"Is this... that lens...?" The chairman's critique, seen beforehand

1: A casual remark at the camera shop counter

Saishifu:Back then, on my way home from work, my feet would always naturally head toward a small camera shop in town. It was a shop opened by a former section chief of a color photo lab who had retired. Just looking at the shine of the equipment lined up behind the glass of the showcase made the fatigue of the day seem to vanish instantly.

AI:Camera shops back then weren't just places to shop; they were like secret bases where photography enthusiasts gathered. Hints for the next shoot were hidden in the snatches of conversation exchanged with the shop owner and friends.

Saishifu:Exactly. One day, I stopped by the shop as usual and, talking to the owner and the regulars, I casually started a conversation, saying, "I went to Kyoto to take photos last week..." Then, one of the people there said, "That sounds great, I'd love to go sometime!" So, we decided on the spot that the two of us would go the following Sunday, and things just fell into place.

AI:So that was the beginning of everything. A small murmur from one person becomes the trigger for a large swell that draws in companions. It's an episode that makes you feel the strength of the attraction that photography holds.

Saishifu:What was interesting was that the following week, one more person joined to make it three, and the week after that, four... the number of people increased naturally. Before I knew it, going to Kyoto together late every Friday night to take photos had become a kind of routine.

2: Encounter with a legendary masterpiece—The magic of the Contax RTS and Planar

AI:While capturing the streets of the ancient capital on film almost every week, the equipment that became your partner, Saishifu-san, also evolved, didn't it? Speaking of the equipment that finally led to a fateful encounter at that camera shop...?

Saishifu:I will never forget it; it was the "Contax RTS" that sat in the seat of honor in that camera shop's showcase. I really wanted to try using a Carl Zeiss "Planar" lens to check its rendering, so I took the plunge and bought it.

AI: Speaking of Zeiss Planar, it is a legendary lens called the "emperor of standard lenses." While sharp, its beautiful bokeh that somehow makes you feel human body temperature, and its rich tonal rendering, never ceased to fascinate many photographers.

Saishifu:That weekend after I got it, I still can't forget the excitement when I attached the Planar to the Contax RTS and went to Kyoto. Somehow, it felt like the lens was heavier than the body. The necessary information was displayed neatly inside the viewfinder. And even with the motor drive attached, the camera's operability felt perfect in both hands. It was impressive how, when you turned the lens to wide open, the aperture blades would tuck away somewhere inside the lens barrel.

Saishifu: The important thing here is that we didn't choose that tool just for the brand name value or "longing." What we were looking for at the time was "absolute reliability and rationality" that wouldn't fail even during harsh night shoots or travel.

AI: High exposure accuracy through electronic control, the rigidity as a machine, and the certainty of the mechanism inside the lens barrel in response to aperture operation, right?

Saishifu: Yes. I think we chose this system precisely because all those design philosophies functioned as an "inevitable process" to directly convert the photographer's intent into light. Later, when I went to the camera shop to pick up the finished enlargements... the chairman of the photo group "Kaeru no Ko" (Frog's Child) said at that time:

"When you look at it in L-size, it looks a bit soft, but when you look at it in full-sheet or half-sheet size, it's in focus... Is this... that Zeiss lens...?"

L-size:89mm × 127mm Half-sheet:356mm × 432mm Full-sheet:457mm × 560mm

To my surprise, the chairman was comparing the enlarged print with the L-size trimming instructions before I was.

3: The weight and response of medium format—Pentax 6x7 and wooden grip

Saishifu:I liked the mobility of 35mm, but because of my desire to capture landscapes more richly and more precisely, I finally stepped into the world of medium format cameras. What I got was that "Pentax 6x7," commonly known as the "Bake-Pen."

AI:It's a masterpiece that boasts overwhelming resolution and screen size, using 120 roll film, which is incomparably larger than 35mm. And, something you absolutely cannot leave out when talking about that camera is...

Saishifu:Thatwooden grip!
The heavy weight and outstanding hold when you gripped it firmly with your left hand. Carrying around that giant, which could never be called light, along with a tripod through the cobblestones of Kyoto and the precincts of temples was quite a lot of hard work, but thanks to that grip, I was able to hold it firmly and press the shutter.

AI:Supporting the heavy body with the wooden grip and carefully pressing the shutter while controlling mirror shock. That series of ritual-like processes itself was a blissful time for the photographer, wasn't it?

4: A tool for reading light—Pentax: Spot Meter

Saishifu:Once I started carrying around a large medium-format camera, exposure management became more severe. So, I introduced the Pentax: Spot Meter.

AI:Instead of relying on intuition, you accurately quantify and measure the intensity of light. That attitude of not sparing the extra effort was what supported the quality of your photos, Saishifu-san.

Saishifu:Taking out an exposure meter at the shooting location and carefully measuring the reflected light from the subject.Deciding the aperture and shutter speed while reading the subtle changes in light shining through breaks in the clouds and the shadows of old wooden buildings.That process of creating while interacting with light with my own hands and eyes, rather than leaving it to the equipment, might have been one of the real thrills of photography.

In closing: Memories of light that never fade

AI:A trip to Kyoto for photography that started from a casual chat at a camera shop, and the days spent with legendary machines like the Contax RTS, Planar, the wooden grip for the Pentax 6x7, and the Pentax Spotmeter... Every one of these is a wonderful story packed with pure passion for photography.

Saishifu:Times have changed, and the appearance and formats of equipment have evolved, but the excitement I felt at that camera shop and the memories of clicking the shutter under the Kyoto sky every week with my friends still shine brightly within me even now.

"There are three shutter chances"--

Saishifu: If you only immerse yourself in past memories, it ends as mere nostalgia. However, even in this convenient modern age, the dilemma of "what should I choose and how should I face it among the countless information and tools available" remains the same as it was back then.

AI: Instead of choosing based solely on specs or efficiency, have your own reason for "why you use it," and sometimes dare to "take on the trouble and constraints". It is important not to look for the correct answer on the other side of the screen, but to face the reality in front of you and adopt an attitude of sweating and working for yourself, even if it's unrefined.take on the trouble and constraints. It is important not to look for the correct answer on the other side of the screen, but to face the reality in front of you and adopt an attitude of sweating and working for yourself, even if it's unrefined.

Saishifu: That's right. Precisely because convenience is the norm now, what is a truly reliable "tool," and how do you perceive the world with your own eyes? The answer might not be in a manual decided by someone else.

AI: It is found only the moment you actually stand in the field and take action with your own hands--now, it's your turn. The AI's reply is always accommodating and cheerful.

Bonus: Below, there was an explanation of the "ideal screen size" in the latter half of the Pentax catalog, so I transcribed it using AI.

◆ Consideration of the ideal screen size: 6x7 format

• The area of the 6x7 format screen is more than four times that of the 35mm format. It is also necessary to compare the fact that the 6x6 format ends up being a semi-format when trimmed, resulting in a difference of nearly double the effective screen area. The vertical and horizontal proportions of the screen dimensions are much more square than the 35mm format, and are rather similar to the large 4x5 format.

• The characteristics of having a large screen size have already been discussed many times, but it can withstand high-magnification enlargement and produce excellent photographs with beautiful gradations. Therefore, when trying to increase the screen dimensions further for a purpose, the problem you inevitably encounter is the worry that the camera's mobility will be rapidly lost. The intention of Asahi Optical, which developed the 6x7 format SLR while trying not to impair the characteristics of the 35mm SLR, which is the most functionally advanced, was because this was a previously unsolved difficult problem.

• "How many consecutive photos can I take with one roll of film currently loaded in the camera?" The next major concern that affects shooting efficiency arises. If it is possible to take 10 shots with 120 film and double that with 220 film, there is no need to worry. Using different films, such as switching from color to black and white, or from color negative to reversal, is also relatively easy. Rather, for those who carefully observe the subject and compose their shots with caution, it will be a sufficient number of frames.

• The 35mm SLR was developed as a system under the banner of versatility, aiming to cover as wide a range of shooting applications as possible with a single model. However, when it comes to 6x7 format and large-format cameras, there is an attitude of digging deeper into functions that match the purpose and trying to be an excellent single-function device. Since you are seeking the image quality of a medium-format SLR while knowing the disadvantageous physical characteristics compared to small cameras, such as being heavy, large, difficult to move, and having a shallow depth of field, please carefully consider whether it is a model that matches your purpose before choosing.

• The Pentax 6x7 is fully aware of the role required of a medium-format SLR and asserts a strong personality. Rival models in the 6x6 and 6x7 formats also have different and diverse personalities. This means that there is a wide range of possibilities for selection according to the shooting purpose.

The comprehensive breadth of shooting applications and the unparalleled mobility of the Asahi Pentax 6x7 system have a fulfilling form that definitely does not allow others to follow in individual performance comparisons. The exquisite combination of the Pentax 6x7 and the SMC Takumar lens group will fully meet your expectations.

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[About this record] This article is an essay that reconstructs and reproduces the unrefined atmosphere and the feeling of the transitional period of technology at that time through dialogue with AI (Artificial Intelligence), based on fragments of the author's memories from about 50 years ago. Please enjoy it as a subjective record (memories of that time) based on personal experience.