6x7cm format equipment
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YES, I own now this fabulous tool! Although it is shown with a 105mm lens, I had made a decision in favour to my current 55-100mm zoom. AE pentaprism finder and hot shoe grip (both optional, but shown here) are also in my set. This beast makes me feeling like a photographer of old good 60's. It much less automated than modern 35mm SLRs, but... it makes pictures like this. Here is a good collection of people's reviews about Pentax 6x7 II body. |
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The most wide lens of the P67 lenses lineup. It's equivalent in 35mm
format area is 22mm. Of course, it possesses all the problems of
extra-wide lenses - low edge performance, barrel distortion (actually, minimal) and flare. However, the
central area (about 70%) is sharp up to film's grain. |
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Yes, I use a zoom lens. Contrary to common opinion about zooms I found it practically as sharp as 135 mm macro lens (according to results of landscape diapositives study under a 100x microscope). I took many, many landscapes and close-ups using it. The small problem with my lens is that it focuses to infinity not at the extreme left position of focusing rim, but about 1 mm before (on the picture lens shown exactly focused to infinity. Also, it does not sit really tight in bayonet. It is very good for outdoor use, as it is really solidly crafted. Two times this lens fell down from the unzipped compartment of my backpack onto rocks, once even onto front filter mounting edge -- it yielded only cosmetic scratches. |
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Yet another zoom lens I purchased recently. It is a well manufactured lens, it sits tight in the bayonett, and it offers good optical performance. As it's short-sighted brother above, it weights about 1.2 kg. |
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It is called macro lens. Actually, it gives 1:3.2 of life-size. The focus length of 135mm on 6x7 film size gives quite shallow depth of field. Minimal focusing distance is 70 cm. Could one take a macro shot (like I did with my 35mm gear) using this lens? A close up at most. But for general work it is good and it is, of course, sharp. |
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A must if you want to make life-size images with 135 mm lens. Does not "convey" aperture setting to AE pentaprism, thus I found usage of manual diaphragm mode the only way if you want to expose film correctly. With these rings depth of field on a close-up scene gets even less deep. |
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It works, although it's combination with P67II does not give me possibility to control the ratio between natural light and flash light. |
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Manfrotto 055NAT tripod Unfortunately, the Pentax 6x7II system is not one which might go to a pocket - it heavy, bulky... and additionally has significant mirror lockup slap. Thus, a good sturdy tripod is a must if you want to have sharp images (otherwise why leave 35 mm format?). I decided on this Manfrotto set mostly because of reasonable weight (about 5kg both tripod and head) and price. Overall my equipment being packed into Cullman Alpine II backpack weight about 10 kgs. |