Looking for a Medium format camera

I have a nice Yashicaflex Model A coming in the mail. It is my first foray into medium format.

mehguy said:

I have a nice Yashicaflex Model A coming in the mail. It is my first foray into medium format.

Click to expand...

That's a great way to get into 120

muhco3 said:

Hello
I after my Pentax 645N broke , I decided to get a new camera ( or rather used one)
negative size either 6 x4.5 or 6x6 or 6x7 max
budget up to 1500 USD
I'm looking for a robust and workhorse camera , preferably not too old

Click to expand...

Assuming that you liked the N and have some glass for it, I'd get the 645NII. I did.

Tom Taylor said:

Assuming that you liked the N and have some glass for it, I'd get the 645NII. I did.

Click to expand...

But the difference to the nii are minor, aren't they? Especially compared to the earlier 645. (Just to clarify, I'm not the thread opener and not looking for a replacement, he had a 645)

Here's a summary of the differences from a Review:

645N vs. 645N II​

Several people emailed me asking about the differences between the 645N and 645N II, so I created this quick summary to help illustrate the main differences.

The Pentax 645N and 645NII are both advanced medium-format SLR cameras, with the 645NII introducing several enhancements over the 645N:

Mirror Lock-Up (MLU): The 645NII features a mirror lock-up function, allowing the mirror to be raised before exposure to minimize camera shake—a valuable addition for long-exposure photography. The 645N lacks this feature.

Shutter Speed Increments: The 645NII allows shutter speed adjustments in 0.5-stop increments, providing finer control over exposure settings. The 645N offers full-stop adjustments. This feature is very important for me since I am limited to ISO 200 (HP5 film) and often work in challenging low-light conditions.

Exposure Compensation and Bracketing Steps: The 645NII supports exposure compensation and auto-bracketing in 0.5-stop increments, offering more precise exposure control than the 645N’s full-stop increments.

Custom Functions: The 645NII introduces 10 customizable functions, allowing photographers to tailor camera settings to their preferences. These functions include imprinting characters on negatives, setting shutter speed steps, and adjusting the metering timer.

Data Imprinting: Both models can imprint exposure data on the film edge; however, the 645NII offers additional information and a smaller character size for the imprinted data. I love knowing what focal length and aperture I used for each exposure.

Self-Timer Delay: The 645NII offers a customizable self-timer delay, allowing users to set it to 12 or 2 seconds, whereas the 645N has a fixed delay time.

Metering Timer Duration: The 645NII allows users to set the metering timer duration to 10, 20, or 30 seconds, offering flexibility in exposure measurement.

Finish and Aesthetics: The 645NII features a new exterior finish, providing a different tactile feel and appearance compared to the 645N. I find the 645N II feels better in my hands in the field.

While both cameras share core functionalities, the 645NII offers additional features and refinements that enhance user control and customization. These may or may not be important for your scenario, but now you know the main differences and can make an informed decision.

Thanks, good to know, was only aware of some of them. But also, for most of what I do, the differences aren't significant. If I see one for a good price, sure.
Higher on my list are the FA75 and FA150 lenses, I'm using the manual A versions since these are in the FA versions much more expensive. All other lenses from 35 (or 33 when calculating zooms as well) to 400mm I have in the FA version (ok, the 135 LS exists only in manual, had never a need for the 120mm macro, and the 300/4 is manual as well but I have additional the 150-300 and 300/5.6 AF lenses... Actually more then I need...)