Mamiya 645 Super/Pro with Nikon SB600 flash?

[andrew.roos]

Hi

Please excuse a question from a newcomer to analog. I'm looking to put together a Mamiya 645 Super/Pro system and am wondering whether I would be able to use it with my existing Nikon SB-600 flash - I'm not expecting TTL or auto, just the ability to trigger the flash in manual mode from the camera's hotshoe without breaking anything! If I can then I will probably opt for the 150 f/3.8 L/S as my portrait lens so I can use fill outdoors. (I know I will have to cock it manually if not using the power drive II).

Thanks a million
Andrew

 

[andrew.roos]

After some further reading I think I can answer my own question. I don't think any of the M645 bodies will link the lens X-sync to the body hot shoe (although the AF models might, I haven't looked into them). The camera hot shoe only syncs with the focal plane shutter, so I would need a PC (m) to hot shoe (f) cable, so the PC connector can be plugged into the X-Sync terminal on the lens to sync the flash. For flashes with a PC sync connector a PC to PC cable could be used (the SB-600 does not have a PC sync connector).

 

[acemclynch]

I link my Mamiya RB67 to my sony 56am flash. Case of using the sync connection cable as you say but it works!

 

[picker77]

This sounds like it should work, but with shutter speed at 1/60 or slower. I have a Pro TL on the way, and also have an SB-600. The SB600 manual says it has "no limitations" in manual mode, whatever that means. Hmm..... I doubt it would hurt the SB600 in manual mode, but we can flip a coin to see which of us tries it first and maybe fries his camera.

And according to these folks, it will work... http://photo.net/medium-format-photography-forum/00QMl6
It's info from the internet, so it must be true, right?

One thing's for certain--I'm not shooting weddings, so if a simple hot shoe setup won't work I'll do without flash rather than have that gaggle of cords and adapters hanging out all over the place that are required to use the "recommended" Metz system flashes for this camera.

 

[hpulley]

The RB67 works with flash synced to any speed with the leaf shutter. There are some leaf shutter lenses for the 645 or do they all use the focal plane shutter?

 

[Steve Smith]

Should be fine but obviously without any of the Nikon TTL functions.


Steve.

 

[tkamiya]

With one annoying side effect though. If one shoots in landscape orientation, the flash ends up side ways - which would result in very weird side-ways shadow....

 

[hpulley]

With one annoying side effect though. If one shoots in landscape orientation, the flash ends up side ways - which would result in very weird side-ways shadow....

Get a good flash bracket and you'll be able to change the flash orientation.

 

[Steve Smith]

Get a good flash bracket and you'll be able to change the flash orientation.

The left hand grip which I use with my RB67 should also fit the 645 (and the Mamiya TLRs). This has a 'normal' upwards facing accesory shoe.


Steve.

 

[hpulley]

The left hand grip which I use with my RB67 should also fit the 645 (and the Mamiya TLRs). This has a 'normal' upwards facing accesory shoe.

Steve.

I have and love it on my RB67 as well! I use it even without a flash whenever I'm hand holding the beast which is most of the time. Can't help you with Mamiya 645 compatibility however.

 

[Steve Smith]

I have and love it on my RB67 as well! I use it even without a flash whenever I'm hand holding the beast which is most of the time.

Me too.

I 'm sure the grip fits the M645. My father had a friend who liked the Mamiya left hand grip so much that he drilled a couple of holes in the base of his Hasselblad to make it fit! I think I would have removed the pins from the grip instead.


Steve.

 

[hpulley]

Me too.

I 'm sure the grip fits the M645. My father had a friend who liked the Mamiya left hand grip so much that he drilled a couple of holes in the base of his Hasselblad to make it fit! I think I would have removed the pins from the grip instead.

Steve.

Hassy owners will cringe and/or cry when they read that

 

[andrew.roos]

This sounds like it should work, but with shutter speed at 1/60 or slower. I have a Pro TL on the way, and also have an SB-600. The SB600 manual says it has "no limitations" in manual mode, whatever that means. Hmm..... I doubt it would hurt the SB600 in manual mode, but we can flip a coin to see which of us tries it first and maybe fries his camera.

You should get 1/60 flash sync just by putting the SB600 on the hot shoe and using the focal plane shutter as normal. I doubt there is any danger to the camera, since the X-Sync is likely to be a simple mechanical switch, and in any case the SB-600 uses a low voltage trigger. However since your PRO is already on the way, I nominate you to try it first - I still have to get mine!

I was particularly interested in syncing with the leaf shutter lenses since they can sync up to 1/500, which is a great benefit when the ambient lighting is strong. I already struggle to get daytime fill and reasonably shallow depth of field with the 1/200 sync of my Nikon, so won't even try outdoors at 1/60"!

Andrew

 

[andrew.roos]

The RB67 works with flash synced to any speed with the leaf shutter. There are some leaf shutter lenses for the 645 or do they all use the focal plane shutter?

Yes there are leaf shutter varients of many of the 645 lenses, plus the 70mm which AFAIK is only available in the leaf shutter varient. This is why I'll need the sync cable, to connect the X-SYNC of the lens to the flash since the camera hotshoe only connects to the focal plane shutter's X-SYNC.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[andrew.roos]

With one annoying side effect though. If one shoots in landscape orientation, the flash ends up side ways - which would result in very weird side-ways shadow....

Good point. Interestingly, the early prism finders for the original 645 and 645 1000s have hot shoes on top of the finder for use in landscape orientation, but this apparently useful feature was dropped for the Super and Pro. I'll look into a flash bracket as others suggest if I find this a problem.

Thanks to all for your help.

Andrew

 

[MattKing]

I use a variety of different flashes with my Mamiya 645 Pro. I have a leaf shutter lens, and I have used it with some of those flashes.

The hot shoe on the side of the camera isn't really suitable for mounting the flash. The geometry would result in a flash putting too much strain on the shoe, unless you used the camera turned sideways at all times. The shoe is actually designed for connecting something like a corded connection for an off camera flash.

There is a grip that works with the 645 Pro, and it is not the grip that works with the RB-67/C330. That grip's trigger actuator won't connect physically with the camera's shutter release - the geometry is close, but not quite.

The correct grip is the one pictured below. It has an electronic shutter release and a working hot shoe, as long as it is used with the correct connector (the connector for the Pro is different than the one for the Super). The hot shoe will only help you though if you are using the focal plane shutter. If you want to use the leaf shutter, you need to use a pc to hot shoe adapter mounted on the grip (the SB600 doesn't appear to have a pc cord option).

If you want a rotating flash, you could try a grip like the one pictured here:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110387940314&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Hope this helps.

 

[Steve Smith]

There is a grip that works with the 645 Pro, and it is not the grip that works with the RB-67/C330. That grip's trigger actuator won't connect physically with the camera's shutter release - the geometry is close, but not quite.

I think the RB67/C330 grip will fit but possibly, as you suggest, the shutter linkage will not line up.

There is an M645 in my father's collection and I'm fairly sure he had the same grip on it as I have on my RB67. I will have a look at the weekend.


Steve.

 

[MarkF48]

If you're going to want a flash bracket for a 645 Pro or Super get one that does it right....

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/220646-REG/Mamiya_211_758_Rotacam_Flash_Bracket_for.html

I bought one of these on the 'bay a few years ago for about the same money and use it with either a Vivitar 283 or Sunpak 383.

 

[MattKing]

I think the RB67/C330 grip will fit but possibly, as you suggest, the shutter linkage will not line up.

There is an M645 in my father's collection and I'm fairly sure he had the same grip on it as I have on my RB67. I will have a look at the weekend.


Steve.

Steve:

I just tried my RB-67 grip (again) on my 645 Pro. When fastened, the shutter linkage is pushed fully into the shutter release - the button on the camera is permanently pushed in.

On the RB-67 and C330 the shutter release is mechanical, and has a fairly long throw. On the 645 Super and 645 Pro bodies, the shutter release is electronic, and has a fairly short throw.

To add complexity to the question, there was also a left hand trigger grip for the older M645 bodies (the ones that did not permit multiple film backs). IIRC, those bodies have a shutter release that is similar to the RB-67 - mechanical, with a fairly long throw. Those grips had a mechanical shutter linkage as well. They were/are similar to the RB-67 grip, just smaller. At one time I had one of those grips as well as my 645 Pro and two different 645 Super bodies. One of those 645 Super bodies must have been modified at some time during its life, because the old style M645 left hand trigger grip could be used with it. The other 645 Super body (and my 645 Pro body) couldn't be used with that grip, because of the position and operation of the shutter release "button".

I don't know whether the RB-67 grips can be used with the older M645 bodies.

 

[stradibarrius]

Yes, My SB-600 works with my M645.

 

[andrew.roos]

Thanks Mark, Steve, Matt and Barry.

 

[djacobox372]

Just tried my sb-600 on my 645 tl pro and it works fine.