Mamiya 645 Super & Strobes

Nicolagypsicola · Mar 28, 2020

Hello, new here! I own a Mamiya 645 Super with a Sekor 70mm leaf shutter lens, but I’m puzzled when trying to pair it with a strobe.

When doing so I’m setting the camera s/s to 1/8 or less, connecting one Pocket Wizard to the X Sync port on the lens and the other one on my Godox Ad 200. When ready trigger from the camera.

I tried it on a test roll and all the photos I got back from the lab were showing the mirror halfway in the photos... can’t figure out what’s wrong!

Kino · Mar 28, 2020

https://www.cameramanuals.org/mamiya_pdf/mamiya_m645_70mm_lens.pdf

You set the camera on "B". Read the manual in the above link.

Edit: Oh! and... Welcome to Photrio!

Nicolagypsicola · Mar 28, 2020

Kino said:
https://www.cameramanuals.org/mamiya_pdf/mamiya_m645_70mm_lens.pdf

You set the camera on "B". Read the manual in the above link.

Edit: Oh! and... Welcome to Photrio!

Thanks for the reply… I read that manual and the one from the camera too but when I tried last time I still got the half mirror in the photo… I remember setting the s/s on the body at 1/8 do you think bulb will do the trick?

Kino · Mar 28, 2020

Are you trying to use it with the focal plane shutter or the leaf shutter?

Nicolagypsicola · Mar 28, 2020

Kino said:
Are you trying to use it with the focal plane shutter or the leaf shutter?

Leaf shutter

Kino · Mar 28, 2020

Are you following this procedure exactly?

MattKing · Mar 28, 2020

Welcome to Photrio.
It isn't the mirror you are seeing half way into the frame, it is the focal plane shutter.
When you say "I’m setting the camera s/s to 1/8 or less" do you mean 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1 second, 2 seconds, 4 seconds ....?
or do you mean 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60 ....?
The former is correct, while the latter is incorrect (except for 1/8).
And of course, cocking the shutter is important too.
I don't know whether adding the remote trigger to the mix adds a potential source of problems.

Nicolagypsicola · Mar 28, 2020

Kino said:
Are you following this procedure exactly?

View attachment 242865

Yes… see attached photos

Nicolagypsicola · Mar 28, 2020

MattKing said:
Welcome to Photrio.
It isn't the mirror you are seeing half way into the frame, it is the focal plane shutter.
When you say "I’m setting the camera s/s to 1/8 or less" do you mean 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1 second, 2 seconds, 4 seconds ....?
or do you mean 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60 ....?
The former is correct, while the latter is incorrect (except for 1/8).
And of course, cocking the shutter is important too.
I don't know whether adding the remote trigger to the mix adds a potential source of problems.

Thank you see a photo attached for the photo results I get… what I mean when I say I set the camera shutter speed to 1/8 I mean I turn the know on the camera to 1/8 and in my head by doing so telling the camera to use the shutter speed dictated by the leaf shutter lens… am I doing it wrong?

MattKing · Mar 28, 2020

There is at least a chance that your camera's focal plane shutter needs some service, because when you set it to 1/8, you are getting something of shorter duration.
Try it at 1/2 second.
Can you fire the flash directly from the lens PC socket? That would help eliminate the remote trigger from the equation.
One further thought - given the age of the Mamiya 645 70mm leaf shutter lens (which I once owned), is there a choice of X and M synchronization on that lens' shutter?

Nicolagypsicola · Mar 29, 2020

MattKing said:
There is at least a chance that your camera's focal plane shutter needs some service, because when you set it to 1/8, you are getting something of shorter duration.
Try it at 1/2 second.
Can you fire the flash directly from the lens PC socket? That would help eliminate the remote trigger from the equation.
One further thought - given the age of the Mamiya 645 70mm leaf shutter lens (which I once owned), is there a choice of X and M synchronization on that lens' shutter?

Yep I'm starting to think it might need some service given that I bought it used and don't know much… any leads where to in the SF/CA are would be appreciated… but at the same time, when I shot a roll 1 month ago, on 15 photos one turned out good… so I assume the camera does work, I'm setting something up wrongly.

I think I'll try to "waste" a roll doing some test, starting to shoot in Bulb Mode (B) and going up to 60… hopefully, this will expose the problem.

Kino · Mar 29, 2020

Sorry, got dragged away on a mission...

I agree. The mirror might not be moving fast enough at any speed to "get out of the way" unless you are using the two-position cable release and fire the focal plane shutter well in advance.

Good luck with your testing and be sure to let us know how it goes.

jvo · Apr 9, 2020

welcome to photrio...

i'd start simply and ensure basic things work, before adding other complications. (one shot out of 15 should indicate a problem with the camera, or, settings.) have you shot a test roll with the camera body and "normal" lens and focal plane shutter? if they each work as intended, then add in the sekor 70mm, the flash, etc.

it's a good camera, enjoy!

John Koehrer · Apr 9, 2020

Remove the lens and film holder and look through the camera. With the flash connected and shutter set to 1/8 or slower
when the shutter is tripped you should see the entire frame looking through the back. If not, it needs service.

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