Mamiya M645

R

ruben

Guest
Go to eBay, go to Keh, and you will find very very low prices for these cameras, outfits and lenses.

Go to Camera Review and you will find this camera ranks very high in the perceptions of its users

Can you explain me this ?

Cheers,
Ruben
 
It's an SLR? ;)

So many people are going over to digital. Only certain film camera brands and models are retaining their value, and only in a slim way. There are lots of good buys out there. Have fun!
 
Ruben--
I don't know, but I have one and it has worked well for me for 20-plus years. I can carry camera, plus 55, 80, and 110 mm lenses in a very small bag. As long as they make Tri-X 120, I need nothing more for medium format. I could use a Pentacon 120 camera or a Kiev 66, but then I'd have quality questions, and I don't worry aboput the Mamiya's quality at all--it's first rate.
--Lindsay
 
I have been using a 645J with Zeiss Jena lenses for excellent results. In fact, I added recently a back-up 645 body with prism. It cost very little. I love the Zeiss 50mm/4 and the 180mm/2.8 Sonnar. The Mamiya 80mm/2.8 is also a good lens. I use the Zeiss Jena 120mm lens on my Canon 35mm SLR cameras with an adapter.
 
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The only medium format film cameras that have any resale value are Hasselblads and obscure rare things like Plaubel Makinas. The Mamiya 645 is a wonderful system ad right now an awesome bargain. I bought my 645 Super new in 1994 and it cost almost $3000 back then for the body, 120 back, 80mm f1.9 and 135mm f3.5 lenses, and plain non-metered prism. I think you can get all that for less than $900 now!

I have done most of my best work with my 645:

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Ok folks, but go for the prices of Bronica RF and prices are very high, go fof fujifillm medium format cameras and prices are still very high, go for mamiya 6 or 7 and jump from the window.

How do you explain this ?
 
Maybe it is the perceived very high quality of the optics for these three systems, Ruben.
 
Ruben:

I believe it's because Mamiya released three updated models of the the original 645 within the last three years or so. The 645AF , 645AFII and the 645AFD (with digital back) all of which work with the original film backs. I agree that it's a great camera, and believe it's a simple supply and demand issue. There are simply a large number of the originals available since many pros upgraded to the AFII and most recently the AFDs. Large supply, thus lower demand and lower prices. That's my thought.

Respectfully,

Jeff
 
raid said:
Maybe it is the perceived very high quality of the optics for these three systems, Ruben.
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It is because they're rangefinders. That itself seems to make a camera more valuable, and none of the cameras mentioned were made in large numbers, unlike the Various M645 models that were extremely popular with ordinary everyday pros (wedding photographers, portrait studios, etc).
 
It is just a point of view. I just bought (cheap) a M645 body with groundglass and one 120 insert. Now looking to make a complete camera out of it I must say lenses are not cheap (even the standard 80 mm), even a WLF is expensive and the prices for macrorings are simply laughable.
Then comparing with my Kiev 88 it is not much smaller. Maybe the lenses are smaller, don't know for now. Anyhow, for the price of a M645+lens+WLF I can buy a Kiev 88 body with 3 lenses and 2 backs.
I have the impression 6x6 SLRs are generally cheaper to have than 6x4,5 so maybe it is a thing of people opting for the smaller format out of the idea of weight or out of not getting used to the square format. I tend to think the first reason is more important, that could be why the big brother the RB/RZ 67 can be had for the same price, often even cheaper then the 645. (I speak about the non-AF ones, the AF-ones are ofcourse even more expensive.)

Eugen
 
It's because SLR users are saner and more considerate than the irrational RF enthusiasts who get into emotional bidding wars that drive the going rate of RF's so high it causes poverty and violence? :)
 
I am not as experienced as most of you, but I am learning quickly that some of my cheapest cameras are as good as or better performing than my pricier ones. :)
 
ishpop said:
I am not as experienced as most of you, but I am learning quickly that some of my cheapest cameras are as good as or better performing than my pricier ones. :)
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Be careful in how you speak such words or you might be burned, or stoned, or beat-up as a heretic. :eek: Some of these folks takes their expensive cameras very seriously.
 
If you're looking for a grip for your 500 series 'blad the Mamiya 645 grip fits if you file the two alignment pins a bit shorter, and the trigger release mechanism lines up with the Hasselblad's shutter release like it was made for it. Shortening the pins a tad won't affect it fitting on the Mamiya bodies. It's a much more comfortable grip than the 'blad grip.
 
My father helped me to tweak a vivitar grip to put the handle on a 45 degree angle (towards the back). It worked great for my 645. I never had more than just the 110. It was a fun camera with a good sized negative. I did some great portraits with her, non metered prism finder.

I remember the body liked to chew through batteries more than I would have liked, but then I'm a very manual sort of guy.

B2 (;->
 
I still have an M645 kit, but for me it was a stepping stone to a Hasselblad. I wanted more. The lenses are good, but the M645 ergonomics are a disaster - very uncomfortable handling. (Eg with the grip fitted it's very difficult to change the shutter speed, and when using the grip, in landscape format, it's very difficult to rotate the aperture ring to meter. Your experience may well be different to mine.)

I still have a WLF too - what are they worth these days?

And Al, thanks for the tip on the grip suiting Hassy wth mods - I might get some use out of that if I ever get an eye-level finder.
 
ChrisN said:
I still have an M645 kit, but for me it was a stepping stone to a Hasselblad. I wanted more. The lenses are good, but the M645 ergonomics are a disaster - very uncomfortable handling. (Eg with the grip fitted it's very difficult to change the shutter speed, and when using the grip, in landscape format, it's very difficult to rotate the aperture ring to meter. Your experience may well be different to mine.)

I still have a WLF too - what are they worth these days?

And Al, thanks for the tip on the grip suiting Hassy wth mods - I might get some use out of that if I ever get an eye-level finder.
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The later models, the 645 Super and 645 Pro, fixed those ergonomic problems. The shutter speed dial is on top of the camera, like a 35mm, not on the side as in the older 645 models.
 
I have a 645E as well with grip, 80/2.8, 80/1.9, 45/2.8. It's a great camera to step into if the 6x6 or 6x7 formats give you trouble composing. It feels like a big 35mm, close focusing capabilities and all. I don't use it as much as I thought I would but when I do it always impresses me. About once a month I consider selling the kit but have held onto it till now.

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Todd
 
Chriscrawfordphoto said:
The later models, the 645 Super and 645 Pro, fixed those ergonomic problems. The shutter speed dial is on top of the camera, like a 35mm, not on the side as in the older 645 models.
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Ah - that's good to know. Of course the images can be excellent, it's just more awkward to handle.

Todd.Hanz said:
... I don't use it as much as I thought I would but when I do it always impresses me. ...
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Great images Todd, as usual. And your statement just about sums up medium format for me. More work, but always satisfying.
 
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