I am looking for a medium format system(after I have had horrible past with a pieace of junk Kiev!), and I am alway a fan of pentax cameras. I own 3 Pentaxs, sv, k1000 and zx5 and I wish to add another one to my Pentax family. However, I not sure which one to pick, 645 or 67. I do a lot of outdoor, landscape and some studio. Is there anyone that can give me suggestion. Thanks..

-- Pum (pxp24@po.cwru.edu), April 17, 1998

Answers

Well, I think these are cameras oriented toward somewhat different markets/users. I have a 67, and they tend to be favored by folks wanting a rugged field camera that is pretty much manual in operation. Of course, you get the 67 size negative. Electronic automation is pretty minimal, and the camera is heavy to hand hold (though it can be done).

From what I've heard, the 645 has a lot of electronic sophistication for a medium format camera, especially the new 645N (which is autofocus). It's not a Nikon F5 or Canon EOS 1N, but it's electronics are good by comparison to its peers. It's much easier to hand hold, and I believe its compatiable with Pentax flashes for TTL OTF flash exposure. This makes it more desirable for, say, a wedding photographer.

Neither Pentax medium format camera has interchangeable film backs (the 645 has film inserts, but not true backs), which has never really bothered me, but pushes some people toward Mamiya, Hasselblad, or Bronica.

The cameras are sufficiently different that you should see if you can try them out, and see which best compliments your needs. Good luck in your decision making.

-- Michael K. Gardner (gardner@gse.utah.edu), April 18, 1998.

Hi,

I think the Pentax 645 and lense are superb for landscape shooting as well as in door work. What you should think about as one primary consideration is weight when carrying around a body with three prime lenses. I can carry the 645 around without having to "pump" iron every day while I know the P67 is much heavier. The 645 does not have mirror lock-up but a wonderful dampening system that works fine. I have shot photos from 2 second to 1/30 second on a sturdy tripod with no lost of detail; If you are shooting the P67 in a similar situation, you must use mirror-lockup to prevent vibration. I also like the fact that the P645 has a tripod socket for shooting verticals versus the P67 where you must depend upon the tripod ball head to support the camera body when you flip it over to vertical. These are just things you should consider...

-- Richard L. Fung (rfung@uclink4.berkeley.edu), May 04, 1998.

No offense to the others, but if you want to do great outdoor and landscape work then it has to be the 67. If you are going to spend the bucks to get into medium format then go all the way, and get the big 6x7 neg. You will never regret it. Of course if you want to hand hold a lot or do action shots then maybe the more portable 646 is the way to go. Either way, Pentax makes great cameras so you won't be dissapointed.

-- Morgan Bond (mbond@cats.ucsc.edu), June 03, 1998.