Mamiya 645

[bizarrius]

Hello!
anyone know where can i buy a waist level viewfinder for my Mamiya 645?
i have the eyelevel and i dont think its really my type.

any help?

thanks 🙂

 

[oftheherd]

if you don't want to trust ebay or the like, perhaps KEH?

 

[bizarrius]

hmm im looking at KEH now. i dont know which one to use. its the plain 645 no AF no nothing. i guess everything works?

 

[nikon_sam]

Go with the Sports Finder w/o the Mask...there is really no need for the mask...
KEH has a few of them...any condition should be good as the biggest factor other than opening properly would be the small magnifying glass...
I have the Metered Prism and the WLF and have found that I use the WLF more often and I also like the view point when using it...

You can find replacement magnifiers on ebay...they also have some with diopter values too if needed...

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

The manual focus 645 models had a couple different waist level finders, depending on the model. The Super and Pro/ProTL models used one version, the original 645 used another and I think the 645-1000s had its own too. So make sure you get the one that fits the exact model you have. I have a 645 Super and would not use a waistlevel on it, you can only do horizontal shots!

 

[bizarrius]

ah my bad. KEH is not in europe and charges 60$ for shipping.
anything in europe that can help me? 🙁

 

[nikon_sam]

The m645 1000s, m645 & m645J use the same WLF and most other parts...the difference between them were features specific to the body...the "J" being the most basic and the 1000s having the Self-Timer, DOF Preview, 1/1000 top shutter speed & shutter speed lock.

 

[ruby.monkey]

Both Ffordes and Mifsuds show the original M645 WLF in stock. It comes with a built-in wireframe sports finder matching the 80mm FoV. The clip-on mask is for the longer lenses (110mm, 150mm, and 200mm?).

 

[bizarrius]

i got it from ffordes and while checking out i grabbed a 45mm f2.8 😀

its my first (serious) MF camera. anyone want to give any tips on using? accessories i might need?

anything?

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

The original 645 didn't really have any must-have accessories. The later Super and Pro have interchangeable backs, which is nice, and the option of a motorized winder grip that makes the cameras much easier to handhold at eye-level if you use a prism finder. I guess I'd say more lenses. The 45 is good, I have one, as well as the 55 and 150mm lenses. There is an 80mm f1.9 that seems to be very hard to find. I got mine new 16 years ago and its nice for lowlight work.

 

[wlewisiii]

The 110 is a marvellous lens too.

Enjoy!

William

 

[bizarrius]

Thanks for your tips.

I have another question :$
Any strap ideas? i only have the leica strap which i haven't tried yet and dont think will match. i should buy an official?

sorry and thanks😀

 

[Chris101]

Yes. The strap that is made for the original 645 has really neat snaps that will only come off when you want them to. I occasionally use the left hand grip with mine. And if you do close-ups, there is a really nice bellows unit that has all the front standard movements. Plus the rail is detachable and will work as a macro focusing rail for any camera.

edit: skip the motor drive - it's slower than you can do by hand.

 

[matthew J Shaw]

Hi Bizarrius

I had a few 645's before switching to bronica (prefer 6x6)... Hopefully I can help you out: Places to get the finder, Ffordes are probably one of the best, but also try London Camera Exchange, they get them in quite often used and sell them very cheap at the mo... Jacobs photographic (London) will often have parts in and again service and price is superb, and both options will mail to where ever you are pretty cheaply.

As for the strap, I tried several quick cheap options when I had mine, and all were pretty awful, ended up buying Mamiya strap lugs and matching to an Op-Tech strap. Not the cheapest option, but rock solid and made it easy to carry even for whole days...

Hope this helps.

M