Please stop me...

[SolaresLarrave]

Dear People,

Some nice day is coming... and I feel terribly tempted to do something not very good: get a nice Mamiya 645e kit.

This Mamiya isn't the best and brightest of the 645 family, but it's newer than the J or 1000 models. Drawbacks: not interchangeable backs or viewfinders, but heck, the lenses are still interchangeable... and the price is terribly yummy!! 😀

But no... I must not... 😱! Is there an end to these obsessions? 🙄 I can withstand the Leica lure now... but there are times when it's really rough.

BTW, I'm talking about prices below $500... for a relatively new kit: lens, body and the works!

I'm going to try to be strong...

 

[Todd.Hanz]

It's a really nice kit with the possibility to go digital or film. I like the 6,7, and 7II but they are huge. I'd say get it!

Todd

 

[Sonnar Brian]

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Buy it... Buy it... But it... Only costs $500... Can Resell anytime... like an investment... chance of a lifetime... Lens Body and the works... Under $500... Just think, less than 1/5 the price of an MP...

 

[back alley]

i had a 645j when they first came out.
very nice, great lenses, big negs much easier to work on in the darkroom.

 

[rover]

I don't know how they compare to the Pentax 645 as far as features go, but, not to tempt or confuse you, I know that the Pentax lens are also excellent. You can put together a Pentax kit from KEH; body, magazine and standard lens, for about $500 too.

 

[back alley]

rover, you bad!

 

[GeneW]

If you have a darkroom or a scanner that can adequately scan medium format negs, it's a treat to work with large negatives. A whole different world from 35mm. Sounds like a really nice cam, and the option to go digital with it is a bonus, IMO.

Gene

 

[Tim]

Well......
I'm currently not the best person to say anything like "Don't buy it!" 🙂 but fwiw, one of the blokes I work with and regularly have photo sessions with has a pair of Mam 645's, an original 645 and a 645E. I've used them on occasion too.
They're certainly capable of VERY nice results, the lenses (he has 80, 150, 210) are all good. The feel of the whole outfit is pretty good, the original 645 kinda feels nicer but boy is it heavy. The 645E's polycarbonate body feels pretty well indestructable (given modern plastics) but the non detachable finder may be a limit. (the waist level finder is a nice thing). Glenn gets some very very nice b&w results from them, and the large negs are a beautiful thing. But he's now wondering about selling them because of a) reduction in availability in 120 film b) pita to carry around compared to a 35mm
So even at $500, tempting tho it is, will you use it or will it just become (yet another) camera in the cupboard?
(there ya go, my attempt at being rational) 😉

tim

 

[Russ]

It's a really nice kit with the possibility to go digital or film. I like the 6,7, and 7II but they are huge. I'd say get it!

Todd

Todd


I have been enamored with the Mamiya 7II, for some time now. How do you like yours? I am considering that outfit. A buddy, who is a lens and camera tech, says that those lenses are soooo damn sharp. The Mamiya 7II is considerably lighter than my SLR rig.

Russ

 

[oftheherd]

Francisco, that does sound like a good deal, and if you have the money for it, the ability to go digital is nice. If you don't have the money or the interest, then of course, that is no advantage.

Still, I guess I am always the odd man out. My take on 645 is that it just isn't that much bigger, when 6x7 is out there. I think all here know that I have an old Mamiya Super Press 23. They hold up well, have both interchangable backs and (sharp) lenses, can use cut film, and in my opinion, probably since they are RF's, aren't so much heavier than 645 SLR's or TLR's. They are bulkier for sure. And I would suggest one of the newer Press 23's or Universals, not the older models. If you are impressed with a 645 negative's size, wait until you see a 6x7!

 

[Pherdinand]

TLR's are not heavy! TLR's are lightweight, sturdy, portable, hand(neck)holdable, fun, cool, chick-attracting, silent, discrete, cheap and they produce very very very nice pictures!
They are almost as good as rangefinders 😀

 

[Todd.Hanz]

Russ,
I don't have a 7 but would like one! I think Doug uses one!

Todd

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Alright... I've decided against the machine because, even though I could drain some cash from my savings, I don't have a lot of time to use the camera. Alas, but the world had to slap me in the face.

However, I'm starting my own private Mamiya fund.

Now... I don't know if the Mamiya 645e, which, apparently, doesn't have interchangeable backs, can go digital. I've assumed that's only for the 645 Pro and the 645 AF, but I'll check again. It's a big temptation...

What I like about this camera is that it's relatively automated: the shutter is electronically controlled, and it has a center-weighed meter built in. There are diopters in the viewfinder and it has exposure compensation dials as well as mirror lockup. I had the chance to use a 645 Pro model and the 645e, in comparison, isn't really that different (I think it was conceived as the "economy" model of the Pro).

But then... I finally found a paramender for a decent price, so I think I'm going for that one instead.

Yes, I own a Mamiya C220, and can vouch for Pherdinand's words: TLRs are, in fact, pretty cool in a world of only small, toy-like cameras. People look at you and they say to themselves: "this guys means business!"

Thanks for helping me make up my mind... even if it didn't have the expected outcome! 🙂

Oh! I've seen 6 X 7 negs... A good friend and medium-format mentor has a couple of Mamiyas 6 (the RF model) and he's let me handle them and showed me his slides. They are, indeed, impressive! But those prices... 😱

 

[Pherdinand]

you probably mean mamiya 7's (the 6's are 6x6 if i'm not mistaken)
Once i've handled a mamiya 7II RF too... i put it down very fast!
And nope, not because i did not like it...

 

[Doug]

Francisco, I too would guess that the lack of an interchangeable back would prevent that Mamiya from using a digital back, as it does the Pentax 645 SLR. I don't know that there's any real technical reason one couldn't be made, though, if there were enough market interest.

How about a nice medium format RF camera? 🙂

Todd, I just did a little search of the gallery and came up with this list of members who have posted photos shot with a Mamiya 7: TomOScott, erayboy, jdos2, Cpt.Caveman, konpikoulas, gcap, and Jorge Torralba. I didn’t see any Mamiya 6 pics there.

In medium format I use a Bronica RF645, a Fuji GS645S, a Fuji GA645Wi, and a pair of Pentax 6x7s.

 

[Russ]

Oh! I've seen 6 X 7 negs... A good friend and medium-format mentor has a couple of Mamiyas 6 (the RF model) and he's let me handle them and showed me his slides. They are, indeed, impressive! But those prices... 😱 [/B]

Many years ago, I shot some 4x5 inch Velvia 50 film. I cried, and almost junked all of my SLR's...

Russ

 

[oftheherd]

...

Oh! I've seen 6 X 7 negs... A good friend and medium-format mentor has a couple of Mamiyas 6 (the RF model) and he's let me handle them and showed me his slides. They are, indeed, impressive! But those prices... 😱

Which is another reason I always talk about the Unversal/Press 23's. They are all used and so aren't as expensive as newer cameras. Of course, that requires more care in selecting them too, as, they are used.

Anyway, good luck in your selection. Sometimes we get stuff just because it tickles some fancy in us, and that's all we need to be happy.

 

[Russ]

Which is another reason I always talk about the Unversal/Press 23's. They are all used and so aren't as expensive as newer cameras. Of course, that requires more care in selecting them too, as, they are used.

Anyway, good luck in your selection. Sometimes we get stuff just because it tickles some fancy in us, and that's all we need to be happy.

Which reminds me, I recently acquired a couple of those tiny Minolta subminiature 16mm cameras (minox spy camera clone). Is that film still available anywhere? Or the processing? I figured they would be great for large, grainy, artsy fartsy snaps.

Russ

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Yes, true, my friend has a Mamiya 7 (not the II), and, again, the slides were wonderful.

There's at least some hope. The Fuji RF lineup is kinda seductive... although I really like the 645 folder. The 645zi is a bit too automated for me (reminds me of the Contax G kind).

Well... I guess I'll take it like a man and not buy the Mamiya. I did check and the digital backs are available for a number of Mamiya SLRs but NOT for the 645e. 🙁

 

[jdos2]

I've a 645 1000 (little used amateur camera) with the 80mm f/1.9.

It's impressive, but then again, just about ANYTHING Medium Format is impressive.

Mamiya makes good optics and the 80 f/1.9 is about as fast as you'll ever see in medium format. I like the lens wide open- a very spherical look to it on film.

Get a MF rangefinder. Don't blow money on the 7 or even the 6, get the lunky Mamiya Universal and a 50mm, 100mm (unless you really like the Tessar look, I'd get the f/2.8) and perhaps a 150/250mm lens. You'll be glad you did for several reasons, among which are the speed of the lenses you are getting, a rangefinder that stays well in adjustment (look on e-Bay for "Mamiya 7 Rangefinder adjustment kits") and the fact that if you drop the 50mm (same diagonal coverage on 6x9 as the 43mm is on 6x7, by the way!) you probably won't cry as much...