The mamiya 6 and 7, while not 6x4.5 have interchangeable lenses of amazing quality and are pretty light for a MF interchangeable lens camera. And they are electronic (a big plus, did you know?). The problem is that they're very expensive.
I did ask about RF cameras up the thread a bit -- but those are fixed lens, aren't they? Got a 60 and need a 45, you have to find/buy a camera that has the 45? Kinda defeats much of the lightness factor if you aren't strictly a "normal" or "wide" shooter.
The problem is that they're very expensive.
my rb67 is just 6 pounds with 50mm lens, back, grip and metered chimney finder....I can shoot 6x4.5 with my RB67 (I get 16 on a roll); I've got a back for that format -- but it's still a ten pound camera even with only the 90mm lens and waist level finder. I don't have a grip for it yet...
no, the welta perfekta was initially a 6x6 TLR folder. I have had several of these. the 6x9 model was later, it had, as you say, a revolving back. even wikipedia got this wrong http://www.120folder.com/welta_perfekta.htm.The Welta Perfekta was a 6x9 folding, revolving-back (at least in some versions) TLR. I've got two folders that shoot 6x4.5 (one also shoots 6x9 if I take out the masks)....
the best mechanical 6x4.5 in my opinion is the pearl III. it's the smallest 120 film rangefinder, it fits into a large pocket and if the rangefinder is calibrated, you won't miss the reflex view. it has even automatic film advance. but that's a personal choice...
The only Mamiya 645 lenses that won't work are the very last iteration, auto-focus lenses.I need to research the M645 more, see how obtrusive the electronics are. Also determine how to tell I'm buying compatible glass (seems likely the latest Mamiya in that family won't use the glass from the oldest, or even more likely the original won't use the late glass).
I did ask about RF cameras up the thread a bit -- but those are fixed lens, aren't they? Got a 60 and need a 45, you have to find/buy a camera that has the 45? Kinda defeats much of the lightness factor if you aren't strictly a "normal" or "wide" shooter.
The only Mamiya 645 lenses that won't work are the very last iteration, auto-focus lenses.
Every manual focus lens is fully usable on every manual focus body - they fit, they operate normally, the open aperture metering functions. Same for the film inserts.
You can even use the manual focus lenses on the auto-focus bodies, if you don't mind stop-down metering.
Some of the other accessories are more particular and, in some cases, more confusing.
I tend to just go out shooting with one lens. If you are someone who likes to change focal lengths, then yeah not a great option. The 60 on 645 covers much of what I would use a camera like this for and seems more "normal" than the 75mm many folders come with. YMMV.
The one thing no one has talked about is viewfinder brightness.
I own both the Bronica S2A and also a Hasselblad 500C. My 500C is one of the later ones, but not late enough to actually be an early C/M with the (easily) replaceable focus screen. The Hasselblad viewfinder is dark, not as bright as a Mamiya 645. And the Bronica is darker than the Hasselblad. My RB67 viewfinder brightness puts them all to shame.
Jeremy
From my calculation, a 60mm is "normal" for 645; a 75 is "slightly wide" for 6x6 and indicates someone was being lazy in designing when found on a 645. I know the 90mm on my RB67 makes a nice portrait length for 6x4.5. The default for the M645, however, seems to be the 80mm f/2.8, based on what's on eBay (likely because a lot of these, as with RB67, Hasselblad, and Bronica, have seen service in model photography, where a little longer lens is preferred). I'll have to shop a bit to get the wider lenses; they aren't quite as common as RB67 lenses.
I have a 1000s. It's a nice camera but I use the fuji rangefinder much more often.
From my calculation, a 60mm is "normal" for 645; a 75 is "slightly wide" for 6x6 and indicates someone was being lazy in designing when found on a 645.
On the other hand, the way I've always calculated "normal" is by the diagonal of the frame.
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