Flash for Mamiya 645AF

LMNOP · Sep 24, 2014

I know this may seem very basic, but I am trying to find a reasonably priced flash that would work nicely with my Mamiya 645AF, and maybe with my Canon A1 as well, though this may be pushing it. I mostly do nature work, and flash is as foreign to me as digital photography. I would like to have something that doesn't give off that over exposed "flash" look, sort of like this artist, some of her series seem to use flash in a subtle way: http://www.susanaraab.com/world-war

any suggestions?

bernard_L · Sep 25, 2014

Nice pictures by Susanna Raab. Two issues raised by your question:

Quality of light. At the typical distance these pictures were shot from the subject, a small diffuser screen won't provide much visible change. And you probably don't want to walk(?) around with a pair of umbrella reflectors and their supports.

Quantity of light. Assume ISO 100 film. Subject at ~3m (judging from pics shown). Assume max camera flash sync speed is 1/30 (I'm playing devil's advocate). Typical picture by S.Raab seems to be taken in "bright overcast" weather, meaning background exposure requires 1/30, f/16. Assume 1:1 lighting ratio. At 3m, f/16, you need a flash with G.N. 48 (metric). Now assume you max flash sync speed is 1/250 (think Nikon FM2, or central shutter). Aperture is now f/5.6, and required flash G.N. ~16; a completely different story. The required G.N. is independent from ISO (I assumed 100 for the sake of definiteness); a different ISO will just shift all f-numbers.

shutterfinger · Sep 25, 2014

Think handle flash, aka potato masher. The Metz 45CT series have a thyristor that cuts the flash off when the light reflected off the subject reaches a given level. Sunpak also made some similar flashes but I am not familiar with them. The Metz 45 CL, CT, and 60 series will be a good choice. Some may work in TTL mode if you can find the correct adapter and cord.

TheFlyingCamera · Sep 25, 2014

I'd also suggest the 45CL flash from Metz. They made TTL adapters for those flashes. You can get the flash unit itself used on Ebay for around $100, give or take with just a little patience. I don't recall which SCA module and cord you need to connect the 45CL with the Mamiya 645, but you may have to buy that new from B&H. In any case, go look on the B&H website to find which cord you need - they have a chart that lists compatibility.

cramej · Sep 25, 2014

Metz is the only gig in town for Mamiya TTL compatibility. You need the SCA 3952 (AFD and up) or 3951 (645AF only) module. You can also use any other flash in auto mode but you have to watch your shutter speed since the AF series syncs at 1/125.

ParkerSmithPhoto · Sep 25, 2014

LMNOP said:
I know this may seem very basic, but I am trying to find a reasonably priced flash that would work nicely with my Mamiya 645AF, and maybe with my Canon A1 as well, though this may be pushing it. I mostly do nature work, and flash is as foreign to me as digital photography. I would like to have something that doesn't give off that over exposed "flash" look, sort of like this artist, some of her series seem to use flash in a subtle way: http://www.susanaraab.com/world-war

any suggestions?

You want your flash to be about 1.5 to 2 stops under the ambient exposure.

Example: your ambient reads 1/125 at f11. Set your flash for f5.6.

The old Sunpack handle flashes have f 5.6 and 11 auto settings. It makes it very easy to do balanced, +1, -1, -2 exposures. If you really need some precise flash exposures, go for TTL, although this is not without issues, ie. very dark and very light fabrics.

SpartanD63 · Sep 26, 2014

I must say that the Sunpak handle mount flashes are great to use and make it easy to set up lighting ratios. I have switched purely to the Sunpak 622 for much of my stuff now, for that simple reason.

Only downfall is the downright massive size.

KingRoach · Sep 26, 2014

Hi LMNOP. I am in a very similar situation, wanting to have a single flash system for both my Canon EOS and Mamiya AFD systems.

The only option as has been said above, is the Metz MZ series using a different SCA adapter for each brand of cameras: (in my case, SCA3102 for Canon EOS digital, or SCA3952 for Mamiya digital).

Any MZ-series flashgun will work with any brand of cameras. 40MZ, 50MZ, 54MZ, 70MZ and 75MZ are the ones I know of. The Hammerheads (50, 70 and 75) are definitely compatible with both SCA3000 and SCA300 adapters. The other two (40 and 54), I do not know.

To figure out which adapter you need, the index numbers on the SCA3000 translate as follows:
SCA Nxxx is the name of the entire sytem. They are all 3's.
SCA xNxx is the name of the brand it will TTL for: for example 1. Canon. 4. Nikon 9. Mamiya
SCA xxNx I dunno.
SCA xxxN film or digital. 1 is for film systems. 2 is for digital systems. I think digital will be backwards compatible. It should?

e.g. SCA 3101 is for Canon EOS film cameras, while 3102 is for Canon EOS digital cameras.
e.g. SCA 3951 is for Mamiya AF (no digital back support), SCA 3952 is for Mamiya AFD and up (digital back support).

The SCA3000 system does not cover the much older 35mm film SLR's such as the Canon A-series.
I think the SCA300 adapters will have one for those. I'm not sure if these will meter TTL but you can look it up.

Hope this helps. I am still looking for adapters for my systems.

shutterfinger · Sep 26, 2014

Go to http://www.metz.us/SERVICES/Catalogs/# select the complete Photo Electronics catalog and download it. On page 26 is the SCA adapter information.

Condensed from an older archive pdf I have saved on my computer that is no longer available online.

Dan Fromm · Sep 26, 2014

LMNOP, I'm not sure you're limited to Metz flashes, at least within the SCA 300 system. I use an Agfatronic 643 CS (has an SCA 300 socket) with Metz hardware to interface it to a Nikon.

I'm also not sure, but haven't checked, that SCA 300 adapters won't drive SCA 3000 flashes and that SCA 3000 adapters won't drive SCA 300. Given the variety of used SCA flashes on the market, if you're up for used ones (big if) you should probably investigate more thoroughly that I have.

MattKing · Sep 27, 2014

TTl flash is wonderful.

TTl flash isn't really necessary.

I have a Metz 60CT2 - sort of an orphan in the TTl world.

There are a few adapters that permit TTl use with some fil cameras (I don't know whether they might work with digital).

They include adapters for Olympus film cameras with TTl capabilities - at least the OM2s and OM2n I own.

With the exception of close focus work, I find that the sensor on the flash and the TTl flash give me similar high quality results.

With close focus work, TTl flash is great.

Don't exclude non-TTl flashes from your consideration.

LMNOP · Feb 16, 2015

KingRoach said:
Hi LMNOP. I am in a very similar situation, wanting to have a single flash system for both my Canon EOS and Mamiya AFD systems.

The only option as has been said above, is the Metz MZ series using a different SCA adapter for each brand of cameras: (in my case, SCA3102 for Canon EOS digital, or SCA3952 for Mamiya digital).

Any MZ-series flashgun will work with any brand of cameras. 40MZ, 50MZ, 54MZ, 70MZ and 75MZ are the ones I know of. The Hammerheads (50, 70 and 75) are definitely compatible with both SCA3000 and SCA300 adapters. The other two (40 and 54), I do not know.

To figure out which adapter you need, the index numbers on the SCA3000 translate as follows:
SCA Nxxx is the name of the entire sytem. They are all 3's.
SCA xNxx is the name of the brand it will TTL for: for example 1. Canon. 4. Nikon 9. Mamiya
SCA xxNx I dunno.
SCA xxxN film or digital. 1 is for film systems. 2 is for digital systems. I think digital will be backwards compatible. It should?

e.g. SCA 3101 is for Canon EOS film cameras, while 3102 is for Canon EOS digital cameras.
e.g. SCA 3951 is for Mamiya AF (no digital back support), SCA 3952 is for Mamiya AFD and up (digital back support).

The SCA3000 system does not cover the much older 35mm film SLR's such as the Canon A-series.
I think the SCA300 adapters will have one for those. I'm not sure if these will meter TTL but you can look it up.

Hope this helps. I am still looking for adapters for my systems.

Thank you for all this information. Am I correct in assuming the following combo would work for my Mamiya 645af? This adapter, and the flash seen in the attached picture,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mamiya-645-AFD-AF-SCA-3951-TTL-Flash-Adapter-f-Metz-Flashes-/320810307210

LMNOP · Mar 13, 2015

LMNOP said:
Thank you for all this information. Am I correct in assuming the following combo would work for my Mamiya 645af? This adapter, and the flash seen in the attached picture,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mamiya-645-AFD-AF-SCA-3951-TTL-Flash-Adapter-f-Metz-Flashes-/320810307210

I never saw any feedback on this post, and answers are tough to find. Does this combo work? What are others using with a mamiya 645af for flash?

Flash for Mamiya 645AF

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