3 lens kit for Mamiya M645???

[stradibarrius]

What would be your choices for a 3 lens kit for an M645?

 

[Mike1234]

Howdy!! For what purposes? Mostly what... portraits, landscapes, pano?

 

[Christopher Walrath]

45, 80, 150. I had the 210 (all Sekor C) but probably could have done without it if I had to.

 

[Jon Shiu]

55/2.8N, 80/2.8N, 150/3.5N and also some extension tubes for close ups.

Jon

 

[thebanana]

What Jon said, but I'd substitute the 80mm 1.9

 

[Ektagraphic]

45mm, 80mm, 150mm. I have the 80mm, and 80mm macro and now I am going for 150mm then the 45mm. Both of the lenses I have are superb!

 

[stradibarrius]

I currently have the 80mm f/2.8 and am very happy with it's sharpness and excellent contrast. I would probably go shorter and then go longer. I was thinking about the 55mm f/2.8???? It seems that all of Mamiya's lens are great lenses. I have an RB67 with a 90mm, 127mm and a 180mm. All 3 are very sharp and contrasty as well.

I am on the fence as to the 45mm or 55 mm for the short lens. I think I can be happy with either. I have a 28mm lens for my Nikon b ut find I wish it was a 35mm sometimes.

 

[MattKing]

I have owned at various times 8 different Mamiya 645 lenses. I now am down to 6, but a 3 lens kit sounds good .

The following lenses all take the same filter size (58mm) and can be used with the focus assist lever (which I like):

- 55mm f/2.8*
- 80mm f/2.8
- 110mm f/2.8*
- 150mm f/3.5*
- 150mm f/4.0
- 210mm f/4.0*

(*means I own and use this lens)

The other focal lengths, the leaf shutter lenses and the macro lenses either use different filters, or have a larger barrel size, or both.

If your goal is to put together a 3 lens kit that allows quick lens changes in pressure situations (weddings, anyone? ), my 55mm, 110mm and 210mm kit works very well.

If the focus assist lever and common filter sizes don't matter as much to you, the 45mm f/2.8 N lens is nice, and the 80mm f/1.9 lens is nice and fast. A 45mm, 80mm, 150mm trio would be workable.

In my case, I don't have an 80mm any more, but I do have the 70mm leaf shutter lens, so my version of that kit is currently 45mm, 70mm, 150mm f/3.5.

All of my lenses are impressive, but the 45mm f/2.8 N and 55mm f/2.8 N are special.

Matt

 

[MattKing]

I currently have the 80mm f/2.8 and am very happy with it's sharpness and excellent contrast. I would probably go shorter and then go longer. I was thinking about the 55mm f/2.8???? It seems that all of Mamiya's lens are great lenses. I have an RB67 with a 90mm, 127mm and a 180mm. All 3 are very sharp and contrasty as well.

I am on the fence as to the 45mm or 55 mm for the short lens. I think I can be happy with either. I have a 28mm lens for my Nikon b ut find I wish it was a 35mm sometimes.

I don't think that it is unusual that I like the 55mm f/2.8 N lens, because its field of view is similar to the 35mm f/2.0 lens I prefer for 35mm use.

The 45mm lens has a field of view similar to a 28mm lens used on 35mm format film.

Matt

 

[2F/2F]

45, 80, 210, or 55, 80, 210. Similar to having 28, 50, 135 or 35, 50, 135 for small format. 28, 50, 135 is my standard kit for shooting 35mm, though I also carry a 35 and a 200, to swap onto one of the other bodies if needed. I only have the 55 and 80 for my M645s. 210 is next (I have used it a lot, though I do not own it), and then 45.

 

[stradibarrius]

What is the difference between the "N" version and the non "N"??

 

[MattKing]

The "N" versions are the newest versions.

Over the years, there have been a number of different versions of some of the lenses - "C", "S" and "N" (I'm not sure if there were any pre "C" lenses).

To make it somewhat confusing, on some lenses you will see a "C" as well as another designation.

I may be wrong, but I don't think there are many examples of the "S" lenses.

In some cases, there is very little difference between the different types (primarily improvements to the lens coatings).

In other cases, there have been complete re-designs (as an example, the "N" version of the 45mm f/2.8 lens has a different optical construction, and the filter size is 67mm, vs. the 77mm filter size for the earlier version(s)).

In some cases the changes from version to version are mostly cosmetic - there are distinct differences in the style and appearance of the older lenses vs. the newer lenses.

For some focal lengths, they were discontinued before there ever was an "N" lens - the 70mm leaf shutter lens is an example, as is the 110mm f/2.8 (I think).

For some focal lengths, the change involved something functional - the change from 150mm f/4.0 to 150mm f/3.5 is an example.

If a focal length is available in the newest "N" version, I'd recommend it. That being said, don't worry if a good condition non "N" lens presents itself at a very good price.

Matt

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Just break down and see my article at CiM. Dead Link Removed

 

[MattKing]

Just break down and see my article at CiM. Dead Link Removed

Sorry Chris - the article is good, but it isn't complete!

It doesn't list some of the older versions of lenses that are still available used (like the 70mm) and the older versions of current lenses (like the non "N" version of the 45mm f/2.8).

Matt

 

[stradibarrius]

Why would KEH have the 55mm f/2.8 priced more than the 55mm f/2.8 "N"? Both being rated as EX...
Chris your article left out the 55mm f/2.8. but the article is a good one.
Is there a list of the progression of the lenses and the differences?

 

[keithwms]

Depends what your main interest is and how you like to frame, but I'd say:

For portrait work: 80/1.9, 105-210 zoom, 145 SF and/or maybe a 150 LS (leaf shutter) lens if you need the fast synch for fill

For landscape and travel: 45/2.8, 80/2.8, 200/2.8

For product: 55/2.8, 80/4 macro and/or 120 macro, 200/2.8, tubes...

For wildlife and sports: 80/2.8, 200/2.8, 300, 500...

I have three 80mm lenses: 80/1.9, the 80/2.8, and the 80/4 macro, and all of them are used quite often.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Why would KEH have the 55mm f/2.8 priced more than the 55mm f/2.8 "N"? Both being rated as EX...
Chris your article left out the 55mm f/2.8. but the article is a good one.
Is there a list of the progression of the lenses and the differences?

Information from a 1975 publication of a Mamiya Lens Chart. That's what I had then.

 

[flatulent1]

I have the 45N, 80/2.8N and 150/3.5N. If I get another it'll be either the 35 or a macro. I almost pulled the trigger on a 200mm APO at KEH; I'm kind of glad I didn't, also a wee bit sorry.

 

[stradibarrius]

Well I have gone ahead and bought a EX rated 55mm f/2.8 N from KEH. It was cheap enough that I am sure I will get my money's worth. If I decide I would prefer the 45mm then I haven't lost anything. I can always sell the 55mm if I decide I don't want to keep it.

 

[suzyj]

Just wondering what people's thoughts are on the 150/2.8. I've currently got a 55/2.8, 80/2.8 and 80/1.9, and have just ordered a 45/2.8N. I'm thinking of selling the 80/2.8 and possibly the 55/2.8, and using the money to buy a 150. I note the 150/2.8 has the same 67mm filter thread as my 80/1.9 and new 45/2.8, so I could conceivably get about with a three lens kit and just one (gasp) set of filters.

But of course it's ~3-4 times the cost of a 150/3.5.

That said I love the 80/1.9 compared with the 80/2.8, predominantly because it provides a much brighter image to focus with.

My other option is the 210/4. My favorite portrait lens on DX digital is an 85/1.4, which corresponds to around 130 in 35, or around 200 in 645 format.

Of course my use for a tele will be predominantly portraiture.

 

[keithwms]

Well there is the SF in a very similar focal length....

 

[stradibarrius]

Well I just received a gift card for B&H and they have the 150c and the 150n, both in "9" out of "10" condition. The "C" is slightly less expensive than the "N" so does the "N" have plastic barrels and is there a real difference in the two lenses?
If not I will get the cheaper of the two. I want to go for the better quality of the two of course.

 

[tkamiya]

I have the 150mm 3.5N. It's mostly made of metal. The built-in hood looks and feels metal and so as rest of the body. The only exception is the aparture ring and A/M lever which is plastic. It's so well made, the only way I can tell the difference is how it feels temperature wise. (metal part feels colder)

 

[MattKing]

Most likely the "N" has more modern coatings, and will certainly be newer.

The construction of the "N" lenses I have seem to be just as robust as the "C" lenses.

The ergonomics of the lenses also are somewhat consistent within the series. As an example, within the "N" series, there is some consistency in the feel and width of the focussing rings.

Matt

 

[stradibarrius]

I had asked the question about construction and plastic because I had read on a Flicker thread that the "N" lens barrels were plastic? I only have experience with the"C" and have been extremely happy with my RB and M645 lenses.