Mamiya 80mm 1.9 Lens

dustbunny · Dec 14, 2009

Hello everyone

I just bought my first MF, a brand new Mamiya 645 PRO TL with a Mamiya 55mm f/2.8. I've been reading some threads and I seems that the 80mm 1.9 lens is very good, specially for low light photos. The thing is, I simply cannot find it for sale anywhere!

Can anyone please direct to a retailer?

I cant wait to start using the camera. I'm returning to film and this time I'm going to start developing my own film

Thanks!

Santiago

removed-user-1 · Dec 14, 2009

KEH has the 80mm f/1.9 in several condition grades at the moment.

thebanana · Dec 14, 2009

The KEH site has been down for a few days

John Koehrer · Dec 15, 2009

Just click on "camera store" & it will take you past the server error.

Travis Nunn · Dec 15, 2009

if KEH's website is down, give them a call. They are great to deal with over the phone.

keithwms · Dec 15, 2009

Hmm, these lenses used to be a dime a dozen. There seems to be quite a fascination with fast lenses now.

Well for what it's worth, I have three 80mm lenses for the 645 system: the 80/2.8 AF (superb but annoying to focus manually), the 80/4 floating macro (superb), and the 80/1.9 (pretty damn good). I see different uses and strengths for all of them. So I'd say get what will do the job and be patient, you'll get the lens you want eventually. Note that apparently not all 80/1.9s are the same, so don't be surprised if you don't get the best copy the first time. But they are (were?) so inexpensive only a year or so ago...

Ian Grant · Dec 15, 2009

The 80mm f1.9 was never very common, it had a reputation for not being as good as the 80mm f2.8 but that may well have been the early versions as I bought my 645's in the early 80's, how deserved that was I don't know, but the f2.8 lenses are all excellent and very sharp at all apertures.

Keith's right in mentioning that Mamiya redesigned their lenses a few times, so try and get one of the newer series.

Ian

dustbunny · Dec 15, 2009

Is there a way to identify the newer lens? I remember reading about a letter code somewhere...

Thanks everyone.
Santiago

Ian Grant · Dec 15, 2009

They look different, but I can't post examples as I don't have them. But a good look a sites devoted to Mamiya's should help.

Ian

thisismyname09 · Dec 15, 2009

I believe one way to tell is that the new lenses are labeled "N" and look new-ish. the old lenses use a slightly different font.
for example:
http://jcohenphoto.com/images/55110n1118above.jpg
http://jcohenphoto.com/ebay/photos/m15064above.jpg
look specifically at how "mm" is written where the focal length is listed. The ridges in the focus ring is a bit different, too.

Leighgion · Dec 15, 2009

keithwms said:
There seems to be quite a fascination with fast lenses now.

It's because fast lenses are awesome. Just ask your Camera of Death.

But yes, the "N" model is the newer model and is clearly labeled as such. I have one. Took a bit to get used to, but I like what it can do.

dustbunny · Dec 15, 2009

I see what you mean. My 55mm has an N after the 1:2.8 so that's good

I found some 1.9s at KEH, but truthfully I was expecting them to be cheaper...

I guess I'll use my own lens and wait for the price to go down.

One thing that I did not know is that I would need a lager MF lens to get the equivalent of my 50mm prime (35mm film). I believe I need an 80mm for that, right?

Thanks,
Santiago.

Leighgion · Dec 15, 2009

dustbunny said:
One thing that I did not know is that I would need a lager MF lens to get the equivalent of my 50mm prime (35mm film). I believe I need an 80mm for that, right?

You need a longer lens to get the same field of view on medium format as 35, yes. There's no perfect math for this, especially since the aspect ratios are different, but a way to get a rough idea is to take the focal length for a 645 lens and divide it by 1.6. So...

80 / 1.6 = 50

Therefore, an 80mm lens on 645 format is roughly the equivalent of using a 50mm on 135 and is thusly a "normal" lens for 645. This is the reason why as you go to larger and larger formats, you have less and less depth of field at the same fields of view since longer focal lengths have less DoF.

Obligatory 80mm 1.9 visual propoganda:

dustbunny · Dec 15, 2009

More and more reasons to get a 1.9

I'll learn the camera and medium with my 55mm and keep an eye for a bargain 1.9. I'll get one eventually!

Santiago.

Leighgion · Dec 15, 2009

The 55mm f2.8 is also a fine lens, and very compact.

Mamiya 80mm 1.9 Lens

removed-user-1

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