Just bought a Pentax 645 kit

[LyleB]

I just paid for a Pentax 645 kit that I won on eBay. This is my first venture into anything bigger than 35mm.

Low feedback seller (100% positive), so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Supposed to be the original owner, very lightly used kit. Was supposed to have been a replacement for his Pentax 67, but he never felt comfortable with the change, so kept using the 67. Kit includes:

(as described in listing)

Beautiful Pentax 645 body in mint condition AND
•SMC Pentax-A 75mm f2.8 lens with perfect glass.
•SMC Pentax-A 200mm f4.0 lens with perfect glass.
•Front & Rear Pentax lens caps and a tulip lens shade.
•Padded Op/Tech USA Professional camera strap.
•120 film back (mint)
•Sunpack Auto 383 Super Flash (made for camera).
•Original boxes for body, insert & 75mm lens.
•Original camera manual.

Hopefully all is as described. Will need to pick up a decent wide angle eventually, probably 48mm and a 220 film back, but they are pretty cheap.

Pretty excited. Now I just have to figure out what to do while I wait for it to be delivered. Guess I can order some film...

 

[yurihuta]

Congratulations on your purchase. Nice setup!

Get the 45mm soon. Since Pentax announced the 645D (digital body) last week, there has been a run on 645 lenses - both A and FA versions. KEH's inventory is now at about 1/10 of what they had a week ago (I check a lot).

 

[JDP]

Nice cameras. Check the meter though (mine underexposes by about 1 stop...).

I always reckon if something comes in the original boxes it has been well looked after.

 

[Hikingman]

Just visited the photos, and minty fresh, too!

 

[benjiboy]

Nice cameras. Check the meter though (mine underexposes by about 1 stop...).

I always reckon if something comes in the original boxes it has been well looked after.

It would have you believe that, all it means in reality is that the boxes have been well looked after, but I'm a cynic.

 

[r1ma]

You might not want the 220 holder, depending on what you shoot.

220 film is getting awfully scarce. Especially in B&W. For example, Ilford doesn't make anything in 220. But if you like colour, Kodak and Fuji still make a bunch in 220, both C-41 and E-6.

 

[LyleB]

Thanks, that's probably why the 220 backs are about a third the cost of the 120s.

 

[frdrx]

Few people know that 120 film can be used with 220 inserts in the Pentax 645 without any trouble. You only need to loosen one screw and rotate a plastic tab ninety degrees.

I don't think it affects anything. Sharpness seems the same. There are no scratches on the film. Winding seems normal. The camera stops exposing after fifteen shots. I haven't tried it the other way round, though.

If anyone has a different opinion, I would like to know.

 

[LyleB]

Just ordered a 45mm from KEH. They also had a 35mm which is supposed to be a premo lens, but it was $499 as opposed to $165 for the 45mm. It will have to do for now.

Got the camera today, great looking, will be running some film through it tomorrow, but will have to wait for processing. My local shop only processes film every other day, and not at all on weekends, due to low demand. Too expensive to fire up the machines every day. Joys of living in a small town and no where near a big city. Ah well, It'll be fun.

Congratulations on your purchase. Nice setup!

Get the 45mm soon. Since Pentax announced the 645D (digital body) last week, there has been a run on 645 lenses - both A and FA versions. KEH's inventory is now at about 1/10 of what they had a week ago (I check a lot).

 

[accozzaglia]

Lyle, they're a joy to use. Just be cautious about that power rocker switch. I have lost probably tens of frames over time for accidentally bumping that (or it moving whilst in the camera bag, only to have a brushing by of the shutter release screw things up.