Trying to enter the MF world with a Mamiya 645

[Top-Cat]

Hey everyone, I guess the forum might see a lot of these kind of posts, but there doesn't seem to be the same types of generic threads for frequent queries like in the 35mm forums.

Thing is, I just ordered a used Mamiya 645 (Pro TL) camera with a 80mm and 200mm APO lens with prism finder two magazines and some other stuff through cash on delivery post, and am quite eager to try and see what all this is all about.

I thought a lot on getting at least 6 x 6 or 6 x 7, but the ones in my price range seemed somewhat more expensive for newer ones, I wanted something with some matter of light metering and automation. As well as I follow the first rule of lomography: always carry your camera around, so I'd like something not just for the studio.

I'm quite curious as to experiences, and about this camera in itself. I've been shooting with Nikon 35mm analog and APS-C digital, and so I'm used to that wonderful F-Mount system of theirs, but in medium format I'm somewhat in the dark as to lens compatibility, camera functionality and that sort of thing.

Any experiences with Mamiya 645 around? Did this sound like a good choice according to my needs (I'm actually more or less sure about that being the right choice - but would like to see if anyone has anything to say about it).
Could I use most other 645 lenses with a Pro TL, are other format lenses compatible with smaller formats?

These might sound like silly questions, but the MF (other than Holga and toy cameras) area is a bit more of a discriminating area and I can't find as many easy answers on the internet as I could with 35mm.

 

[Ian Grant]

Mamiya 645's are a great choice, I've had 2 since the early 80's, there's little or no difference in quality with 6x6 and only a slight difference compared to 6x7 but the increased flexibility and usablity is tremendous and unless your working with atripod all the time Ifind it's a better comprise than the 6x7.

I shoot a variety of 120 formats from 6x4.5 to 6x17 and alll are excellent, it's the images that count rather tahn nit-picking over minor technical details about quality.

Ian

 

[tkamiya]

I acquired a Mamiya M645 Super just recently and I absolutely love this system. More than anything else, I love the BIG negative it creates (compared to 35mm). I can actually SEE the images on contact sheet!

I am not sure if you'd want to use Mamiya as carry-every-day camera. Range finder camera may be more of your liking if that's your goal. M645 is rather heavy if you have it with a power winder. Also, I hope you bought a prism finder that is metering as not all of them are. Is it right for you? I don't know because you never said anything about type of subjects you shoot.

I'm sure you'll get lots of replies as it is one of the most popular medium format cameras around....

 

[Top-Cat]

I shoot mostly anything, in a way street photography - but I'm no documentarist so it ends up being a lot of landscapes, architecture and details - but I try not to follow the rules too much - for example I prefer accentuating perspective distortion in architecture rather than hide it like photographers seem to do considering the fact that a lot of them use shift lenses. I'd like this as an all round set for portraits, street, landscape/architecture nature and details (not necessarily macro).

I'm somewhat of a mule already, often carrying around two SLRs with three lenses as I like using primes so I don't think carrying a 645 would be far too heavy if I just learned to leave my 35mm equipment at home - you might be right though, since I've never held any other MF camera in my hand other than a Voigtländer Perkeo II.

 

[Derek Lofgreen]

The one thing you will notice when you soup your first roll is how smooth the negs look compared to 35mm and your digital gear can produce. I love my Mamiya 645 and the images it can make. It's a brick but I love it. Of course others will tell you about their love for the square (which I like too) but it boils down to what you like and how you work. Good luck with the new rig.

D.

 

[MattKing]

I enjoy using my Mamiya 645 equipment, and am very happy with the quality, ease of use and versatility.

Essentially, you are restricted to using Mamiya 645 Manual Focus lenses, but that isn't a hardship. All of the manual focus lenses ever made for that format by Mamiya will work on your camera, and there are a lot out there.

You can even use the manual focus lenses on the auto-focus Mamiya 645 bodies (with some reduced functionality) but the converse does not apply.

The only non-Mamiya options that I am aware of are a couple of teleconverters.

There may have been adapters made permitting use of other non-Mamiya lenses, but I am not aware of them.

Mamiya americ still has the manual for your camera available on their website.

Have fun!

Matt

 

[Top-Cat]

I got my hands on it today, and I have to say - WOW. Still I'm a bit unsure as to loading film into the magazine and where everything is on it - since everything seems interchangable there's a whole lot of buttons to get to know.
One of the first things I noticed was that the lens mount reminded me a lot of Canons lens mount - are they related in some way?
The 200 APO is a monster lens - the only tele at that focal length I've had earlier was a Nikon 70-300 (as well as a Sigma 70-300 APO which I sold a couple of months later).
I better read the manual before I start fidgeting any more with the buttons.

 

[Ektagraphic]

I LOVE my M645. It is an amazing machine. The lenses are great and the construction of the body seems to be great too. It's a good pretty economical option because the camera is not as expensive as most of the others and you get 15 photos from a 120 roll. It is also pretty light so it can be put on your neck for the day with no problem. I'm not sure if they make a left-handed grip (a left handed grip makes since because the winding knob is on the right side of my camera), but if you plan to walk around with it for the day you may want to try out a grip. Also, the waist level finder is really nice to shoot with too. I know that you said that you have the prism....I don't have direct experience with the pro TL but I use it's brother all the time.

 

[ChrisC]

In a nutshell, wonderful cameras.
There's always a lot of talk about negative size compared to 6x7, and yeah it's true, but the difference over 35mm is astonishing. It's a really good format, and the Mamiya is a wonderful system (love my 645 Pro) and it's about at the upper end of what I'd want to carry around and shoot handheld for any length of time.
You should pick it up pretty quickly. Once you've loaded the roll the first time it's smooth sailing from there. Enjoy it!

 

[fotch]

I normally would use a 35mm SLR for aerial photography however, I wanted to improve on the quality for some poster size prints, I thing 30"x40" in color.

Although I did try a Speed Graphic 4x5, I found the Mamiya M645 1000S w 80mm F1.8 lens was way better in the small cockpit.

However, if I had the choice back then of the Mamiya RF, would of used that.

Nice camera, I should use it more often.

 

[aoluain]

I recently got my Mamiya 645 super with non metered prism finderas I have a light
meter anyway and the budget didnt stretch that far.

The first thing that I was really aware of was the weight with no grip it is 3.5kg's!
but each component, body, prism, lens, back does'nt seem that heavy, all together
is a different matter.

I am looking forward to getting out to shoot some b+w landscapes with it.

best of luck with it!

 

[L Gebhardt]

I bought a 645 Pro TL about a month ago. So far it's a great camera. The lenses are really nice. My only complaint was the viewfinder was a bit dim. I found a Beattie Intenscreen on ebay for a nice price. It makes focusing much easier. I would highly recommend this to anyone, even when focusing in bright light.

I have only printed a few shots from this camera but the image quality at 11x14 is fantastic. It's very hard to tell the difference between the 6x4.5 negative and a 6x7 negative at 11x14. Given that it weighs much less than the RZ it will be getting much more use. It's still heavier than the Mamiya 7, but it's easier to compose with. So I think you made the right decision.

I don't have the 200mm APO, but I bet that's a very nice lens. I got the 210mm N and it's very good, and about 1/3 lighter. For my use I didn't need the speed. You may want to consider selling the 200mm APO (probably not if you shoot lots of portraits), saving some weight and getting back a lot of cash.

 

[Top-Cat]

I agree on the viewfinder, but I guess it'll stop me from shooting in too low light situations anyways (I get a lot of unsharp pictures from pushing my luck in low light situations).
I'd better look into finding a better focusing screen somewhere - but now I feel like I've spent too much time collecting equipment and that I should spend more time just using it, and be happy about being an amateur owning professional tools.

 

[Krzys]

Dont get the Super or Pro. Get the old tougher M645 bodies.

 

[MattKing]

Dont get the Super or Pro. Get the old tougher M645 bodies.

Don't get the older M645 bodies, get the Super or Pro.

Actually, the better advice is to understand the differences before you decide what will work best for you.

Before you decide to change the focussing screen, I would suggest you work with the one you have for awhile. You may find that it is easier to work with once you become used to it.

I came to the Mamiya 645 system (a Super for me initially) from a Mamiya TLR, and don't find the brightness in either system to be a problem.

Matt

 

[aoluain]

I dont find the split screen in the non metered prism finder
on the super dim or dull at all . . . yet!

from the research I have done while sourcing the super
the older m645's are limited in ways like max shutter speed 's
of 1/500th and/or no mirror lock up and no interchangable backs.
they are just not as modular or versatile like the super, pro & tl.

 

[Krzys]

But a Super/Pro will break when you drop it, I have no doubt on this as mine got a bit battered. An older model will not.

 

[Top-Cat]

That's a personal experience, after wasting some time on the internet reading reviews I've noticed several people who've been quite amazed of how sturdy it is after dropping it.
Anyways, I've already bought it and I didn't buy a camera to use as basketball.

 

[aoluain]

But a Super/Pro will break when you drop it, I have no doubt on this as mine got a bit battered. An older model will not.

when?
I would say if!

 

[2F/2F]

Mamiya 645's are a great choice, I've had 2 since the early 80's, there's little or no difference in quality with 6x6 and only a slight difference compared to 6x7 but the increased flexibility and usablity is tremendous and unless your working with atripod all the time Ifind it's a better comprise than the 6x7.

I shoot a variety of 120 formats from 6x4.5 to 6x17 and alll are excellent, it's the images that count rather tahn nit-picking over minor technical details about quality.

Ian

Ditto (minus the "I've had 2 since the early 80's" part, and I shoot 6x9 max., not 6x17).

 

[Rolleijoe]

I purchased a M645Pro a couple of years ago to replace the Nikon system I'd been using for years. 35mm is just getting too small for me to deal with anymore.

My main cameras are Rollei TLRs, and it took me almost 18months to find a film/developer combination that could get me even close to a Zeiss look.
I use the G1 winder with it and a metered prism finder to help speed things up. For me, it's basically a larger 35mm type system, and that's what I was looking for.

I use it for concert photography, and documentary as well. Just like my Nikon setup. There's no problem carrying it around, and you're mainly only limited by the limitations you place on yourself.

 

[keithwms]

I have the 200 apo and it is one of my very favourite lenses, you can't go wrong with it. I even use it on my Nikon, now and then, with an adapter. Enjoy!

My 645 bodies are the afd and the pro. I actually prefer the pro for most stuff, except when shooting verticals in which case the integrated VF is handy. I manually focus everything, even with the afd, though the focus confirmation is sometimes nice.

The 645 bodies definitely fill a void for me, between 35mm and 6x6/6x7/6x8, when it comes to tonality, esp in b&w. Plus there are some *very* fast 645 lenses in almost every focal length, at reasonable price, which makes these systems very nice for available light. That said, there is no way the 645 bodies could fully replace 35mm for me, sometimes the bulk is just too much. Last week my somewhat out-of-shape self was hiking almost vertically, for hours, at 10,000ft + chasing monarch butterflies with an itty bitty Nikon and 300/4.... a comparable 645 system would have been my afd plus my 500/5.6. No way, I'd have died for sure!

 

[Top-Cat]

Does anyone know if you can use extra equipment from the Pro and Pro TL cameras on AFDII? Like the film backs, auto winders, prisms and such?

 

[keithwms]

No, generally they are not transferable. The afd stuff has all manner of extra electronic gadgetry. The prisms on he afdI-III are all permanently attached to the body.

 

[Top-Cat]

Where did you get the adapter to use with Nikon? Was it expensive?