A Bridge Between Analog & Digital Medium Format: KIPON Baveyes Pentax67-Fuji G 0.62x Focal Reducer. @kipon_global @sec_carrboro
This is a rewrite of an earlier Kipon Baveyes post:
My Hassselblad CFV II 50c Pacifier: Kipon Baveyes 0.7x Optical Focal Reducer.
There was also a follow up post with a few more sample photos.
But unlike those posts and the updated Hasselblad to GFX post,…
…this is for a Pentax 67 lens adapter,…
…not a Hasselblad V Adapter.
Before I go further, a disclaimer:
After coming across the review above…
…KIPON reached out and offered this adapter and another in exchange for a review. And I quickly agreed.
No other instructions or influences from Kipon. My honest take follows.
But the mere fact that I am writing this is already an indicator that I like them. I tend to only review products I like here with a few cranky posts. Ok, one.
And even that one, I had to come back later and soften up a bit.
With that sorted. Onward.
In the post about the Hasselblad V to GFX adapter, I documented a somewhat circuitous route on how I arrived at GFX. The same applies here, so please refer to that post if you’re interested in that ramble.
For this post, I will focus my attention on a medium format camera that many adore…
…that was not a good fit for me.
Let me be clear. I did not say it was not a good camera. I said it was not a good fit for me. I can understand why many may adore it.
- It is a gorgeous bit of kit, especially with the wooden grip. Borderline artwork in my opinion.
- Familiar SLR operation.
- Accurate in-camera metering.
- If you choose, there is modularity with different available viewfinders.
My issues were personal as laid out in this post…
…and mainly had to do with (67 adherents look away):
- Heavy alone was not an issue, but when teamed with…
- Ergonomics I did not jive with after two tries, but the biggest concern for me was…
- A sense of fragility despite the bridge girder build and heft.
- Tested years apart both copies I tried had a wandering meter window that would vanish and reappear, and I have heard about issues with the chain and issues with doing certain tasks in the wrong order.
- And lastly…
- If I were to get a Pentax medium format film camera, there is another I would prefer.
And if one were so inclined, the jump to digital medium format is straightforward.
This is the reasonable path. Shared lenses with AE and AF available on both.
But as documented in this space, I am not a reasonable man. So that did not last. Way too sensible and straightforward compared to the oddball shenanigans I like to get up to.
A great camera, but I had become spoiled by modern AF. Something like I eventually traded my way towards.
That is much more like it. Digital medium format allied with modern AF. Perfect. For me, anyway. Used it for a wedding also.
So… I am done, right?
Very funny. That is not how GAS (gadget acquisition syndrome) works.
I had already taken to adapting manual focus glass to the GFX.
A simple task with Fujifilm’s excellent two-screen manual focus aid.
Thought I was done.
Foolish, I know.
Up to this point, I was aware of the Kipon medium format to full-frame focal reducer mentioned above.
Had not put any thought into applying the same solution to digital medium format. That is, until Kipon reached out to me recently.
Analog medium format lens with a focal reducer to fit a digital medium format sensor? Genius.
And 67 lenses you say? Interesting. Amazing glass, like the 67 105mm f/2.4 comes to mind. Similar to Hasselblad V, you trade AF for legendary IQ. And like Hasselblad, you go the all Pentax film lens to to digital medium format film or digital route with a 67 to 645 adapter. But there is a downside in both cases.
- As laid out in this image, I found on the interwebs, a large part of the film image circle will be left out. And with the flange difference, I would not think a focal reducer could be employed to make use of that added image-capturing real estate.
- Looking at the digital 645D with its even smaller sensor, the captured image circle shrinks further. (Image also from the interwebs.)
But add a focal reducer to the mix, via the adpter featured in this post, and more of an original image capturing experience is retained, as was shown in this comparison post.
In addition to the loss of image circle captured other features are lleft out by taking the 645D route.
- IBIS.
- An articulating screen that is great for low and high framing.
- The focal reducer adds a bit of light.
Having said all of that, I would not fault anyone for going the all Pentax route. But the KIPON route is more up my alley.
Moving on.
The lenses.
SMC Pentax 67 55mm F4.
A great lens and captured images that I am very happy with.
But given the excellent IQ on display I easily forgive this.
A wonderful lens.
SMC Pentax 67 / SMC Pentax-6×7 165mm F2.8.
This is the surprise lens of the bunch. At a $225 sticker price it is every bit the match for, and surpasses the Hasselblad V 120mm f/4 mentioned in the last post. The one that costs $1,300.
Here are the sample pics.
First pics taken of the house mascot clued me in to this lens being something special.
The 165mm got so good to me, I arranged a family photo session for my friend Cesar.
Bonus round.
I said in my original post that I would not be using the go to lenses for Hasselblad V (80mm f/2.8) and Pentax 67 (105mm f/2.4). Well, I was right about the first one…
Pentax 67 105mm F/2.4 SMC Takumar.
Before I risk prattling on here are the sample pics.
Respectfully, what on Earth?
This is one of the finest lens performances I have ever witnessed.
Impacted me such that I went in not planning to purchase it at all, but ended up trading my two M lenses towards it. Without hesitation.
As mentioned above a plus 9 distortion adjustment straightens out barrel distortion, but other than it is all positives with this lens.
Thoughts.
I like this rig. A lot.
What I like.
- Easy to focus with the Fujifilm two-screen manual focus aid.
- IBIS works great with these lenses.
- Side and up tilting screen makes for great low and odd angle photos.
- I love the IQ available with this set up.
- As good, if not better than every other image capturing medium I have tried before.
- The larger body brings a larger grip that makes easy work of wielding Hasselblad V lenses.
All this comes together for a fantastic image capturing experience and resulting images.
What I do not like.
I have nothing.
Do I recommend it?
Yes, but with qualifiers.
Do you have a GFX or a Hasselblad X digital medium format camera and Pentax 67 lenses already?
Definitely.
Do you have a GFX or a Hasselblad X digital medium format camera?
Still a yes. All Pentax medium format lenses I have ever tried are fantastic, and the three I tried are no exception. And some are available at very reasonable prices.
Have a Pentax 67 camera and lenses?
Maybe. If you have ever been on the fence about picking up a GFX body, here is your push.
Have none of this stuff?
That is on you. This is certainly not the only path to excellent IQ. I take no responsibility if you do decide to make the jump.
Certainly do not start here.
If you already have a mirrorlesss full frame camera or a Pentax K-1 (like I used with an M-42 to K adapter) something very affordable like a Helios 44-2 comes to mind.
You may be happy with that or any number of solutions in between.
That being said, if you ever feel led to adapt film era medium format lenses to GFX this KIPON Baveyes Pentax67-Fuji G 0.62x Focal Reducer is a fantastic way to go.
Well done, KIPON.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 
One Reply to “A Bridge Between Analog & Digital Medium Format: KIPON Baveyes Pentax67-Fuji G 0.62x Focal Reducer.”
Comments are closed.