Mamiya 645 Pro backs - blue tab vs red tab?

[olwick]

I see listings for Mamiya 645 Pro backs which say "red tab" or "blue tab". That obviously refers to the color of the handle on the dark slides, but does that indicate anything else? Are they actually different models?

 

[Dr Croubie]

I've always wondered the same thing. The way that some people advertise them, it's like "For sale: back with <colour> tab, so much better than <othercolour> tab".

I did get a few red-tabs with my 645AF, and I see blue tabs more often on 645AFD /2/3 models. Maybe blue is just later?
Still, never had a problem with my Reds...

 

[MattKing]

I thought they changed the colour when they went from the backs introduced for the "Super" to the backs introduced for the "Pro".

Both backs work essentially the same - it is the appearance that changed.

As far as I know, you can switch the dark slides (and therefore the colour of the tabs) between the backs.

The "Pro" style backs are, of course, newer.

 

[mweintraub]

I have two backs and each are of one of the colors. I think they are both PRO backs. Aren't those "tabs" the dark slides? I'll have to check again.