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Mamiya 645 Pro - is there hope?

I'd hazard a guess that the reason RB67 lenses are inexpensive is that they plus the camera you use with them are not light and are not compact.
 
Well, for now, if I want 6x4.5 with a decent lens, and need lightness, I wind up loading my Wirgin Auta and hoping the masks don't scratch the film (I think the problem last time they did was that I had them in backward, so the edges with rust pitting were against the film at the gate, rather than sheltered by the guide rollers). If I want 6x4.5 with a choice of excellent lenses (four focal lengths, with two lenses and a 2x tele converter, giving 90, 180, 250, and 500) the RB67 wins. The Debonair almost doesn't count -- it's a Holga in 6x4.5 only. I've got a Zenobia, native 6x4.5 folder with a good lens, light and compact, but I have to fix the case in order to carry it.

Bronica? Does the back rotate or "reverse" to give both orientations in a camera that's not made to flip on its side? Or is that only practical with an eye level prism finder? It looks like the S2 is even a bit less spendy -- what would make the S2a preferable? What about the ETRS, which is dedicated 6x4.5 -- I see a battery door, does it depend on the battery to operate?

MattKing said:
I'd hazard a guess that the reason RB67 lenses are inexpensive is that they plus the camera you use with them are not light and are not compact.
Click to expand...

You might be right; nor are any of the lenses I've seen fast -- f/4ish seems about their limit. The viewfinder is bright enough it good daylight, but I'd hate to try to focus it, say, inside an old barn or warehouse -- and it'll never be a "walking around" camera, unless your name is Banner and you're angry all the time.
 

The S2/S2A doesn't have a rotating back, basically think of it as a Japanese 500C clone. That's not taking anything away from it, as I have an S2A and like it a lot, although I find myself rarely using it anymore for some reason (?). You'd need the prism on it, and make a mask for the viewfinder to represent the 6x4.5 crop. Truthfully that's rather clunky IMHO, better off finding a dedicated 6x4.5 camera. The main difference between the S2 and S2A models is the design of the winding gear - the S2 allegedly had a breakage problem when winding quickly/forcefully with the lever instead of just using the dial.The S2A design has re-designed teeth for more engagement and less chance of shear. The S2A is more "desirable" but honestly a maintained and cared-for S2 is probably just fine.

Jeremy
 
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