Mamiya 645 Super help

[smakelijk11]

Need some help with Medium Format as this is completely new for me. I got a second hand Mamiya 645 Super and ended up buying the grip for it. When there is no film in the camera, I can't activate the shutter unless I take off the film back. Is this normal? Also I'm trying to determine if there is a problem with the shutter. When I set it to 1/1000s with the back off and activate the shutter, it sounds really slow. Got a roll of Velvia 100 to test it. Any tips, advice you could give me?

Thank you

 

[Kirks518]

Welcome to APUG!

I'm a Mamiya M645 user, so I'm not familiar with the Super, but....

You should download and read the manual. That'll be the best route at this point. It's available at http://www.butkus.org/chinon/mamiya.htm

 

[MattKing]

How is the battery? Are you removing the dark slide from the back?
The Super gives you the option of a 1/60 second manual shutter, if set correctly. Maybe your camera is set for that.
When you talk about buying a "grip" for the camera, do you mean the left hand electronic grip or do you mean the power winder grip?

 

[HiHoSilver]

'Just a bravo to Kirks & Matt. Its what makes it so fine here.

 

[smakelijk11]

I think the shutter might be ok. I put through a roll of slide film. I'll keep you posted.

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

I've had a 645 Super for 22 years. The shutter will fire with a back on the camera only if you remove the darkslide and run the frame counter up to frame 1. There should be an empty spool in the takeup position in the film back.

 

[smakelijk11]

Thank you so much. I'm new to Medium Format Photography. I'm a digital native. I do find the viewfinder with the diopter really annoying. Is there a better one out there without this? Was looking into the AE Prism. Can you turn the metrring off with it?

 

[MattKing]

I do find the viewfinder with the diopter really annoying.

That sounds to me like the finder that came with the Mamiya 645 Pro SV pack - the FK402 finder - not a true prism finder, but light and compact and with built in meter and variable diopter.
IIRC, there is a non-metering version as well (the FK401?).
Many of the accessories for the Mamiya 645 Pro and Pro Tl will work with the Mamiya 645 Super. And of course, the accessories for the Super will work on it.

There are many different finders. Thanks to Mike Butkus' site, here is the system chart for your 645 Super: http://www.cameramanuals.org/mamiya_pdf/mamiya_m645_super_system_chart.pdf

And again thanks to Mike Butkus' site, here is the system chart for the 645 Pro/Pro Tl:

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

Thank you so much. I'm new to Medium Format Photography. I'm a digital native. I do find the viewfinder with the diopter really annoying. Is there a better one out there without this? Was looking into the AE Prism. Can you turn the metrring off with it?

Mamiya made two finders without the diopter adjustment. Both were true prism finders and were not as large as the one you have. One was the AE finder, and the other was identical to the AE finder except it had no meter. The non-meter version is what I have. I bought my 645 Super new when I was in high school, and the AE finder was extremely expensive back then. Couldn't afford it, and I had a good handheld meter, so didn't need it. Now, the AE finder is cheap used. I don't think you can turn the meter off, but you can shoot in manual exposure mode and ignore the meter.

 

[Luckless]

You may also want to keep your eyes out for one of the waist level finders as well. They're 'a little different' than what you are probably accustomed to, but they can really change up the feel of working with the camera. Some people love working with them, others hate it. The left-right image flipping is not the most user friendly option or the easiest to get the hang of for many people, but people who do like them can be rather fond of them I've found. Worth trying at least.

Good luck with your kit.

 

[MattKing]

You may also want to keep your eyes out for one of the waist level finders as well.

One caution with respect to a waist level finder on a 645 camera: it can be quite a challenge to use one when your subject has a vertical/orientation.

When the subject has a horizontal orientation, the image in the finder is reversed left to right - relatively easy to get used to and work with. But when your subject has a vertical/orientation, the image in the finder is both reversed left to right and upside down and you have to hold the camera to the side to use it. That is a bit harder to use and get used to.

 

[smakelijk11]

You are all so awesome! I just did a studio shoot and ran through 4 rolls of film. I will admit that the Manual Focus is really hard for me. I do have a fantastic handheld meter, so should I forego the AE prism?

The other photographers were shooting f/8, 1/200s and ISO 200 in studio with their digital cameras. I did f/8, 1/60(max sync) and ISO 250 on my Mamiya with Portra 400 and Fuji 400H. Assuming the digital settings were good, will I be ok?

Also, the little piece in the shutter dial fell out that points at the speed. Should I crazy glue it back in?

Thank you

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

You are all so awesome! I just did a studio shoot and ran through 4 rolls of film. I will admit that the Manual Focus is really hard for me. I do have a fantastic handheld meter, so should I forego the AE prism?

The other photographers were shooting f/8, 1/200s and ISO 200 in studio with their digital cameras. I did f/8, 1/60(max sync) and ISO 250 on my Mamiya with Portra 400 and Fuji 400H. Assuming the digital settings were good, will I be ok?

Also, the little piece in the shutter dial fell out that points at the speed. Should I crazy glue it back in?

Thank you

Funny you mention the shutter indicator disc falling out. I picked up my 546 Super a couple weeks ago and it fell off it too! I've had it for 22 years and it just now fell off. I would not crazy glue it; there are screws under it that you want to be able to get to if the camera ever needs serviced. I'm not sure what sort of glue is safe to use, i haven't glued mine yet.

 

[spijker]

You are all so awesome! I just did a studio shoot and ran through 4 rolls of film. I will admit that the Manual Focus is really hard for me. I do have a fantastic handheld meter, so should I forego the AE prism?

The other photographers were shooting f/8, 1/200s and ISO 200 in studio with their digital cameras. I did f/8, 1/60(max sync) and ISO 250 on my Mamiya with Portra 400 and Fuji 400H. Assuming the digital settings were good, will I be ok?

I still have the 645 Pro with the AE prism although not using it anymore, I moved on to 645 Autofocus. I found the meter in the AE prism accurate and have always relied on it. Less hassle than a separate meter and if you're using filters they're included in the measurement.

With respect to the exposure in the studio shoot, I think that you should be good. DSLR's are often more sensitive than film at the same ISO but you gave it 1 stop more exposure, f8 @ 400 ISO instead of f8 @ 200 ISO, so that should compensate for that. Shutter speed doesn't play a role with the studio flashes as long as it's not too fast. Are the films developed by now? How does it look?

PS Ben je ook Nederlander?

 

[smakelijk11]

Nee, ik ben Canadees But I'm in love with your culture. Next to photography, Dutch is my other passion. Have been trying to watch your tv shows here in Canada and practice Dutch with penpals over in NL and BE.

Unfortunately the photos look absolutely horrible. I got them back a few days ago and I'm embarassed to post them. Composition, lighting, everything was just horrible.

I'm trying to save up to go to Holland, so the AE Prism might have to wait.

Tot horens

Shaun