Mamiya 645 ponderings

[brbeck]

Rogrund,

I went from a mamiya 645 pro tl to a hasselblad because I really like the square format and like the wlf. If the mamiya 645 if equipped with a grip and a prism finder it really shoots like a SLR. Mine is for sale if your interested. PM me.

Brian

 

[Rogrund]

Wow, thanks for all replies. Great info, now I only have to decide which one to go for ...

 

[pirx70]

Well I received my M645 1000s yesterday. A gorgeous little beast. Gorgeous and little it is, and heavy as a beast - it came with a PD prism. I had never before thought I'd want a "cropped" 6x6 but since I now mainly use Mamiya 7 and rather find the square format I used to love a bit impractical in the darkroom (too much of paper is wasted), and I didn't want to give up on my Pentacon Six lenses, here you go. It is built really superbly and fine in operation - I'll only have to find a WLF, so that it's a much lighter and smaller package...

 

[Takkun]

Congrats! My vote would have been for the 1000s or the Pro, depending on wanting interchangeable backs and/or the old-school styling.

For the record, here's the major differences of the models. A long long time ago, I got bit by the big-negative bug and read all I could about the Mamiya and Pentax systems before ultimately falling into posession of a Bronica SQ-A.

M645--original focal-plane-shutter body, 1s-1/500s
645 1000S - added 1/1000s shutter speed and DOF preview
645 Super- body redesign of the 1000S PLUS interchangable backs
645J- (Junior?) Original model without mirror lockup
645E - plastic body, no interchangeable backs, built-in eye-level finder, built-in AE meter
645 Pro- Complete redesign, with interchangeable backs, motor grip, TTL flash, more advanced electronic finders.


And after typing all that out from memory, I find this link......
http://645.helluin.org/1st-generation/

 

[Monz]

Another vote for 1000s. The lack of interchangeable back isn't a big deal. The bodies are so cheap these days, you may as well have 2 bodies with different film in each.The lenses are very good value on the s/h market. 35mm, 55mm, 80mm f2.8 and 110mm or 150mm will give you a fantastic range at a very reasonable price.

The camera feels very solid and can easily be used hand held. I prefer to use a metered prism and hold the camera at eye level.

 

[Monz]

Small, Medium, Large by *monz*, on Flickr

[Mamiaya 1000s, 110mm]

 

[Monz]

H by *monz*, on Flickr

[Mamiaya 1000s, 150mm]

 

[Monz]

Bee by *monz*, on Flickr

[Mamiya 1000s, 80mm macro + extension tube]

 

[GarageBoy]

There ARE adapters for the Hblad to Pentax and Mamiya