raid
Dad Photographer
First of all, quite a few of the shown images in this therad are simply awesome. I have a 645E with a Mamiya 80mm/2.8. I don't know how this lens compares with the faster 1.9 version. My other lenses are by Zeiss Jena.
filmfan
Well-known
EDIT: my next lens
Atavistic
Member
This thread har inspired me to look for a Mamiya 645 to complement my Rolleiflex. I have been offered a 645 Pro TL, AE prism and winder, 120/135/polaroid back, 80mm f/2.8, 150mm f/2.8, 55mm f/2.8 and 45mm f/2.8 for $1000. Is this a good price? Or should I negotiate?
Anything to look out for?
I want the 80mm f/1.9 so I'll probably sell one or two lenses to afford that.
Anything to look out for?
I want the 80mm f/1.9 so I'll probably sell one or two lenses to afford that.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Well, the 1.9 is fast. But I don't feel it is the best among my M645 normals. The f/2.8 N easily is the best of them all, by a huge margin - that one is really up to the best Contax 645AF lenses regarding resolution and contrast, and only the 4/80 Macro Sekor gets close to it. I also like the f/2.8 70 CS more than the f/1.9, but that may be a matter of focal length.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Well, assuming that they trade for $ prices proportional to € prices hereabouts, and that all lenses are N type and everything is in very good shape, he could get maybe 1200 (which would amount to little more than a thousand after ebay and Paypal fees) by splitting it out on ebay. But then he'd have to wrestle with some ten buyers (and will probably run into at least one problem bidder among them).
I'd consider $750 fair for both parties for a clean kit with non N lenses. With N, up to 900 are fair - $100 less each would make it a good deal, yet another 100 make it a bargain.
Check that the film transport is smooth - chewed off coupling wheels are their most frequent flaws. Supers often have dead electronics - do not buy them from sellers that claim "shutter works, have no battery for further tests", as that usually means "PCB dead, fires at mechanical 1/60 only" - that is no risk on a Pro though, which won't fire on any setting if its PCB is zapped. And test whether the flash trigger works reliably - the Pro/TL flash sub-assembly tends to work loose in studio work, losing its ground contact so that flashes fire irregularly, and you'll have to tear down half the camera to reattach it.
patrickhh
GAS free since Dec. 2007
The 80/1.9 is the reason why I purchased my Mamiya 645 in the first place. As a "bokeh freak" I really like it. It's also very sharp. Can't really confirm the observation about being hard to focus. I have the "old school" 645 1000s model with WLF and plain standard focusing screen. Compared to my other manual SLR cameras (Pentax MX, LX, and 67) this is the one that's by far the easiest and most precise to focus. I get the right focus every time with not much effort. Can't say that about my other cameras.
I think that the Mamiya 645 system is seriously underrated. Perhaps because most people assume that 6x4.5 is not a "real" medium format.
BTW, nice pictures in this thread. Here are some B/W pics I shot using the 80/1.9
I think that the Mamiya 645 system is seriously underrated. Perhaps because most people assume that 6x4.5 is not a "real" medium format.
BTW, nice pictures in this thread. Here are some B/W pics I shot using the 80/1.9
Atavistic
Member
Very nice images patrickhh.
How much do you guys reckon I should be willing to part with to obtain a 645 Pro, AE prism, film back and the 80mm f/1.9?
How much do you guys reckon I should be willing to part with to obtain a 645 Pro, AE prism, film back and the 80mm f/1.9?
surfer dude
Well-known
Some great shots in this thread! I used to have an M645J with the 80mm f1.9 (also had the 45mm and I agree with Chris and David - fantastic lens). If you like the 80 f1.9 though, you must check out the 150mm f2.8 - THAT is as good as they get and the lens I miss the Mamiya system for! That sounds like a good enough price with that lens included, Atavistic.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
They can wear out, or at least become unreliable, under moderately heavy use. Frances's did (from new). Loose back door and a couple of other problems I've forgotten about now (it was a long time ago). She had the 35, 80/1.9 and 150.
Cheers,
R.
Cheers,
R.
haring
Established
This is my favorite setup for photography in general, maybe out of all the equipment I have ever used. It just works for me so well it's almost spooky sometimes. Is anyone else shooting with the 645 and the 80mm f/1.9.? It's such a gorgeous lens wide open, I seriously feel like this lens is reason enough to own a 645 body to put it on.
Some examples:
Beautiful!
kuzano
Veteran
Point of information - one Mam 645 to avoid....
Point of information - one Mam 645 to avoid....
First series 645 Mamiya were classed as M645, M645-1000 and M645J. They were good, reliable and sturdy (a bit heavy). They are distinquished by NOT having fully removable backs, but rather film inserts. No midroll change capability, but you could carry preloaded inserts in insert boxes. Good cameras and used a full range of lens focal lengths and the 1.9
Then, the next iteration of Mamiya's 645 series was the 645 Super. Introduced was the metal frame with plastic clad body in a boxier shape, with full removable backs for midroll change capability. Again all focal lengths fit this model
CAUTION... this is a model to avoid. It was plagued with electronics problems defaulting the shutter to one shutter speed (same as low or dead battery). This is a failure within the camera and repair of this failure is much more than the value of the body.
Then came the 645 Pro models , followed by the 645TL on the Pro body. Good reliable cameras preceding the AF models.
There was a lesser priced 645E which had a fixed prism finder, also a good camera. light weight for the format, but limited in some functions.
As I recall, ALL lenses fit all the models throughout the range of models and also usable manually on the AF models.
I've owned and had good service from many models throughout the model ranges, except that I had two of the SUPER models and suffered the electronics failure on both of them.
Point of information - one Mam 645 to avoid....
First series 645 Mamiya were classed as M645, M645-1000 and M645J. They were good, reliable and sturdy (a bit heavy). They are distinquished by NOT having fully removable backs, but rather film inserts. No midroll change capability, but you could carry preloaded inserts in insert boxes. Good cameras and used a full range of lens focal lengths and the 1.9
Then, the next iteration of Mamiya's 645 series was the 645 Super. Introduced was the metal frame with plastic clad body in a boxier shape, with full removable backs for midroll change capability. Again all focal lengths fit this model
CAUTION... this is a model to avoid. It was plagued with electronics problems defaulting the shutter to one shutter speed (same as low or dead battery). This is a failure within the camera and repair of this failure is much more than the value of the body.
Then came the 645 Pro models , followed by the 645TL on the Pro body. Good reliable cameras preceding the AF models.
There was a lesser priced 645E which had a fixed prism finder, also a good camera. light weight for the format, but limited in some functions.
As I recall, ALL lenses fit all the models throughout the range of models and also usable manually on the AF models.
I've owned and had good service from many models throughout the model ranges, except that I had two of the SUPER models and suffered the electronics failure on both of them.
imokruok
Well-known
I also have a Pro TL and the 80mm/1.9. It is a wonderful combo and I can't recommend it highly enough. Apart from the 1.9 lens, all of the gear is readily available and there is no problem procuring additional or replacement parts for pretty cheap.
The 1.9 lens is a little hard to find. KEH rarely has them. I scoured the 'bay for 2 weeks to find the early non-N version, which for me suits me just fine! I started out with the 2.8 version, and that is an awesome lens as well.
As a matter of fact, apart from the Mamiya 645 being a great system, I'm holding on to it for the day when I get a full-frame DSLR. I already have the Fotodiox adapter, but am really looking forward to migrating this quality glass over to a Canon digital on occasion.
Also, I recently posted these elsewhere, but this shot and the ones of the same model in that series were all on the 1.9, as well as anything in my photostream tagged with 80mm 1.9!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alflauren/5287550134/
The 1.9 lens is a little hard to find. KEH rarely has them. I scoured the 'bay for 2 weeks to find the early non-N version, which for me suits me just fine! I started out with the 2.8 version, and that is an awesome lens as well.
As a matter of fact, apart from the Mamiya 645 being a great system, I'm holding on to it for the day when I get a full-frame DSLR. I already have the Fotodiox adapter, but am really looking forward to migrating this quality glass over to a Canon digital on occasion.
Also, I recently posted these elsewhere, but this shot and the ones of the same model in that series were all on the 1.9, as well as anything in my photostream tagged with 80mm 1.9!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alflauren/5287550134/
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aaron.tam
Established
I was almost going to sell my 645 Pro and 80mm 1.9, but this thread has convinced me otherwise! Here are some of my 80mm F1.9 shots:
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T
Todd.Hanz
Guest
Messin' around with mine this weekend, bought this body and lens because of this thread...can you say GAS!
Todd
Todd
Greg M.
Member
645/1.9
645/1.9
@chriscrawford wrote, "I keep thinking I'm gonna get one of the 80mm/2.8 mamiya lenses to compare"
I have and have used Mamiya's OLD 645's for a couple of decades... none of the 80mm f/2.8's, that I have had, are anything to daydream about... but the 75mm, with the shutter in, IS a lens worth daydreaming about. It is one of the sharpest, and 'cleanest' (bokeh, distortion, various other optical MoJo) lenses that I've ever used.
They are available, cheap, if you get one with a cranky/non-working shutter. Although I do occasionally use the shutter... if it didn't work, I wouldn't be at all upset.
Most of the sealing gaskets on all of these old Mamiyas are oozing solvent, and disintegrating (my old Minoltas, too...). Check out <http://camerasealkit.com/>.
Greg M.
645/1.9
@chriscrawford wrote, "I keep thinking I'm gonna get one of the 80mm/2.8 mamiya lenses to compare"
I have and have used Mamiya's OLD 645's for a couple of decades... none of the 80mm f/2.8's, that I have had, are anything to daydream about... but the 75mm, with the shutter in, IS a lens worth daydreaming about. It is one of the sharpest, and 'cleanest' (bokeh, distortion, various other optical MoJo) lenses that I've ever used.
They are available, cheap, if you get one with a cranky/non-working shutter. Although I do occasionally use the shutter... if it didn't work, I wouldn't be at all upset.
Most of the sealing gaskets on all of these old Mamiyas are oozing solvent, and disintegrating (my old Minoltas, too...). Check out <http://camerasealkit.com/>.
Greg M.
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
My m645 came with the 80mm 1.9 lens and I do like it but I find that the 110mm 2.8 is a very sharp lens and have been enjoying it lately...I would like the 70mm mainly for it's focal length and I've been wanting the 145mm Soft-Focus lens but I just got a set of Harrison&Harrison Diffusion Filters...I've got a few portraits I'd like to do...
tomalophicon
Well-known
Aaron.tam, the second picture is astonishing.
filmfan
Well-known
Mamiya 645 Pro
Sekor-C 80mm f/1.9
Neopan 400 (expired by 10 years) + Rodinal 1:50
1.
2.
3.
Sekor-C 80mm f/1.9
Neopan 400 (expired by 10 years) + Rodinal 1:50
1.
2.
3.
Spanik
Well-known
Just discovered this thread and it convinced me the f1.9 is worth adding to the stable. So far my favorite of the system is the 55mm N/L leaf shutter. I don't use the leaf shutter but it really suits me fine as a walk around lens.
filmfan
Well-known
More... why not?
Mamiya 645 Pro
Sekor-C 80mm f/1.9
Neopan 400 (expired) + Rodinal 1:50
1.
2.
3.
Mamiya 645 Pro
Sekor-C 80mm f/1.9
Neopan 400 (expired) + Rodinal 1:50
1.
2.
3.