RF645 with 135mm framelines and a 100mm lens

[Keith]

It just doesn't work and no amount of imagining compensates for the difference between my cameras 135mm framelines and the view of the 100mm lens.

But what to do ... send the camera OS (Japan or US) for the frameline conversion (potentially expensive with all that freight), try and get a body with the 100mm framelines and sell mine (risky ... this RF 645 works perfectly) or just sell the lens and concentrate on the 65mm that came with the camera and rely on the 105mm on my P67ii for MF portraiture? Forget the idea of trying to get a 135mm lens because apparently they're rarer than the proverbial rocking horse you know what!

I was very excited when I got this quite hard to find lens at a decent price but soon realised the pitfalls of attempting to use it with the RF645's 135mm framelines. I can handle a bit of vagueness with RF framing but this is too much of a stretch for me!

What to do?

 

[brian steinberger]

Not sure about Australia, but in the US I know simply sending the camera back to Tamrom USA the frame lines can be converted. Not sure about the cost. I thought it was rather cheap if I remember correctly.

 

[fbf]

Tamron USA is extremely reasonable at service charges (probably the best I have seen for any makers). I sent a rf645 for complete overhaul, upgrade and vf glass change last year. The total charge including shipping was $132.

 

[Keith]

I sort of made a decision overnight and put the lens on ebay today ... judging by recent sales I should get $600.00 to $700.00 for it which is a little more than I paid.

I'm very reluctant to send the camera OS to Tamron due to freight costs ... and who knows at some stage in the future I may stumble over a 135mm lens for a sensible price.

 

[Doug]

Keith I remember your mentioning finding the 100mm, and the discrepancy in framelines. As you mention, one solution is getting a second body with 100mm framelines. I have both, getting the 135 body later in hopes of finding the 135mm lens. Almost got one once... But I just use the 100mm on the appropriate body, and reserve the 135 body for the other lenses.

It might well be worth exploring the costs of having the framelines changed. They used to do it no charge...

I seem to recall that 100mm selling around $1300 at one time.

 

[Debusti Paolo]

It's very difficult to find a 135mm lens and it will be expensive.When I sent my rf645 for service due to usual winding problem I've got a rf aligment,general CLA, and most improtant they changed the 135 light frame with the 100mm but I made a mistake because the technician told me that there was the "space",inside the VF for more light frames.Maybe it's possible to have both the 135 & 100 mm frames on the same body.I think i made a mistake...I paid about 70 euro shipping included.

 

[mastaliu]

Wow that is reasonable, I just bought a rf645 and I will certainly send it to Tamron for a CLA, any idea how long Tamron will provide this service?

 

[Debusti Paolo]

well,here in Italy they told me that they are still servicing 40+ years old cameras...(NEW SAR)