For Pentax 645 Users

[Rob Skeoch]

You're going to love using this camera. I bought the AF version last year and then a 200mm lens. I love it for portraits.
-rob

[Phillip P. Dimor]

It rewinds at the end of the roll but you can fool it by simply unlocking the film insert and pulling it out slightly. I mean just barely tug on it and it will rewind.
I have to do this when using short 120 rolls which yield 6 exposures. I guess kodak makes it special order for the picture people chain of 1-hour portrait studios. They use(d) an RB with 645 back, and the 6-exp roll would give you 8 to 10 frames, can't remember for certain. Kind of a smart way to save money.

I've never swapped in mid roll, from what I understand it can be done with the Pentax 645 though you lose a frame apparently.

[pentaxuser]

Philip Thanks for this very welcome answer. I'll come clean now and say I thought I had mentioned this as a possible alternative to removable backs which the P645 doesn't of course have on another thread and was told that this wasn't possible. The film simply winds on to the end with no possibility of a rewind.

Just goes to show that mentioning things twice is usually worthwhile. Losing a frame isn't a big deal. I usually sacrifice a frame on a rewound 35mm cassette anyway just to be on the safeside when I re-insert it and take up where I left off.

When you do it with short rolls by unlocking the insert and tugging on it barely, if there any likelihood of allowing a light leak? If so, I suppose the alternative is firing blank frames with a lens cap on until the end then allowing the auto rewind to operate?

Thanks

pentaxuser

[jamusu]

Phillip.

Thank you for clearing up the response for me. I will try your method of making a mask.I

Jamusu.

[weasel]

I must be missing something. Mine does not rewind, it just winds through to the end of the roll. Can they be set up to rewind somehow?

[pentaxuser]

Originally Posted by weasel

I must be missing something. Mine does not rewind, it just winds through to the end of the roll. Can they be set up to rewind somehow?

So two diametrically opposed viewpoints on this. It was what I was afraid of. Yet it seems both sets of users have experience of both outcomes. So what is the correct definitive answer?

There are a good number of P645 users out there in APUG. Would others care to help settle this? I think the one thing we can all agree on is that it is important for potential buyers to know whether there is a rewind facility or not.

Help needed.

pentaxuser

[frdrx]

No, there isn't any rewind facility.

[Phillip P. Dimor]

Originally Posted by frdrx

No, there isn't any rewind facility.

I apologize for misleading anyone. After having taken the backing paper from a previous roll and running it through the camera, merely removing the back _does not_ rewind in mid roll. I'm sorry, it's been a while since i've used my camera and honestly while I remember this to be the standard procedure.. it doesn't rewind.. OTOH, attaching the emergency winder knob onto the camera allows you to cock the camera and wind the film when it is locked up. Merely attaching the lens cap and winding this way could work, but it is a pain in the ass. You could also switch to manual and fire away to the end of the roll with the lens cap on..

Sorry if I mislead or confused anyone! My mind isn't as good as it used to be..

[frdrx]

Frankly, I think the only sane method of changing film mid role with the Pentax 645 is to switch between bodies. And now, why not discuss the possibilities of using the P645 with a waist-level finder? The camera has its limitations, but I love it nonetheless.

[jamusu]

Okay..

I am a bit lost now. My film automatically rewinds when I shoot my last frame.

Jamusu.