Mamiya 645 leaf shutter lenses

I recently purchased a Mamiya 645 Super kit and I am looking at getting the 150mm L/S lens for the ability to sync flash at speeds faster than 1/60 sec. While I have not been able to find any manuals for the leaf shutter lenses I think I have a pretty good idea of how to use one based on what I've read online. I do not have the WG401 power drive only the power drive N so I will have to cock the leaf shutter manually, which is no big deal by the way. As I understand it that would mean I should follow these steps.

1. Set the body speed to 1/8 sec.
2. Set the correct aperture/shutter speed combination on the lens.
3. Make sure the "SET" switch on the lens is on M and then rotate the ring behind the aperture ring clockwise to cock the shutter.
4. Upon firing the camera it will also fire the leaf shutter.


I also believe based on what I've read that the separate A/M lever is for DOF preview? What I fail to understand is how to use mirror lock up with this lens. To me after you have everything set you would lock the mirror up with the lever on the body and simply fire the shutter, but why then is there a mirror up cable release socket on the lens? Is this only for use with the Mamiya dual cable release, in which case I wouldn't need to use mirror up on the body? Does anyone have an explanation of the release socket on the lens, and how to use the mirror lock up function without the dual cable release? Also if you happen to have a scan of or a link to the manual for these lenses that would be great. Thanks in advance for any help.

Here is a link to the manual for the older, 70mm L/S lens (courtesy of Mike Butkus' site): http://www.cameramanuals.org/mamiya_pdf/mamiya_m645_70mm_lens.pdf

If I was using your lens with the mirror up, most likely I would be using the focal plane shutter.

I know that when I did use the 70mm lens, I never used the mirror up. Of course, YMMV.

MattKing said:

Here is a link to the manual for the older, 70mm L/S lens (courtesy of Mike Butkus' site): http://www.cameramanuals.org/mamiya_pdf/mamiya_m645_70mm_lens.pdf

If I was using your lens with the mirror up, most likely I would be using the focal plane shutter.

I know that when I did use the 70mm lens, I never used the mirror up. Of course, YMMV.

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I was asking more out of curiosity as it's doubtful I'd need the mirror lockup, but I've found that it's better to be safe than sorry and use it when you can. I've come across the manual for the older 70mm leaf shutter lens but it only describes using the dual cable release for mirror lockup. The other day I found several posts on using the mirror lockup without the dual cable release, but of course I can no longer find them.

I don't remember having to use a dual cable release, but I guess a lot of people did so they didn't touch the camera at all, but it's not neccessary for tripping's shutter.

*Disclaimer: I'm selling a 150mm 3.8 N/L

mweintraub said:

I don't remember having to use a dual cable release, but I guess a lot of people did so they didn't touch the camera at all, but it's not neccessary for tripping's shutter.

*Disclaimer: I'm selling a 150mm 3.8 N/L

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I figured you didn't actually need it, you could just use the lens as you normally would while flipping the mirror lockup lever before firing the shutter.

Kyle M. said:

I figured you didn't actually need it, you could just use the lens as you normally would while flipping the mirror lockup lever before firing the shutter.

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Well, thinking about it again, you have to keep the shutter open on the body so that's probably where the dual release comes into play. The first level of the release holds the body open and the second level triggers the lens. Of course, you could press the shutter button in, use two different releases, or a longer shutter speed where you can trigger the lens in time.

mweintraub said:

Well, thinking about it again, you have to keep the shutter open on the body so that's probably where the dual release comes into play. The first level of the release holds the body open and the second level triggers the lens. Of course, you could press the shutter button in, use two different releases, or a longer shutter speed where you can trigger the lens in time.

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Right but I'm thinking that since you set the body to 1/8 sec. and the lens to whatever and then can use the body shutter button, why couldn't you just flip the mirror up lever and it shouldn't affect anything?

Kyle M. said:

Right but I'm thinking that since you set the body to 1/8 sec. and the lens to whatever and then can use the body shutter button, why couldn't you just flip the mirror up lever and it shouldn't affect anything?

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Good question. I'm not sure. It's been a while since I tried mirror up with the leaf lens and I've sold my body so I can't try the lens on there. Where are you located?

mweintraub said:

Good question. I'm not sure. It's been a while since I tried mirror up with the leaf lens and I've sold my body so I can't try the lens on there. Where are you located?

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Middle of nowhere ohio. Friday evening I'm going to a shop about 60 miles away that always has a ton of used Mamiya MF gear, I'll see if they've got one and maybe we can see how it works.