Need info on Mamiya 645's

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Steve Barker - 24 Oct 2004 23:57 GMT

Lookin' to buy. Probably new. Need ideas on what options (if any) to
consider. Who to buy from. Also, need Lens suggetions for beginner Medium
format user.

THANKS

steve and sydney barker

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David J. Littleboy - 25 Oct 2004 01:40 GMT

> Lookin' to buy. Probably new. Need ideas on what options (if any) to
> consider. Who to buy from. Also, need Lens suggetions for beginner Medium
> format user.

If you are in the US, new is expensive, so I'd recommend used from KEH*. If
you feel like braving ebay, that's another option. (I bought most of my 645
kit new, but that was in Japan where prices are merely steep, not
outrageous.) Note that the 645 Pro is mechanically the same as the current
model (645 ProTL), so you can purchase a used 645 Pro with no worry about
parts for the near future at least.

*: http://www.keh.com/hmpg/index.cfm

In terms of lenses, the discontinued (but widely available used) 110/2.8 is
a lovely lens. But the lens that is on my camera most of the time is the
35/3.5. It's a 22mm equiv, and I find FOV addictive.

http://www.pbase.com/davidjl/image/22566107/large

Since you presumably have an interest in rail photos, you may want some
longer lenses. The 150/3.5 is cheap, light, and sharp. Warning to MF
newcomer: anything longer than 110mm really needs a sturdy tripod. KEH has
the 500mm f/8 for US$349.

I own neither the 80/2.8 nor the 80/1.9, but I've heard that the 80/2.8 is
quite sharp. The 80/1.9 is a bit of a clunker.

Note that the 55/2.8, 80/2.8, 110/2.8, 150/3.5, and 210/4 all take 58mm
filters.

David J. Littleboy
Tokyo, Japan

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Stacey - 25 Oct 2004 06:15 GMT

> Lookin' to buy. Probably new. Need ideas on what options (if any) to
> consider. Who to buy from. Also, need Lens suggetions for beginner Medium
> format user.

I agree with David, get one from KEH. I got a M645 a while ago from them,
it works perfect and was -really- cheap. I use the 35mm f 3.5 and have the
55-110 zoom. I also use the P-6 lenses via an adapter, the 180mm F2.8 sonar
is one of the best lenses I've ever used PERIOD.

Signature

Stacey

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Glenn - 25 Oct 2004 12:14 GMT

>> Lookin' to buy. Probably new. Need ideas on what options (if any)
>> to consider. Who to buy from. Also, need Lens suggetions for
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> the 55-110 zoom. I also use the P-6 lenses via an adapter, the 180mm
> F2.8 sonar is one of the best lenses I've ever used PERIOD.

I agree with David and Stacy's previous comments about the benefits of
looking for 2nd hand M645 kit. I have an original M645, a 645E, the 80
2.8 David mentions, and the 150 & 210 lenses. All were bought quite
cheaply 2nd hand and all perform flawlessly. For someone used to 35mm
Nikon kit, the improvement in image quality was a revelation.... The
newer PRO and later bodies would be nice, but I imagine a little more
expensive.

One thing to consider: I live in Sydney and was planning a work trip to
the US recently, and as I was after a 35 or 45 lens, I checked B&H on the
web as those lenses are very hard to source here in Oz. B&H had 3 45's
all rated at 8 or higher and apprantly mechanically perfect. To cut a
long story short, I went to B&H in NYC and inspected each of the 3 lenses
to see which one I would buy. All 3 had diaphragm faults, slow to move,
oil on blades etc. so I sadly left empty handed. I wonder if I had bought
"mechanically perfect" lenses sight unseen and found them faulty on
receipt, if the vendor would have been willing to refund or exchange.
Nothing beats a hands on look if you can reasonably manage it..

Glenn
P.S. Don't let this put you off at all, I LOVE my 645 kit...... I hope
you will too!

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Matt Clara - 25 Oct 2004 16:39 GMT

>>> Lookin' to buy. Probably new. Need ideas on what options (if any)
>>> to consider. Who to buy from. Also, need Lens suggetions for
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
>
> Glenn

In my experience, B&H doesn't rate equipment lower than 8. I've bought used
from them twice, both items were defective (a lens and a light meter), and I
sent both back. The first item, a Mamiya RB lens, refused to fire my
strobes. All my other Mamiya lenses fired the strobes just fine. I sent it
back, they looked at it and called me and said, "We had it tested, and it
works just fine." After talking to them for a few minutes, I began to doubt
myself (last time for that, I tell you), and I agreed to accept the lens
again. I got it to fire once and not again, and sent it back. The second
item, a Minolta lightmeter, changed its reading mid shoot from f5.6 to f16
without an apparent change in lighting (indoors at night with plain old
incandescent lighting). So, I thought I'd try a few that way, to see what
I'd get, and what I got were images 3 stops underexposed. I sent the meter
back in after testing it some more (comparing it to a friend's meter).
B&H's reply? "There's nothing wrong with this meter." Bullsh*t.

The only problem with KEH used that I've experienced is an RB67 220 back
marked bargain that failed a few months after purchasing it.

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Regards,
Matt Clara
www.mattclara.com

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Stacey - 26 Oct 2004 05:53 GMT

> The only problem with KEH used that I've experienced is an RB67 220 back
> marked bargain that failed a few months after purchasing it.

I've also found KEH to "No questions asked" accept anything back you don't
like. The bargain grade stuff can be a crap shoot. I've bought a bunch
rated this way, some was nice, some was rough. Anything marked excellent or
above will be.

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Stacey

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