advice for starting off in mf....

i've been a 35mm user for some 15yrs now, but i'm keen to get into mf
for the simple reason i want to get better quality from my
transparencies, which i will then have scanned onto a pc. i'm not
entirely sure if i want to jump all the way up to 6x7, however will i
regret this once i've bought a 6x4.5 system?

any advice on what might be a good system to start on for landscape and
outdoor work? i'm leaning towards a bronica etrsi? i'm conscious of size
and weight and also price. any other cameras or systems i should consider?

thanks,

keith

keith taylor wrote:
i've been a 35mm user for some 15yrs now, but i'm keen to get into mf
for the simple reason i want to get better quality from my
transparencies, which i will then have scanned onto a pc. i'm not
entirely sure if i want to jump all the way up to 6x7, however will i
regret this once i've bought a 6x4.5 system?

any advice on what might be a good system to start on for landscape and
outdoor work? i'm leaning towards a bronica etrsi? i'm conscious of size
and weight and also price. any other cameras or systems i should consider?


The nice thing about the Pentax 645 camera for landscape is the camera is
normally in landscape mode. It has a tripod mount on the side for portrait
but it's clearly designed for landscape. It's not that big. The 1st model is
damn cheap at KEH. It has buttons for shutter speeds but if you're in
aperture mode for landscape use then the buttons aren't a real issue. Lens
aren't too expensive.

Downsides? Those buttons on the first model. Newer models I think
have a normal shutter speed dial but they're more money. Sync speed is only
1/60. It needs batteries but it uses common AA batteries. It uses inserts
not backs so mid roll changes aren't possible. OTOH used bodies aren't much
more money then some companies backs. No waist level finder.

Nick

keith taylor wrote:
i've been a 35mm user for some 15yrs now, but i'm keen to get into mf
for the simple reason i want to get better quality from my
transparencies, which i will then have scanned onto a pc. i'm not
entirely sure if i want to jump all the way up to 6x7, however will i
regret this once i've bought a 6x4.5 system?

any advice on what might be a good system to start on for landscape and
outdoor work? i'm leaning towards a bronica etrsi? i'm conscious of size
and weight and also price. any other cameras or systems i should consider?


The nice thing about the Pentax 645 camera for landscape is the camera is
normally in landscape mode. It has a tripod mount on the side for portrait
but it's clearly designed for landscape. It's not that big. The 1st model is
damn cheap at KEH. It has buttons for shutter speeds but if you're in
aperture mode for landscape use then the buttons aren't a real issue. Lens
aren't too expensive.

Downsides? Those buttons on the first model. Newer models I think
have a normal shutter speed dial but they're more money. Sync speed is only
1/60. It needs batteries but it uses common AA batteries. It uses inserts
not backs so mid roll changes aren't possible. OTOH used bodies aren't much
more money then some companies backs. No waist level finder.

Nick

In article ,
keith taylor wrote:
i've been a 35mm user for some 15yrs now, but i'm keen to get into mf
for the simple reason i want to get better quality from my
transparencies, which i will then have scanned onto a pc. i'm not
entirely sure if i want to jump all the way up to 6x7, however will i
regret this once i've bought a 6x4.5 system?

any advice on what might be a good system to start on for landscape and
outdoor work? i'm leaning towards a bronica etrsi? i'm conscious of size
and weight and also price. any other cameras or systems i should consider?

I got into MF relatively recently, using a second hand Yashica Mat 124G twin
lens reflex. Cost very little, gives lovely results, is light, portable and
was a good introduction to 120 and the 6*6 format. Wasn't particularly
interested in 645.

I'm now looking at a Mamiya 7 system, with the 43mm lens for landscape work,
but I have got to really like my TLR.

In article ,
keith taylor wrote:
i've been a 35mm user for some 15yrs now, but i'm keen to get into mf
for the simple reason i want to get better quality from my
transparencies, which i will then have scanned onto a pc. i'm not
entirely sure if i want to jump all the way up to 6x7, however will i
regret this once i've bought a 6x4.5 system?

any advice on what might be a good system to start on for landscape and
outdoor work? i'm leaning towards a bronica etrsi? i'm conscious of size
and weight and also price. any other cameras or systems i should consider?

I got into MF relatively recently, using a second hand Yashica Mat 124G twin
lens reflex. Cost very little, gives lovely results, is light, portable and
was a good introduction to 120 and the 6*6 format. Wasn't particularly
interested in 645.

I'm now looking at a Mamiya 7 system, with the 43mm lens for landscape work,
but I have got to really like my TLR.

The nice thing about the Pentax 645 camera for landscape is the camera is
normally in landscape mode. It has a tripod mount on the side for portrait
but it's clearly designed for landscape. It's not that big. The 1st model is
damn cheap at KEH. It has buttons for shutter speeds but if you're in
aperture mode for landscape use then the buttons aren't a real issue. Lens
aren't too expensive.


Yea, it's really cheap. Why? It seems to me a good camera, and I
know Pentax lenses to be very good, the "more german japanese lenses".

Are there any lense with central shutter to have sincro X with faster
times?
......................................
Marco Baldovin
www.whitewave.it

The nice thing about the Pentax 645 camera for landscape is the camera is
normally in landscape mode. It has a tripod mount on the side for portrait
but it's clearly designed for landscape. It's not that big. The 1st model is
damn cheap at KEH. It has buttons for shutter speeds but if you're in
aperture mode for landscape use then the buttons aren't a real issue. Lens
aren't too expensive.


Yea, it's really cheap. Why? It seems to me a good camera, and I
know Pentax lenses to be very good, the "more german japanese lenses".

Are there any lense with central shutter to have sincro X with faster
times?
......................................
Marco Baldovin
www.whitewave.it

whitewave wrote:
The nice thing about the Pentax 645 camera for landscape is the camera is
normally in landscape mode. It has a tripod mount on the side for portrait
but it's clearly designed for landscape. It's not that big. The 1st model is
damn cheap at KEH. It has buttons for shutter speeds but if you're in
aperture mode for landscape use then the buttons aren't a real issue. Lens
aren't too expensive.


Yea, it's really cheap. Why? It seems to me a good camera, and I
know Pentax lenses to be very good, the "more german japanese lenses".

I'm not sure. I know two newer models exist and that always drives down
the price of the older models.


Are there any lense with central shutter to have sincro X with faster
times?


Two leaf shutter lenses. The 75mm and I think 135mm.

Nick

whitewave wrote:
The nice thing about the Pentax 645 camera for landscape is the camera is
normally in landscape mode. It has a tripod mount on the side for portrait
but it's clearly designed for landscape. It's not that big. The 1st model is
damn cheap at KEH. It has buttons for shutter speeds but if you're in
aperture mode for landscape use then the buttons aren't a real issue. Lens
aren't too expensive.


Yea, it's really cheap. Why? It seems to me a good camera, and I
know Pentax lenses to be very good, the "more german japanese lenses".


One possible guess is the Pentax 645 is one unit. Camera,finder,meter and
winder all built into the body. Other cameras you get just the body. But on
the used market people might look at one and be unwilling to pay more for a
body even if it includes a few extra features.

Nick

whitewave wrote:
The nice thing about the Pentax 645 camera for landscape is the camera is
normally in landscape mode. It has a tripod mount on the side for portrait
but it's clearly designed for landscape. It's not that big. The 1st model is
damn cheap at KEH. It has buttons for shutter speeds but if you're in
aperture mode for landscape use then the buttons aren't a real issue. Lens
aren't too expensive.


Yea, it's really cheap. Why? It seems to me a good camera, and I
know Pentax lenses to be very good, the "more german japanese lenses".


One possible guess is the Pentax 645 is one unit. Camera,finder,meter and
winder all built into the body. Other cameras you get just the body. But on
the used market people might look at one and be unwilling to pay more for a
body even if it includes a few extra features.

Nick