For Pentax 645 Users

[frdrx]

Originally Posted by jamusu

Okay..

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

Jamusu.

Except that it doesn't RE-wind but winds forwards onto the take-up spool. It just takes a few seconds; rewinding would take much longer. After you finish the film, do you see the word `EXPOSED' on the backing paper? Is the end seal there? Sure you have to move the empty spool to the second sprocket before you load a new roll. I cannot imagine how the Pentax could achieve to rewind the film. The thing is not designed that way.

[jamusu]

Originally Posted by frdrx

Except that it doesn't RE-wind but winds forwards onto the take-up spool. It just takes a few seconds; rewinding would take much longer. After you finish the film, do you see the word `EXPOSED' on the backing paper? Is the end seal there? Sure you have to move the empty spool to the second sprocket before you load a new roll. I cannot imagine how the Pentax could achieve to rewind the film. The thing is not designed that way.

Yes.

It says exposed and the end seal is there. I do have to move the empty spool to the second sprocket.

In essence, the film is not rewinding, but fowarding to the end of the roll for removal?

Jamusu.

[frdrx]

Originally Posted by jamusu

Yes.

It says exposed and the end seal is there. I do have to move the empty spool to the second sprocket.

In essence, the film is not rewinding, but fowarding to the end of the roll for removal?

Jamusu.

Yes.

[pentaxuser]

Originally Posted by Phillip P. Dimor

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..

OK Phillip.Thanks for that. Things are becoming clearer, I think. The P645 doesn't rewind BUT if I have understood you correctly there is a way of ensuring a rewind by cocking the camera( I presume this means keeping the shutter open?) and rewinding the film with the emergency winder knob. Light is prevented from entering by the lens cap.

Have I got this correct? If I have then I am not sure why it should be such a "pain" so to do, other than a manual operation involving a couple of actions and a few seconds of time. Well worth doing, I would have thought if you had only taken one frame and decided that the film was wrong for the light conditions or a switch to colour from B&W or vice versa was called for.

I am not sure about the relevance of the last sentence, in the quote above, to the rewind issue. Maybe you can expand this. Finally which versions does what you have said about the rewind process i.e. only the manual 645 or both the AF versions as well

Thanks

pentaxuser

[jamusu]

Why would one need to rewind film with this camera anyway? Also, how does the DOF preview work. I have never had this on any of my other cameras and I am confused as to what is in and out of focus when using it.

Jamusu.

[frdrx]

Originally Posted by pentaxuser

... if I have understood you correctly there is a way of ensuring a rewind by cocking the camera( I presume this means keeping the shutter open?) and rewinding the film with the emergency winder knob. Light is prevented from entering by the lens cap.

I'm sorry, but this isn't possible. The emergency winding/cocking/firing knob moves the film forwards only. There's no way of rewinding the film other than winding it to the end and then re-spooling it by hand. On the P645 film insert, there is no gear that would allow you to turn the supply spool backwards.

[frdrx]

Originally Posted by jamusu

Why would one need to rewind film with this camera anyway?

Yeah, why? We're Pentax users, so we don't do such things.

Originally Posted by jamusu

Also, how does the DOF preview work.

DOF preview lets you stop down the lens, which allows you to see how your current aperture influences the image. Of course, as a side effect, the viewfinder goes dim as the aperture lets in less light, but it is still a very useful feature as it allows you to control not only DOF but also bokeh and reflections. Once you get used to it, you will miss it on your other cameras.

[jamusu]

So when using DOF preview, I need to stop down my lens for it to work? After stopping down, do I open back up to the original aperture?

Also, how will I know what is in and out of focus when using it? Will the out of focus areas show a blur in the viewfinder?

Sorry for so many questions, but as stated previously, I have never had this function because all of my other cameras are manual and it is a bit confusing to get used too.

Jamusu.

[weasel]

The DOF preview will simply stop the lens down to whatever f stop you have it set to. This allows you to see what the depth of field will look like when the picture is taken.
You will be able to see what is, and what is not, in focus.

[jamusu]

Okay.

Jamusu.