I have 2 pieces of this camera and I love them . I upgraded them with new split focusing screens. They are plastic but seem to be brighter than original ground glass. Both were repaired by local camera repair specialist. One of them had problem with overlapping frames so i got it modified, the film advance lever only crank the shutter but i advance the film manually from the bottom (red glass window on the back of the camera has been added so i can see the numbers on the film backing paper). I actually love this modification, I can easily make double exposures etc..
Another good video. I had a Pentacon Six & I really prefer the Kiev 60. The Carl Zeiss lenses for this mount, as you mentioned, are really very good. When it comes to bring home the bacon I prefer the Pentax 645n
Thank you! Totally agree with you there, given the choice I would probably pick the Kiev over the Pentacon. But for reliability neither of them are going touch your Pentax. Nice camera that!
The Mir-38B 65mm wide angle from the Kiev system seems excellent, as well as the Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm Flektogon. There is a tension spring on the feed side of the camera that seems to need adjustment to help keep frame spacing proper midway through the roll, if the spring is out of adjustment it stops putting pressure on the feed roll and you seem to get some frame spacing inconsistency. Noticed on a second body I picked up that some rolls have frame overlap and it seems to be related, this spring can be adjusted by just pulling gently on the end until it takes a new set. My first Pentacon Six body never had frame spacing issues, provided I load it with proper tension initially, the only difference between both seems to be that spring. Fantastic camera. It'll do 27 or possibly even 28 shots on a roll of 220 as well.
Fomapan 200. An Iron Wall film for an Iron Wall camera. I like my Kiev 60, the Soviet equivalent. I also got a Pentacon in a deal with a CZJ 80, 50 & 180 2.8 - but I haven't tried it out yet. I do know my Pentax 6x7 back in the 80s gave me more problems than my Kiev has.
Wasn't super thrilled with the foma 200... don't use that film much and I got the dreaded "foma spots", although I didn't go into that in the vid. But if you look closely at the negs there are the characteristic tiny purple spots all over them. Annoying. The Pentacon is a good camera, I enjoyed using it, but given the choice I'd probably go for the Kiev.
@@MarksPhotoha ha! Hate hate is about right. It's such a shame that they have such QC issues, the films are good, and the price is great. But for what you save it's usually not worth it.
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Thanks for the review. I have 2 of these and a kiev66 which uses the same mount. I like the P6 for its size and good affordable lenses. There are issues with film spacing and stuck apperture blades. But otherwise a really good system.
Yep, I've had a P6 where the spacing was a little off sometimes, and my other 180mm f2.8 is stuck open at 2.8, blades won't move. It's sitting here waiting on me repairing it! But for the money, the system overall is great value, if you can avoid the problems!
Před 6 měsíci+1
The thing is that because of the low price, I am not afraid to take these lenses apart. I have fixed a flektagon 50, a biometar 120 and a sonar 180mm. They are also big and easy to work on.
@ true! Did you take a 180mm sonnar apart? I went in to try to fix the stuck aperture blades, but couldn't seem to figure out how to access the blades. I got to a certain point, and the blades and mechanism are housed inside a sort of metal cylinder under the lens housing, and I couldn't find any way to access it! Not sure if something unscrews, but I wasn't applying enough force... in the end I stopped, because I didn't want to do any damage, and put the lens back together again, and just use it at 2.8!! Any ideas?
Cool.. I currently only have one medium format camera system .. I need to expand :). I love watching your videos and look forward to seeing the fujifilm ..
Oh goodness..... You need to expand? Dangerous words. I feel that you are standing on the edge of a precipice, and the void is calling you to jump! Do it... do it... buy ALL the cameras!! How will you know which one you like unless you own the ALL??? Enabler? Me?
Oooohhhh, I wish I can win your little give away. You can then deliver in person in South Africa and I can buy you a beer! I really like the camera. It reminds me of the Pentax 67 in terms of ergonomics, except that it is a top view. Some lovely shots.
I'd be all over that! You may have to spot me the air fare though........ definitely looks like a Pentax 67, doesn't feel the same though. If you were blindfold and shot both cameras, you wouldn't have any doubt about which one was the premium camera and which was the budget friendly one!
@@the120ist I can well believe that the Pentax would feel superior. On the air fare - let me see what I can do about the exchange rate between the Pound Sterling and the SA Rand to quadruple the value of the Rand. I will just need to make a few calls and manipulate an election in April. But sure, shortly after.
I definitely enjoyed using it. And the fact that I have somehow ended up with a boat load of lenses for it, without really trying, says something about the affordability of it all. Amazing.
i got a bronica etrsi back in the summer... i really like the waist level finder experience but there is something about the standard slr type layout that ultimately i think does too much right that when its not there i really notice it.@@the120ist
I bought one of these. Then it turns out the shop inventory system had an error and they didn't have the camera. Blessing in discuise. Because I then proceeded to buy my bronica system part by part. Took awhile but definately worth it.
Whilst I really liked this Pentacon, I would go for any of the Bronica systems first, personally. Some people really like this upright SLR form, but I totally prefer the Hasselblad / Bronica layout. Personal preference of course.
It will definitely work. The cable release I was using didn't need any pressure at all really. It's a big chunky camera, but the mechanics are smooth enough.
Nice vid; chonky boi, it’s a pity they didn’t make it a 67… couldn’t the central planning committee have foreseen how much more cool they would have been perceived by weirdo analogue medium format folk 60 years later if they had done that…
@@bernardkealey6449 now that would be enticing! The lenses are more than up to the job. But I suspect that the flange-focal distance of the cameras will be very similar, so no chance to adapt. If only!
Well damn... I've just gone back to the video to see what you're talking about, and I can confirm that my brain never even registered that. And this is why I am such a terrible landscape photographer. Making my own teeth itch now. Thanks for pointing it out!!!!
This camera is a garbage compared to the Pentax. As the socialism became popular among the nations they never experienced these cameras became popular again. I was a young photographer in that era as started in 1985. Believe me: we hated it but sometimes we didn’t have a chance just use these garbages. The only advantage is that slightly better than the Kiev. Thank God these “icons” have disappeared.
I have no doubt it's awful compared to the Pentax! But it's a camera, and some of them still work. I have yet to try a Pentax 67, but I know they are good cameras. Alas, I no longer have this Pentacon Six, so that should tell you something about how I felt about it!
I have 2 pieces of this camera and I love them . I upgraded them with new split focusing screens. They are plastic but seem to be brighter than original ground glass. Both were repaired by local camera repair specialist. One of them had problem with overlapping frames so i got it modified, the film advance lever only crank the shutter but i advance the film manually from the bottom (red glass window on the back of the camera has been added so i can see the numbers on the film backing paper). I actually love this modification, I can easily make double exposures etc..
A lens worth mentioning is the Arsat Zodiak 8, a 30 mm / 3.5 fisheye. Huge, bulky, heavy, but excellent image qualtity!
I've seen one in action before, they really are wonderful lenses, and give you some crazy images. I've never owned one though!
Crazy great lens at 1/10 or 1/20 the price of the Hasselblad Zeiss equivalent!
Another good video. I had a Pentacon Six & I really prefer the Kiev 60. The Carl Zeiss lenses for this mount, as you mentioned, are really very good. When it comes to bring home the bacon I prefer the Pentax 645n
Thank you! Totally agree with you there, given the choice I would probably pick the Kiev over the Pentacon. But for reliability neither of them are going touch your Pentax. Nice camera that!
You are getting me addicted to this channel 😍 Learning so much!
The Mir-38B 65mm wide angle from the Kiev system seems excellent, as well as the Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm Flektogon.
There is a tension spring on the feed side of the camera that seems to need adjustment to help keep frame spacing proper midway through the roll, if the spring is out of adjustment it stops putting pressure on the feed roll and you seem to get some frame spacing inconsistency.
Noticed on a second body I picked up that some rolls have frame overlap and it seems to be related, this spring can be adjusted by just pulling gently on the end until it takes a new set.
My first Pentacon Six body never had frame spacing issues, provided I load it with proper tension initially, the only difference between both seems to be that spring.
Fantastic camera. It'll do 27 or possibly even 28 shots on a roll of 220 as well.
Fomapan 200. An Iron Wall film for an Iron Wall camera. I like my Kiev 60, the Soviet equivalent. I also got a Pentacon in a deal with a CZJ 80, 50 & 180 2.8 - but I haven't tried it out yet. I do know my Pentax 6x7 back in the 80s gave me more problems than my Kiev has.
Wasn't super thrilled with the foma 200... don't use that film much and I got the dreaded "foma spots", although I didn't go into that in the vid. But if you look closely at the negs there are the characteristic tiny purple spots all over them. Annoying. The Pentacon is a good camera, I enjoyed using it, but given the choice I'd probably go for the Kiev.
@@the120ist yeah. I have a hate-hate relationship with foma films. They're good for test rolls and Holgas,
@@MarksPhotoha ha! Hate hate is about right. It's such a shame that they have such QC issues, the films are good, and the price is great. But for what you save it's usually not worth it.
Thanks for the review. I have 2 of these and a kiev66 which uses the same mount. I like the P6 for its size and good affordable lenses. There are issues with film spacing and stuck apperture blades. But otherwise a really good system.
Yep, I've had a P6 where the spacing was a little off sometimes, and my other 180mm f2.8 is stuck open at 2.8, blades won't move. It's sitting here waiting on me repairing it! But for the money, the system overall is great value, if you can avoid the problems!
The thing is that because of the low price, I am not afraid to take these lenses apart. I have fixed a flektagon 50, a biometar 120 and a sonar 180mm. They are also big and easy to work on.
@ true! Did you take a 180mm sonnar apart? I went in to try to fix the stuck aperture blades, but couldn't seem to figure out how to access the blades. I got to a certain point, and the blades and mechanism are housed inside a sort of metal cylinder under the lens housing, and I couldn't find any way to access it! Not sure if something unscrews, but I wasn't applying enough force... in the end I stopped, because I didn't want to do any damage, and put the lens back together again, and just use it at 2.8!!
Any ideas?
Cool.. I currently only have one medium format camera system .. I need to expand :). I love watching your videos and look forward to seeing the fujifilm ..
Oh goodness..... You need to expand? Dangerous words. I feel that you are standing on the edge of a precipice, and the void is calling you to jump! Do it... do it... buy ALL the cameras!! How will you know which one you like unless you own the ALL??? Enabler? Me?
@@the120ist Haha :) Thanks
Oooohhhh, I wish I can win your little give away. You can then deliver in person in South Africa and I can buy you a beer! I really like the camera. It reminds me of the Pentax 67 in terms of ergonomics, except that it is a top view. Some lovely shots.
I'd be all over that! You may have to spot me the air fare though........ definitely looks like a Pentax 67, doesn't feel the same though. If you were blindfold and shot both cameras, you wouldn't have any doubt about which one was the premium camera and which was the budget friendly one!
@@the120ist I can well believe that the Pentax would feel superior. On the air fare - let me see what I can do about the exchange rate between the Pound Sterling and the SA Rand to quadruple the value of the Rand. I will just need to make a few calls and manipulate an election in April. But sure, shortly after.
The Pentacon is a wonderfull camera!
I definitely enjoyed using it. And the fact that I have somehow ended up with a boat load of lenses for it, without really trying, says something about the affordability of it all. Amazing.
really classy looking camera. nice review!
Thank you! Do you like the look? Prefer it to the long-body Hasselblad / Bronica layout??
i got a bronica etrsi back in the summer... i really like the waist level finder experience but there is something about the standard slr type layout that ultimately i think does too much right that when its not there i really notice it.@@the120ist
I bought one of these. Then it turns out the shop inventory system had an error and they didn't have the camera. Blessing in discuise. Because I then proceeded to buy my bronica system part by part. Took awhile but definately worth it.
Whilst I really liked this Pentacon, I would go for any of the Bronica systems first, personally. Some people really like this upright SLR form, but I totally prefer the Hasselblad / Bronica layout. Personal preference of course.
Good review, well done!
Thank you! Glad you're enjoying the vids!
In your video description, you have a typo: Ok, down to business. Pentacon Six TL... I see the everywhere..."I see THEM everywhere".
Good spot, thank you! I shalll fix that now.
Wondering if the Reveni Labs remote control will work with the Pentacon or is the camera too tough?
It will definitely work. The cable release I was using didn't need any pressure at all really. It's a big chunky camera, but the mechanics are smooth enough.
Old Ross Yerkes of Los Angeles works on Pentacon, Kowa, Norita.
Nice vid; chonky boi, it’s a pity they didn’t make it a 67… couldn’t the central planning committee have foreseen how much more cool they would have been perceived by weirdo analogue medium format folk 60 years later if they had done that…
Ha haaa! Such an oversight. Oh to be able to go back to 1968 East Germany and teach them a thing or two....
Imagine having half a million Jena Zeiss lenses that with a converter would fit a Pentax 67…
@@bernardkealey6449 but with the simple adapter, they will fit and focus on a Pentax 645. You just don't have an auto stopdown aperture
@@MarksPhoto I get that, but I’m after 67 or larger. If I had the nous myself I’d spend 5 years making a 6x9 SLR 😂
@@bernardkealey6449 now that would be enticing! The lenses are more than up to the job. But I suspect that the flange-focal distance of the cameras will be very similar, so no chance to adapt. If only!
Best lens for it by far is the Schneider-Kreuznach 80mm f2.8 Xenotar MF... if you can find one
fun
I enjoyed the camera, for sure! Definitely worth trying, if you haven't already!
I have one of these and am looking for a good repair shop/person. Anybody?
Whereabouts in the world are you? There are a few places in the UK that will work on them.
PPP repairs is the youngest and most talented repair man I know of in the UK. Send him a message on his website.
Everytime you talk to the camera down by the dock it makes my teeth itch you didn't shoot that weirdly symetrical kiosk thing behind you.
Well damn... I've just gone back to the video to see what you're talking about, and I can confirm that my brain never even registered that. And this is why I am such a terrible landscape photographer. Making my own teeth itch now. Thanks for pointing it out!!!!
Yes, DDR stands for Deutsche Demokratische Republik, which translates GDR.
Aaah, I knew it was something like that. Thanks for clarifying!
This camera is a garbage compared to the Pentax. As the socialism became popular among the nations they never experienced these cameras became popular again.
I was a young photographer in that era as started in 1985. Believe me: we hated it but sometimes we didn’t have a chance just use these garbages. The only advantage is that slightly better than the Kiev. Thank God these “icons” have disappeared.
I have no doubt it's awful compared to the Pentax! But it's a camera, and some of them still work. I have yet to try a Pentax 67, but I know they are good cameras. Alas, I no longer have this Pentacon Six, so that should tell you something about how I felt about it!