For photographers who are finicky about perfect exposure, this camera’s exposure compensation may be a bit too coarse. If you’re like me and enjoy the sound of shutters then you’ll be in heaven with the 645, but if your photography requires you to be super stealthy on the streets the 645 will absolutely blow your cover.Īnother thing that will surely be frustrating for some shooters, exposure compensation comes in whole stop increments up to plus or minus three stops. It’s the loudest camera I’ve ever used, and it makes my Nikon N8008 sound like a mirrorless camera by comparison. There’s no getting around the noise of this camera. Those are the specs, but what’s the real story? Let’s start with the not-so-good. Expensive, and a bit absurd since barely anyone will be shooting sports with the 645. Its motor drive is capable of 1.5 frames per second, which allows us to blow through a whole roll in just twenty seconds.
#Contax 645 camera iso#
ISO ranges in 1/3 stops from 6 – 6,400 with shutter speeds of 15 seconds to 1/1,000th of a second, plus bulb mode for long exposures.
#Contax 645 camera manual#
It offers center-weighted metering with program, aperture and shutter priority auto-exposure modes, as well as full manual mode.
![contax 645 camera contax 645 camera](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61Tk-lMX67L._AC_SL1500_.jpg)
From the plastic body powered by six AA batteries in the grip to the quartz display and rubber control button – this thing may as well play “ Don’t You Want Me?” every time the shutter clicks.īreaking further from the precedent of the 67, which was aimed at professionals in the studio, the 645 was marketed toward amateur photographers shooting their first weddings, breaking into the professional world. And just as the 67 looks a perfect representation of the classic professional cameras of the ‘60s, it takes all of one glance to pinpoint when the 645 debuted. It was released in 1984, almost twenty years after the debut of the Pentax 67, which continues to be a titan in the medium format arena.
![contax 645 camera contax 645 camera](https://www.japancamerahunter.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/DSC04825.jpg)
In true Pentax fashion, the 645 is almost perennially forgotten and under-appreciated. More importantly, I’d been introduced to what may be the best bridge camera for anyone looking to jump from 35mm to bigger negatives.
#Contax 645 camera portable#
I now owned a truly portable medium format camera with internal metering, and money left over for a few rolls of film. For $375 I walked out with the camera body, a 75mm and a 150mm lens, and two 220 film backs. While browsing the shelves of a camera store in Wilmington, North Carolina some months ago, a very helpful (and effective) salesman recommended I try the Pentax 645. Luckily, there exists a machine that offers the convenience of the 35mm SLR and a reasonable price point. That’s a shame, because shooting massive medium format negatives with a capable and affordable medium format camera is one of the greatest joys in vintage photography. These are all great cameras, but for shooters looking to dip their toes into the water of medium format photography, sticker shock, lack of portability, and absence of creature comforts often lead would-be buyers to retreat back to the comfort of their 35mm cameras. Cheaper options exist, the Mamiya RB67 for one, but this camera demands compromise due to its incredible heft and lack of a light meter. But these are seriously expensive machines and are out of reach for many shooters.
![contax 645 camera contax 645 camera](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jDn7rwgoMwo/maxresdefault.jpg)
And that’s understandable – the first has pedigree, the second has cool factor, and the third seems to be all that film labs share on social media.
![contax 645 camera contax 645 camera](https://global-uploads.webflow.com/5eff2c8eb8a3d20c6e90e911/604a532511601a723e20f4d0_007665.jpg)
The desire to jump into medium format photography is usually accompanied by visions of Hasselblads, Rolleiflexes, and the Contax 645.