Is this a score?

[marton]

Mint condition Mamiya 645 AFDII with two film backs, 80mm lens, for well under a thousand AUD

 

[Down Under]

As in almost everything in life, it depends. Are you buying it, or do you want to sell it? Exactly how much is "well under a thousand"? In my view, the responses will vary, depending on your position. ???

If it helps, I bought one ex Melbourne, from a collector, also claimed as "mint", about 12 months ago, for considerably (and I mean considerably) less than a thou. Found it flimsy and loose, despite it's "mint" rating, then discovered it needed a CLA, and that's expensive. So I quickly disposed of it, also for considerably less than $1,000. Bought a Fuji GA645WI next, also for a LOT less than the grand. It's also a bit flimsy, but quirky and fun to use, unlike the Mamiya, which was just, well, tinny.

In hindsight, I would start the bargaining for that kit at about A$400. And be flexible, but a grand, well, not THAT flexible.

If buying, the trick is to not get too excited, and keep a cool head. I didn't do that, when I bought mine, and lost money as a result.

One buyer's experience. Hope this helps.

 

[marton]

Thanks ozmoose. Considering buying it. Judging by fleabay prices, it's a regular steal. I almost bought it at once but stopped myself to get over the initial excitement and consider it for a while. I like the Mamiya 645 system. I like it a lot better than the Pentaxes, but I realise it's a subjective issue.

 

[480sparky]

Thanks ozmoose. Considering buying it. Judging by fleabay prices, it's a regular steal. I almost bought it at once but stopped myself to get over the initial excitement and consider it for a while. I like the Mamiya 645 system. I like it a lot better than the Pentaxes, but I realise it's a subjective issue.

Use ebays' "Sold Listings" function when checking prices. What people are asking for will result in an unrealistic figure. I swear some people think, "Oh, an ancient camera from the Ming Dynasty! It must be worth thousands!"

 

[CropDusterMan]

Never been a fan of the 6x4.5 format...it always seemed non-committal to me as a format...bigger than 35 but not
quite medium format. Just my op.

 

[marton]

Use ebays' "Sold Listings" function when checking prices. What people are asking for will result in an unrealistic figure. I swear some people think, "Oh, an ancient camera from the Ming Dynasty! It must be worth thousands!"

Thanks, I did, and it proved very interesting. The asking price of said item is around average for what it's going for. In other words, it isn't the OMG!! bargain I thought it was.

 

[Down Under]

A little quick research (done yesterday) indicated good starting prices for this camera, in mint condition (or close to) and FULLY FUNCTIONAL, would be in the ballpark of A$550-A$700. On Ebay, the sky may be the limit.

Proceed with caution if buying OL. I didn't, hence the warning. As well, be 99.9% sure the system is reliable and working well. A guarantee would be good, tho if you are dealing OL, unlikely anyone will offer it.

My own buying experience may help you. When I did the negotiating (with a private buyer, not on the big E), the initial ballpark price (asking) was $750. I quickly got it down to $590 for a quick cash sale, which should have rung a warning bell. I had problems almost immediately, mostly with the AF. The best (ex Melbourne) repair quote was $450. Ouch! Not worth it. Sold for - considerably less. Experience. Lesson learned. An "almost mint" (surely a more honest description than "minty" as my Mamiya was initially advertised) Fuji GA645wi cost me $425 and while the AF is a little noisy, has not once caused me any grief. Superb results. The wi range gives you one extra image (16 on 120) as against the older GA645w (15 on 120), BTW. 645 is a fine landscape format. With a little care, your landscape images will print/scan superbly. Closely related to 35mm but heaps bigger. In the 1950s when I took up photography, we had German folders with 16 exposures, small and a delight to use tho often with indifferent optics. In the '60s Rolleiflex had a '455' (4 by 5.5 cm) kit for the T, which was my first new camera, bought it in 1967 and still have it. So my 645 experience goes a long way. In January a reliable Melbourne CBD shop had a used Bronica 645 in its window, price about A$900 so it may still be there. A fine camera, tho. I was tempted, but SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed) put her foot down and nixed the idea smartly. Oh, well. I have the Fuji and the Rollei T.

In the end, as CropDusterMan indicated, it's really all a matter of personal choice.

 

[marton]

Thanks for sharing ozmoose. Sorry to hear your bargain went south that way, but if nothing else we can chalk things like that up to experience.

I've become ambivalent toward purchasing this camera. I gave it some long hard thought, and decided that as I already have and like shooting with, a GSW 690, what advantage would there be to own a 645 system of any type. The answer for me is very little to none. I'd certainly burn through a lot more 120 film to no real purpose as the 6x9 format of my Fuji is the same as 645.

I've recently gone through a repositioning of myself in relation to photography and hence the reason for all this gear I'm considering. Going from a digital environment to analogue is a pretty nteresting and steep learning curve, and I'm happy to say that I lucked out with the GSW and I'm sticking with it. Sold a Pentax 645n I acquired along the way in my searching, and glad I did. So a Mamiya was a kind of blowback from the past , looked like a bargain, nearly bought it, but turned out to be a bullet I've dodged.

No. If I buy another camera it'll be a Nikon FM3a and I'll use it for my informal shoots, of which I do quite a lot. The Fuji is the camera I use when I'm shooting formally either for my studies or for when I do landscapes and urban stuff. Which I also do a lot.

 

[MattKing]

A 6x9 offers a significantly different aspect ratio (2:3) then a 6x4.5 (4:3) or, if you prefer (3:4).

In addition, just about everything else is different about the two cameras - save and except the film you load into it.

My 6x4.5 system (Mamiya 645 Pro) is really flexible, gives me great negatives which are easily enlarged to 11x14 and often 16x20 if I want to. I can also shoot transparencies that look great when projected. The close focus capabilities are great and the handling is excellent, whether I am working methodically and quietly with a tripod, or using it hehandheld while photographing a child's birthday party. As well, there are lots of high quality, reasonably priced lenses available (not that I really need more lenses).

I would like to have a modern 6x9, fixed lens camera, but for me that camera would be much more of a special purpose tool than my Mamiya 645 Pro.

 

[marton]

Matt, could you please stop making sense. I feel I should put my fingers in my ears and sing loudly so's not to listen. Those Mamiya's have very sharp lenses, sharper than the 6x9 I have, and yes printable to very nice standard. My final year exhibition at University was printed from negs I made with a Mamiya Pro. This is an incredibly difficult situation I find myself in I don't mind saying.