Mamiya TLR Portrait Lens

markbarendt · Nov 2, 2016

Ben, you aren't going zombie on us are you?

benjiboy · Nov 2, 2016

markbarendt said:
Ben, you aren't going zombie on us are you?

I hope not Mark, I've deleted the other post, but I admit I'm not really with it at the moment because my wife has been ill, I haven't been to bed since Monday and I feel like the only civilian in this city with combat fatigue, I'm glad to say she's much better now and I'm going to bed and am going to try to sleep for the rest of the week

markbarendt · Nov 2, 2016

Glad I asked and glad to here wife is getting well. You get that sleep.

narsuitus · Nov 2, 2016

Bighead said:
Whats a good lens for portraits...

When I shot with Mamiya TLR cameras, I used 55mm, 80mm, and 180mm lenses for a variety of subjects. When I shot portraits, I used the 55mm for group portraits. I used the 80mm for full length, 3/4 length, and half-length individual portraits. I used the 180mm for head & shoulder portraits, head shots, and face shots.

The 135mm may have also been a good portrait lens, but at the time, I was unable to economically justify it.

benjiboy · Nov 2, 2016

narsuitus said:
When I shot with Mamiya TLR cameras, I used 55mm, 80mm, and 180mm lenses for a variety of subjects. When I shot portraits, I used the 55mm for group portraits. I used the 80mm for full length, 3/4 length, and half-length individual portraits. I used the 180mm for head & shoulder portraits, head shots, and face shots.

The 135mm may have also been a good portrait lens, but at the time, I was unable to economically justify it.[/QUOTE
The 180 is difficult to use indoors especially in small rooms the 135 is all in all IMO the most generally useful portrait lens.

flavio81 · Nov 2, 2016

The 180 was a bit difficult to use handheld, for me. And it required a longer working distance.

However the best image i have got from a Mamiya TLR was from my 180mm "chrome" (NON-"super") lens, which was adittionally sharp as a tack (at f11 and using a tripod).

Alan Gales · Nov 2, 2016

I recently bought a Mamiya 220 f. I was shooting my 105mm DS indoors taking both candid and posed pictures of family. Sometimes of one person and sometimes of two or three people. I found that I didn't always have enough room in the house to shoot it so I added an 80mm to my kit. The 105 DS being a Heliar clone is said to have the best bokeh of the TLR lenses. It's great for shooting outside and I really like the focal length for a walk around lens for shooting people.

For head or head and shoulder shots the 135mm is the most popular. It isn't the sharpest lens with is nice for portraits. I've got an 180mm Super. It is said to be the sharpest of the TLR lenses and you may find it too sharp for portraits.

For large group shots of people I would want the 55mm.

lecarp · Nov 2, 2016

The 105 DS for portraits, the viewing lens has a diaphragm just like the taking lens.
I believe its the only tlr lens that can actually show true depth of field in the finder.
Easy hand held shooting as well.

darkroommike · Nov 3, 2016

I have both the 135mm and the 180mm, in my tiny space, and factor that I like shooting 3/4 length, I favor my 135mm.

Mamiya TLR Portrait Lens

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency