Mamiya 645 - which lenses have impressed you?

Ghostman · Jun 10, 2014

I have recently acquired a beautiful Mamiya 645 Pro TL and I'm liking it. I have the following lenses:

150mm 2.8
80mm 2.8

I love both focal lengths on my Mamiya 7 and I also love wider. The Mamiya 7's 43mm lens is a firm favourite.

Are there any lenses for the 645 system that you absolutely love? Are there any 645 lenses you would grab if the house was burning down?

Jaf-Photo · Jun 10, 2014

I quite like the 150mm f3.5 too. There is something about the way that it images light, a very tiny aura effect at large apertures. Very good for flattering portraits.

The 55mm f2.8 is a very convenient focal length for allround use.

Both lenses are very affordable, too.

ntenny · Jun 10, 2014

I may have a subpar example of the 150/3.5; for me it's been decent, but a little unsharp compared to its 80 and 55 siblings and with a somewhat flat color rendition. Mine is a C, I believe---is there a lot of variation between the different "generations" of this particular lens?

To be clear, I'm not saying mine is a *bad* lens, only that it's a decent lens with the misfortune to share a system with some eye-poppingly awesome lenses.

-NT

RedSun · Jun 10, 2014

None of them......

Snapshot · Jun 10, 2014

I find that 80mm 2.8 N is very nice. Further, I found the 120mm 4.0 N macro to be a superior lens. As for the 150mm 3.5 N (or any 150mm version) to be sharp as well as the 55mm 2.8 N.

Ghostman · Jun 10, 2014

I have the 150 2.8 A. What does the 'A' or 'N' denote? Any idea where I can find more, definitive information about the lenses for this camera?

Ghostman · Jun 10, 2014

RedSun said:
None of them......

That's the spirit! Care to expand a little?

chriscrawfordphoto · Jun 10, 2014

I have the 45mm f2.8 C, 55mm f2.8 N, 80mm f1.9N, and 135mm f3.5N. The N-series lenses I have are all very sharp. The 45mm C seems to me to be slightly less sharp. I have never bothered getting the later N version, though. I think as long as you stick to the later N-series lenses, any M645 lenses are good. I also have a Mamiya 6 system with all three of its lenses. The Mamiya 6 lenses are better, but slower. They are better mainly in the corners compared to the M645 lenses; in the center they're about the same.

Snapshot · Jun 10, 2014

Ghostman said:
I have the 150 2.8 A. What does the 'A' or 'N' denote? Any idea where I can find more, definitive information about the lenses for this camera?

The 'A' denotes a near APO (according to Mamiya) while the 'N' series refer to newer coatings over the older 'C' series. As to what the letter actually stands for, I don't really know for certain. If anyone else knows, please do share.

Ghostman · Jun 10, 2014

Excellent replies, thank you very much for sharing.

jjphoto · Jun 10, 2014

Although my first camera was an M645 with 80/2.8 and 35/4.5, these days I use them on a DSLR.

The 80/2.8 N is excellent and amazing value.

The 80/1.9 N is sharp wide open but has quite funky bokeh which has it's own uses if you are so inclined. If I had to choose between the 2.8 and 1.9 I would choose the 1.9.

The 120/4 A is my most used lens, for close up/products. It is extremely sharp with minimal aberrations.

Aside from those I quite like the 35/3.5, 110/2.8 and 150/2.8. The 35/3.5 has a poor reputation but I've found it an excellent lens (on DSLR) from F4 where it is extremely sharp, although I am only using the central area of the lens so on film it might be a different matter. I never noticed any significant issues with it when I was using it with film but I tended to use it stopped down anyway.

Of the lot, the 120/4 and 80/1.9 are my favourites.

Dr Croubie · Jun 10, 2014

I've got a 35mm C, a 45mm N, and an 80/1.9 N.
In a recent (there was a url link here which no longer exists) I did, I found that my 35mm is only sharp out to a 45mm field of view, and my 45mm was fairly beaten at the frame-edge by others that were designed to cover larger frames.
But still, the 45mm was rather usable, if I wasn't doing a direct comparison I wouldn't call it soft by any means (and it's a lot smaller than the others).

The 80/1.9 is, by definition, the best you can get at f/1.9 because, well, it's got no competition. I've been shooting mine indoors with D3200 from wide-open to f/4 and outdoors on portra 160 up to f/8, it's just beautiful.
I've not yet done a direct comparison to any other lenses, that's something to kill time on a lazy dog-dangling afternoon that I don't get too often.

In terms of bokeh from the 80/1.9, I didn't find it too objectionable, this sample is f/2.8 or f/4 or so:

(and if you want my real answer, the best lenses for Mamiya 645 are the Pentacon 6 Zeiss Jena lenses on adapter, or even the Exakta 66 Schneiders if you can afford $1k apiece).

ContaxRTSFundus · Jun 10, 2014

My favourite M645 lens is without doubt the 145mm Soft Focus lens - it is superb; indeed, so much respect do I have for it that, although I've abandoned the M645 system for the Contax 645, I paid £360 for a Zork adapter just so I can use the lens on my Contax cameras. I have also retained the 35mm N which, while not quite in the same league as my Zeiss 35mm, is a very, very good lens edge-to-edge - and a lot smaller and lighter than the Zeiss. And although not a lens, the Auto Bellows N (with a 55mm lens attached) is probably my all-time favourite piece of kit for the M645: swing, tilt and shift just like the Contax bellows but at a fifth of the price; I managed to buy a new one from Hong Kong a month or so ago and am loving it. But that big, complex, heavy 145mm is the best portrait lens I've ever owned (the Tamron 35mm SF lens runs a close second)...I'll probably be buried with it.

Nige · Jun 11, 2014

I have a 150/4 and 150/2.8 but have never done any meaningful comparisons, I use the f2.8 at home and the f4 out and about. Well I did until this weekend when I pulled the M645 kit out and checked everything ready for the long weekend away. Since it's a while since I've done this, I noticed the 150/4 aperture was a bit sluggish... lack of use I guess! Threw the f2.8 in the bag instead. So I get out and about Sat morning... got the 150/2.8 on the camera taking a pic of the Cape Schanck lighthouse.. and think, should take this with a orange or red filter... dig in the bag.. find the filters and go to screw one on... ohhh, that won't fit! I knew there was a reason I liked the 150/4... same filter size as the 55/2.8 & 80/2.8 (which form part of my travel kit). I also have a 45/2.8 which comes along for the walk but rarely used, and a 80/1.9 that stays at home. Might be time to find out how to pull this f4 one apart...

EDIT : On a side note, I also managed to take a roll of 'air' shots... no film in magazine! Didn't think M645 ProTL let you do this? Lesson to onself, don't leave film box end in film magazine holder if you've removed the film!

dorff · Jun 11, 2014

I have an 80/1.9 N which is just superb, and macro 120/4 A which is similarly good. The 50/4 Shift is also remarkably good. The 45/2.8 N vignettes very badly when used fully open. One can use this effect in some cases, but mostly it is an annoyance, so I stop down to f/8 or 11, or more for landscape shots. I also have 150/4, 300/5.6 ULD and 500/5.6 lenses, and all of them are solid performers, but the 80/1.9 and 120/4 macro stand out.

ntenny · Jun 11, 2014

I'm curious about the 200 and 300. Is there any realistic hope of handholding with them, or are they basically tripod-use-only?

-NT

Dr Croubie · Jun 12, 2014

ntenny said:
I'm curious about the 200 and 300. Is there any realistic hope of handholding with them, or are they basically tripod-use-only?

-NT

"Handholding" is such a subjective term

frobozz · Jun 12, 2014

This lens impresses me:

dorff · Jun 12, 2014

ntenny said:
I'm curious about the 200 and 300. Is there any realistic hope of handholding with them, or are they basically tripod-use-only?

200 marginally yes, 300 no not really for practical purposes. I use the 300 on a window beanbag. Otherwise, tripod when ever I can. I do have a 210/4 AF for my 645 AFD, which I also use handheld, but I keep an eagle's eye on the shutter speed.

pixelrandy · Jun 12, 2014

Glad to hear you're out shooting with the 645 Ghostman! Happy it found a good home. I found a few adapters (I think for the bellows hood) that I'm happy to send if you want them.

The 80 f/1.9 that I use on the 1000S is fantastic. The bokeh can get really busy though if shot with backlight through leaves of a tree or similar. In that regard the 80 f/2.8 you have is better. I really enjoy the feel of the all-metal f/1.9 and normally the bokeh looks great.

Cheers,

Randy

Slixtiesix · Jun 13, 2014

I don not have this camera myself but pictures I´ve seen made with the 80/1,9 and 110/2,8 impressed me. I´ve heard praises about the 120/4 macro several times also.

dorff · Jun 13, 2014

Slixtiesix said:
I don not have this camera myself but pictures I´ve seen made with the 80/1,9 and 110/2,8 impressed me. I´ve heard praises about the 120/4 macro several times also.

It's not only because they are so sharp, but because they handle so nicely. It is a real pleasure to be shooting with either the 80 or the 120, and the results are just a bonus. The 150/4, 300/5.6 and 500/5.6 I have are by comparison more cumbersome to focus and don't balance on the camera as nicely. Well, not that one would expect that from a 500/5.6 anyway.

fotch · Jun 13, 2014

All I have is the 1.9 for my 1000s and I always liked the images from it. A very fast lens on a medium format camera.

RalphLambrecht · Jun 13, 2014

Ghostman said:
I have recently acquired a beautiful Mamiya 645 Pro TL and I'm liking it. I have the following lenses:

150mm 2.8
80mm 2.8

I love both focal lengths on my Mamiya 7 and I also love wider. The Mamiya 7's 43mm lens is a firm favourite.

Are there any lenses for the 645 system that you absolutely love? Are there any 645 lenses you would grab if the house was burning down?

I would make sure my family is ok before spending a thought on replaceable items but, I was impressed by every Mamiya lens I've ever used.

ntenny · Jun 13, 2014

RalphLambrecht said:
I would make sure my family is ok before spending a thought on replaceable items but, I was impressed by every Mamiya lens I've ever used.

I dunno. My wife doesn't have the greatest resolution in the corners, and her auto-aperture doesn't work with the Mamiya adapter. I'd probably save the 80/2.8 first.

-NT

Mamiya 645 - which lenses have impressed you?

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