lens quality comparison ?
Pentax 6x7 - +SLR, +interchangeable lenses, +finders, -heavy, -1/30 sec sync
Fuji GW690 - +lighter, +slightly larger negative, +syncs at all speeds, -fixed
lens and everything else, -rangefinder parallax
Lens performance - you couldn't tell them apart.
Bob G
The negative size with both cameras is basically identical but otherwise
these are very different cameras. The GW670 III is a rangefinder camera with
a fixed lens (90mm, F3.5). It syncs at all shutter speeds and has a hot
shoe. Maximum shutter speed is 1/500. Film winding is a two-step procedure.
The Pentax 6x7/67/67II is an SLR that accepts multiple lenses. Pentax makes
about 19 different lenses for it including a macro lens, a shift lens, and a
leaf shutter lens and ranging in focal length from 35mm to 1000mm though
lenses longer than 300 are so large and heavy that you need a caddy to carry
them around and home equity loan to buy some of them. With the 165mm leaf
shutter lens the camera syncs at any shutter speed, the others sync at 1/30
second. It takes a PC cord (i.e. no hot shoe). Maximum shutter speed is
1/1000.
The Fuji weighs about 51 ounces with lens, the Pentax weighs about 60 ounces
without lens but the Pentax lenses longer than the 135mm range from large
and heavy to extremely large and heavy. There wouldn't be a huge difference
in weight if you compared the Fuji and the Pentax with one lens in the 90mm
to 135mm range (about a 30oz difference) but there would be a big difference
in carrying-around weight between the Fuji and the Pentax with say three or
more lenses, especially if one were longer than 135mm.
Lens comparisons are difficult because there are so many Pentax lenses but
in general the Pentax lenses are outstanding as is the single Fuji lens .
The Pentax system is a very good system for almost all types of photography
unless you need interchangeable backs (e.g. for weddings) or unless you do a
lot of flash photography (because of the slow sync speed with most of the
lenses and because the flash that Pentax recommends with the 67 is the 400T,
which is big and heavy). It's o.k. for occasional flash usage but there
certainly are other medium format cameras that would be better if you do a
lot of flash photography. The Fuji is not well suited to specialized types
of photography such as macro work, architectural work, and (obviously)
anything requiring a lens longer than 90mm. The Pentax can be hand-held with
the shorter lfocal length lenses and faster shutter speeds but it's more
commonly used on a tripod. The Fuji is more susceptible of being hand-held.
There are a lot of other detail differences that you can find by looking at
web sites, especially in the case of the Pentax depending on which
viewfinder the camera has, but these are IMHO the major ones that would
affect a buying decision. I assume you know that Pentax today makes only the
67II, the 67 has been discontinued though they are readily available on the
used market.
HY" <he_n...@yahoo.co.nz> wrote in message
news:10863547...@radsrv1.tranzpeer.net...
IMO the Pentax 105mm f2.4 is one of the finest standard lenses i've ever
used.
--
Martin Francis http://www.sixbysix.co.uk
"Go not to Usenet for counsel, for it will say both no, and yes, and
no, and yes...."
"HY" <he_n...@yahoo.co.nz> wrote in message
news:10863547...@radsrv1.tranzpeer.net...
> Pentax mirror slap is a factor, but you can use the self timer to avoid
any
> problems.
There is no self timer on the Pentax. I think you mean mirror lock up.
"Norman Worth" <nwo...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:SELwc.942$Y3....@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> HY" <he_n...@yahoo.co.nz> wrote in message
> news:10863547...@radsrv1.tranzpeer.net...
> > cons and pros ?
> lot of flash photography. The Fuji is not well suited to specialized types
> of photography such as macro work, architectural work, and (obviously)
i use the GW690III (the 90mm lens in this case is wide angle) and i'd say
quite well suited for specialized types of photography: landscape
(lightweight, mechanical, fast working, can be handheld, good when
hiking), photo-journalism (fast focussing, outstanding results for whole
magazine pages) and some kinds of architecture (depends on how you work -
i mount it vertically and use it as if it had a built in shift (crop the
foreground in tha lab).
i am very satisfied with that camera but must admit that i use a 6x6
system (psix) with 50, 80, 120mm lenses for other purposes. and i decided
very conscious for a range-finder with fixed lens. so i am not disappinted
by it's limitations.
berko
I own both (GW690III in that case)
Fuji lens is way better, but I like the contrast on the P67 more.
Fuji's contrast seems to be exagerated while P67 looks more natural.
J.
see also mf/pentax67.html includes some lens tests etc.
hth bobm
--
***********************************************************************
* Robert Monaghan POB 752182 Southern Methodist Univ. Dallas Tx 75275 *
********************Standard Disclaimers Apply*************************
> I use a GSW690, which is similar to the GSW670. A friend uses a Pentax 67.
> We're both pretty happy.
>The main problem with the Pentax is weight - which is still not
> too bad. Both cameras are best used on a tripod, but the Fuji may be a bit
> easier to hand hold. (Both can be successfully hand held.) The Pentax has
> a through the lens meter available.
Solved (almost) the weight problem for the 67-II (and three lenses) by
fitting a smaller "roll on" suitcase with foam to hold the 4 pieces, plus
a slot for filters. As some famous photographer once said, "If you can't
drive there, screw it."
I hand hold almost all my shots. The 11x14 prints from negs taken
outdoors almost never show camera shake. Indoors, the shutter speed often
needs to be slower, and there may be some shake occasionally visible. I
have never felt I wanted more lens sharpness.
The mirror has a separate release on the -II model, so you don't have to
use the self timer to get the mirror shaking done before the exposure.
Bill