Mamiya 645 Super & Strobes

[Nicolagypsicola]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[Nicolagypsicola]

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

Leaf shutter

 

[Kino]

Are you following this procedure exactly?

 

[MattKing]

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]

Are you following this procedure exactly?

View attachment 242865

Yes… see attached photos

 

[Nicolagypsicola]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.