Second-best Wide Angle (35-45mm) MF Lens

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andrew.roos

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Thanks Martin, I appreciate your first hand report. The P645N + 45mm is looking very attractive at the moment. (I came to the conclusion that I just don't like the button based controls of the original P645 so would probably opt for the N instead).
 
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andrew.roos

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A big "thank you" to everyone who took the time to help me here. I really do appreciate it.

After carefully considering all the responses, and doing a fair amount of other research, I finally came to the conclusion that most of the systems have wides that would surpass my abilities. So I based the decision mostly on system and financial criterea. I decided that I want interchangable backs, which rules out the Pentax. Between the Mamiya and Bronica 645s, the main reasons were that the Bronica has the widest lens I can afford (since the Bronica 40 PE is wider than the Mamiya 45 and substantially cheaper than the Mamiya 35 N) and can accept standard cable releases without an additional cost adapter (all the Mamiyas that take interchangable backs use a proprietary electric cable release). I also like the idea of a leaf shutter, since with mirror up this means I can use a fairly lightweight tripod (Gitzo 2 series) while hiking without having to be concerned about vibration.

Between the Bronica ETRSi and SQ-A, the main reasons were price (the SQ-A with 40/4 would have been nearly twice as expensive) and because the 40 PS lens for the SQ-A takes 95mm filters, which would end up costing a stack (probably forcing me to buy into a filter system rather than being able to use circular filters). The 40 PE takes 62mm filters, the same as almost all the PE lenses, so I can use a set of relatively inexpensive circular filters. Between the Mamiya RB/RZ and the others, weight was the deciding factor - partly because my parents are in the USA for Christmas and have agreed to bring a camera back for me, saving a couple of hundred dollars in shipping costs, but I didn't feel I could lumber them with an RZ67!

So I've ordered a Bronica ETRSi with a waistlevel finder, 120 back and 40/4 PE. Total cost was US$ 510.

Thanks again for all your help.
Andrew
 
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MattKing

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Andrew:

Good luck with your Bronica - I'm sure it will be a good choice!

Just one point about the Mamiya 645 cameras with interchangeable backs. While they do use proprietary electric cable releases, there are also Mamiya adapters that permit use of standard cable releases. Those adapters come in a couple of different versions, including the ones that also serve to connect the left-hand grips, and are fairly easy to find on eBay.

Here is one example listing, with a starting price near $10.00: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Mamiya-645-C...688604825?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item2eb9f91699
 
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andrew.roos

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Thanks for the pointer Matt.

Andrew
 

FRANOL

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He is already make order.
 
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Texsport

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The 50/5.6 and 65/5.6 Fujinons for the 6x9 Fujica 690s are hard to beat.

Texsport
 

PaulMD

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The Pentax 55mm is without equal (28mm equivalent). Hands down the best lens I've ever used in any format for any camera, and the most frequently-used lens on my P67. If you want to go wider, the P67 45mm is excellent, and produces better results than many other systems. The P67 is a very versatile system overall, including everything from superfast normal lenses (105/2.4) to longer/wider lenses than any other system. The mirror slap is over-hyped, use a good head and it's not an issue.
 
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