jmooney
Guy with a camera
Hi All,
I'm thinking about adding a Mamiya 645 AF to the bag (the original model for now, and I'll be shooting film). I'd probably get the 80mm, a wide (55mm) and Macro. I'd use it for the general shooting I do, kids, dogs, etc - macro (plants and flowers). I'd like to hear from anyone who uses one of these if you think the camera is suitable for this type of thing. I am concerned a bit about the AF speed and the AE because with my kids especially I'll be relying on those a lot. I'd like to use MF more but I need to find an autofocus camera to do it with. I've tried working with manual focus cameras but I have arthritis in my hands and the gripping and twisting is hard to do and I can't focus quickly or reliably when I do it myself. How is the focus tracking as well? Any other thoughts or advice would be much appreciated. Please post pictures if you have them too!
Take care,
Jim
I'm thinking about adding a Mamiya 645 AF to the bag (the original model for now, and I'll be shooting film). I'd probably get the 80mm, a wide (55mm) and Macro. I'd use it for the general shooting I do, kids, dogs, etc - macro (plants and flowers). I'd like to hear from anyone who uses one of these if you think the camera is suitable for this type of thing. I am concerned a bit about the AF speed and the AE because with my kids especially I'll be relying on those a lot. I'd like to use MF more but I need to find an autofocus camera to do it with. I've tried working with manual focus cameras but I have arthritis in my hands and the gripping and twisting is hard to do and I can't focus quickly or reliably when I do it myself. How is the focus tracking as well? Any other thoughts or advice would be much appreciated. Please post pictures if you have them too!
Take care,
Jim
ChrisN
Striving
I once had a M645 1000s and found the ergonomics difficult. I played with a 645 Pro and it felt lighter and with better controls. I'm still thinking about getting one.
There's a GA645 in the classifieds at the moment. I've had one for a few years, and have always been very happy with the results from that. Good lens, very easy to use, brilliant viewfinder, and a rangefinder-like user experience (apart from the fact that the "normal" aspect is portrait format, which actually suits me fine).
There's a GA645 in the classifieds at the moment. I've had one for a few years, and have always been very happy with the results from that. Good lens, very easy to use, brilliant viewfinder, and a rangefinder-like user experience (apart from the fact that the "normal" aspect is portrait format, which actually suits me fine).
Matus
Well-known
I do not know how many Mamiya 645 AF users are around here, be sure to check out the APUG and photo.net fora too. I recall reading that AF hat some downsides compared to later AF-D and in particular AF-D II and AF-D III models. AF speed is supposed to be improved on the later AF-D models. But none of that is my personal experience. I had Pentax 645N for a while and found the AF quite good, but I do not know how does it compare to Mamiya.
CK Dexter Haven
Well-known
I had a 645AF a while ago, and i'm planning to reacquire one.
The AF is good. Solid. But, it's not appropriate if you really need "tracking." It, essentially, just does what manual focus does. There's only one AF point, and you just get focus and keep it locked until you make the exposure. Fine, for me, as even though i have various Canon EOS cameras and a Nikon F100, i've never, ever used AF focus tracking. I always lock focus, confirm, and then trip the shutter. But, i don't shoot sports.... And when i photograph people or fashion or whatever, i don't trust the camera to do all of those predictions and calculations.... If you're shooting children 'on the run,' you'd probably do much better with a 35mm camera.
The AF is good. Solid. But, it's not appropriate if you really need "tracking." It, essentially, just does what manual focus does. There's only one AF point, and you just get focus and keep it locked until you make the exposure. Fine, for me, as even though i have various Canon EOS cameras and a Nikon F100, i've never, ever used AF focus tracking. I always lock focus, confirm, and then trip the shutter. But, i don't shoot sports.... And when i photograph people or fashion or whatever, i don't trust the camera to do all of those predictions and calculations.... If you're shooting children 'on the run,' you'd probably do much better with a 35mm camera.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
The AF on the initial 645AF was pretty much like on the Nikon F4, except that it was much slower. Ok for me, but by the mid nineties many 35mm AF users thought the F4 was too slow to use...
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
I was reading this thread because I have a Mamiya m645 (not the AF) and really do like this camera and format...I have never used it for covering any sports but I did use it when shooting the local high school Marching Band (mostly during practice)...
I do have the Nikon F4 and F5 and both do have the Continuous Tracking mode with the F5's being the better of the two...They (Nikon) say that the Tracking would even continue if the subject were to be lost for a brief moment and pick it up again in focus...well, I will say that after trying that with the F5 it doesn't really work as good as they say...They also claim that the cameras will not fire unless the subject is in focus...I've got plenty of shots to prove that statement wrong...
I rarely use either camera in the Continuous Mode...
I shoot mainly in the Single Mode for most things and I also use the AF Lock button too...
The F4 can hunt a bit depending on the lighting situation very bright whites or dark blacks (stuff with no real texture) and will really drive you crazy when the batteries start to go low...Most of the time that's how I know the batteries are ready to be replaced...
I'm not sure which batteries are in the Mamiya AF cameras but the F5 takes 8 AA batteries to power it and the F4 takes 6 AA...
I do have the Nikon F4 and F5 and both do have the Continuous Tracking mode with the F5's being the better of the two...They (Nikon) say that the Tracking would even continue if the subject were to be lost for a brief moment and pick it up again in focus...well, I will say that after trying that with the F5 it doesn't really work as good as they say...They also claim that the cameras will not fire unless the subject is in focus...I've got plenty of shots to prove that statement wrong...
I rarely use either camera in the Continuous Mode...
I shoot mainly in the Single Mode for most things and I also use the AF Lock button too...
The F4 can hunt a bit depending on the lighting situation very bright whites or dark blacks (stuff with no real texture) and will really drive you crazy when the batteries start to go low...Most of the time that's how I know the batteries are ready to be replaced...
I'm not sure which batteries are in the Mamiya AF cameras but the F5 takes 8 AA batteries to power it and the F4 takes 6 AA...
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jmooney
Guy with a camera
Hmmm....sounds like this might not be the cam for me. I guess I'll go back to an SLR with a normal lens and maybe pick up a cheap 4x5 for when my inner Ansel and/or Edward want to get out and play....
jmooney
Guy with a camera
Those GA645s are awesome cameras, I owned one for a short while myself but as with 35mm RFs I constantly wind up banging my head against the close focus distance.
David_Manning
Well-known
I loved my Mamiya 645AF, but it has it's limitations. Autofocus is good for stationary/focus recompose, but not for action. The exposure meter was pretty good, but was fooled by backlighting pretty badly.
It wasn't bad to hand-hold at all, especially in the studio, but carrying it out and about was not easy, or comfortable. I used it once as my point-n-shoot out in Manhattan...what a miserable afternoon that was.
Image quality was superb. Both of these are on Provia 100 and the 80mm standard lens:
It wasn't bad to hand-hold at all, especially in the studio, but carrying it out and about was not easy, or comfortable. I used it once as my point-n-shoot out in Manhattan...what a miserable afternoon that was.
Image quality was superb. Both of these are on Provia 100 and the 80mm standard lens:
raytoei@gmail.com
Veteran
Hi,
trying to ask a question 645AF focusing, i just read up on the 3 different modes of focusing, Single, Continuous AF and Manual focusing.
If i want to focus and recompose, can i use continuous AF or should I stick to Single AF-Lock and Recompose and trip the shutter ? The reason is this, if i use a shallow DOF, say f2.8, won't lock and recompose shift the focus resulting in a possible unfocused subject ?
thanks
raytoei
trying to ask a question 645AF focusing, i just read up on the 3 different modes of focusing, Single, Continuous AF and Manual focusing.
If i want to focus and recompose, can i use continuous AF or should I stick to Single AF-Lock and Recompose and trip the shutter ? The reason is this, if i use a shallow DOF, say f2.8, won't lock and recompose shift the focus resulting in a possible unfocused subject ?
thanks
raytoei
kuzano
Veteran
WHOAAAH! You forgot the NSFW warning!!!
WHOAAAH! You forgot the NSFW warning!!!
A coworker (female) saw me open your link. She reported me and now I have 2 demerits in my employee folder from the Director of Human Resources. Normally, I wouldn't be so upset, but we get fired at 25, and I already had 22.
Thanks a lot!!!
(PS... how about some contact information?... NO Not for you!)
WHOAAAH! You forgot the NSFW warning!!!
I loved my Mamiya 645AF, but it has it's limitations. Autofocus is good for stationary/focus recompose, but not for action. The exposure meter was pretty good, but was fooled by backlighting pretty badly.
It wasn't bad to hand-hold at all, especially in the studio, but carrying it out and about was not easy, or comfortable. I used it once as my point-n-shoot out in Manhattan...what a miserable afternoon that was.
Image quality was superb. Both of these are on Provia 100 and the 80mm standard lens:
A coworker (female) saw me open your link. She reported me and now I have 2 demerits in my employee folder from the Director of Human Resources. Normally, I wouldn't be so upset, but we get fired at 25, and I already had 22.
Thanks a lot!!!
(PS... how about some contact information?... NO Not for you!)