Mamiya M 645 & 1.9 80mm

[mani]

@ Spanik and mani
As they say, the beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, so your beautiful could be my ugly or vice versa.
Before you use words as "disservice" and "utter rubbish" think twice, nobody as yet has gotten hurt by thinking...
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.688055441293044.1073741854.341368619295063&type=3

You'd rather use one of these Frankenstein conversions than the Mamiya 1,9? Oh well - as I could barely give away a boxed near-mint Summicron 90 a couple years ago, I guess it might make financial sense. In terms of aesthetics, I'll stick with the incredible Mamiya lens.

 

[littleearth]

I love the 1.9 bokeh, it has a lot of character, but there is also the Sekor 110mm f2.8 if you like smooth buttery bokeh. It's an awesome lens if you can find one.
I don't see the point of adapting a CZJ Sonnar 180, it's a huge and clumbsy lens to use on a 645 camera.

 

[Peter_S]

I believe there are several lenses that you can list here that would return stunning results when you look for examples - is that not the main beauty of MF? Everytime I look at that Pentax 67 treat here on RFF my jaw drops.
That Sekor 110mm f/2.8 looks really tempting as well. Smooooth indeed and would complement the f/1.9 nicely. 🙂

The

 

[Spanik]

Don't have the 110/2.8 to compare, neither the 150/2.8 which has a good reputation. My most used lens is the 55/2.8 N/L. Love that lens.

I only mentioned the CZJ 180/2.8 because if I had to adapt a lens to get a nice bokeh, then that would be my first choice. There are several reasons, most important that I have one around. Otherwise it is just an adaptor ring, not some hacksaw job and 180 is a focal length that is not available in Mamiya. The Mamiya 200/2.8 isn't any less clumsy but a lot more expensive.

 

[Peter_S]

Picked up a 110mm f/2.8 for cheap...now on to some rolls FP4+ to compare the two (-:

 

[kanzlr]

I had a hard time focusing anything with the prism, but the 80/1.9 was the easiest of the lot I used, along with the 150/2.8

With the WLF it was easier, definitely. In the end I sold the M645 Pro I had because critical focus was too hard for me to achieve in less than perfect light, especially under time pressure (wedding shots). I moved to Pentax 645N bodies, and the reasonably fast AF is a delight for what I do. But I do miss the 80/1.9 from time to time, as well as removable backs 🙂

 

[nikon_sam]

I just got the 70mm 2.8 L/S lens...nice lens and pretty sharp...
I have the 80mm 1.9 (came with my first m645 1000s) but don't use it as much as the others lenses...this is what I have...
45mm...works great with the WLF...
55mm...also works great with the WLF...
70mm L/S...like what I've seen so far
80mm 1.9...used it for a portrait shoot...liked the prints
110mm great lens...might be my favorite
145mm soft focus...haven't used it other than for testing...
150mm...both the 150 & 210 are usable hand-held...
210mm
I have a winder on one body, I like it but sometimes I forget to either turn it "On" or unlock the body...I lock the body because I find I trip the shutter by accident too many times...
My first 1000s body came with the 80mm 1.9 and the Metered Prism Finder, paid about $300 for all of it...

 

[Peter_S]

Thanks again for the info, also the list, Sam!

I love the 1.9 bokeh, it has a lot of character, but there is also the Sekor 110mm f2.8 if you like smooth buttery bokeh. It's an awesome lens if you can find one.

I am glad I followed your advice. That lens is a true gem. I used a lot of lenses, that one is handsdown just one of the favourites. It has a very long focus throw, but that enables very precise focus. All images are tack-sharp.
I generally like the system a lot...it was meant as a backup but it actually complements the Bessa III wonderfully.

 

[Ken Ford]

Peter, how goes your 645 project? Any new impressions of the lenses you found?

 

[Peter_S]

Hi Ken!

I ended up selling the 1000S and the f/1.9 80mm along with it. The Bessa III was just so superior in most ways, and 6x4.5 was not my thing (I have generally reduced my film kit). That said, I used the f/2.8 110mm on an AFD with a digital Kodak back - I miss that combination. I still have the f/2.8 110mm, sans anything to attach it to, hoping to be able to afford another digital Mamiya/Phase One at some point. That lens (110mm) I preferred over the 80mm. Feels very well made too, a beautiful, excellent lens that I bought for a very low price and do not want to part with.

Currently I found myself using wides, so none of theses systems would see much use at the moment.

 

[Pioneer]

I enjoy working with the 645 negative, but not everyone likes it. I now work with the Pentax but have owned a couple Mamiya 645s in the past. Decent cameras and terrific lenses.

 

[Ken Ford]

Peter, thanks for the update! I have the same experience, sometimes a system or specific gear just doesn't work out in the long term.