Way to tell Bronica RF645 framelines?

[shawn]

Hi,

I am rediscovering my love of film (esp. now that I process C41 at home) and am moving into MF after always being a 35mm guy. I just bought a Bronica RF645 from Keh. It was sold as having the 100mm framelines but the serial number of the camera starts with 0xxxx, so from the factory it would have had 135mm framelines. I have read some had their framelines changed over. I do not have a 100 or 135mm yet.

Any suggestions on how I could verify which framelines the camera has installed?

BTW, I love the ergonomics of the RF645. It is laid out very well. Will be starting my first roll today.

Thanks,

Shawn

 

[mfogiel]

I don't think there is a way to find out, unless you mount a longer lens.
I will check on Monday what happens if you put a 100mm lens on a body with 135mm frames, as I have two bodies. Apparently, some of the earlier 135mm frame bodies have been modified by Tamron to 100mm, but only the owner will know. BTW the 100mm lens is extremely nice (although quite big), but mine front focuses quite substantially. As a matter of fact, the RF with its display is the least successful part of this camera - very imprecise, and subject to eye placement. This is compensated by fantastic ergonomics and spectacular lenses.

 

[shawn]

Shooting today I realized that when I start to unmount the 65mm the other framelines are displayed. I will try and get a couple of shots of the frame lines compared to the 65mm lines and post them. Maybe seeing both you can identify which they are?

Thanks,

Shawn

 

[brian steinberger]

When you have no lens on the camera the frame lines for the 100 or 135 will show in the VF. Since you do not have either lens you may not be able to tell but I could. The 135 frame line is a very small rectangle. 100 is quite a bit larger. I believe the 135 frame lines have an "L" just in the upper right. Where as the 100 as I have has an "L" in the upper right and lower left.

 

[mfogiel]

Yes, Brian is right, you can see the frames when the lens is unmounted, but both the 100 and 135 frames look similar in pattern. However, while the 100mm frames take up about 1/2 of the entire VF space, the 135 lines take only 1/3rd, so that you see the space divided almost equally in 3 parts.
While the 100mm lens is great, I continue to think, that the camera has really been made for shooting with the 65 and 45mm..

 

[Spanik]

I have no idea to be honest. I had my 0-series camera serviced (2011) to have the 100mm framelines but I didn't took notice of how they changed.

While the 100mm lens is great, I continue to think, that the camera has really been made for shooting with the 65 and 45mm..

Honestly, only the 65mm makes sense on the camera. The 45mm is a pain to use with its auxillary finder. And the 100mm is really too short to be of much use. But the ergonomics of that camera and the results make you forget it.

 

[brian steinberger]

While the 100mm lens is great, I continue to think, that the camera has really been made for shooting with the 65 and 45mm..

I would tend to agree with this. I do most of my shooting with the RF645 with these two lenses. The 100 is ok, but the 150 on my mamiya 6 is much better.

I have no gripes about using the aux finder with the 45mm. Amazing lens!!

 

[shawn]

Thanks everyone. Took a coupe of shots with my iPhone of the frame lines. The lens is the 65mm with the hood attached. When I partially dismount it the other lines appear and the bottom right edge is basically touching the edge of the lens.

65mm framelines...

And the other set of framelines....

I'm thinking these may be the 135 based on taking up about a 1/3 of the viewfinder. Thoughts?

Thanks,

Shawn

 

[mfogiel]

Yes, these are 135mm frames. On the 100mm frames the "L" corners have longer base.

 

[DavidKKHansen]

Wasn't the "L" on the 135 mirrored along the Y-axis? I vaguely recall having read that somewhere, but maybe mfogiel has one body with a 100mm frame-line and another with a 135mm frame-line?

EDIT: What I meant was I thought the 135mm frame-lines was mirrored vertically, as well as being smaller in size.

 

[shawn]

Looks like Brian was correct. Here are the framelines from another RF645. Just have the L in the upper right corner and are smaller than either of the previous examples I posted.

 

[Spanik]

I re-read Brian's post on this and looked at your photo's. That would mean that your first photo is of the 100mm (L in upper right and lower left) and your last the 135mm (L in upper right only). Seems to agree with the part enclosed by the framelines, it is a bit smaller in the last photo.

Happy to know that, means I have the 100mm framelines.