Pentax 6x7 vs Twin-lens reflex.

[Conrad Saya Reina]

The Pentax 6x7 weighs about 2.4 kg with a lens. A TLR weighs about half that. Do the enormous Takumar lenses render a better image? They must let in much more light. I was looking at photographs by Fan Ho in a gallery in Tokyo. He used a twin-lens reflex and produced highly detailed sharp work that could--from what I saw--reasonably be printed to A3 size. If a TLR produces comparable images to a Pentax, why is the latter so big and heavy? That being said, I love using my Pentax, but sometimes have to use a roller suitcase to carry it around.

 

[wfooshee]

How much light they let in is simply a function of aperture. An f:2 lens on the Pentax lets in the same light as an f:2 lens on a TLR.

The difference in the cameras is primarily that the Pentax is an interchangeable-lens SLR, and its weight and bulk come from the much larger frame size than found on 35mm cameras. With almost every TLR, the lens it was built with is the lens you have, forever and ever amen. Mamiya did have a TLR with lenses available, but the fact that the lenses had to fit next to each other on the camera very much limited the size of such lenses, so large-aperture really long lenses were not possible, and no TLR had any zoom lens available.

If you want medium-format image quality but a selection of lenses, the Pentax is your option.

 

[Conrad Saya Reina]

How much light they let in is simply a function of aperture. An f:2 lens on the Pentax lets in the same light as an f:2 lens on a TLR.

The difference in the cameras is primarily that the Pentax is an interchangeable-lens SLR, and its weight and bulk come from the much larger frame size than found on 35mm cameras. With almost every TLR, the lens it was built with is the lens you have, forever and ever amen. Mamiya did have a TLR with lenses available, but the fact that the lenses had to fit next to each other on the camera very much limited the size of such lenses, so large-aperture really long lenses were not possible, and no TLR had any zoom lens available.

If you want medium-format image quality but a selection of lenses, the Pentax is your option.

Thank you for that! There is something magical about the look and handling of the 6x7.

 

[webestang64]

I have always wanted a Pentax 6x7. We had one for sale here at he camera store I work at several years ago. It was in mint condition and came with a large case with about 6 lenses. Could not afford it at the time.

 

[cgw]

Mamiya RB67 cameras are another heavy-weight ILC contender preferable for me to the Spotmatic-on-steroids Pentax 6x7. I shot the Pentax for a year, liked the glass, and produced some favorites. What spooked me was shifting the Pentax to portrait orientation on a tripod when all that weight threatened to topple it all over. The beauty of the big Mamiya RB67 is the rotating back which allows orientation shifts without moving the camera and lens--or using a girder-like tripod.

6x6 format ILC-SLR options are various Hasselblad and Bronica SQ cameras. For me, top-shelf TLRs--though capable of excellent images--are well-into relic territory and require specialist service that's tough to find in 2024.

Huge Fan Ho fan. His work is well worth a look if he's a stranger:

Fan Ho – The Great Master of Lights and Shadows — about photography

Today I would like to talk about a photographer who is said to be one of one of the Most Influential Asian Photographers , who won over 300 awards over a span of only 20 years. His award-winning prints were a permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco. Let's talk abou Fan H

aboutphotography.blog

 

[smoke665]

shelf TLRs--though capable of excellent images--are well-into relic territory and require specialist service that's tough to find in 2024.

There's still a few that service but their numbers, like available TLR cameras, are declining. Most of those still working on the "relics" don't have any intrest in learning new technology.

 

[cgw]

There's still a few that service but their numbers, like available TLR cameras, are declining. Most of those still working on the "relics" don't have any intrest in learning new technology.

Friends who are Rollei shooters get freaked by reports of old maestros retiring or pegging out. Several have bought additional cameras and had them serviced to future-proof their devotion to the brand. That's dedication!

 

[Conrad Saya Reina]

I have always wanted a Pentax 6x7. We had one for sale here at he camera store I work at several years ago. It was in mint condition and came with a large case with about 6 lenses. Could not afford it at the time.

It's a beautiful camera to work with. People often stop me to ask about it. Fivestarcamera.net or 三葉堂寫眞機店オンラインストア might have one for sale. The viewfinder is a little dim, but I have used it for night time photography nonetheless.

 

[Conrad Saya Reina]

Mamiya RB67 cameras are another heavy-weight ILC contender preferable for me to the Spotmatic-on-steroids Pentax 6x7. I shot the Pentax for a year, liked the glass, and produced some favorites. What spooked me was shifting the Pentax to portrait orientation on a tripod when all that weight threatened to topple it all over. The beauty of the big Mamiya RB67 is the rotating back which allows orientation shifts without moving the camera and lens--or using a girder-like tripod.

6x6 format ILC-SLR options are various Hasselblad and Bronica SQ cameras. For me, top-shelf TLRs--though capable of excellent images--are well-into relic territory and require specialist service that's tough to find in 2024.

Huge Fan Ho fan. His work is well worth a look if he's a stranger:

Fan Ho – The Great Master of Lights and Shadows — about photography

Today I would like to talk about a photographer who is said to be one of one of the Most Influential Asian Photographers , who won over 300 awards over a span of only 20 years. His award-winning prints were a permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco. Let's talk abou Fan H

aboutphotography.blog

I bought two of his books at the show. Many happy hours spent with them. They also had prints of his work on offer. HHG ヒコヒコギャラリー

 

[greybeard]

I had a Mamiya C330 with 3 different lenses. Changing lenses was pretty different and a lot more complicated than a SLR. https://www.galerie-photo.com/manuels/C330_english-instructions.pdf I think the fixed lens type TLRs are much lighter and less complicated than the C330.

 

[Don Fischer]

I have a Yashica 635 and had a Mamyia RB 67 and a Pentax 645. Liked them all but got the most use out of the Pentax. Mostly because I like zoom lens I think. That Yashica takes really nice photo's when I do my part and the RB 67 same but talk about heavy! Whew! Have a nephew that got into photography pro like and gave him the RB 67 and the Pentax. I think truth be know for the average guy, even the average pro 35mm and DSLR's got all the base's covered. They will do as good a job on the vast majority of your photo's as med format "if" you really learn to use them. Of course if digital went away today I get another 645, no doubt. It's a head thing with me. Biggest film photo's I've ever done were 16x20 with the 645 and the RB 67. With digital I do up to 12x24. No big advantage to med format for me other than ego!

 

[smoke665]

. No big advantage to med format for me other than ego!

Truth be told the same probably applies to most non professionals.

 

[coastman6]

I might be going off on a bit of a tangent here, but regarding medium format photography, a while ago I picked up an old but fully working 6x6 Nettar vintage folding camera along with a couple of rolls of Shanghai 120 Chinese film, and used a roll one Sunday afternoon, using the sunny 16 rule as I cant be bothered to play around with a light meter, but thoroughly enjoyed myself, but not knowing exactly what I was going to end up with , I was pleasantly surprised with the results and plane to do it again soon .

 

[cgw]

I might be going off on a bit of a tangent here, but regarding medium format photography, a while ago I picked up an old but fully working 6x6 Nettar vintage folding camera along with a couple of rolls of Shanghai 120 Chinese film, and used a roll one Sunday afternoon, using the sunny 16 rule as I cant be bothered to play around with a light meter, but thoroughly enjoyed myself, but not knowing exactly what I was going to end up with , I was pleasantly surprised with the results and plane to do it again soon .

Shoot 'em till they break. That vintage tends to survive if they're used regularly and sheltered from harm. It's the examples entombed in a chest of drawers for decades that often disappoint. Problem is often petroleum-based lubricants that gum up with age and inactivity. Have fun!

 

[ClintLloyd]

There is something magical about the look and handling of the 6x7.

You ain't kidding, at 2 1/2kg you would basically need to be a magician to handle the thing..!