"It came from Japan..."

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Archive 2008 · "It came from Japan..."

adnan76
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p.1 #1 · "It came from Japan..."

Just picked up an old Pentax 67 after not having used the medium format for some time. In the past I've used 6x6, this will be my first time with the 6x7 format. The lens I got is the 105mm f/2.4 ("normal" lens). I've seen some great photos on Flickr with B&W film and this combination... looks pretty easy to get shallow depth of field and still get a good bit of the subject in.

This thing is a beast of a camera, and would probably never be considered a landmark work of industrial design, but there is something strangely endearing about it. My copy has picked up quite a few battle scars along the way, and I wonder what all its seen along the way.

Anyway, I just finished up my first roll of HP5+, and while I'm scrounging down the developing chemicals, I'd love to see your recent medium format film shots.

adnan76.com

Dec 19, 2008 at 06:49 PM

jjlphoto
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p.1 #2 · "It came from Japan..."

Canadian photographer Sherman Hines put out a plethora of landscape books shot with his trusty Pentax 6x7.

Dec 19, 2008 at 07:09 PM

prashant
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p.1 #3 · "It came from Japan..."

Velvia Classic and 55mm lens which is a fantastic combo.

Ilford 50 or some BW film....

Hope you will have fun with the beast.

Dec 19, 2008 at 07:15 PM

adnan76
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p.1 #4 · "It came from Japan..."

Prashant - Beautiful shots, mind if I ask how those were scanned in?

Dec 19, 2008 at 07:56 PM

prashant
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p.1 #5 · "It came from Japan..."

hi adnan,
I used to own Minolta Multi Pro. Fantastic scanner and so is Nikon LS9000.

Dec 19, 2008 at 08:16 PM

Valorin
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p.1 #6 · "It came from Japan..."

Wow, nice shots Prashant. I'd like to try some medium format or large format film stuff sometime.

Dec 19, 2008 at 08:19 PM

pentaxshooter
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p.1 #7 · "It came from Japan..."

All 67, 105 2.4, and 160s 64t.

Dec 19, 2008 at 09:33 PM

RobertP
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p.1 #8 · "It came from Japan..."

The shots of the people standing really demonstrate the 3D look of larger formats like 6x7. They just pop out at you.

People claim that MF digital has that look, but it's not even close to 6x7 IMO.

Dec 19, 2008 at 10:55 PM

brainiac
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p.1 #9 · "It came from Japan..."

Great camera. I used to use the wooden handgrip, the meter prism, and the lens-focussing lever and tote it like a, like a... like a Leica. I only sold it because I couldn't live with the 1/30th flash sync.

Dec 19, 2008 at 10:58 PM

Kingfishphoto
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p.1 #10 · "It came from Japan..."

Well, i must say, that in terms of image quality alone, that was the best camera that i have ever owned, in the past 60 years. I had the MLU (a must) meter prism, 90 LS, rosewood grip, 135 macro, 165 and 300. I later added , as i added 645 system, aand 35 , adapters for lenses to each system. I missed to mentioned the 55 lens. In my darkroom, doing C-41 and E-6-nothing else even came close.
Cheers
Harry

Dec 20, 2008 at 12:36 AM

Jammy Straub
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p.1 #11 · "It came from Japan..."

I love mine, I doubt I'll ever part with it. It was a college graduation gift.

The wooden grip is totally a must

Now if I could just find a V700 to scan those slides with...

Dec 20, 2008 at 05:12 AM

Dark_
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p.1 #12 · "It came from Japan..."

Is there still developers that will develop the film? As a friend wants me to shoot their wedding and I want something that will be "different" and this shows a lot of promise (well any MF).

Dec 20, 2008 at 08:59 AM

mawz
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p.1 #13 · "It came from Japan..."

Dark_ wrote:
Is there still developers that will develop the film? As a friend wants me to shoot their wedding and I want something that will be "different" and this shows a lot of promise (well any MF).

Getting 120 developed is fairly easy. Any pro lab will handle it, and any clueful minilab can too.

I get my C41 MF film developed at a local Shoppers Drug Mart, for $2.99CDN a roll.

Dec 20, 2008 at 01:24 PM

robsteve
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p.1 #14 · "It came from Japan..."

Dark_ wrote:
Is there still developers that will develop the film? As a friend wants me to shoot their wedding and I want something that will be "different" and this shows a lot of promise (well any MF).

The local Shoppers Drug Mart will develop and scan the film. Look for one of the Shoppers with a Norizu Minilab.

Robert

Dec 20, 2008 at 08:04 PM

Dark_
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p.1 #15 · "It came from Japan..."

Thanks for the info guys

Dec 20, 2008 at 09:15 PM

Greg Campbell
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p.1 #16 · "It came from Japan..."

Wow, that monster puts my Bronicasaur to shame.

"Flee puny Drebel, flee for your life! ROOOOOAAAARRRRRRR!"

Owning such a brick offers new tactical opportunities when confronted by the typical DigiDweeb.
"Haven't you gone digital yet?" he whines. "Why would anyone use such an obsolete camera?"
In response, ask to see his new toy. Ego swelling, he'll unthinkingly oblige. In one smooth motion, set his plasticrap toy on the ground and, with your other hand, bring your Heavy-Metal-Brick-o-Death smartly down upon it.
SPLAT!
Problem solved! Resume shooting.

I've always admired P6x7s when I spot them at shows, etc., but have never seen one in action. I understand the shutter smack makes babies' ears bleed.

MF is fun and dirt cheap. Wander over to KEH; you can buy a complete setup for less than one of those disposable DSLR bodies.

Despite the constant propaganda, you can still get film of all sizes developed w/o much difficulty. The trick is quality digitization. You can plonk a grand for a MF scanner (more than my entire MF kit cost!) or go with a scanning service. IMO, flatbeds are 'ok' for 4x5 and up, where you have detail to burn, but not really acceptable for MF. I'm playing with DSLR + light table + 1:1macro + stitching at the moment.

SQ-Ai 6x6, 50mm, Velveeta. Crappy flatbed scan.
This image is copyrighted by the owner

Dec 21, 2008 at 07:25 PM

adnan76
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p.1 #17 · "It came from Japan..."

Hi Greg,
Actually, that's what I'd heard too about the shutter and mirror swing... in use, it doesn't seem any worse that an old Hassy I used to have (haven't compared side by side though). I've been going through a lot of B&W film of family, handheld, just taking care to keep the shutter speed above 1/125- ultimate sharpness isn't really my concern, I just love the look of a B&W image from such a huge negative.
Anyway, had any luck using the light-table/macro trick? I've done it a couple of times, but only as something quick & dirty to send out to family- never for serious use. Here's an example, from a Hasselblad with the 80mm and recaptured on a 5D with the 100mm macro

Dec 21, 2008 at 09:24 PM

mawz
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p.1 #18 · "It came from Japan..."

The Mirror may be loud, but there's not significant vibration. One of the guys on the PDML proved it a few years ago by balancing a nickel on the focusing screen while shooting. The Nickel didn't fall over.

Dec 21, 2008 at 10:07 PM

Greg Campbell
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p.1 #19 · "It came from Japan..."

Adnan,

I've got access to an MP-E super duper macro and a Drebel XT. Even at 1:1 (the least magnification), it produces ~4K dpi and can easily resolve grain structure. Shooting 15 images gets the whole 56x56 negative with fair overlap. Needless to say, it's tedious, and I just haven't had the time recently to fully pursue this technique.

Another projects is a shootout between the DSLR+macro and my FS4000 (35mm) film scanner. Both will acquire at 4000 dpi. I suspect the camera may be slightly better at digging out deep shadow detail. I'll shoot you a PM if I ever get my butt in gear.

-Moo

Dec 23, 2008 at 07:39 AM

mrladewig
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p.1 #20 · "It came from Japan..."

adnan76 wrote:

adnan76.com

Awwww... Look at the cute little camera.

<---- shoots 4X5 (and knows that there are formats WAY bigger than this)

But I have been looking at 6X7 systems.

Dec 24, 2008 at 07:14 PM

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