CAUTION !!! The mirror is not instant return ! Leaving the camera unwinded , facing to the sun , can burn a pinhole on the shutter curtain . Wide open aperture and unfortunate focus on the curtain take only a few seconds and disaster ! ( Do it yourself repair - smal drop of rubbery paint ) It's easy to figure out how I know 😢
Yes. I bought one with pin holes in the curtain from this. I "fixed" it with flex seal. You'd be hard pressed to find someone who could replace the shutter curtain.
More camera makers should have put the shutter button in front. Less down movement shake when you press it. My Fujica GM670 and Topcon Super DM have this.
I bought two serviced Pentacon Six TLs from Germany. My favourite cameras beside my two Kowa Six cameras. The Pentacon Six has a beautiful design. And the shutter sound is orgasmic.
Mine got stuck recently! I couldn't take the speed dial below 1/60th. It wouldn't budge! I didn't force it. I put a tiny drop of isopropyl alcohol into the shutter speed dial and it came back to life! Hasn't happened since, luckily, but I guess the lube inside was getting old. Just have to make sure I fire the camera at all speeds once a week if I'm not using it to keep it moving. Maybe a service is due!!
@ShootFilmLikeaBoss Super! While I could buy a Hasselblad, using the off beat cameras just gives me ten folds the enjoyment. I guess it is the underdog proving itself. I mean I have never seen Leica cameras justifying their price tag analog nor digital. It is still down to the photographer
I love the Pentacon Six, I have two of them - one from the very last series and one from the late '70s. They are reliable and pretty easy to service - I had to replace a shutter curtain on one of them (ironically, the newer one). The easiest way to change lenses is to turn the camera so the lens mount faces up. Oh, and since you like wide-angle lenses, you should get the Flektogon 50/4 - you'll love it!
I love mine! I changed the viewing screen with a brighter one and put on the pentaprism finder. It is so easy to use! I got mine at a sale from the technical university over at Chemnitz, Germany! It's still got the internal inventory label on the back of it! Although not a Hasselblad, the Zeiss lenses are great on it!! Got myself the 55, the 80, 120, 180 and 300mm Zeiss lenses. I personally love the 120 F2.8!!!
Those are really cool cameras. I got two bodies and a bunch of lenses: 50mm, 80mm, 120mm, 180mm and piece de resistance - Russian Pancake 30mm Zodiak. When using the Zodiak make sure you do not lean in too much when taking the picture, otherwise your ears will be in the shot. I used it for Real Estate photography. It makes a tiny bathroom look like Taj Mahal! You should try that lens. they are about $300. Not too terribly expensive for what they can do. Just make sure you get the kit with the color filters, otherwise they are hard to come by, since they are rear mounted between the lens and the body.
You are right about the frame overlap, Rog, as it happened to me when I first used the camera. On a normal SLR, advancing the film is less taxing, as a single lever action usually moves the 35mm frame on easily. However, on the Pentacon 6, the advance lever has to be moved to the end and then fully returned in one action. Once I learned that, I had no problems and the 120 frames were perfectly aligned. A lump of a camera and with great lenses, but the weight is a challenge when going on overseas trips. You have a great channel, Rog, and always informative and entertaining too.
I love my Pentacon! I bought a camera 2 years ago. The first film was with overlay of frames) But then, after googling, I began to load the film correctly. I have a Soviet analogue of the Biometar on it - a Vega -12b, 2.8 90 mm lens. Even this lens produces beautiful portraits. Another plus for me when choosing an inexpensive medium format camera was the minimum shutter speed of 1/1000. It's inexpensive to repair, so the Pentacon is a good choice to get started in medium format photography. Great video, thanx!
I’ve had a pentagon six since the late 90s. I bought it Czech Republic for around $30. I’ve used it for mainly Black and white photos and I really like it. The standard Carl Zeis lens is great
I've repaired Pentacon Six, but have given al the bodies and parts that were left to a befriended fellow repairman. Wether the speeds above 1/125 are accurate strongly depends on the condition (or age) of the curtains. The rubber layer simply gets too stiff over time. Even when the curtains are light tight. Almost every Pentacon Six needs new curtains now. You start to notice this when you shoot slides a lot. I still use and love the lenses, but prefer my Kiev 88CM instead. The mechanical principle of the Pentacon Six shutter was also used in the Praktina and the Praktica Nova 1. Considering the Six, Siegfried Böhm did a great job on the design of this camera.
Back in the day, (the 1960's) I used Ye Olde Rollecord V 6X6 twin lens reflex. Electronic flash was my "after sundown" light source, and the leaf shutter topped out at "1/500 sec." This was useful during the day for flash filling shadows. I looked at the Pentacon Six for a short while, noting the 1/30 sec. X flash Synchronization maximum speed. I stayed with the Rolleicord, which didn't have interchangeable lenses nor prism finder, but frame spacing wasn't a problem once the arrows on the film roll was lined up with index marks. The 75mm f/3.5 Schneider Xenar did just fine, until it was time to look at 6X6 SLRs. (I chose a Bronica ETR-C with the "usual suspects" of 50/75/150 Bronica Zenzanon lenses.)
Most beautiful but a diva. At least mine is. Every photographer was used to have 3 bodies... 1 in repair, 1 in use, 1 as a spare body. Be careful with the trasport lever. Awesome to see this beauty in your hands.
I own such a camera and i love it. There was a phrase in GDR about this camera . The Six is the only camera with which you can hammer a nail into the wall and than take a picture from the nail.
Excellente vidéo : j.en ai eu deux avec 50, 80,180 et le Meyer telemegor 300 (avec un pied unipod et sangle de poitrine pour compenser le poids de l’optique) ! PS : pour le développement du papier N&B une lumière inactinique jaune sodium est bien meilleure pour le confort visuel.
Thanks Chris. That was close to a large window as close as I could get and focused on the eye closest to me. Shame I had so much space at the top. Easily cropped.
I have 2 of them, one has the dreaded bad 125th speed ... glad your copy works well! I started with Kiev 60s, but always wanted one and somehow ended up with 2!!! I went rotary a year ago and it's a joy!!!
Love my Pentacon Six TL. I have the single coated 80 Biometar and the MC Volna-3 80mm from the Kiev 60 system for it. I have a brighter Fresnel focusing screen installed and use mostly the non-metered prism, but I also have the chunky metered prism. Frame counter on the camera stops counting at 10 frames or skips numbers, but the frame spacing is perfect and I can get 13 shots consistently. The only time I ever had an issue with frame overlap was when I let the winding lever snap back by mistake while loading.
bloody hell Rog, haven't you been lost in the woods enough by now lol??..That is a stunning Pentacon... might get one I just recently started back at the gym so I reckon I could deal with it lol...some cracking shots and excellent glass you can't go wrong until you get RSI ! Portrait situation is strange, is it something to do with distance ??
I just read the view finder is about 80% of what you see so that could explain it. Normally I would have been closer and less space at the top. haha. does look odd. I could easily crop though.
Roger very much enjoy your site and great to see someone actually in the darkroom, I have two P6`s one had to be sent in for service bought another in the meantime all work well now and yes they have have some procedures you have to be aware of. I have most of the lenses 50,80 120 180 300 and the big one 500. I have adapters and use them on my Mamiya 645 and on my Contax AX which in the camera has the auto focus with the mirror box.
I had the Pentax 6x7. Ultra reliable unless battery failure.. In Canada the cold kills battery. Usin g the Pentacon seems great! I've only heard bad stories. Your 13 exposures, simply amazing!
I love my Pentacon Six. It is a great camera. I got a later version, with no issues. It is a mint version. And I love the fact, that you can get 13 images. When you load the film just do not advance the arrow to the mark. Leave 2 to 3 cm space between. When Pentacon started to produce the camera, it was the best 6x6 camera available worldwide until the Hasselblad was made. It even went to space. It has a 1/1000 sec. on a 6x6 mechanically. Thats german ingeneering. The lenses are very very good. In Germany, we still have people that can service it. But God knows how long. I love to use it with infrared film and the 50 mm wide-angle lens. Super Fun! For my camera, I spent only 270 € on the body and the 80 mm lens.
Awesome video, lovley camera that mirror sounds crisp! Great dark room sesh too. Loved the split grading I shpuld give that ago when I next set up my darkroom.
The Pentacon Six TL already cost me a fortune for repair/CLA but now is in perfect working condition. I gave her the middle name "diva" - so many things to take into consideration, including the way how to advance the film - but I still love her nevertheless. I've been told by the camera service expert (who once worked at Pentacon) that the P6 likes to be operated periodically. The "diva" doesn't like to be ignored for a longer time ;) The only thing I don't like is the rather dim focussing screen, but that could be changed. I also got the bulky pentaprism which makes the focussing screen even dimmer, so I rarely use it.
Thanks for putting this together, Roger. I've had an itching curiosity about these since forever. My local analog camera shop says they're great if you get a good one, which is iffy. Fun to see what it's like when it works as designed.
The advice about not changing shutter speed comes from the soviet Leica copies. If you changed the shutter speed after the shutter was cocked you could get it stuck or it would be at a weird time.
That Carl Zeiss Jena 180mm Sonnar is one of my favorite lenses. The bokeh is amazing. only tried it adapted to my Nikon Z6II, but mayby I should get my hands on one of those Pentagon cameras so I can shoot some film.
I've got one that I bought 20-odd years ago, accumulating a range of lenses from the Arsat 30mm fisheye to the later version CZJ 180mm. It's an enjoyable beast to shoot with, it fits my hands perfectly. Weight is not too bad either for a MF SLR. I usually have the metered prism on it. Given their age now, it's worth factoring in a service if one hasn't been done. Being fully mechanical, a bit of TLC every now and then will keep it working reliably for years. The 120mm CZJ makes a lovely portrait lens.
I’m still hoping to find a Pentakon Six of my own, but so far none have appealed to me for their price at the time. Great video again sir! I just hope you don’t run into a mean cow while carrying that!
I had one back more then 20 years ago but it had the issue with the overlapping images. Very common,..just hadn't the money to get it fixed. The later version of the Biometar is really nice and to the 50mm Flektogon is. Still miss it a bit....
After pouring in the fixer invert for about 30 seconds and take the reel out and inspect it. If it's still a bit milky dip it up and down until it clears. It fixes really quick.
I love my P6 Rog, I have the same lenses plus the 30mm MC Arsat, its fun using that one. Like you said in the video they are pin sharp, I have the metered prism on mine and its still accurate. great video.
I have the Kiev 60, kinda the soviet version of this one and I love it. But it's as heavy as a tank. It uses the same mount so I also have the same 180mm as well as a 50mm Flektagon wide angle and it came with a Volna 80mm, which are all very nice lenses.
Lovely camera. Great middle ground between the folders and the big SLRs. My Bronica weighs a bit over 2kg fully decked out. Can't imagine how much your RZ 67 weighs!
Been using its kit lens (80/2.8) with my DSLR (via adapter) . Never met lens with worst bokeh. When using Psix film advance alvays return crank back (do not let her return on her own spring ). This way you protect its mechanism (its breaking is most common failure). DDR means East Germany (you are old enough to know what it was).
@@ShootFilmLikeaBoss German Democratic Republic. Same meaning as DDR (Deutsche Demokratische Republik) but in English. Probably lens was aimed at western markets. Anyway - it is Eastern Germany for sure.
I love that camera, it was the first medium format I bought when I got back into photography 8 years ago. But it has not been cleaned and lubed, so it does NOT work in the cold! The speeds go waay off
I love my Pentacon Six. I have had little trouble with either of my cameras, actually the internal flash cable on one of them has broken. The waist level was the standard. They are heavy though. Glad to see you are not letting the advance level spring back, something I was warned about when I was given one. I then purchased another and a 50mm lens which is a beast, the front element is so large with something like a 82mm filter.
Brilliant video 👌🏻. I’m always excited to see your photos but I love the process you go through and even more so on this video with your step-by-step developing.
Dear Roger, thank you for this very interesting video. I am very interested in the Pentaxon six, but I have read some very negative opinions about film transport. What can you tell me about this? I see that you also use a Yashica Mat 124g. Which do you like better? Thank you very much. Edoardo
Fantastic pictures! That big Zeiss looks just a bit smaller than my 100-220mm Bronica ETR lens. The Bronica is 2.2kg. Sharp as a tack, but I think I'm going to sell it - just too awkward. Really fun to use a medium format zoom though.
About 10 years ago I thought about buying a Pentacon Six system. But then I found a guy who wanted to sell his Hasselblad 501CM set (body, two 120 6x6 backs, 60, 80 and 160 mm). And since this man loved his system he did not want to sell everything separate for best prices on ebay but looked for a guy who really would take everything and use it. And he offered it for only 1300 EUR, which even back then when prices were considerably lower than today was a near-steel. After I called him, he did not tell me to come and pick it up. He saw that he lived only an hour away from me and he came. I think he wanted to see my darkroom to be really sure I would use his camera and not just resell it. The original invoice, which he also handed over showed that he had paid more than 25000 Mark in the late 90s (12500 EUR plus inflation). I am still interested in the Pentacon, mostly because of the looks. But in the end I would use it once or twice and then grab my Hasselblad again. No need for two 6x6 SLR systems.
Great video as always, thanks for sharing :) I have one too with the 80mm and the 180mm but it needs a cla and no one wants to touch it anymore. Sad as the glass is great. So i bought myself a Pentax 6x7 with a 55mm lens.
@@ShootFilmLikeaBoss I will, thanks. The 55mm lens is just a bit to wide in some cases and the 105 is just not feasible right now. Got the best pictures i have ever taken with a weird combo of Yashica Mat 124G, ID-11 Developer and TMax 100 film. So sharp and the tones are just right. Again thanks for sharing.
As someone from '91 I'm quite surprised that you've never heard of DDR. That's the bad thing of translation of geographical names. Speaking about the camera being hard to handle with the 180 and prism, maybe there is a grip available for it. I have one for my M645. The M645 with prism and grip (which also has a shutter release button by the way) is a totally other shooting experience that when I use it with WLF and prism. In 2008 I started my analogue adventure with a M645 J. Someone gave me a Flektagon 50, a wonderful lens with the P6 mount. I decided to sell the M645J in 2011, about to get a Pentacon Six, but got afraid for the spacing issues. Then looked for a Kiev 88, read that that also had issues. Then heard about the Arax cameras but found them too expensive. Result: I didn't buy anything. Well after a couple of years - late 2017 - I wanted to shoot film again, looking at the Arax. In the end I bought with what it all started: M645 1000s
I was just saying the other day that I don’t know why there weren’t more 6x6 SLRs. I love 6x6 but sometimes I don’t enjoy the TLR experience. I want the usability of an SLR on a 6x6 camera
1:50 DDR Deutsche Demokratischer Republiek ! Or GDR . I liked the concept of the Pentacon Six and the Carl Zeiss Jena lenses . But the mecanical problems keep me with Mamiya . But with a adapter you can use the Carl Zeiss Jena lenses on the Mamiya M 645 .......
Great video! I‘ve got two of these beauties, both are tricky to use. The Biometar is one of the best lenses I have and you can create some outstanding portraits with that camera. It‘s the best medium format film camera I‘m aware of. Way lighter than a Pentax 67. It’s my most used medium format camera. The very best lens I have for it is a Petzval. DDR stands for Deutsche Demokratische Republik or German Democratic Republic (GDR).
I had one for a long time - and liked it... Problems with image overlap are often caused by a worn needle wheel connected to the counter. The solution: when inserting the film, press a little harder onto the wheel, make sure there is the right tension between the film spool and the take-up spool (higher than with other medium format cameras) - and if all else fails, drill through the middle of the back wall and seal it with red plexiglas or foil. The hole just big enough so that you can read the numbering on the paper backing - and then carefully fast forward... If someone (especially in the USA) is looking for a model like this, take a closer look at the back wall. If you read "Q1" here, it means better quality "Quality Level 1" - these cameras were intended for export to "non-socialist foreign countries" - especially to West Germany - for payment in German marks, dollars, pounds, etc. These models often have fewer problems (this also applies to other cameras such as “Praktika”) By the way: DDR means GDR - Deuttsche demokratische Republik - German Democratic Republic (East Germany)
The Praktisix (= Pentacon six) was introduced in 1956, not in 1966. 300.000 wher produced. The Pentaconsix ends 1991, but the Exakta 66 was produced untill 2000.
It is a wonderful camera. I have a Kiev 6C which is a USSR clone of it and it is also wonderfull. There are some nice lenses you can get for it. I have a 300mm f4 and the real gem for it is the Arsat Zodiak 30 mm f3,5 fisheye lens. With the 180 and some fp4 in rodinal and you can make some marvelous portraits
I'm in love with this camera, don't own one, but I've tested 3 of those, this two lenses are beautiful, it's heavy but I like it, I hope some day I will get one for me. It's man's camera, not for sissy 🙂
Very nice video, as always You can try the arsat pcs 55mm lens with shift capability, for architecture Same mount Great ucrainian made lens Best wishes
I like the 6x6 format. Even after years using various 6x6 system like those Mamiya/Yashica/Rollei TLRs, Hasselblad, Bronica SQ etc, those cameras aren't particularly fun for handheld shooting because of the reversed images. Unless you put a prism finder. In this context, I prefer the "easiness" of 35mm SLR: 1. Look at something interesting 2. Point your camera to it. 3. Take the shot. I don't like spending lots of time looking at the WLF... unless I'm on tripod. Perhaps will get this one, or the Pentax 67.
Although I own Hasselblad and several Mamiya cameras, I have always been looking for a nice Pentacon SIX TL. This year I was lucky to buy a mint one, produced in 1990. Handling isn't very easy because of the weight and some special settings. p.s. DDR on the lens, means "Deutsche Demokratische Republik", the same as GDR.
DDR means "Deutsche Demokratische Republik" - GDR - so it's Eastern Germany. I've got one of these and I love it to bits. The image quality is simply fantastic, particularly when using the Zeiss MC lenses. I have 3 of them, the 4/50 Flektogon, the 2.8/80 Biometar and the 2.8/180 Sonnar. Yes, there's a certain clunkiness to it, an almost agricultural feel, but it is relatively light, indeed. Very easy to handle, as long as you stick to a small set of rules...
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I had one and tried a repair ... That went nicely until one if the bottom huge flat screws head broke. So guys be aware of those.
There was a small range of high quality lens for this camera as follows, 50mm./65mm./ 80mm./ 120mm./180mm./ 300mm.f4 lens all make by Zeiss ( The DDR company not the Zeiss company in west Germany) as far as the bits and pieces are concerned their was a bellow unit, a double cable release, extension tubes,and a right hand finder that fitted on to the plain pentaprism. As for the meter pentaprism that was never very accurate even when new. It looks like you have worked that one out already! Good luck with the camera you will need it.😅💷. Oh yes there was. 300mm.f4 meyer something lens as well . Weighed a ton and was massive ( preset aperture only) the over rider on the winder was for 220 film long disappeared for the market
I can't believe how many snowflakes "photographers" there are these days. The amount of people I know sold perfectly good digital SLR cameras to buy mirrorless cameras because they were lighter. Just watched a Sky Arts documentary Looking for England about Don Mccullin. He's 84 and carrying and hand holding a Mamyia RB67 without a strap. Great looking camera you got, great quality.
wasted 2 rolls on it, tried all possible workarounds on how to load film... still didn't worked. I've sent it to Germany for a CLAd , 3 months in and still waiting for it.
Had more than one, and they were CLAed by someone who actually *learned* in GDR to service Pentacon cameras (and had lots of original parts to service them) - and they still did not work properly and had lots of issues. Very sad, as I found the Kiev VEGA-12b (90 mm F2.8) to be my dream lens (available with Pentacon Six bayonet, and a problematic item in itself). So, no, not what I would recommend. You're lucky that this specific item works as intended, it is a rare occurence.
DDR means Deutsche Demokratische Republik, the place this lense was built in 😂
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DDR : it's a special communist function they added in those old east block cameras. You either like it or you don't ! (Deutsche Democratic Repair ? Maybe ) 😂
In terms of functions - a professional camera, very convenient to use. In terms of quality - UNRELIABLE crap made of weak materials. Non onlu unreliable but most of times irrepairable. This is, in fact, the only but very big problem with it. You can just never count on it, know if next shot will perform ok. Try talking with anybody who had to use it professionally. Yes - had to - as in communist Eastern Europe the price of civilized (non-communist) cameras was counted in years of work.
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
CAUTION !!!
The mirror is not instant return ! Leaving the camera unwinded , facing to the sun , can burn a pinhole on the shutter curtain . Wide open aperture and unfortunate focus on the curtain take only a few seconds and disaster ! ( Do it yourself repair - smal drop of rubbery paint )
It's easy to figure out how I know 😢
Yes. I bought one with pin holes in the curtain from this. I "fixed" it with flex seal. You'd be hard pressed to find someone who could replace the shutter curtain.
Like the Leica IIIF. Thanks for letting me know!
Don't make a space before punctuation.
More camera makers should have put the shutter button in front. Less down movement shake when you press it. My Fujica GM670 and Topcon Super DM have this.
I bought two serviced Pentacon Six TLs from Germany. My favourite cameras beside my two Kowa Six cameras. The Pentacon Six has a beautiful design. And the shutter sound is orgasmic.
Mine got stuck recently! I couldn't take the speed dial below 1/60th. It wouldn't budge! I didn't force it. I put a tiny drop of isopropyl alcohol into the shutter speed dial and it came back to life! Hasn't happened since, luckily, but I guess the lube inside was getting old. Just have to make sure I fire the camera at all speeds once a week if I'm not using it to keep it moving. Maybe a service is due!!
@ShootFilmLikeaBoss Super! While I could buy a Hasselblad, using the off beat cameras just gives me ten folds the enjoyment. I guess it is the underdog proving itself. I mean I have never seen Leica cameras justifying their price tag analog nor digital. It is still down to the photographer
I love the Pentacon Six, I have two of them - one from the very last series and one from the late '70s. They are reliable and pretty easy to service - I had to replace a shutter curtain on one of them (ironically, the newer one).
The easiest way to change lenses is to turn the camera so the lens mount faces up.
Oh, and since you like wide-angle lenses, you should get the Flektogon 50/4 - you'll love it!
Thanks for the tips!
You put a lot of effort into this channel. It’s always really good stuff.
I appreciate that!
Thank you so much for the tip about checking the spacing with just the backing paper! Didn't have to waste a roll.
Glad it was helpful!
I love mine! I changed the viewing screen with a brighter one and put on the pentaprism finder. It is so easy to use!
I got mine at a sale from the technical university over at Chemnitz, Germany! It's still got the internal inventory label on the back of it!
Although not a Hasselblad, the Zeiss lenses are great on it!!
Got myself the 55, the 80, 120, 180 and 300mm Zeiss lenses. I personally love the 120 F2.8!!!
Nice!
Those are really cool cameras. I got two bodies and a bunch of lenses: 50mm, 80mm, 120mm, 180mm and piece de resistance - Russian Pancake 30mm Zodiak. When using the Zodiak make sure you do not lean in too much when taking the picture, otherwise your ears will be in the shot. I used it for Real Estate photography. It makes a tiny bathroom look like Taj Mahal! You should try that lens. they are about $300. Not too terribly expensive for what they can do. Just make sure you get the kit with the color filters, otherwise they are hard to come by, since they are rear mounted between the lens and the body.
Noted, thanks! Might be good for scapes! If I get real close to something in the foreground
You are right about the frame overlap, Rog, as it happened to me when I first used the camera. On a normal SLR, advancing the film is less taxing, as a single lever action usually moves the 35mm frame on easily. However, on the Pentacon 6, the advance lever has to be moved to the end and then fully returned in one action. Once I learned that, I had no problems and the 120 frames were perfectly aligned. A lump of a camera and with great lenses, but the weight is a challenge when going on overseas trips. You have a great channel, Rog, and always informative and entertaining too.
Thanks Tad. Loving the pics and write ups on Insta!
I love my Pentacon! I bought a camera 2 years ago. The first film was with overlay of frames) But then, after googling, I began to load the film correctly. I have a Soviet analogue of the Biometar on it - a Vega -12b, 2.8 90 mm lens. Even this lens produces beautiful portraits. Another plus for me when choosing an inexpensive medium format camera was the minimum shutter speed of 1/1000. It's inexpensive to repair, so the Pentacon is a good choice to get started in medium format photography. Great video, thanx!
Cheers Andrew. Luckily I researched the camera before I started using it or I too would have probably broken it by now!
I’ve had a pentagon six since the late 90s. I bought it Czech Republic for around $30. I’ve used it for mainly Black and white photos and I really like it. The standard Carl Zeis lens is great
I've repaired Pentacon Six, but have given al the bodies and parts that were left to a befriended fellow repairman. Wether the speeds above 1/125 are accurate strongly depends on the condition (or age) of the curtains. The rubber layer simply gets too stiff over time. Even when the curtains are light tight. Almost every Pentacon Six needs new curtains now. You start to notice this when you shoot slides a lot. I still use and love the lenses, but prefer my Kiev 88CM instead. The mechanical principle of the Pentacon Six shutter was also used in the Praktina and the Praktica Nova 1. Considering the Six, Siegfried Böhm did a great job on the design of this camera.
Back in the day, (the 1960's) I used Ye Olde Rollecord V 6X6 twin lens reflex. Electronic flash was my "after sundown" light source, and the leaf shutter topped out at "1/500 sec." This was useful during the day for flash filling shadows. I looked at the Pentacon Six for a short while, noting the 1/30 sec. X flash Synchronization maximum speed. I stayed with the Rolleicord, which didn't have interchangeable lenses nor prism finder, but frame spacing wasn't a problem once the arrows on the film roll was lined up with index marks. The 75mm f/3.5 Schneider Xenar did just fine, until it was time to look at 6X6 SLRs. (I chose a Bronica ETR-C with the "usual suspects" of 50/75/150 Bronica Zenzanon lenses.)
Yes it's quite slow for flash I noticed.
That's a beast. Wonder what photographer it was aimed at. Maybe portraits indoor work?
I'd say studio portraiture and weddings, maybe for those photographers that couldn't afford a Hasselblad/Mamiya/Bonica set up.
Most beautiful but a diva. At least mine is. Every photographer was used to have 3 bodies... 1 in repair, 1 in use, 1 as a spare body. Be careful with the trasport lever. Awesome to see this beauty in your hands.
I own such a camera and i love it. There was a phrase in GDR about this camera . The Six is the only camera with which you can hammer a nail into the wall and than take a picture from the nail.
HA HA !!!
I've always wanted one be interesting to see how get along with it
Fantastic results and prints mate!
Are you in London?
Excellente vidéo : j.en ai eu deux avec 50, 80,180 et le Meyer telemegor 300 (avec un pied unipod et sangle de poitrine pour compenser le poids de l’optique) ! PS : pour le développement du papier N&B une lumière inactinique jaune sodium est bien meilleure pour le confort visuel.
Great Video Roger Have a good weekend
Thanks Katharine
14:09 Beautiful portrait
Thanks Chris. That was close to a large window as close as I could get and focused on the eye closest to me. Shame I had so much space at the top. Easily cropped.
@@ShootFilmLikeaBoss well, it looks OK to me
I have 2 of them, one has the dreaded bad 125th speed ... glad your copy works well! I started with Kiev 60s, but always wanted one and somehow ended up with 2!!! I went rotary a year ago and it's a joy!!!
With the 125th issue camera at least you have spares for repair on the other!
Love my Pentacon Six TL. I have the single coated 80 Biometar and the MC Volna-3 80mm from the Kiev 60 system for it. I have a brighter Fresnel focusing screen installed and use mostly the non-metered prism, but I also have the chunky metered prism. Frame counter on the camera stops counting at 10 frames or skips numbers, but the frame spacing is perfect and I can get 13 shots consistently. The only time I ever had an issue with frame overlap was when I let the winding lever snap back by mistake while loading.
Thanks for the info! I'd like to get a split image fresnel for it some time.
bloody hell Rog, haven't you been lost in the woods enough by now lol??..That is a stunning Pentacon... might get one I just recently started back at the gym so I reckon I could deal with it lol...some cracking shots and excellent glass you can't go wrong until you get RSI !
Portrait situation is strange, is it something to do with distance ??
I just read the view finder is about 80% of what you see so that could explain it. Normally I would have been closer and less space at the top. haha. does look odd. I could easily crop though.
P6 with waist level view finder and Biometar 80mm is very light weight.
Roger very much enjoy your site and great to see someone actually in the darkroom, I have two P6`s one had to be sent in for service bought another in the meantime all work well now and yes they have have some procedures you have to be aware of. I have most of the lenses 50,80 120 180 300 and the big one 500. I have adapters and use them on my Mamiya 645 and on my Contax AX which in the camera has the auto focus with the mirror box.
Nice set up there Clive! In time I will look at the other lenses. I'd be more excited for a wide 50!
I had the Pentax 6x7. Ultra reliable unless battery failure.. In Canada the cold kills battery. Usin g the Pentacon seems great! I've only heard bad stories. Your 13 exposures, simply amazing!
Thanks Jason. Read other comments about not shooting this camera in the Winter. Apparently the speeds can get slower.
Great video as usual,good to see all working ok 👍 I
Thanks!
The rule about changing speed only when it's wound on does apply to Barnack Leicas and copies such as Fed.
Thats what I thought! The manual says different.
Good luck with the camera - nice find 📷👍
Thanks Eltin!
I love my Pentacon Six. It is a great camera. I got a later version, with no issues. It is a mint version. And I love the fact, that you can get 13 images. When you load the film just do not advance the arrow to the mark. Leave 2 to 3 cm space between. When Pentacon started to produce the camera, it was the best 6x6 camera available worldwide until the Hasselblad was made. It even went to space. It has a 1/1000 sec. on a 6x6 mechanically. Thats german ingeneering. The lenses are very very good. In Germany, we still have people that can service it. But God knows how long. I love to use it with infrared film and the 50 mm wide-angle lens. Super Fun! For my camera, I spent only 270 € on the body and the 80 mm lens.
Awesome video, lovley camera that mirror sounds crisp! Great dark room sesh too. Loved the split grading I shpuld give that ago when I next set up my darkroom.
Thanks Steve!
I had one of these around 2001 with 3 lenses. Mine worked nicely. Sold it a few years later when I started shooting digital.
Hope it's being loved and still working Fas
The Pentacon Six TL already cost me a fortune for repair/CLA but now is in perfect working condition. I gave her the middle name "diva" - so many things to take into consideration, including the way how to advance the film - but I still love her nevertheless. I've been told by the camera service expert (who once worked at Pentacon) that the P6 likes to be operated periodically. The "diva" doesn't like to be ignored for a longer time ;) The only thing I don't like is the rather dim focussing screen, but that could be changed. I also got the bulky pentaprism which makes the focussing screen even dimmer, so I rarely use it.
Thanks for putting this together, Roger. I've had an itching curiosity about these since forever. My local analog camera shop says they're great if you get a good one, which is iffy. Fun to see what it's like when it works as designed.
Thanks David.
The advice about not changing shutter speed comes from the soviet Leica copies. If you changed the shutter speed after the shutter was cocked you could get it stuck or it would be at a weird time.
I was in the mind that it would mess up the camera permanently.
That Carl Zeiss Jena 180mm Sonnar is one of my favorite lenses. The bokeh is amazing. only tried it adapted to my Nikon Z6II, but mayby I should get my hands on one of those Pentagon cameras so I can shoot some film.
I've got one that I bought 20-odd years ago, accumulating a range of lenses from the Arsat 30mm fisheye to the later version CZJ 180mm. It's an enjoyable beast to shoot with, it fits my hands perfectly. Weight is not too bad either for a MF SLR. I usually have the metered prism on it.
Given their age now, it's worth factoring in a service if one hasn't been done. Being fully mechanical, a bit of TLC every now and then will keep it working reliably for years.
The 120mm CZJ makes a lovely portrait lens.
I saw the metered prism on RUclips. Looks reliable.
I’m still hoping to find a Pentakon Six of my own, but so far none have appealed to me for their price at the time. Great video again sir! I just hope you don’t run into a mean cow while carrying that!
Cows are everywhere around here! Thankfully behind fences!
D23 ktchen formula an once to a pound to a gallon. You rvideos are always enjoyable.
Cheers!
I had one back more then 20 years ago but it had the issue with the overlapping images. Very common,..just hadn't the money to get it fixed. The later version of the Biometar is really nice and to the 50mm Flektogon is. Still miss it a bit....
Would you do a comparisation video for D23 and D96?
I've been using ZI eco fix too. Very pleased so far, it does seem to last ages bottled. I'm using it for prints too.
That's great!
After pouring in the fixer invert for about 30 seconds and take the reel out and inspect it. If it's still a bit milky dip it up and down until it clears. It fixes really quick.
I love my P6 Rog, I have the same lenses plus the 30mm MC Arsat, its fun using that one. Like you said in the video they are pin sharp, I have the metered prism on mine and its still accurate. great video.
Thanks for sharing. 30mm, crazy wide I imagine! Beautiful.
I have the Kiev 60, kinda the soviet version of this one and I love it. But it's as heavy as a tank. It uses the same mount so I also have the same 180mm as well as a 50mm Flektagon wide angle and it came with a Volna 80mm, which are all very nice lenses.
Heavy? I never perceived as heavy. Its a really nice camera and most of the soviet lenses are excellent.
Only with the prism on I found it getting heavy and then with the 180mm lens on it was probably on par with my Mamiya RZ. The WLVF it's lighter
Lovely camera. Great middle ground between the folders and the big SLRs. My Bronica weighs a bit over 2kg fully decked out. Can't imagine how much your RZ 67 weighs!
The RZ is heavy Dane!
Been using its kit lens (80/2.8) with my DSLR (via adapter) . Never met lens with worst bokeh.
When using Psix film advance alvays return crank back (do not let her return on her own spring ). This way you protect its mechanism (its breaking is most common failure).
DDR means East Germany (you are old enough to know what it was).
The camera says GDR.
@@ShootFilmLikeaBoss German Democratic Republic. Same meaning as DDR (Deutsche Demokratische Republik) but in English. Probably lens was aimed at western markets. Anyway - it is Eastern Germany for sure.
I love that camera, it was the first medium format I bought when I got back into photography 8 years ago. But it has not been cleaned and lubed, so it does NOT work in the cold! The speeds go waay off
So the key is to fire it off every so often if it's not being used
can you estimate by how much the shutter speeds increase? 20%?
I love my Pentacon Six. I have had little trouble with either of my cameras, actually the internal flash cable on one of them has broken. The waist level was the standard. They are heavy though. Glad to see you are not letting the advance level spring back, something I was warned about when I was given one. I then purchased another and a 50mm lens which is a beast, the front element is so large with something like a 82mm filter.
86mm
180/2.8 and 300/4 also have the same filter size.
Brilliant video 👌🏻. I’m always excited to see your photos but I love the process you go through and even more so on this video with your step-by-step developing.
Thanks!
What a beast ! The camera too.. only joking. Great review cheers. Always wanted one of these too.
Dear Roger, thank you for this very interesting video. I am very interested in the Pentaxon six, but I have read some very negative opinions about film transport. What can you tell me about this? I see that you also use a Yashica Mat 124g. Which do you like better? Thank you very much. Edoardo
Fantastic pictures! That big Zeiss looks just a bit smaller than my 100-220mm Bronica ETR lens. The Bronica is 2.2kg. Sharp as a tack, but I think I'm going to sell it - just too awkward. Really fun to use a medium format zoom though.
No point in having a camera that does not feel comfy for you. I hope I can get used to this one handheld.
About 10 years ago I thought about buying a Pentacon Six system. But then I found a guy who wanted to sell his Hasselblad 501CM set (body, two 120 6x6 backs, 60, 80 and 160 mm). And since this man loved his system he did not want to sell everything separate for best prices on ebay but looked for a guy who really would take everything and use it. And he offered it for only 1300 EUR, which even back then when prices were considerably lower than today was a near-steel.
After I called him, he did not tell me to come and pick it up. He saw that he lived only an hour away from me and he came. I think he wanted to see my darkroom to be really sure I would use his camera and not just resell it. The original invoice, which he also handed over showed that he had paid more than 25000 Mark in the late 90s (12500 EUR plus inflation).
I am still interested in the Pentacon, mostly because of the looks. But in the end I would use it once or twice and then grab my Hasselblad again. No need for two 6x6 SLR systems.
I just bought meself 2 rolls of Delta 100 and 2 rolls of Acros 100 35 mm.
Enjoy Rick!
What an awesome beast!! 🙂
Great video as always, thanks for sharing :) I have one too with the 80mm and the 180mm but it needs a cla and no one wants to touch it anymore. Sad as the glass is great. So i bought myself a Pentax 6x7 with a 55mm lens.
Great camera the P67. Enjoy!
@@ShootFilmLikeaBoss I will, thanks. The 55mm lens is just a bit to wide in some cases and the 105 is just not feasible right now. Got the best pictures i have ever taken with a weird combo of Yashica Mat 124G, ID-11 Developer and TMax 100 film. So sharp and the tones are just right. Again thanks for sharing.
As someone from '91 I'm quite surprised that you've never heard of DDR. That's the bad thing of translation of geographical names.
Speaking about the camera being hard to handle with the 180 and prism, maybe there is a grip available for it. I have one for my M645. The M645 with prism and grip (which also has a shutter release button by the way) is a totally other shooting experience that when I use it with WLF and prism.
In 2008 I started my analogue adventure with a M645 J. Someone gave me a Flektagon 50, a wonderful lens with the P6 mount. I decided to sell the M645J in 2011, about to get a Pentacon Six, but got afraid for the spacing issues. Then looked for a Kiev 88, read that that also had issues. Then heard about the Arax cameras but found them too expensive. Result: I didn't buy anything.
Well after a couple of years - late 2017 - I wanted to shoot film again, looking at the Arax. In the end I bought with what it all started: M645 1000s
I'd never heard DDR until now. Interesting what you learn as life strolls along. the Mamiya 645 is excellent.
If you wish to challenge your compositing skills I recommend getting a wide angle for that. Square wide angle is difficult to compose for. 👍
Interesting Janne! I'd like to get a wide at some point.
its not bad I used to have one but the shutter speeds stopped working but but the looks kind of outweigh the breakage of my old one haha
ah I miss the darkroom
And the smell!
I was just saying the other day that I don’t know why there weren’t more 6x6 SLRs. I love 6x6 but sometimes I don’t enjoy the TLR experience. I want the usability of an SLR on a 6x6 camera
1:50 DDR Deutsche Demokratischer Republiek ! Or GDR . I liked the concept of the Pentacon Six and the Carl Zeiss Jena lenses . But the mecanical problems keep me with Mamiya . But with a adapter you can use the Carl Zeiss Jena lenses on the Mamiya M 645 .......
i've really wanted this camera for a while now, but every time i find one for sale it's either broken or "untested, no returns" :(
Yes it's common unfortunately.
Great video! I‘ve got two of these beauties, both are tricky to use. The Biometar is one of the best lenses I have and you can create some outstanding portraits with that camera. It‘s the best medium format film camera I‘m aware of. Way lighter than a Pentax 67. It’s my most used medium format camera. The very best lens I have for it is a Petzval. DDR stands for Deutsche Demokratische Republik or German Democratic Republic (GDR).
I had one for a long time - and liked it...
Problems with image overlap are often caused by a worn needle wheel connected to the counter.
The solution: when inserting the film, press a little harder onto the wheel, make sure there is the right tension between the film spool and the take-up spool (higher than with other medium format cameras) - and if all else fails, drill through the middle of the back wall and seal it with red plexiglas or foil.
The hole just big enough so that you can read the numbering on the paper backing - and then carefully fast forward...
If someone (especially in the USA) is looking for a model like this, take a closer look at the back wall.
If you read "Q1" here, it means better quality "Quality Level 1" - these cameras were intended for export to "non-socialist foreign countries" - especially to West Germany - for payment in German marks, dollars, pounds, etc.
These models often have fewer problems (this also applies to other cameras such as “Praktika”)
By the way: DDR means GDR - Deuttsche demokratische Republik - German Democratic Republic (East Germany)
I forget to mention , you have a later version . Older versions were called pratisix ! Cheers🤔
Yes I read that when researching. Cheers.
We ❤ Peggy!
Me too!
The Praktisix (= Pentacon six) was introduced in 1956, not in 1966. 300.000 wher produced. The Pentaconsix ends 1991, but the Exakta 66 was produced untill 2000.
It is a wonderful camera. I have a Kiev 6C which is a USSR clone of it and it is also wonderfull. There are some nice lenses you can get for it. I have a 300mm f4 and the real gem for it is the Arsat Zodiak 30 mm f3,5 fisheye lens. With the 180 and some fp4 in rodinal and you can make some marvelous portraits
I'd love to get that fish eye lens! I can imagine they are fun to use.
I'm in love with this camera, don't own one, but I've tested 3 of those, this two lenses are beautiful, it's heavy but I like it, I hope some day I will get one for me. It's man's camera, not for sissy 🙂
Very nice video, as always
You can try the arsat pcs 55mm lens with shift capability, for architecture
Same mount
Great ucrainian made lens
Best wishes
Thanks for the tip!
I like the 6x6 format. Even after years using various 6x6 system like those Mamiya/Yashica/Rollei TLRs, Hasselblad, Bronica SQ etc, those cameras aren't particularly fun for handheld shooting because of the reversed images. Unless you put a prism finder. In this context, I prefer the "easiness" of 35mm SLR:
1. Look at something interesting
2. Point your camera to it.
3. Take the shot.
I don't like spending lots of time looking at the WLF... unless I'm on tripod. Perhaps will get this one, or the Pentax 67.
I'm often getting a stiff neck trying to square off a composition with a WLV. Ha ha. People must think "strange"
Although I own Hasselblad and several Mamiya cameras, I have always been looking for a nice Pentacon SIX TL. This year I was lucky to buy a mint one, produced in 1990. Handling isn't very easy because of the weight and some special settings.
p.s. DDR on the lens, means "Deutsche Demokratische Republik", the same as GDR.
I'm slowly getting used to holding it now. 🙂
DDR means "Deutsche Demokratische Republik" - GDR - so it's Eastern Germany.
I've got one of these and I love it to bits. The image quality is simply fantastic, particularly when using the Zeiss MC lenses. I have 3 of them, the 4/50 Flektogon, the 2.8/80 Biometar and the 2.8/180 Sonnar. Yes, there's a certain clunkiness to it, an almost agricultural feel, but it is relatively light, indeed. Very easy to handle, as long as you stick to a small set of rules...
I had one and tried a repair ... That went nicely until one if the bottom huge flat screws head broke. So guys be aware of those.
Telephotos are criminally underused.
They are!
It's funny because I was just looking at them last night... This is really not helping my GAS! 😁
that will build ya shoulders up.
There was a small range of high quality lens for this camera as follows, 50mm./65mm./ 80mm./ 120mm./180mm./ 300mm.f4 lens all make by Zeiss ( The DDR company not the Zeiss company in west Germany) as far as the bits and pieces are concerned their was a bellow unit, a double cable release, extension tubes,and a right hand finder that fitted on to the plain pentaprism. As for the meter pentaprism that was never very accurate even when new. It looks like you have worked that one out already! Good luck with the camera you will need it.😅💷. Oh yes there was. 300mm.f4 meyer something lens as well . Weighed a ton and was massive ( preset aperture only) the over rider on the winder was for 220 film long disappeared for the market
Thanks for the info!
I can't believe how many snowflakes "photographers" there are these days. The amount of people I know sold perfectly good digital SLR cameras to buy mirrorless cameras because they were lighter. Just watched a Sky Arts documentary Looking for England about Don Mccullin. He's 84 and carrying and hand holding a Mamyia RB67 without a strap.
Great looking camera you got, great quality.
Cheers Alan. I think for some people they can't physically use heavier cameras due to arthritis and other like problems creeping in. Good on Don.
wasted 2 rolls on it, tried all possible workarounds on how to load film... still didn't worked. I've sent it to Germany for a CLAd , 3 months in and still waiting for it.
Hope it gives you many nice photos and much pleasure when it's back.
Had more than one, and they were CLAed by someone who actually *learned* in GDR to service Pentacon cameras (and had lots of original parts to service them) - and they still did not work properly and had lots of issues. Very sad, as I found the Kiev VEGA-12b (90 mm F2.8) to be my dream lens (available with Pentacon Six bayonet, and a problematic item in itself). So, no, not what I would recommend. You're lucky that this specific item works as intended, it is a rare occurence.
DDR means Deutsche Demokratische Republik. Eastern Germany before the wall fell.
The camera has on it "GDR". German Demokratische Republik I believe. Cheers.
Big camera😱
DDR means East Germany.
I know yes, but I had a good laugh imagining which camera functionality that might have been. That made my day 😂.
I thought it was some technological initials.
I had two and both duds - really poor build quality - I then got me a Rolleiflex instead.
DDR; Deutsche Demokratische Republik, or East Germany.
Dance Dance Revolution :)
😂
DDR means Deutsche Demokratische Republik, the place this lense was built in 😂
DDR : it's a special communist function they added in those old east block cameras. You either like it or you don't ! (Deutsche Democratic Repair ? Maybe ) 😂
LOL!!!
In terms of functions - a professional camera, very convenient to use. In terms of quality - UNRELIABLE crap made of weak materials. Non onlu unreliable but most of times irrepairable. This is, in fact, the only but very big problem with it. You can just never count on it, know if next shot will perform ok. Try talking with anybody who had to use it professionally. Yes - had to - as in communist Eastern Europe the price of civilized (non-communist) cameras was counted in years of work.