Mamiya 645

stradibarrius said:

If I understand correctly, the opinion of most of you Mamiya 645 owners, is that you regard the 645 lenses on par with the RB lenses????

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Yes, kind of, although it is hard to compare them, most the 645 lenses are much faster and are used in very different situations. But from the standpoint of quality and reliability, they are similar.

stradibarrius said:

Also is the power winder the grip that allows you to hold the camera like a 35mm SLR? Does the grip and the prism and the back make it weigh a ton?

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Yes, the grip transforms the camera from a 'box' into something more like a 35mm SLR. The grips are quite light.. but yeah, by the time you add a prism and grip, you are up to around the weight of a Nikon F5, a little more. Close to 2 kg. Nevertheless I find them quite easy to handhold.

stradibarrius said:

Also is the power winder the grip that allows you to hold the camera like a 35mm SLR? Does the grip and the prism and the back make it weigh a ton?

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Well, the grip allows for shooting kind of like a 35 SLR. This camera is pretty easy to hold and fits in my hands nicely. However, the camera does not have interchangable backs. It has inserts so it is not possbile change films or add on a polaroid back like you can do with other systems.

My D300 with a 16-85mm VR weights 3lbs, 4 oz. and it is certainly manageable. I bought a M645 w/80mm f2.8 and a non-metered prism. It should be here in the next day or so.
What I have really been trying to do is find a MF camera that I could travel with and be eaisy to work like a 35mm. I have a nice Yashica 124g TLR but the WL is not always the best for me.
I really would like to have a Mamiya 7...I think??? but this 645 may be what I'm looking for.

For my Pro and my Super I use one of the left hand grips usually. They are lighter than the power winder/grips, and have a shutter release on the grip, which permits me to use my left hand to release it (which I prefer). The right hand focusses and winds.

I find that this combination works well for me - better than the "35mm like" configuration you get with the power winder.

By the way, I could be wrong, but I believe that with a prism, the newer model Super and Pro are lighter than the older models (I would check this though before buyiing).

Matt

Get a Mamiya M645 1000. I have it. It's light like a butterfly. With 6 lenses; including Macro, is no problem carrying everywhere. Batteries last forever. (quality of lenses equal if not better than Hassie; you would have to go to 4X5 to know the difference)

stradibarrius said:

I really would like to have a Mamiya 7...I think??? but this 645 may be what I'm looking for.

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The Mamiya 6 is the ultimate travel camera IMHO, the only real competitor being a folder (perhaps the new bessa?). Way more compact than any 645 SLR systems. The 7/7ii are fantastic as well, though the lens mount doesn't collapse so they are slightly less compact. If the M6/6MF/7/7ii prices are too much, consider also the fuji fixed lens RFs, and perhaps the ga645zi. One thing I love about the Fuji 645 RFs, the frame is vertical.

What I love about Fuji is the film.

Keith I have looked at the "6" as well. My experience with rangefinders is limited but has has been good. One folder that took great photos but did not have a coupled RF or meter. The lack of a meter was not a killer but the lack of a coupled RF for me was not the best.

Before the 6, I had a fuji 645W (IIRC) that I liked very much, and also the 645 zi. The fixed lens fujis are actually very versatile; my issue was that I often like tight compositions and didn't want to have to get them by cropping into 645... so the option of using the 150 on the 6 appealed greatly to me. Plus square format really made me think in a new way. Anyway, all of the fujis are great fun and the price is right, so check 'em out. But you can forget all of these for closeup work, and for that reason I schlepped my 645 pro out west last time. Glad I did... there were a lot of macro-scale things that I enjoyed photographing. And it's hard to beat the convenience of interchangeable backs.

By the way, you do a lot of instrument photography, right? That being the case I *highly* recommend the 80/4 macro for the mamiya 645 system. Excellent floating element system. Also it's not half bad for normal photography as well; at far focus, the bokeh is a bit unusual but in an interesting/good way, I think.

Yes, I photograph all of the violins I make and use them on my web page and other sites. You never know who looks...maybe someone who wants a new violin.
My M645 arrived late this afternoon. I am surprised at how manageable it is. The prism is bright and the focus screen is a 45deg. split prism. If it just had a meter...It came with an 80mm f/2.8.
I am anxious to use it tomorrow. It is supposed to be a nice day so I can burn up some film!