I might be done with 645 as a system

[mweintraub]

In recent months I traded my Mamiya 645 Pro kit for a three lens ETRSi kit. I was pretty happy with the smaller body and leaf shutters. I shot about three rolls since.

Yesterday I picked it up and starting playing with it and noticed the shutter at 1/500s seemed slow. I tried 1/500s, 1/250s (fine) and down the line (all fine). The 1/500s seemed like it was shooting at 1/8s and a little faster than that. UGH. Changed lenses. That lens is fine. Tried the third, that lens is slow at 1/500s too. WTF!

I was just thinking about how I didn't shoot the Mamiya a lot and maybe because of the frame ratio. I've loved 6x6 and 6x7 is really growing on me. I have systems in both those formats AND 645 backs for both. So, at this rate, I'm thinking of selling the ETRSi, but keeping the Fuji GA645 for my MF 645 P&S.

Anyone else leave 645 for other formats? (Please don't make this a "645 isn't much bigger than 35mm" thread.)

 

[frank]

No. Sounds like your problem is more about the camera than the format.

 

[mweintraub]

No. Sounds like your problem is more about the camera than the format.

Well, lenses technically. But 645 is not something I first think to grab off the shelf. Would that change if I had a Contax 645? I don't know.

 

[frank]

Only one way to find out.

 

[flash26c]

This sounds a lot like what I do when I come down with a case of GAS!

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

If you're not loving the aspect ratio, spending $2000 to prove it will be a colossal waste of time and money. If you're having issues with the Bronica system, unload it. I used to be a gear whore and would sell my mother for a Petzval lens. It didn't make my pictures any better. I've found my religion at the Church of Rolleiflex and now that's my go-to for 90% of my image-making. And having simplified down to mainly one camera with one lens, it's made my pictures BETTER because I'm not fiddling with gear all the time, and I know the gear I'm using. This is NOT to say you need worship at the same temple- I don't know what kinds of images you want to make so a Rolleiflex might be totally inappropriate. I'm just saying that it would be better to focus your gear love on a single system in a single format.

 

[mweintraub]

If you're not loving the aspect ratio, spending $2000 to prove it will be a colossal waste of time and money. If you're having issues with the Bronica system, unload it. I used to be a gear whore and would sell my mother for a Petzval lens. It didn't make my pictures any better. I've found my religion at the Church of Rolleiflex and now that's my go-to for 90% of my image-making. And having simplified down to mainly one camera with one lens, it's made my pictures BETTER because I'm not fiddling with gear all the time, and I know the gear I'm using. This is NOT to say you need worship at the same temple- I don't know what kinds of images you want to make so a Rolleiflex might be totally inappropriate. I'm just saying that it would be better to focus your gear love on a single system in a single format.

Oh come on. Who wouldn't want to play with a Contax?! Actually, I don't have the money to even try it to see. It's entirely possible the look from the lenses would help me like the format. If I get the look I want, it's entirely possible could learn to love it. But, no $ means no Contax.

I'm with you about gear. I have a lot of gear. It's cheap, so I have a lot of the lower and medium level stuff. Recently, I was offered a Nikon F6 for "cheap". I didn't have cash but I had gear. I went into purge mode to get money to buy the F6. Finally got enough to get it and realized that it felt good to slim down a little and it allowed me to get items (lenses, prisms, etc) for the kits I planned on keeping. So the ETRSi might be sold and not replaced with a similar kit but fund to CLA the Pentax 6x7.

 

[gone]

It's not my favorite format, nor is 6x7. 35mm and 6x6 suit me. Don't care for 4x5 either. But 6x4.5 IS a lot bigger than 35mm :[

I made my peace w/ 6x4.5 when I had an old 1938 Zeiss Ikonta folder of that format that was absolutely tiny, and had one of the best Tessars lenses (uncoated) I have ever owned. Great little $40 pocket medium format camera. I would put shots from it up against a Contax any day (see shot below & sorry about the Newton rings). Newer is not necessarily better when it comes to IQ, especially for B&W work. Even better was my old 6x4.5 Voigtlander Bessa 66 folder w/ a Heliar lens.

There is NO way I would lug a large medium format SLR camera and get simply a 6x4.5 neg though.

 

[mweintraub]

It's not my favorite format, nor is 6x7. 35mm and 6x6 suit me. Don't care for 4x5 either. But 6x4.5 IS a lot bigger than 35mm :[

I made my peace w/ 6x4.5 when I had an old 1938 Zeiss Ikonta folder of that format that was absolutely tiny, and had one of the best Tessars lenses (uncoated) I have ever owned. Great little $40 pocket medium format camera. I would put shots from it up against a Contax any day (see shot below & sorry about the Newton rings). Newer is not necessarily better when it comes to IQ, especially for B&W work. Even better was my old 6x4.5 Voigtlander Bessa 66 folder w/ a Heliar lens.

There is NO way I would lug a large medium format SLR camera and get simply a 6x4.5 neg though.

View attachment 118310

Concerning your last statement. The SQ-A is so close in size to the ETRSi, so that's why I don't feel bad for riding of it and just using the 645 back on the SQ-A if I need the rectangle format and more shots per roll.

 

[cuthbert]

If I remember correctly the ETRsi always shoots at 1/500s, the Seiko shutter changes the speed, have you tried to change the batteries or remove them?

Without battery the ETRsi shoots at 1/500s by default.

 

[mweintraub]

If I remember correctly the ETRsi always shoots at 1/500s, the Seiko shutter changes the speed, have you tried to change the batteries or remove them?

Without battery the ETRsi shoots at 1/500s by default.

You are correct. The other speeds (1/250s down to 4s or so) change and stay open as it's set. I've swapped batteries with the SQ-A and no change. Swapping lenses (1 of 3) fixes it.

 

[whlogan]

Well, whatever camera/lens/developer/technique you may have used in the photograph of the carousel, the result seem almost liquid and may simply slip off the page! It is simply splendid. Perfect! If it is the old Heliar, I have seem some of these old Heliars that have that effect and the ability to produce these wonderful images. Hang on to whatever it is... it is is spectacular!
Aha! a re-reading reveals that it is an old Tessar and they too can produce wonderful images... great working old lens!
Logan

 

[cuthbert]

You are correct. The other speeds (1/250s down to 4s or so) change and stay open as it's set. I've swapped batteries with the SQ-A and no change. Swapping lenses (1 of 3) fixes it.

Then the problem is the defective lens, not the camera itself.

 

[mweintraub]

Then the problem is the defective lens, not the camera itself.

Yeah, two of the three. Maybe they need a work out. =/ But still, started making me think about the system and why I have it.

 

[cuthbert]

That's the reason why I don't consider the lead shutter system too intelligent for an SLR camera, the only real advantage is that you have high flash synch.

 

[mweintraub]

That's the reason why I don't consider the lead shutter system too intelligent for an SLR camera, the only real advantage is that you have high flash synch.

You've gotta weight getting a new lens or a new body for shutter issues. If you buy a replacement used you can a body/lens that has other issues. It's a wash.

 

[DannL.]

My progression over the past few years has been . . . Yashica Mat 124 > Pentax 645N > RZ67 > Pentax 6x7 > Yashica Mat 124G. There was a smattering of folders in there also, but nothing significant. So, it's the 124G. I just love this camera. We click. I do use other formats also.

 

[mweintraub]

My progression over the past few years has been . . . Yashica Mat 124 > Pentax 645N > RZ67 > Pentax 6x7 > Yashica Mat 124G. There was a smattering of folders in there also, but nothing significant. So, it's the 124G. I just love this camera. We click.

Full circle, eh? Progression, as in bought and sold?

I'm borrowing a 124G. It's a great little camera. I took it on vacation to Vegas once. No regrets.

 

[DannL.]

Full circle, eh? Progression, as in bought and sold?

I'm borrowing a 124G. It's a great little camera. I took it on vacation to Vegas once. No regrets.

Yes. I enjoy trying cameras out, but have only found a few that really peg my fun-meter. The 124G is definitely one of those.

I also figure that just because I don't enjoy a particular camera, it doesn't mean that it wouldn't be perfect for someone else. If I don't use a camera within a year or so, it will probably find it's way to a new home shortly. I usually know early on if a camera will get further use.

 

[frank]

I had a 35mm camera once that broke. I think I'm done with that format.

 

[DannL.]

I had a 35mm camera once that broke. I think I'm done with that format.

The same happened to me with a SEAT 133. I never bought another 133 after that.

 

[mweintraub]

I had a 35mm camera once that broke. I think I'm done with that format.

If 35mm was something you never shot but hung on to because of a camera and the camera broke, would you still get a replacement to keep around?

The same happened to me with a SEAT 133. I never bought another 133 after that.

Hi-larious guys.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I was done with 645 before I even started. I stayed with 6x6 in MF.

 

[Alan Gales]

I was done with 645 before I even started. I stayed with 6x6 in MF.

You square!

 

[Sirius Glass]

That is because square is the perfect format.