I am a 'Pentaxian' shooting mostly a Pentax 645z, but when shooting film I chose the Bronica GS-1 over the more ubiquitous Mamiya RB/RZ series. The Bronica was more compact and had full flash sync due to the leaf shutter lenses. The Pentax has some fatal flaws, and those are the violent vibrations caused by the film plane shutter and mirror slap.
Biggest downside of this thing is the abysmal flash sync speed, shortly followed by the mirror slap and lack of interchangeable backs. If you're shooting outside that's fine but it essentially rules it out for studio work. There's a reason virtually all of the larger format 120 cameras had leaf shutters.
Yeah, they were THE workhorse magazine camera. It was said that the Hasselblads with the Zeiss lenses were technically sharper (though I'd reckon Pentax is right up with them), but the 6x7 meant you didn't have to crop them as much to fit magazine pages - maybe the Pentax lenses weren't quite as razor sharp as Zeiss, but whatever resolution you gained from zee German glass you more than lost on the page. I still maintain Pentax is most underrated camera brand. These guys did more for photography than most care to remember, but they weren't sexy.
Thank you! Most of these were scanned by Photovision up in Salem, Oregon. I just ship them my film and they take care of it all. Expensive but I'd rather the professionals do it haha
I have two 6x7s and I bought a 3D printed right grip for them. It makes them feel more like a modern DSLR and it makes holding it a lot more secure if you don't like using a strap. Try the 35mm pano adapter. You'll love the panoramic shots.
I used my twp 6x7 bodies for 35 years before getting one of those 3D printed accessory hand grips. It's the best thing I ever bought for the camera. I normally have the Pentax left hand grip on each body as well. As for the 35mm pano adapter, I own one of best sets, but I think it's a waste of money. If you shoot a lot of panos, then find a camera dedicated to them. If you shoot only one or two once in a while, just shoot full frame and crop down to the pano format. What little cost of film you save with the pano adapter is more than offset by the hassle of having to unload each roll and hand rewind the 35mm cartridge in a dark bag, plus fussing around with the adapters when load each 35mm roll. The 105mm 2.4 was a good choice in a "norml" lens when you could buy one anywhere anytime for $150 or less. However, at the current pricing thanks to all the social media hype over it, at $600+, it's sucker bait - total waste of money. The 90mm is a better lens by every measure, and the 165mm 2.8 for portraiture, gives less facial distortion, has shallower depth of field (if that's your goal), and costs around $135-175..
Yes, I have learned having a medium format camera you more or less forced to take pictures of old cars and abandoned buildings. Preferable with Portra 400. After taking a digital image of the film you stare in Lightroom at the beauty of it. Nevertheless I owned and liked the Pentax67 system. Especially the variety in lenses.
@@bradenarchinuk Mate, it settles all arguments: Someone giving you crap for not shooting digital? So? This has a wooden handle. No autofocus? Wooden handle. Only eight shots? WOODEN. HANDLE.
Just got mine and I'm LOVING it!
It's so much fun getting scans back and looking at the results!
I am a 'Pentaxian' shooting mostly a Pentax 645z, but when shooting film I chose the Bronica GS-1 over the more ubiquitous Mamiya RB/RZ series. The Bronica was more compact and had full flash sync due to the leaf shutter lenses.
The Pentax has some fatal flaws, and those are the violent vibrations caused by the film plane shutter and mirror slap.
Biggest downside of this thing is the abysmal flash sync speed, shortly followed by the mirror slap and lack of interchangeable backs. If you're shooting outside that's fine but it essentially rules it out for studio work. There's a reason virtually all of the larger format 120 cameras had leaf shutters.
I’ve owned one from new, way back then it was highly regarded, especially for fashion photography.
It is main rental camera to pros shooting in So-Cal on assignment!
Whaaa? I didn't know you could rent one. Where at?
Yeah, they were THE workhorse magazine camera. It was said that the Hasselblads with the Zeiss lenses were technically sharper (though I'd reckon Pentax is right up with them), but the 6x7 meant you didn't have to crop them as much to fit magazine pages - maybe the Pentax lenses weren't quite as razor sharp as Zeiss, but whatever resolution you gained from zee German glass you more than lost on the page.
I still maintain Pentax is most underrated camera brand. These guys did more for photography than most care to remember, but they weren't sexy.
great video... how do you scan your film?? looks so clean and crispy .. 👌
Thank you! Most of these were scanned by Photovision up in Salem, Oregon. I just ship them my film and they take care of it all. Expensive but I'd rather the professionals do it haha
I have two 6x7s and I bought a 3D printed right grip for them. It makes them feel more like a modern DSLR and it makes holding it a lot more secure if you don't like using a strap. Try the 35mm pano adapter. You'll love the panoramic shots.
I've wanted to get a pano adaptar for a while. Seems like so much fun haha. I'll have to check it out 👌🏼
I used my twp 6x7 bodies for 35 years before getting one of those 3D printed accessory hand grips. It's the best thing I ever bought for the camera. I normally have the Pentax left hand grip on each body as well. As for the 35mm pano adapter, I own one of best sets, but I think it's a waste of money. If you shoot a lot of panos, then find a camera dedicated to them. If you shoot only one or two once in a while, just shoot full frame and crop down to the pano format. What little cost of film you save with the pano adapter is more than offset by the hassle of having to unload each roll and hand rewind the 35mm cartridge in a dark bag, plus fussing around with the adapters when load each 35mm roll. The 105mm 2.4 was a good choice in a "norml" lens when you could buy one anywhere anytime for $150 or less. However, at the current pricing thanks to all the social media hype over it, at $600+, it's sucker bait - total waste of money. The 90mm is a better lens by every measure, and the 165mm 2.8 for portraiture, gives less facial distortion, has shallower depth of field (if that's your goal), and costs around $135-175..
Super helpful info, thank you!
Yes, I have learned having a medium format camera you more or less forced to take pictures of old cars and abandoned buildings. Preferable with Portra 400. After taking a digital image of the film you stare in Lightroom at the beauty of it. Nevertheless I owned and liked the Pentax67 system. Especially the variety in lenses.
Haha yup! Love me some Portra 400
Get a grip! And by "grip" I mean the wooden handle - c'mon, you can't have a 67 without the Wooden Handle!
😂hahaha the camera is already so big. not sure if I want to deal with a big ol wooden grip on top of it but maybe I should look into it
@@bradenarchinuk Mate, it settles all arguments:
Someone giving you crap for not shooting digital? So? This has a wooden handle.
No autofocus? Wooden handle.
Only eight shots? WOODEN. HANDLE.