6x6 with a 645 back - how wide left to right of the frame

Hi all, I am looking at some of the other systems now. Namely the Bronica and Hasselblads. It shoots 6x6 and can take 645 backs. If you pop the same focal length lens on each film back. Is the left to right the same angle? Does the photograph have the same amount of stuff from the left of the frame to the right side? So the difference is just the top to bottom of the frame ie 6 vs 4.5.

But of course a 645 system might have wider focal length lenses right?

The Mamiya only does a monster 6x7 and a 645. The Pentax 67 has issues with vibration and b/c I shoot mainly in low light on a tripod so I won't have the fast shutter speeds to workaround. The Bronica is a lot more affordable than the Hasselblads so naturally I am drawn to that.


Cheers

A 6x4.5 back would most likely may have a horizontal (landscape) orientation for the film area. So it would be more awkward to use the camera in portrait orientation. And you would definitely prefer using the camera with a prism finder if you were shooting anything in portrait orientation.

See post 4 of this thread: for a visual: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

I'd bet they are hard to find.

6x4.5 backs on a 6x6 or 6x7 camera are also much easier to use if you have the appropriate finder mask.

And

Bronica 6x6 SQ systems with a 645 back attached will crop the top and bottom of the image projected by the lens, giving you a landscape format when the camera is held in normal shooting position. Like Matt mentioned, shooting in portrait format is easier if you have a prism finder, versus the waist-level finder. With a speed grip and the prism finder, it's actually like holding a 35mm SLR, just a lot heavier.

The focusing screens on my SQ bodies have lines for 645 framing, so no need for a finder mask.

If you're doing low light / night shooting, I would look for an SQ-A body as it has mirror lockup and slow speeds down to 8 sec. For exposures longer than 8 sec, there is a "T" lever on the lens which opens the shutter as long as you need with no battery drain. I've used mine for night shooting for years and it's always worked great. I've heard that the SQ-Ai bodies go thru batteries quicker, but I can't vouch for this. My SQ-A has been going on the same battery for a few years now.

If you're sure you only need 645, may as well look at the Bronica ETRs also. The available lenses give about the same coverage as the lenses for the SQ, but will be smaller and lighter overall. The bodies and all other accessories will also be smaller, which will be easier if you're shooting handheld.

rayonline_nz said:

Hi all, I am looking at some of the other systems now. Namely the Bronica and Hasselblads. It shoots 6x6 and can take 645 backs. If you pop the same focal length lens on each film back. Is the left to right the same angle? Does the photograph have the same amount of stuff from the left of the frame to the right side? So the difference is just the top to bottom of the frame ie 6 vs 4.5.

Cheers

Click to expand...

Yup, it's just like cropping a 6X6 negative to 6X4.5. If you think about a 645 camera though the "normal" fl will be
have a barely greater coverage. 75mm vs 80mm.

The Mamiya 645 has a 35mm lens. Hasselblad has a 40mm and the SWC has a 38mm. I'm completely ignorant of the Bronica.

For WA lenses the Bronica E (645) has 30mm, 40mm, and 50mm WA lenses, (and a 45-90mm zoom).

As for AOV, think one dimension only (ie. the long dimension)..if the FL used is the same for both, the AOV in that direction is identical. If the FL is 7% shorter (75mm with 645 vs. 80mm with 6x6), the AOV in that direction is 7% wider for the same frame dimension.