Pentax 645 on a Mindwarp

[freethefly 6]

I just set up a 645 medium format on my bonehead. Haven't yet jumped it. I will today. I have close to 400 camera jumps with various size cameras - video, 35mm. The camera is a bit heavy and being that is on top and centered it tends to shift the helmet so I am not so sure about flying it headdown. Sit or belly I feel confident. I spent over an hour last night with all my gear on going over emergency procedures. Being that it is a 645 and not a 645N it employs a manual release so a bite switch is not an option. I still need to make a release for it. I think I can devise an apperatus that can be placed in the mouth to trigger the shutter. Does anyone know of a devise that is readily available on the market?
Has anyone here ever flown a medium format?
My specialty is black and white. I control my images from beginning to end. I do all my own developing and printing. I can never get exactly what I want from a photolab. There is much more satisfaction when I watch my image rise in the developing tray and it is exactly what I saw in my mind before I tripped the trigger.
I really think the 645 will take my freefall stills to a whole new level. I love 35mm but the image quality of medium format is of a level yet to be surpassed by anything other than large format.
Digital is alright but you just cannot beat the consistant flow of silver halide and for this darkroom enlargements tend to look much better than a digital print which will pixilate upon enlarging even with a run through photoshop six.
What is the thoughts of others when questioned with film vs digital. Being that I am a traditional photographer having learned that the photo is not yet finished untill it is in the frame and on the wall, I will always prefer film and a real darkroom over photoshop on the computer.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[ltdiver 3]

Quote

I just set up a 645 medium format on my bonehead. Haven't yet jumped it. I will today. I have close to 400 camera jumps with various size cameras - video, 35mm. The camera is a bit heavy and being that is on top and centered it tends to shift the helmet

Just a simple question...

Why put such a nice camera on an unstable surface? You have 400 camera jumps....why not get a real camera helmet like a FTP or some such that is stable as a rock for a heavy set-up?

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[freethefly 6]

All and all it feels pretty stable. The mount is fashioned after the aluminum mount used on the BH gunrack. The mount will be used primarily for my 35mm and eventually a 35mm digital. The use of the 645 will be primarily for planned art shots. I definitely would not want to jump it on a regular basis

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[videointhesky 0]

Hey freethefly

Do you know if Pentax will make a Digital 645?
Im hoping that Pentax comes out with a Digtial 645
I looked one Digital 645 that was 22MP, almost 3 times the MP of my 20D

Will my Pentax 645 lens work on another Digital 645?



I used to jump with my Pentex 645, Minolta 35mm
Sony 3 chip vx1000, but now I have gone Digital with the Canon 10D & 20D for still camera & Sony for video.

If you need any help with the shutter release for the 645 let me know

[freethefly 6]

I have not yet heard of pentax moving into the digital medium format area. I want to go digital and have been looking at the *ist D and also the Nikon D100 which is in the same price range and compareable in most ways. Yet, with my lens inventory being K mounts the economical path is the Pentax.
What I do not like yet about digital 35mm is that enlargements, yet not bad, are not as film is. The *ist D is in the high range of the medium level pro camera at 6.0 mp. Same as other makes in this range. From all the reviews I have read it is adequate for skydiving. Other than it's slowest ISO being 200 it would work for what I need it for at a cost of around $1200.00.
I would of love to have a digital 645! At 22mp, that is hard to beat. My main camera is my 645 as I prefer medium format to 35mm (as of late I have been doing mostly art shots in B/W for my portfolio). Nothing other than large format can beat it. I would love to go digital medium format. But, the cost is another factor for me so I am looking at 35mm digital.
As to whether your Pentax lens will mount to an non-Pentax 645 I suggest mounting rings. I use one to mount a Tamron lens to my 35mm. The ring, by the way, is a Tamron. Check with the lens manufactuer for rings.
I have been messing around with a cable release that seems to work fine after I removed the lock from it. Need to get a longer cable as this one is too short to reach my mouth.
What did you do to release your shutter? Also, any suggestions you have on flying a 645 would greatly be appreciated.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[videointhesky 0]

For my remote Pentax 645 set up

I removed the battery grip from the 645 body
to a pouch that I have around my waist under my jump suit, from the 645 body I ran the Power Cord
from the 645 body & helmet to the battery grip, I used a 5 pin din male & female connector plug to make this splice

For the shutter release I use the Cable Switch A from the battery grip to my hand with a 2 conductor 1/4"
stereo male & female connector plug to make this connection

One thing I had to remember was to plug in both
cables before I turned on the power switch, If i forgot
and did turn on the power switch 1st and them plugged in the cables I would take a picture as I plugged in.

I mostly used the 120 back so I only had 15 shots per roll. For lens I used 35mm,45mm,55mm,75mm
in freefall