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The 220 back gets 30 frames, and the 70 mm back allows for 90 frames. I only own a 120 back which gets me 15 shots on a roll of film. There are four backs for this camera that allows you to shoot 120 film, 220 film, 70 mm film, and Polaroid. There is also an easy depth-of-field lever that allows you to see what will and will not be in focus in your shot. A dial near the viewfinder lets you switch between Single shots and multi-shots firing at about 1.5 frames per second. There is also a button near these functions to light up your LED readout for night time shooting. There are only a few buttons to worry about that set the mode, ISO, and exposure compensation.
Contax 645 medium format slr film camera manual#
The camera has several auto exposure options including a Program mode, aperture priority, shutter priority, a flash sync mode, bulb exposure, and, of course, an all manual mode. It is basically the equivalent of what our eyes see.
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In medium format, 75 mm is roughly the same as a 50 mm lens in a 35 mm film camera. The standard lens is an SMC Pentax-A 75 mm f/2.8 lens. It is chunkier than your average 35 mm SLR but it is still manageable in weight and fits nicely in my hands. The Pentax 645, manual focus, medium format SLR comes equipped with an eye-level viewfinder (with adjustable diopter) and a battery-powered side grip to advance your film and offer meter readings. Yet in its virginal form, it is even this Lomographer's dream. This camera has been tweaked several times and has become autofocus, out-of-my-price range camera. Eventually, however, I found the Pentax 645, first released in November 1984. I looked at Mamiya, Hasselblad, Contax, and Fuji and figured I would never own a professional 120/220 camera. Adding those will set you back another thousand US or so. Many are hard to handle and do not have eye-level viewfinders, or built-in light meters. Most of the new autofocus 6 x4.5, 6 x 7, and 6 x 9 film cameras cost thousands of dollars. When I started scouting out potential medium format cameras I was flabbergasted at the prices. Yet I can still drool over the latest high tech photo equipment. I love all sorts of photography including many alternative processes. Even the most hardcore Lomographer can find some pleasure in high-end analogue cameras. If you love photography as I do, I'm sure you have looked from time to time at professional grade cameras.
Contax 645 medium format slr film camera license#
Pentax 645 © Alex Luyckx via Flickr, Image used under Creative Commons license