability, more frames). I'm torn, I'm not sure if I would really see any advantage in 6x7 over 6x45, or if I just tell myself this, so I turn to everyone to offer insights. The flash sync problem can be overcome with a leafshutter lens, which leans only the camera shake as an "immediate" problem. I'm definatly a hand-hold kinda guy, as I prefer to travel light (and if I'm not going to travel light, I can break out the 4x5). Keep in mind, I don't hav ethe ability to goto a store and rent for a day. My only option is to do what I did, buy from a mail order house and "rent" it for two weeks. My two weeks ends real soon now, and I think I need to decide.. So, bear with me, and feel free to encourge one way or another. Most of my prints will be smaller. 8x10 or 11x14. I wanted an MF camera to have nicer prints, smoother tonal range in B&W (which is what I primarily do). I was happy with the tonality in my 6x6 negs, and figured that 645 would be fine since I crop in the viewfinder anyway (ergo 6x6 ends up being 645). However, somehow I'm just not blown away by my 645 shots (this may also be because I haven't taken any truly nice pictures with it). Will I really see an apprechiable difference in small prints (8x10, 5x7, even 4x5 proof sizes) if I go from 645 to 67, or am I just confusing myself? I'm biased because I see the difference in an 8x10 made from a 4x5 image compared to 35mm (I know, I know, its no real comparision!), and I think I'm just neg-fixated. Pros: 645: Easier to carry, easier to handhold, tolerable flash sync. 67: Bigger neg, its what I orginally wanted. Big neg easier to accomplish than setup of a 4x5. Cons: 645: Smaller neg, seems like a second choice. 67: Not as handholdable. Handhold flash w/o LS lens not gonna happen, giant neg possible with a 4x5. I know, no one can tell me what I want, nor would I want them to (that's a lie, I need people to tell me so I can stop being wishywashy!), however, my biggest question, and what I need to know: Is there really a noticable difference in the tonality of an 8x10 between 645 and 67. Sending the camera back won't hurt too much ($30 in roundtrip shipping), as i bought from a large mail order house (no where to rent, etc, around here). My only problem is if I decide the 645 wouldn't been as good, I'd loose a 645 I was quite happy with (large eyecup, grid screen, clean and nice). Perhaps this is some sort of male inadaquecy issue I should be dealing with in therapy... (upon re-reading, all I can think is "Wow, I'm pathetic")
