Looking for some advice and opinions on my second venture into medium format

[Roger Cole]

Backs are nice but they do add bulk in both obvious and non-obvious ways. The obvious way is that the cameras with interchangeable backs are bigger. My M645 Pro is bigger and bulkier than the older M645s that don't have interchangeable backs. The less obvious way is that if your camera uses them you will tend to carry several! My M645 Pro is my most versatile kit, and my least used. For very low light or action shooting it's 35mm. For slow contemplative shooting of stationary subjects, 4x5 (and my 4x5 kit can weigh less, depending on what I take!) and for walk around shooting in MF, street and otherwise, my Yashicamat 124. There is something very liberating about the one lens and one film (at a time) Yashicamat.


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[mweintraub]

Thanks for the input! So does the 645 just have a standard 120 back?

The Pentax 645 uses inserts that are for 120 and 220, but you can't switch them mid roll like you can with normal backs.

 

[Alan Gales]

The Pentax 645N and 645Nll have a brighter viewfinder than the original 645. They also have a real shutter speed dial instead of the silly switch on the 645. You can also use the FA autofocus lenses on the 645N and 645Nll. The 645N and 645Nll also have matrix metering. The 645Nll has a mirror lock up which is completely unnecessary. The mirror in these cameras is so well dampened that a mirror lock up is not needed. The reason the 645Nll has it is because Pentax caved into photographer's demands. The later autofocus FA lenses are a bit sharper than the original manual focus lenses. The only problem is that since the 645D (digital) came out the price of the FA lenses has skyrocketed. I have owned all three cameras and they are a joy to carry around. They handle pretty much like a 35mm camera to me.

My first medium format camera was a Bronica ETRsi. They are fine cameras but I like the Pentax 645N and 645Nll so much better. The ETR cameras and lenses are cheap on the used market though.

The Mamiya RZ67 is my favorite portrait camera. I love the big waist level finder, large negative and the revolving back. With the additional "L" grip the camera handles quite nicely. It is still large and a bit heavy on my bad back though. I had the metered prism but hated it. It makes an already heavy camera heavier. The RB is similar but a little heavier but less expensive and doesn't need a battery.

I've also owed a Hasselblad 500/cm. Overall I think Hasselblad is the most versatile system. I prefer the RZ for portraiture but I didn't like carrying it around too much. Did I mention my bad back? The Bronica SQ series is a poor man's Hasselblad. If you like square images and can't afford a Blad you might look there.

Just my 2 cents.