Pentagon Six may be the most overlooked medium format camera system ever manufactured since the optics are superb and the camera is extremely lightweight.
These are my 6X6 SLR cameras of choice. I have always two of them on me when I'm out on a photo shoot, one with color film and 120mm Zeiss Biometar lens, and the other with b&w film and a 50mm Zeiss Flektogon lens. I have some other Zeiss lenses for them as well, but those usually stay at home. Here in Germany, the Pentacon Six TL cameras are cheap and easily available, it is no problem to find a good and working copy. Same is true for its lenses. Nobody can distinguish a print made from a negative out of that camera to a print made with a Hasselblad or any other 6x6 SLR. I like the most the Pentacon's simplicity and especially its comparatively low weight and small size compared to other 6x6 SLRs. Important detail: Mr. Woo operates that camera correctly - don't transport the film and let the lever snap back! This will lead to spacing problems with the film.
Fun fact: The camera was built in Dresden and the factory looks like the logo of the camera. The building houses now a great technical museum.
A camera I had never heard of. Will check this out as well as the Exacta version. Thanks John and of course Mr Woo.
What an amazing shutter sound!! 👍
Thanks John, Iv'e seen a few of these but normally in very rough shape. Thanks to you and Mr. Woo for sharing, take care - Jeff
Good interview John . We were able to get a slice of history.
Great that’s the whole idea bringing back yesteryear of photography
try to find Czechoslovakian camera Flexaret vert intersting
Pentagon Six may be the most overlooked medium format camera system ever manufactured since the optics are superb and the camera is extremely lightweight.
These are my 6X6 SLR cameras of choice. I have always two of them on me when I'm out on a photo shoot, one with color film and 120mm Zeiss Biometar lens, and the other with b&w film and a 50mm Zeiss Flektogon lens. I have some other Zeiss lenses for them as well, but those usually stay at home. Here in Germany, the Pentacon Six TL cameras are cheap and easily available, it is no problem to find a good and working copy. Same is true for its lenses. Nobody can distinguish a print made from a negative out of that camera to a print made with a Hasselblad or any other 6x6 SLR. I like the most the Pentacon's simplicity and especially its comparatively low weight and small size compared to other 6x6 SLRs.
Important detail: Mr. Woo operates that camera correctly - don't transport the film and let the lever snap back! This will lead to spacing problems with the film.