645 suggestions please

[Alan Gales]

I re-read your post. I shoot a Hasselblad 6x6 and from memory it isn't really heavier than the 6x4.5 cameras that I owned. Maybe it is but it isn't enough to make a difference and I have a very bad back.

[MattKing]

I own all sorts of Mamiya equipment (C series TLRs, 645 Pro and RB67 plus lenses and accessories), and none of the others you are considering, so consider this advice carefully.

All of the choices you have listed are high in quality. The reasons I own lots of Mamiya equipment include:

1) they have several different features in a number of their cameras that work well for me - I am strongly left handed!;
2) the cost of much of the equipment I have has been very reasonable on the used equipment market; and
3) there is good availability on the used equipment market.

The latter two factors you can evaluate for yourself using the internet. The first factor though is one that requires either hands on experience or, at the least, the opportunity to observe someone else operating the equipment.

So my recommendation is that you do your best to actually handle your choices or, even better, borrow them if you can.

[Alan Gales]

Matt, I agree with you 100% about everything you said but what is most important is about hand holding an actual camera. I really don't see going to a 645 camera saving you that much weight over the 6x6 that the OP now owns.

[dorff]

The mamiya will have the advantage of inderchangeable backs (I am not concerned)

Having interchangeable backs is a considerable advantage if you shoot more than one type of film, or if you do not want to stall for a few minutes mid-shoot to change film rolls. I have four backs for my Mamiya 645 AFD II. I load them with TMax400 and Acros, FP4+ and TriX. Occasionally I replace the FP4+ and TriX with colour film, either slide or negative.

[thegman]

Considered a medium format range finder? You can get 6x4.5, 6x6 or 6x9 all a lot smaller than an SLR.

[pentaxuser]

If you have re-read the posts you will already have seen that the P645N doesn't have mirror lock-up but someone who has experience of both the 645N and 645 Nii says that mirror lock-up is not necessary.

I too have a P645N and haven't yet found that mirror lock-up to be necessary. The 645Nii is more expensive and other than mirror lock-up has nothing extra/better that I can see

Have a look at Ken Rockwell's site. He has a review of the P645N which I think is accurate.


pentaxuser

[Pioneer]

I vote for the 645Nii but I am very biased. To me it is one of the best 645 cameras available. However, never having owned the others you mentioned I can't comment on them. The biggest weak point that people mention regarding the Pentax is the inability to change film backs in the middle of a roll. If that is very important to you then the 645Nii is not your camera. But, I have to say, I have never been worried about that issue so for me it doesn't even hit my radar screen. I do love the lenses. Since the 645D came out the lenses have gone up a bit in price so they are no longer as inexpensive as they were but they can still be had for good prices.

One thing you may want to consider though is a good TLR. You can get some awesome landscapes on 6x6 medium format with a good Rolleiflex or Yashica Mat and it is WAYYY easier to pack around than any of you other choices. Even with a meter included.

Anyway, good luck with your choice. 645 is a great format and I enjoy shooting it.

[Matus Kalisky]

I had a Pentax 645N for a while and the handling was really nice. If I were to get 645 SLR again I would chose Contax if I could afford it (the 80 and 120 lenses are great, 140 is great for portraits) or Pentax 645NII (the 'II' for the matrix metering) if I were after after long lenses (there are great 300 and 400 lenses). The disadvantage of the Pentax is that it does not allow to change film backs mid-roll.

But if you do not need an SLR and fast lenses than do have a look at the Bronica RF 645. I personally find that the 65/4 lens has great 'pop' - just check Flickr.

[cowanw]

Contax 645.

[pentaxuser]

Is a $1000 budget going to get a Contax and say two lenses? A $1000 is the budget and while the OP might get away with the standard lens, I'd have thought that a short telephoto or wide angle might be needed to give a reasonable range.

No question about it being a very good camera

pentaxuser