Pentacon Six
The Pentacon 6 is a medium format system camera, a SLR that takes 6×6 pictures on 120 film. It has been called an "SLR on steroids". Its predecessor was KW's Praktisix with which it shares the bayonet mount. The famed Carl Zeiss Jena plant made lenses for this Pentacon Six mount.
A basic kit consists of an 80mm/2.8 Biometar lens, a simple matte screen and a waist-level finder. Since this is a system camera, lenses from a 30mm fisheye to a 1000mm mirror objective are available. Lenses are still made and sold by Arsenal in Kiev (Arsat brand) and Czech Hartblei. On eBay excellent Carl Zeiss Jena and Schneider lenses can be found at reasonable prices. A variety of viewing screens, from simple matte to grids or fresnel screens, are available. The waist-level finder can be replaced by non-metered or metered prism finders.
Operation and frame spacing
After the 120 film is put in, the hinged door is closed and the film is spool through to (1) on the framecounter, you can start taking pictures. The Pentacon Six has a small switch under the advance lever to allow the use of 220 film. This film advance is reported by users on the internet to be the camera's weak point. Uneven framespacing or overlapping frames have been reported. Fact is that the frames on your film are put tightly together, with rather little margin between them. This is said to a construction choice which would allow a thirteenth frame on 120 film! Another uncommon thing about the Pentacon Six is that the film moves horizontally through the camera. Most Medium format cameras transport the film from top to bottom (or reverse), not from left to right. When looking at your devellopped film this has the pleasing effect of being able to read a sequence of shot from left to right (rather than from top to bottom).
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The framespacing is largely determined by how tightly the film is wound in transport. Users experiencing overlapping problems are advised (1) to calmly push the advance lever until it blocks. (2) Not to let this lever jump back. (3) to adjust the three white metal strips in the back to press the film more tightly (see picture). This will give better spacing. In most cases it will save the problem. If this is not the case, a german company (see links) guarantees they can solve the problem
