Mamiya 645 Wide Angles for 1000s

[DavidClapp]

After acquiring the dinky Mamiya m645 1000s last week I have to say I am thoroughly enjoying the camera. The body itself is in great condition and I am very pleased with how clean it is. I got a roll of film back yesterday and all seems to work well and the images are sharp.

I would like to ask some advice on the choice of lenses available. The wider end seems to contain split opinion, some say the lenses are good, others say the widest to go is 55mm. As expected, I have the usual 80mm which is a focal length i am comfortable with, but I can see myself requiring a wider lens for most of the work I wish to undertake.

Out of the lenses from 35mm to 80mm, are there any clear favourites?

David

 

[MattKing]

I use my 55mm as my standard lens, and my 45mm N as a good wide angle.

I previously owned an older 45mm C lens (used the larger 77mm filters) and it's performance was reasonable, but I did not like its size.

 

[Ian Grant]

I use an older 45mm lens and it's superb, I use it more than my 80mm.

Ian

 

[jjphoto]

I always liked the 35mm and never had any complaints about sharpness across the frame on 645, although I tended to stop down. This is a great lens IMHO. I don't think there is any difference between the old and new versions aside from possible differences in coating, I've had both and still have the N version.

 

[mweintraub]

I have the 45mm C and love it.

 

[outwest]

And if you want really wide the Arsat 30mm rectilinear can be used with an adapter.

 

[johnha]

I have the 45mm 'C' lens and it works fine for me, although it has a large filter thread and my example has a stiff (but smooth) focusing ring. If I didn't already have it I'd probably prefer the 'N' version as it's smaller and newer (it also possibly has better coatings?).

As far as reputable medium format systems go, there are very few lenses that aren't 'good', many are very good and some are excellent (there were no 'consumer' grade medium format lenses).

 

[frobozz]

I use my 55mm as my standard lens, and my 45mm N as a good wide angle.

That's exactly what I do!

If you really want wide there's always this:

Duncan

 

[dynachrome]

I have the older 35, the older 45 and older and newer 55s. For a standard lens I prefer the 70/2.8 to an 80/2.8. It's sharp, a little wide and not too big. When I use the 70 I skip the 55s and go to the 45. I consider the 35 more of a special purpose lens and have used it for landscapes and buildings. I find all of these lenses decently good but I prefer the build and feel of the older lenses.

 

[mweintraub]

I hate to do this, ok not really, but I'm selling a 55mm 2.8 N. Let me know if anyone is interested before I sent it off to KEH today/tomorrow.

 

[M Carter]

No advice from me - but the 1000s will be my next film rig. The newer ones are pretty affordable, but I have a man-crush on those old leather & metal bodies.

(If I don't buy an NX1 first… $1400 vs. a few hundred… a man's gotta work though!)