Just wanted to say thanks for the very straight forward and informative video. After using a plethora of 35mm cameras and a Mamiya RB67, I just purchased the Pentax 645 to meet in the middle and have a more mobile medium format experience. What you said about it being a branch between traditional medium format and 35mm is exactly what I was looking for. Cheers!
hi jonathan thank you for the reveiw and apologies for this noob question: Just trying to operate a P645 with 3 lenses I found in my parents home (75 / 55/ 150) - I was afraid the apeture blades are all stuck as nothing was closing in the lens when I manually operate the lense shutter. You mention these are "non-leave shuttered" lenses - Does this mean there are no apeture blades in the lenses and everythign is good to go ?
Pentax 645 is one of my two favorite cameras. The shooting experience is a ton of fun, the glass is top-notch and eminently affordable, and the images are stunning.
Terrific video: succinct and perfectly explained. Do you know if lenses for this camera will work on the 645D? The digital equivalent I guess. Thanks again!
Just acquired a 645, one quick question: when turning camera off the lcd is still on for a while think it only shows the last shutter speed. Is this normal?
Would like one of these, keep contemplating selling my Bronica SQ-B and getting one of these. Just don't use the SQ enough and the 6x6 format just doesn't suit my work that much
I have plenty of 35mm camera, and the Mamiya RB67. I love using the Pentax 645 for day-to-day shoots. However, my exposure counter has not reset for the last few days. My counter is now up to 65 exposures, despite the fact that i've put a 120mm film and that it should have reset when it hinted 16. Do you have any idea why? I've put a new film and it didn't reset either... let me know if you have a clue!! thank you so much,
When was it last serviced? Pentax is reliable but anything mechanical does need to be regularly maintained. I suspect the frame mechanism has become lazy.
thanks great intro tot he Pentax 645. Been lusting after one for years. Now have one. I love Pentax. Not the most expensive gear but great bang for buck.
I already have a Bronica S2 but it doesn’t always focus right and doesn’t have an integrated light meter. It’s a great camera but if I plan on going professionl with medium format I’m def getting one of them. You can find them in good condition for $500-$1000 which is pretty good for such an advanced medium format camera!
Very different to the Pentax 6x7 - that’s for sure! We see many secondhand Bronica, Hasselblad, Mamiya and Pentax cameras. A large enough sample size to assess reliability. I’d say Mamiya, Pentax and Bronica are as reliable as each other. Generally good considering their age. Hasselblad is better and more serviceable. In all cases it’s essential to buy equipment in good condition from a supplier that allow returns.
Hey, how are you doing? The 645 is a wonderful and easy to use camera. I'm just finished shooting my first roll on it with a 75mm that came with it. A question. Loading film I found to be straightforward. I realised my exposure counter was showing 17. And I thought, odd. Looking at the manual it's not quite clear to me. But obviously I forgot to stop at 16, I assumed the camera would make a similar sound to when I loaded the film. But it does not. But when I did take out the film it was on the appropriate spool. Wondering if this has happened to anybody else.
The Pentax 645 is a wonderful camera, especially the latter models that had autofocus. Although you couldn't change film mid-roll, the film inserts could be swapped out faster than on the Bronica or Mamiya 645s, and exposed or pre-loaded film was kept safe in the storage box with a locked seal just like on the back of the camera. One of the best accessories Pentax made for the camera was an adapter for mounting Pentax 6x7 lenses. The big camera's 105mm f/2.4 was my favourite lens to use on the 645, but that made for quite a heavy camera. As much as I liked the camera, I sold it when I sold my Pentax 67. As you pointed out, flash synch was only up to 1/60, and the noise the autowinder made after every shot I found very distracting, especially when photographing people.
Thanx for the video! Can you show how to activate the multiple exposure mode? I tried what the manual says but the knob does not stay on the position, it just wounds Back to its normal position. Could this be a problem with my camera in particular?
@@WorldwideCameraExchange so once you wound the knob counter clockwise it should stay in that position, right? Would it be possible that the problem is a 120mm film on a 220 Back? The only one that came is a 220
Load a test film and try it out. You’ll hear if the film is being moved to the next frame. I wouldn’t recommend using a Pentax, or any medium format camera, with the wrong film. If you’re using 120 film in a 220 back you might lose frames. Also the pressure plate pressure is slightly different. But again test it so you’re familiar with the way it works.
@@WorldwideCameraExchange Thanks a lot for your attention and insights. I actually tried it by holding the M.E. knob while shooting and the counter didn’t run so that's when I thought it was working. I'll search for the right 120 film holder so I can be better equipped. Thanks again.
Just wanted to say thanks for the very straight forward and informative video. After using a plethora of 35mm cameras and a Mamiya RB67, I just purchased the Pentax 645 to meet in the middle and have a more mobile medium format experience. What you said about it being a branch between traditional medium format and 35mm is exactly what I was looking for. Cheers!
Thanks. Enjoy the Pentax - it’s a fantastic camera.
only if i could turn it digital
hi jonathan thank you for the reveiw and apologies for this noob question: Just trying to operate a P645 with 3 lenses I found in my parents home (75 / 55/ 150) - I was afraid the apeture blades are all stuck as nothing was closing in the lens when I manually operate the lense shutter. You mention these are "non-leave shuttered" lenses - Does this mean there are no apeture blades in the lenses and everythign is good to go ?
You should be able to see the aperture closing when you fire the shutter. I’d suggest getting a Pentax repairer to look at the camera and lenses.
Extremely helpful! thank you. How do you sync an external flash with the Pentax?
The Pentax 645 cameras have a flash sync socket and a flash shoe that’ll take an adaptor.
Pentax 645 is one of my two favorite cameras. The shooting experience is a ton of fun, the glass is top-notch and eminently affordable, and the images are stunning.
Yes, great cameras!
How do you change the shutter? I just my camera this week!
The grey up and down arrows by the LCD display. Enjoy your Pentax!
Terrific video: succinct and perfectly explained. Do you know if lenses for this camera will work on the 645D? The digital equivalent I guess. Thanks again!
Thank you for your comment. Yes, most Pentax 645 lenses will work on the later Pentax 645 digital cameras too.
Shutter is vertical in 645.
Thanks for commenting
Just acquired a 645, one quick question: when turning camera off the lcd is still on for a while think it only shows the last shutter speed. Is this normal?
Yes, normal
Thank you for replying. Not mentioned anywhere so had to ask:) looking forward to take it out for a shoot✨
Would this be a good camera for a beginner to film? I’m a wedding photographer so I’m not a beginner to photography!
Difficult question to answer. I'd recommend handling one before you commit. Some photographers love Pentax, others hate it!
Would like one of these, keep contemplating selling my Bronica SQ-B and getting one of these. Just don't use the SQ enough and the 6x6 format just doesn't suit my work that much
It’s a very personal thing. Some people love the square format, others hate it!
Awesome.
Hope it was useful.
I have plenty of 35mm camera, and the Mamiya RB67. I love using the Pentax 645 for day-to-day shoots. However, my exposure counter has not reset for the last few days. My counter is now up to 65 exposures, despite the fact that i've put a 120mm film and that it should have reset when it hinted 16. Do you have any idea why? I've put a new film and it didn't reset either... let me know if you have a clue!! thank you so much,
When was it last serviced? Pentax is reliable but anything mechanical does need to be regularly maintained. I suspect the frame mechanism has become lazy.
thanks great intro tot he Pentax 645. Been lusting after one for years. Now have one. I love Pentax. Not the most expensive gear but great bang for buck.
Yes, great cameras!
I already have a Bronica S2 but it doesn’t always focus right and doesn’t have an integrated light meter. It’s a great camera but if I plan on going professionl with medium format I’m def getting one of them. You can find them in good condition for $500-$1000 which is pretty good for such an advanced medium format camera!
Choose the best one you can. Avoid ex-pro equipment.
Certainly an interesting design - more so than their 6×7 camera; how reliable are the Pentax 645/645n cameras? Thank you for the presentation...
Very different to the Pentax 6x7 - that’s for sure! We see many secondhand Bronica, Hasselblad, Mamiya and Pentax cameras. A large enough sample size to assess reliability. I’d say Mamiya, Pentax and Bronica are as reliable as each other. Generally good considering their age. Hasselblad is better and more serviceable. In all cases it’s essential to buy equipment in good condition from a supplier that allow returns.
Dude I got the same camera and is a amazing camera, the grip is so helpful 👌🏼. Thanks for your Video
Yep, the Pentax is a great camera. Hope the video was useful.
Are you planning a video on Hasselblad H series cameras.
I don't see any such video in your Playlist!
Hopefully coming soon!
Hey, how are you doing? The 645 is a wonderful and easy to use camera. I'm just finished shooting my first roll on it with a 75mm that came with it. A question. Loading film I found to be straightforward.
I realised my exposure counter was showing 17. And I thought, odd. Looking at the manual it's not quite clear to me. But obviously I forgot to stop at 16, I assumed the camera would make a similar sound to when I loaded the film. But it does not. But when I did take out the film it was on the appropriate spool. Wondering if this has happened to anybody else.
It sounds like the camera thinks it has 220 film loaded. It should stop after 15 and wind the film off.
Are you using the correct 120 insert?
The Pentax 645 is a wonderful camera, especially the latter models that had autofocus. Although you couldn't change film mid-roll, the film inserts could be swapped out faster than on the Bronica or Mamiya 645s, and exposed or pre-loaded film was kept safe in the storage box with a locked seal just like on the back of the camera. One of the best accessories Pentax made for the camera was an adapter for mounting Pentax 6x7 lenses. The big camera's 105mm f/2.4 was my favourite lens to use on the 645, but that made for quite a heavy camera. As much as I liked the camera, I sold it when I sold my Pentax 67. As you pointed out, flash synch was only up to 1/60, and the noise the autowinder made after every shot I found very distracting, especially when photographing people.
Thanks for commenting
Why did you sell your 67?
@@63MacGuy I preferred my Bronica GS-1 and didn't need two 6x7 cameras
Thanx for the video! Can you show how to activate the multiple exposure mode? I tried what the manual says but the knob does not stay on the position, it just wounds Back to its normal position. Could this be a problem with my camera in particular?
Must be a problem with your Pentax. There’s nothing you can be doing wrong.
@@WorldwideCameraExchange so once you wound the knob counter clockwise it should stay in that position, right? Would it be possible that the problem is a 120mm film on a 220 Back? The only one that came is a 220
Load a test film and try it out. You’ll hear if the film is being moved to the next frame. I wouldn’t recommend using a Pentax, or any medium format camera, with the wrong film. If you’re using 120 film in a 220 back you might lose frames. Also the pressure plate pressure is slightly different. But again test it so you’re familiar with the way it works.
@@WorldwideCameraExchange Thanks a lot for your attention and insights. I actually tried it by holding the M.E. knob while shooting and the counter didn’t run so that's when I thought it was working. I'll search for the right 120 film holder so I can be better equipped. Thanks again.
Pentax 645s are usually reliable so I would be surprised if there was a fault. Good luck!