New member of the Mamiya posse!

[ChrisC]

Well, this little beauty arrived yesterday from KEH. Well within 2 weeks shipping time too which made me very happy, and after driving around town hunting out batteries for it mad it's finally up and running!

My first instincts were just how big and heavy it is compared to what I was expecting, particulary as this will be a travel/hiking camera, but it's really nothing I can't handle, and it's such a joy to use. A little noisy with the auto-winder too.

Now all that's left to do it use it!

 

[keithwms]

Enjoy it! It is a real performer.

For travel & hiking and such I would recommend a Mamiya 6 though... but the 645s are much nicer for portrait and macro and available light... a few things the Mamiya RFs cannot really do.

 

[Q.G.]

Congrats!

It will be a fair bit less heavy (and smaller) when you use a manual wind crank instead of the motor winder.

 

[jd callow]

Congrats and have big fun!

 

[imazursky]

Congratulations!! Its a fantastic camera. I have had mine for 3 years and love it.
I ditched the auto winder a while back because of the noise and the battery life. The manual winding takes some getting used too but it forces you to slow down.
I have also found that the built in meter is very accurate. At least on mine, it close to perfect (for my shooting style anyway).

Have fun!

 

[ChrisC]

Enjoy it! It is a real performer.

For travel & hiking and such I would recommend a Mamiya 6 though... but the 645s are much nicer for portrait and macro and available light... a few things the Mamiya RFs cannot really do.

I had tossed up the idea of a RF, but this'll see a lot of landscape stuff, so I needed an SLR to make ND grad work easier and more precise. Plus it will see other work, like weddings and other general photography stuff, so an SLR just seemed like the jack of all trades that I needed/wanted.

I ditched the auto winder a while back because of the noise and the battery life. The manual winding takes some getting used too but it forces you to slow down.
I have also found that the built in meter is very accurate. At least on mine, it close to perfect (for my shooting style anyway).

I had wondered how long the 2CR5 would last in the grip. I guess time will tell. Do you remember how many rolls you were getting from yours? Either way, I'm planning on getting the 45mm 2.8 and another back from KEH, so I'll have to see if I can get a manual crank just in case.

Yeah the meter seems nice and easy so far. It cost as much as the body did, but means I've got everything in one package which is really important when hiking.

 

[imazursky]

My winder is the AA version. It drained them in 10-20 rolls IIRC. Its been a while so i dont have a definite number.
KEH has fantastic deals. I bought 2 of my lenses for the 645 from them. They were all BGN and they are perfect!
The BGN backs i got from them are ok but are a bit of a hit or miss. They have the most wear so they arent perfect.

The manual crank is a must. You never know when the batteries will die in the motor drive.

 

[Greg_E]

My 2cr grip seems to go forever, I've put about 15 rolls worth through and still working on the first battery after a couple years. I tend to use the AA grip more often and use Nimh in it. I think the 2cr grip is rated to at least 20 rolls, but might be up to 40, and it is a lot lighter than the AA grip. ANd yes a manual crank is an absolute requirement. If I can get one of the 645E Rapid winders I'll probably try and make an adapter for the Super and Pro bodies, that would be the best of both worlds for me. Light weight and a right hand grip. But I don't know if the Rapid will even line up, let alone interface between the two typs of drive mechanism.

For your landscape work, you might consider the waist level finder and a small hand held meter. Way lighter than the prism. The waist level is also in my required list since it take up little room and adds little weight to the kit.

 

[KPT]

Congrats! Welcome to the Mamiya family. I recently just joined also with a Mamiya C330f. Mamiya's are great cameras!

 

[Imaginara]

Congrats to a great and fun camera =)

I got a 645AFD myself and just recently (like 2 days ago got a RZ-67... talk about bodybuilding due to using a camera

Me personally will probably mostly use the RZ for studio and the 645 for location. But we'll see =)

 

[P C Headland]

Enjoy the new toy - You'll be recognisable in Wellington now!

Keep an eye out on TradeMe too, since there have been one or two bargains on their recently with Mamiya gear. KEH is low risk though, and cheaper.

Did customs ask for a donation, or did it slip through?

 

[ChrisC]

Enjoy the new toy - You'll be recognisable in Wellington now!

Keep an eye out on TradeMe too, since there have been one or two bargains on their recently with Mamiya gear. KEH is low risk though, and cheaper.

Did customs ask for a donation, or did it slip through?

I'd been scouring TradeMe for weeks hoping something would come up (there's a couple of 645 sets I'm tempted to ask for just the 45mm's), and what do you know, as soon as mine arrives one pops up in Palmy exactly the same (but with the N lens) for about what I paid! Oh well, I'm $20 better off

It slipped straight through customs without any hassle. I've only ever been pinged once, and that was with my Shen Hao which was just north of $2k. I think I must have some friends up in the 09 I don't know about.

I'm sure I'll be wandering the streets with it at some point. It's a little more low-key than 4x5 so I won't feel so awkward using it.

 

[glbeas]

Congrats to a great and fun camera =)

I got a 645AFD myself and just recently (like 2 days ago got a RZ-67... talk about bodybuilding due to using a camera

Me personally will probably mostly use the RZ for studio and the 645 for location. But we'll see =)

That's funny, I thought mine was so light and easy to use compared to the Bronica with prism and winder. I'm ready to sell the Bronny off now and get some more lenses for my AFD.

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Chris, Congratulations!! Get some pictures with it and post them!

 

[nick mulder]

My first instincts were just how big and heavy it is compared to what I was expecting

Try an RB out for size - the RNZAF photography dept are selling theirs off at the mo' - going pretty cheap too ...

Besides the point tho Have fun ! (RZ user myself)

 

[gerryyaum]

got to agree with you there, love mamiyas..have a pair of the older twin reflex cameras, a RB67 as well as several Mamiya 6s, all with very sharp lens! now thinking of getting a Mamiya 7II.....go mamiya go...hope you can make some wonderful images with the 645

Gerry
www.gerryyaum.com
www.gerryyaum.blogspot.com

 

[mabman]

So, who's going to tell him about the initiation into this particular posse?

/C330 user, myself

 

[Ross Chambers]

As Oz has a free trade agreement with USA customs duty isn't a problem; serve you Kiwis right for not allowing nuclear powered and armed warships to visit (half your luck, the USS John McCain is in port in Sydney today!)

However Australia Post intercepts anything valued above AUD 1,000 for GST, so I had to negotiate and pay GST for my 5x7 Shen Hao.

If you bought yours from Badger Graphics you'll know that they will absolutely not fiddle values or descriptions on the pro forma invoice.

I don't have a Mamiya 645, but I'm extremely fond of my RB 67, and all the expansions available to that system, many very reasonably priced at KEH.

Good Luck - Ross

 

[P C Headland]

As Oz has a free trade agreement with USA customs duty isn't a problem; serve you Kiwis right for not allowing nuclear powered and armed warships to visit (half your luck, the USS John McCain is in port in Sydney today!)

However Australia Post intercepts anything valued above AUD 1,000 for GST, so I had to negotiate and pay GST for my 5x7 Shen Hao.

....

Good Luck - Ross

No duties here for cameras or electronics from anywhere (practically nothing has duty any longer, only a low amount on some clothes and shoes, and that goes too very soon). The only thing Customs can ping you for (apart from illegal stuff...) is GST. Much of the time, they don't seem to bother.

So, no need for those nucular ship visits


Nick - any links for what the RNZAF are selling (apart from Sky Hawks)?

 

[Frank Hoerauf]

You will really like the Mamiya, I have the RZ PRO II and the pics are awesome, they have some great optics. I bought most of my lenses on the bay, they are surprisingly cheap due to the digital "craze". I love when people dump their darkrooms and film cameras and "go digital" that spells bargain basement prices for us. Well anyway thats a beauty , best of luck with it, there is really not much that camera cant do.................frank

 

[keithwms]

So, who's going to tell him about the initiation into this particular posse?

/C330 user, myself

I would propose that for initiation, you have to commit to buy at least one piece of brand new gear from Mamiya. C'mon everybody, let's keep 'em alive!

My duties to Mamiya were recently fulfilled in the form of a 105-210 zoom for the 645afd and a 210 apo for the rb.

Yes, used Mamiya gear is fabulous and inexpensive, but.... it's not going to be good for anybody if they go out of business. So how about buying a little lens or something?!

I am a Mamiyan through and through. At last count, 6 Mamiya bodies, about 20 lenses, and another 20-30lbs of gear that I still covet.

 

[2F/2F]

Congrats! It's very drool worthy.

I have a 1000S and a plain M45 myself, but hope to get one like your's some day soon.

As for the winder, well worth it IMO, just because of the right-hand release/left-hand focus. I got mine not that long ago after wanting one for some time. I just don't like focusing with my right hand and tripping the shutter with my left. Who is shooting faster than 1 fps anyhow, even with 35mm, let alone medium format? Not me, or anyone I know. As for weight, I find even the heavier M645 and 1000S to be easily manageable with the winder. The winder doesn't seem to add much weight at all. Your's should be even easier. Nonetheless, I always have a manual crank on hand just in case.

"I would propose that for initiation, you have to commit to buy at least one piece of brand new gear from Mamiya. C'mon everybody, let's keep 'em alive!"

Why? Let 'em go on out of business. Nothing they have now is any better than what they had 25 years ago (in most cases worse in a build quality sense), and about 90% more expensive. Their cheesy auto focus is pretty much a useless feature, and actually an added annoyance to me. If you can't compete with your own used equipment, maybe it is time to go out of business.

 

[keithwms]

"I would propose that for initiation, you have to commit to buy at least one piece of brand new gear from Mamiya. C'mon everybody, let's keep 'em alive!"

Why? Let 'em go on out of business. Nothing they have now is any better than what they had 25 years ago (in most cases worse in a build quality sense), and about 90% more expensive. Their cheesy auto focus is pretty much a useless feature, and actually an added annoyance to me. If you can't compete with your own used equipment, maybe it is time to go out of business.

I rebuke you!

I really couldn't disagree more on just about every point (except AF, which I almost never like to use, but sometimes need).

If you want to use used gear, fine, but Mamiya have some brand-spanking-new offerings that are real jawdroppers. To wit:

-the 28/4.5D aspherical
-the 45-90/4.5 asph. zoom
-all of the RB KL apo lenses (very inexpensive)
-the rz t&s adapter (compare to the ha$$ie adapter)
-a certain unmentionable that is very reasonably priced for what it does

...and the list goes on and on.

And I really appreciate that Mamiya have tried, in most cases, to maintain backwards compatibility, so that those of us who will purchase new gear bit by bit can do so over time. I mean, the incredibly inexpensive and fabulous RB KL lenses are fine on a rz....

 

[Ross Chambers]

I would propose that for initiation, you have to commit to buy at least one piece of brand new gear from Mamiya. C'mon everybody, let's keep 'em alive! .

A golf club or a Pachinko machine?

Regards - Ross

 

[nick mulder]

No duties here for cameras or electronics from anywhere

http://www.customs.govt.nz/importers/Private+Importers/Customs+Charges.htm

Massagers (Vibratory) are at %12.5 "Duty/GST rate" whatever that means - no duty and only GST ?

Nick - any links for what the RNZAF are selling (apart from Sky Hawks)?

Pro-Gear in Parnell