Using Mamiya Extension Tubes...

images39 · Dec 26, 2011

Hi,

When I purchased a Mamiya 654 Pro last year, three extension tubes were included. They're marked (from shortest to longest): No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3-S. I am not familiar with the use of extension tubes, but am interested in using them to allow closer focusing with some of my lenses (80mm 1.9, 110mm, and 150mm).

Is each lens ideally matched with one particular extension tube? Will the longer extension tubes allow closer focusing than the shorter ones? Are certain tubes incompatible with certain lenses?

Thanks for any help with this.

Dale

keithwms · Dec 26, 2011

The tubes can be used with any lens that'd fit the body without them, and they can be stacked to give as much magnification as you want. Yes, longer tubes will give more magnification.

Note that there are now (I think) different, much more expensive tubes that allow AF on some of the Mamiya bodies. You don't want those. Not much point in AF when you use extension tubes, IMHO. Just get the plain old extension tubes and enjoy. And I don't think I ever got any of my AF mamiya lenses for my AFD to work on the old tubes; I vaguely recall contemplating a modification to the lenses but then forgot about it and just used the manual lenses.

So in summary: manual lenses + tubes = no problems.

images39 · Dec 26, 2011

Keith,

Thanks for the reply. I will experiment with using the different tubes. My main use for them will be to get a bit closer when shooting portraits.

Dale

keithwms · Dec 26, 2011

Okay. Well, FWIW, most people actually want to get further away when doing portraits, to get more ear/nose ratio and more focus isolation.

I would recommend the 80/1.9 for individual portraiture.

Enjoy.

images39 · Dec 26, 2011

Keith,

For tight headshots, the lenses I have do not focus close enough. I need to be able to get closer.

Dale

CGW · Dec 26, 2011

Here's a little Xmas gift:

http://www.redisonellis.com/m645tubes.html

Just be sure to make note of the exposure compensation for each tube/lens combination if you're not using a metered finder.

images39 · Dec 26, 2011

CGW said:
Here's a little Xmas gift:

http://www.redisonellis.com/m645tubes.html

Just be sure to make note of the exposure compensation for each tube/lens combination if you're not using a metered finder.

Thank you, this information on the extension tubes is very useful. I also received a message from Ian C with a link to a pdf containing the same info. Precisely what I needed, thanks again.

Dale

brucemuir · Dec 26, 2011

CGW said:
Here's a little Xmas gift:

http://www.redisonellis.com/m645tubes.html

Just be sure to make note of the exposure compensation for each tube/lens combination if you're not using a metered finder.

Im assuming in those charts the exposure comp is listed in factor... not stops? ? ?

CGW · Dec 26, 2011

brucemuir said:
Im assuming in those charts the exposure comp is listed in factor... not stops? ? ?

Factor. The Butkus site gives a full repro of the tubes' manual with F-stop conversion for the OP.

brucemuir · Dec 26, 2011

CGW said:
Factor. The Butkus site gives a full repro of the tubes' manual with F-stop conversion for the OP.

Yes, factor.
Only way it makes sense.

Thanks.

landscapepics · Dec 28, 2011

I have extension tubes for my Mamiya RZ67. It's worth noting that using extension tubes will give you a short range over which you can achieve focus; you don't just get closer focus, you lose longer focus. This may cause difficulties with portraits.

Thomas.Goehler · Jan 10, 2014

Sorry to revive this thread, but the field of extension tubes for Mamiya 645 is pretty new to me. I have seen an ebay offer for Mamiya tubes. One set is called Mamiya GL, the other set (each consisting of tubes No. 1, 2 and 3) is called Mamiya HGF. Does anybody know the difference?

MattKing · Jan 10, 2014

Thomas.Goehler said:
Sorry to revive this thread, but the field of extension tubes for Mamiya 645 is pretty new to me. I have seen an ebay offer for Mamiya tubes. One set is called Mamiya GL, the other set (each consisting of tubes No. 1, 2 and 3) is called Mamiya HGF. Does anybody know the difference?

I don't recognize either "GL" or "HGF" designations. I've looked at an accessory chart for the Pro-Tl system, the manuals for the Pro, the Super, the 1000s, the 645e and a couple of the AF cameras and there are only references to the 1, 2 and 3(s?) tubes.

Can you supply a link to the eBay auction? Is there any chance that these extension tubes are for another Mamiya format? Could the designation be specific to one market (Europe?).

There apparently is a special edition RB67 GL camera body between the Pro-S and the Pro-SD. I have never seen one of them.

Thomas.Goehler · Jan 11, 2014

These are the ebay links:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/MAMIYA-HG-Zw...d=100033&prg=7513&rk=2&rkt=4&sd=301032278249&

http://www.ebay.de/itm/MAMIYA-GL-Zw...d=100033&prg=7513&rk=3&rkt=4&sd=281058296463&

Soeren · Jan 11, 2014

Thomas.Goehler said:
These are the ebay links:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/MAMIYA-HG-Zw...d=100033&prg=7513&rk=2&rkt=4&sd=301032278249&

http://www.ebay.de/itm/MAMIYA-GL-Zw...d=100033&prg=7513&rk=3&rkt=4&sd=281058296463&

Those are not for mamiya 645. They lack the "rabbit ears"
Best regards

Thomas.Goehler · Jan 11, 2014

Great! Thanks very much.

dynachrome · Jan 11, 2014

I had two sets of manual focus tubes for the M645/1000S/J and this week added the the tube for the 80 macro. I don't have the 80 macro yet but now I'm ready. A few months ago I got the 82mm long extensin tube for my Mamiya RB67 Pro S. It's pretty large.

MattKing · Jan 12, 2014

I think the references to "GL" and "HG" are to stickers on the tubes that have something to do with quality inspections.

Using Mamiya Extension Tubes...

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