Which 45mm lens for Mamiya M645?

[jsheridan1]

I should decide between 45mm C with 67mm filter thread and 45mm N. I could get C for $120 and N for $150. Which do you think is better deal? Is the N significantly lighter? I only found specs for C version...

I'm new to medium format and this is also my first post to this forum

 

[keithwms]

I have the 45 N and like it. But in my opinion the 55/2.8 is superior in terms of colour rendition. If you shot b&w though, you won't see much -if any- difference.

Given the closeness of the prcies, I'd say go for the newest lens.

 

[jsheridan1]

Thank you. I already have 80mm and would like to get something wider than 55mm. Do you know how heavy the 45mm N is?

 

[keithwms]

Offhand no, it feels light to me! I can weigh it for you but... it's light.

 

[jsheridan1]

I bought the N so no need for weighing

 

[tomalophicon]

Is the N the 77mm thread?
Is there an information website for the lenses some where?

 

[AdrianW]

Is the N the 77mm thread?
Is there an information website for the lenses some where?

The 45mm C that I have has a 77mm thread while the N version has a 67mm thread. There was also an "S" version of this lens which was made during the time between the C and N versions - I believe that had a 67mm filter thread.

The UK Mamiya site still has complete specs on the "N" series lenses. Try mamiya.co.uk for the link.

Adrian

 

[tomalophicon]

Thanks Adrian, I found lenses but could only find the C lenses on that site for the 645.

 

[jsheridan1]

Thanks for the link. I noticed 80/1.9 isn't listed but every resource is useful since the information seems to be very scattered compared to most 35mm systems.

Here are couple of sites that have some information...not useful if you'd like to compare C,S and N versions :

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/FrameWork/charts/comp_mamiyamed_2.html
http://www.slrlensreview.com/web/mamiya-lenses.html

 

[tomalophicon]

So what are the differences between the alphabetic designations?

 

[r1ma]

C is the original
S is the middle. S lenses have the same barrel materials (all metal), but a new set of optics
N is the newest. N lenses have the same optics as S (if there is a S, some lenses went from C to N), but a plastic barrel. The innards of N lenses are still metal, but the outside isn't, so they are a little lighter

 

[AdrianW]

Just to add to what r1ma said... here's the full list of alphabetic designations that I'm aware of:

C – The original series
RX – Only the 500mm mirror reflex lens
S – The second series of some select lenses such as the 55mm and 45mm I believe
(these were smaller than the earlier versions so "S" may stand for "small" or
"short")
N – The most recent series (maybe it stands for "new")
N/L – The newest leaf shutter lenses (55, 80 and 150mm)
A – As in "APO"

BTW, the 645 lenses shown on the mamiya.co.uk web site are the "N" versions even though on the web site they omitted "N" on the lens names for the links.

 

[tomalophicon]

So when you say new optics? Are they improved in some way over the C lenses?
I think I have all C lenses (not that I would go and replace them with S or N lenses).

 

[MattKing]

Thanks for the link. I noticed 80/1.9 isn't listed but every resource is useful since the information seems to be very scattered compared to most 35mm systems.

Here are couple of sites that have some information...not useful if you'd like to compare C,S and N versions :

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/FrameWork/charts/comp_mamiyamed_2.html
http://www.slrlensreview.com/web/mamiya-lenses.html

Thanks for the links.

Anyone looking to rely on the article from the "slrlensreview.com" site should be very careful to note that all tests were done using adapters on full frame (35mm) digital and APS-C digital cameras - not on equipment using "sensors" (read film) of 6x4.5 size ????

 

[AdrianW]

So when you say new optics? Are they improved in some way over the C lenses?
I think I have all C lenses (not that I would go and replace them with S or N lenses).

Some of the "N" lenses are faster... the 150mm "C" version is an f/4 while the "N" version is f/3.5. Some have improved glass... the 300mm f/5.6 in the "C" version does not have the ULD glass that the "N" version has. Some of the "N" lenses are smaller than their "C" counterparts.

I've never done side-by-side comparisons between the C versions and the N versions so I can't say whether the improvements are really noticable in the final images. I've shot with various Mamiya 645 lenses and I've been very satisfied with the results regardless of whether they were C or N versions.

 

[tomalophicon]

Some of the "N" lenses are faster... the 150mm "C" version is an f/4 while the "N" version is f/3.5. Some have improved glass... the 300mm f/5.6 in the "C" version does not have the ULD glass that the "N" version has. Some of the "N" lenses are smaller than their "C" counterparts.

I've never done side-by-side comparisons between the C versions and the N versions so I can't say whether the improvements are really noticable in the final images. I've shot with various Mamiya 645 lenses and I've been very satisfied with the results regardless of whether they were C or N versions.

Thanks for that.

I looked and my 80mm and 150mm have both N and C. . .

 

[MattKing]

Thanks for that.

I looked and my 80mm and 150mm have both N and C. . .

That makes them "N" lenses.

 

[suzyj]

The 45mm C that I have has a 77mm thread while the N version has a 67mm thread.

Are you sure? My M645 45mm f/2.8 N lens definitely has a 67mm filter thread. It matches the 67mm thread on my 80mm f/1.9 C.

 

[ContaxRTSFundus]

You were wise to buy the N. The C version has a poor reputation for sharpness, especially near the edges. I've used the N and it is superb though intriguingly, the older S is even sharper BUT is only single coated and prone to occasional flare and reduced contrast under certain conditions.