New member of the Mamiya posse!

[ChrisC]

Well I went on a bit of a road trip up to Auckland this weekend and took it along with me as one of my mates is into photography too and we thought we'd have a bit of time to roam and take some shots. Things went beautifully until I finished my first and only roll I took with me for the walk, and upon unloading I found I'd loaded things back to front I developed it tonight and my suspicions were right, and I've got a nice, long blank overhead transperency sheet now

I'd realised once I unloaded back at the hotel, and when I loaded the second roll actually looked at the diagram on the magazine and I'm positive I've got things right now. We stopped on the drive home today (for the 20 minutes it wasn't raining for the whole 9 hour drive) and took some shots of a shed up on a hill with setting sun behind clouds which allowed me to burn away half a roll, so I'll have to wait 'til hopefully tomorrow to finish/develop/scan it to see what she's like.

Love using it though. Especially love the grip, though I wish I'd gone for the Power Drive II grip which uses AA's, because then I'd be able to use rechargables instead of 2CR5's which are hard to find here and $20 a pop

 

[Greg_E]

That much for the battery? Yes you need the AA grip then. There are a couple to choose from and if you have the choice you might want to get the one that deals with the leaf shutter lenses, it also has a cable release socket in the grip which means you can eliminate another accessory from your bag. Pretty sure that grip will work with Super and Pro bodies, but I'm not positive. Generally what works with the Super, works with the Pro, but not always the other way around.

 

[ChrisC]

That much for the battery? Yes you need the AA grip then. There are a couple to choose from and if you have the choice you might want to get the one that deals with the leaf shutter lenses, it also has a cable release socket in the grip which means you can eliminate another accessory from your bag. Pretty sure that grip will work with Super and Pro bodies, but I'm not positive. Generally what works with the Super, works with the Pro, but not always the other way around.

Yeah they're about twice as expensive here as they are at places like B&H (just like film too I guess). I'll see how many rolls I get out of this, but I think I'll have to see if I can do a trade with KEH with a little cash from my end for the AA version.

Here's the stereotypical self-portrait most first rolls seem to get. I'm absolutely loving the DOF from this lens (really makes me want the 1.9!) and like with my old Yashica, the grain is beautiful (though I never used HP5 with that like I've got here).

 

[Rolleijoe]

I purchased the same camera 2 months ago, and every month add a couple of things. You're right about the weight! I've been using nothing but Rolleiflex TLRs the last decade or so, and I like not having to worry about batteries, did I turn it off, etc.

35mm just got too small to deal with, and the 1//60 flash sync is limiting, but it's mainly to shoot a family friend's wedding in October, then off & on while the various Rolleis go through Fleenors. I used to shoot Mamiya 7 in 2000 while living on Maui. sometimes 3 weddings a week or 2 a day. Either way I was done for the week, and could shoot with my Rolleis for personal shots.

So when I decided to lay down the Nikon, I researched what was out there, and easy to use (unfortunately can't use Zeiss glass on one of these puppies), but like everyone else, I once again turned to KEH. I've got that 6AA grip with the screwin for cable release [really need to get a strap, or another handle bar flash just as heavy for counterweight]. Solved the numerous back situation with 1 back (from KEH's ebay site), and several film inserts. Will find something from Home Depot or Lowes light-tight to store them in until ready to use. Memory won't be such a problem, as when working on projects (say Efke 25 or Rollei Ortho 25), they are all loaded the same. So no confusion.

For the upcoming wedding, they've switched venues, which means using Lumedyne system as on-camera flash, and shooting test rolls of 400/800 speed to see which will work best. I've always hated the low contrast of Fuji 400H, but am willing to try their 800 for finer-grain-wise. Portra tested well in the Rolleis but that was 160 and 400. May try Fujichrome 400 as they're now the fastest chrome out there, and the look will be so much better.

Rolleijoe

 

[keithwms]

On the subject of flash synch, aren't there some leaf-shutter lenses for this camera? I know there are for the afd. I am thinking you can synch to 1/500 or so with the LS lenses, though I admit I haven't tried.

Incidentally I have gotten very acceptable results in 645 format with Fuji 800 (pro z) rated at 1600 and developed for 3200. And I recall seeing provia 400x pushed to 1600 on RFF and still looking quite good.

 

[MattKing]

On the subject of flash synch, aren't there some leaf-shutter lenses for this camera? I know there are for the afd. I am thinking you can synch to 1/500 or so with the LS lenses, though I admit I haven't tried.

There are 3 fairly current LS lenses, and one older (70mm) one. I picked up a 70mm for very little money.

They are a bit more awkward to use, in that you have to set both the focal plane shutter to a slow speed (1/8 second), and the leaf shutter to your chosen speed. You have to manually cock the shutter on the leaf shutter lens each time, unless you have the latest version, where there is the potential, through connecting cables, to have the camera/winder do it for you.

Also, the prism with built in meter is still usable, but the metering isn't exactly straightforward (due to the shutter speed setting for the focal plane shutter). Auto exposure doesn't work at all, if you are using the leaf shutter.

If, however, you are using a hand meter, or the light is consistent enough to be able to set and forget the camera settings, and you don't mind manually cocking the shutter, they work well.

Just be sure to set that focal plane shutter correctly (don't ask me how I know this ).

Matt

 

[panastasia]

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!

I bought my RB ProSD with 180KL long ago, brand new, then my career in the nuclear power industry ended shortly after that - I then went pro photographer for a while and discovered KEH (prices were still quite high back then). I'm also a Mamiyan, I just picked up a M645 1000s and three lenses last month and own all the lenses (9) I'll ever want for the RB. I don't care for range finders, or fancy electronics, although the 645 takes the same battery as my Pentax digi spot meter to run the shutter.

I paid my dues to Mamiya already - they discontinued the all mechanical model I was interested in. Volvo did the same with the autos and I'm sure they lost some of their repeat customer base, as I was one.

Paul

 

[Rolleijoe]

I think there are a couple of leaf-shutter lenses, but not in the budget, nor likely to be, so I've just got to deal with what I've got for the moment.

This is a wedding, would Provia 400x pushed to 1600 really hold up to "wedding" scrutiny?

Thanks for your help.

 

[jmooney]

Congrats. I've got my eye on one of them as well.

 

[Greg_E]

Yes there are a few leaf shutter lenses for the manual focus camera. 70mm comes to mind, I'm sure there are one or two others.

 

[keithwms]

This is a wedding, would Provia 400x pushed to 1600 really hold up to "wedding" scrutiny?

No, I think not. I would think pro z pushed a stop or two will serve you much better. When I think of wedding I think first of all of contrasty clothing and mixed lighting that can tend to be unkind to skin tones. I would avoid slide film like the plague for this kind of thing. And probably the next guy will show some glorious 400x wedding shots and prove me wrong...

There is the 80/1.9, and it isn't half bad wide open. Not my favourite of the Mamiya 645 lenses in terms of colour rendition and bokeh, but... when you need that speed you need that speed.....

 

[bluedog]

Congratulations and enjoy. Very glad to hear positive report on KEH - I'm looking to get some additional lenses for my RZ67 soon.
Greg

 

[Rolleijoe]

Oh yeah, I've always known KEH to be the most reliable used camera equipment "broker" (as they like to call themselves) and extremely helpful and honest. I've hope to get a couple of lenses for the 645Pro I'm using for a wedding in October.

Plus a Lumedyne as handlebar flash, 400ws system, 20lbs large battery, and that honkin tank of a camera (weight wise), makes me wish if I only had the 3 Rollei focal lengths available, I'd be set. Oh well, maybe I'll win the lottery too (not)(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[Rolleijoe]

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!

I know what you mean about batteries. Even from b&h they were $9 each. So I found www.24hourbatteries.com and they were $1.50 each, and seem to have just about any battery you could want at unbelievable prices.

Give'em a try. I've no complaints with them.

 

[iamzip]

Just purchased an old M645J myself, hasn't even arrived yet. Not my first MF camera, but almost certainly will be my best.

 

[MattKing]

So I found www.24hourbatteries.com and they were $1.50 each, and seem to have just about any battery you could want at unbelievable prices.

Give'em a try. I've no complaints with them.

Seem good, but their website indicates they will only ship to the USA

Matt

 

[Greg_E]

I walk into any of the Rite Aid drug store and pull one off the rack, it was a popular external hearing aid battery. Our light meter at work also uses the same battery. Sorry I forget the Duracell part number.