Mythbusting: Pentax 6x7 & Hasselblad 500-501

drewbarb said:
and be sure you use a cable release or self-timer.
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'Cept for the OM-1. Olympus advised (and it's been validated) to grasp the camera with both hands and gently use the ball of the right index finger to trip the shutter. I suspect it may be true for some other 35 SLRs, as the hands help damp vibration.
 
1/30s handheld Ektachrome expired 1993.
3998090298_ee02605db9_b.jpg


1/60s handheld, Portra 400VC
3518181933_1af8a193a1_b.jpg
 
Which reinforces the

Which reinforces the

ItsReallyDarren said:
Don't forget the Pentax 6x7 myth claiming the shutter/mirror makes too much vibration to be used on a tripod!
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Which reinforces the Pentax decision to advance body design to a MLU (Mirror Lock Up). Such practices abound with MF SLR designs that split the mirror so that half went up and half went down.... I can't recall but I think that might have been a Bronica???

Yes, the mirrors in MF SLR's are large and heavy and mirror slap is an issue.

One of the reasons I prefer the leaf shutter designs like the Fuji big rangefinders and Mamiya Press models. No mirror, no focal plane shutter going sideways or vertically, etc.
 
I've never noticed blurring with my 67, but then I only handhold it at 1/125 and above, and always use MLU when on a tripod. The vibration of the shutter at slow speeds (too fast to use your hand as a shutter), 1/60th down to 1/2second, does worry me somewhat, and I intend to buy a sturdy tripod and head so I'm not limited by those speeds.
 
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I use all shutter speeds on my 6x7. Never any problems. I also use the mirror pre-release hand held sometimes.
 
Hold it down

Hold it down

Trius said:
'Cept for the OM-1. Olympus advised (and it's been validated) to grasp the camera with both hands and gently use the ball of the right index finger to trip the shutter. I suspect it may be true for some other 35 SLRs, as the hands help damp vibration.
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When the Pentax 6x7 is on the tripod, I place my left hand firmly on the prism, activate the MLU with my middle finger and trip the shutter via cable release in my right hand. It's a lot easier to do than type.
 
hans voralberg said:
And in line with what Keith said, my Mamiya 7 is very suitable for slow speed work, 1/8 is ok 60% of the time, good enough for me, its lens is slow anyway.
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I agree completely. I have no issue slowing the shutter down on the Mamiya 7, but it is a rangefinder: hardly any movement in camera.

Medium format SLRs have big, honking mirrors. I am glad that does not stop you from hand holding them, though.
 
I have the Non MLU version, and for what I shoot a tripod is rarely with me. But with good technique you can definitely hand hold it at the 1/30 speed. I think I have a 1/15 somewhere on my flickr, but can't remember which shot. Blur free.
 
kuzano said:
Which reinforces the Pentax decision to advance body design to a MLU (Mirror Lock Up). Such practices abound with MF SLR designs that split the mirror so that half went up and half went down.... I can't recall but I think that might have been a Bronica???

Yes, the mirrors in MF SLR's are large and heavy and mirror slap is an issue.

One of the reasons I prefer the leaf shutter designs like the Fuji big rangefinders and Mamiya Press models. No mirror, no focal plane shutter going sideways or vertically, etc.
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As might be expected, I certainly agree about using the Mamiya Press cameras. The in-lens shutters and shutter cable release in the holding handle, along with the mass of the camera, all contribute to slow speed hand-holdability. I don't recall what was the slowest speed I have ever used, but I think around 1/8 to 1/4 or so. Not the best, but a usable photo nonetheless. At higher speeds they are really good.

I used to know a guy who used the Pentax 67 as a wedding camera. He thought it quite good at that, and was successful as well.

As to holding the OM-1 securely, that would be good advice for any camera. Especially the smaller versions like the OMs. Fujica put a special mirrow dampener on their ST 901. I don't know if that idea carried over to the AZ-1 and the bayonet models or not.

When I was younger and taking a lot of photos, I could even hold my Yashica TL Super at 1/2 second in an emergency, but usually took 2 or 3 shots to be sure one was OK.

To me, that is one of the keys with any camera. Taking enough photos so that your muscles become welll trained (strong and steady) and you learn to control your breathing. I am sure most have seen good quality with almost any MF camera if the user was accustomed to using it, and careful. For that matter, how many good photos were obtained with 4x5 press cameras? It wasn't all the large negative.

Nice photos by all. Thanks, I enjoyed them. I feel inspired to crank out my Super Press 23 again. It has sat sadly neglected for too long due to a (now improving) back problem (the one down side of big MF).
 
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Agreed Wayne, except for one, *I* cannot hand-held the Hasselblad with 150mm lens in low-light (as in dusk).

I have a few photos that would be print-worthy except for the tiny amount but uniform blur.

The 80mm and 50mm would be okay in those cases.
 
venchka said:
Hang a camera bag, water bottle, sack of rocks, etc. from the center column of the tripod. Place your hand firmly on the prism and apply pressure. Works. for me.
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I read a report on this tactic many years ago. It was well tested in the report and made a significant difference in the stability of the tripod/camera setup. For years, whenever my tripod goes out, in my camera bag is a net shopping bag with a string closure. I can fill it with rocks or other objects on site and hang it from the center post.

I have a heavy tripod and a medium weight Bogen/Manfrotto. I consider that the bag trick puts me pretty close to using the "monster" tripod when traveling/outing.
 
One more...last one.

One more...last one.

Everytime I see this photo I have to ask myself, "Self, why on earth would you ever want or need a Hasselblad?"

From the Wayback Machine. My first Pentax 6x7. 105mm lens. Ektachrome. Heck, I didn't even own a tripod at the time.

Somewhere on South America Street. Early 70s. Covington, La.

Mailbox+Covington+P67-105+EKCH-1.jpg


I was tempted to post a big one. I know that gives some viewers problems.

A link to a larger copy.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/d/187865-1/Mailbox+Covington+P67-105+EKCH-1.jpg

I'm still trying to figure out the answer to the question above.
 
1/60 handheld on the P67 seems like the conservative limit in my experience. Couple stops better than the 'never shoot slower than 1/250' warnings you see posted around the internet.
 
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