Mamiya 645 accessories interchangeable?

[Christopher Walrath]

If you want film interchangeability, then interchangeable backs are really the way to go. Carry a back up body but film backs weigh much less than a camera body does.

[B&Jdude]

Greg & Chris: I was making that point when I said that I got spoiled by 35mm. I could carry about 4 different lenses, 4 bodies, plenty of film, and a cheapo generic tripod and had to hang onto the bag tightly to keep it from floating away. Then I discovered MF and (shudder!) LF and learned that weight is an important consideration with those genres that I didn't think of with 35mm.

EuGene

[Greg_E]

Actually, the Super and Pro are not that much heavier than a 35mm body (about twice the weight with 2cr drive and prism), but the lenses are pretty heavy compared to the common variety of 35mm lens. If you were shooting with APO lenses on the 35mm, then the weight might be comparable again.

Is there a used camera store anywhere near you? They would almost certainly have a Mamiya 645 of one flavor or another. Maybe even go to a "Pro" store and pick up the AFD model, I doubt the weight is much different between the AFD and the Super or Pro, they might even have a ProTL that you could try.

[glbeas]

'nother question popping up here. I saw several 150mm AF lenses go for pretty low prices compared to all the other focal lengths on Ebay. Is there a pertinent reason for such low prices on these lenses or is this just a fluke of the occasion? Are they worth getting if another can be had for a similar price?

[MattKing]

Originally Posted by glbeas

'nother question popping up here. I saw several 150mm AF lenses go for pretty low prices compared to all the other focal lengths on Ebay. Is there a pertinent reason for such low prices on these lenses or is this just a fluke of the occasion? Are they worth getting if another can be had for a similar price?

This is a guess...

The 150 mm lenses for medium format are/were a staple of the wedding photography business. With so much of that business having gone to di*it*l, you may have been observing the result of a bunch being dumped on the market at or near the same time.

The AF lenses also have the disadvantage that they cannot be used on the earlier, non-AF bodies, so their prices might reflect that as well.

Matt