Favorite Lenses for Mamiya M645?

Kino · Jun 7, 2019

Not familiar with this lens line and would like some opinions on a good spread of primes from wide to mild telephoto.

Any favorites?

As to zoom lenses; are any of them even worth considering?

I have the obligatory 80mm f2.8 "normal" lens.

Can't do the super wide or extreme telephoto lenses; trying to keep it reasonable in cost...

StepheKoontz · Jun 7, 2019

The 55-110 zoom is VERY good. I tested it against both mamiya primes and a super sharp schneider 60mm curtagon and it was their equal. My M645 kit was a 35mm, the 55-110 zoom and the 150mm f3.5. If you don't care about with super wide end, the 55-100 might cover everything you need.

Kino · Jun 7, 2019

StepheKoontz said:
The 55-110 zoom is VERY good. I tested it against both mamiya primes and a super sharp schneider 60mm curtagon and it was their equal. My M645 kit was a 35mm, the 55-110 zoom and the 150mm f3.5. If you don't care about with super wide end, the 55-100 might cover everything you need.

Well that is encouraging! Thank you for that information!

I guess that must be a lens introduced after the Interchangeable Lens brochure that came with my camera was printed. I only see the 75-150mm F4.5 and the 105-210 F4.5 listed.

Signs point toward this being a PX/Military camera coming back from Japan and it was practically never used. Amazing condition!

StepheKoontz · Jun 7, 2019

This is a later N zoom. I was shocked when I tested it how good it is. Unless you need the speed/closer focusing of the primes, this lens will cover most needs.

Huss · Jun 8, 2019

I really like the 45mm 2.8 when I had a 645 kit. I do NOT recommend the 80 1.9 purely because it hazes up and is irreparable. I bought one in perfect shape, in about a year it was unusable if I wanted sharp contrasty pics. I then (!) did the research and found they are prone to this.

images39 · Jun 8, 2019

This is my main system, and I have a full stable of primes. I find the Mamiya lenses to be superb, with great sharpness and detail in my negs and prints (mainly Detla 100/400, with some Tri-x). The 45 and 55 on the wide end are great. The 80 that you already have is great. The 150 and 210 on the telephoto end are also great. I simply can't find anything negative to say about the Mamiya primes. I should note that mine are the later "N" versions, which I believe have updated coatings (not sure how much difference it actually makes). I have not used the 55-110 zoom, but it is rather large/long. It would be versatile, but it's size could be an issue if you value compactness.

Dale

jjphoto · Jun 8, 2019

Huss said:
... I do NOT recommend the 80 1.9 purely because it hazes up and is irreparable. I bought one in perfect shape, in about a year it was unusable if I wanted sharp contrasty pics. I then (!) did the research and found they are prone to this.

I love the 1.9/80N and have had it for close to ten years with no problems. You might have had a dud. It has funky/harsh bokeh which can be very useful.

I think the best lenses in the m645 line are the 2.8/80N, 2.8/110N, 4/120A and 2.8/150A with incredible sharpness. I also have the 35N, 45N, and 55N and although they are fine lenses they are not quite the same level.

TimmyMac · Jun 8, 2019

The 150/2.8 used to be the sleeper of the bunch, but people started adapting them for m4/3 cameras so they got much more expensive. The older M645 cameras seem to have focusing screens that work best with f/2.8 lenses - the f4s and slower are tougher to focus in my experience.

Kino · Jun 9, 2019

This camera was found in a local thrift shop in a large, plastic storage tub under a thick layer of newspaper that was, unfortunately, the nest and bathroom for several mice.

Disgusting, eh?

Luckily, the newspaper isolated the camera from the corrosion, but an Argus C3 Brick was not so lucky. It had literally dissolved in the mess the mice made. I estimate the camera was in the tub for about 20 years, as the other items in the tub suggest the prior owner brought it back from Japan while serving in the USAF.

It took a few days in the sun and a box of baking soda, but the smell has largely disappeared. I can now bring it up to my face without being nauseated! Always a plus...

Put a new battery in it today and it reacted favorably. Just awaiting a light seal and mirror foam kit from USCamera to bring it back online.

MarkVII88 · Mar 8, 2022

StepheKoontz said:
The 55-110 zoom is VERY good. I tested it against both mamiya primes and a super sharp schneider 60mm curtagon and it was their equal. My M645 kit was a 35mm, the 55-110 zoom and the 150mm f3.5. If you don't care about with super wide end, the 55-100 might cover everything you need.

I just bought one of these 55-110mm f/4.5 N zooms for my M645 1000s. I was able to find a nice looking copy for under $100. I was not willing to pay the $250-300 current prices for 55mm f/2.8 primes. I am not expecting the zoom lens to be as sharp as the prime, but I did want an economical way to explore shooting wider on my M645. I just got the lens and reading your comment makes me feel pretty good about my purchase. Thanks.

Favorite Lenses for Mamiya M645?

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