Mamiya 80mm 1.9 Lens

[dustbunny]

Hello everyone

I just bought my first MF, a brand new Mamiya 645 PRO TL with a Mamiya 55mm f/2.8. I've been reading some threads and I seems that the 80mm 1.9 lens is very good, specially for low light photos. The thing is, I simply cannot find it for sale anywhere!

Can anyone please direct to a retailer?

I cant wait to start using the camera. I'm returning to film and this time I'm going to start developing my own film

Thanks!

Santiago

[rthomas]

KEH has the 80mm f/1.9 in several condition grades at the moment.

[thebanana]

The KEH site has been down for a few days

[John Koehrer]

Just click on "camera store" & it will take you past the server error.

[Travis Nunn]

if KEH's website is down, give them a call. They are great to deal with over the phone.

[keithwms]

Hmm, these lenses used to be a dime a dozen. There seems to be quite a fascination with fast lenses now.

Well for what it's worth, I have three 80mm lenses for the 645 system: the 80/2.8 AF (superb but annoying to focus manually), the 80/4 floating macro (superb), and the 80/1.9 (pretty damn good). I see different uses and strengths for all of them. So I'd say get what will do the job and be patient, you'll get the lens you want eventually. Note that apparently not all 80/1.9s are the same, so don't be surprised if you don't get the best copy the first time. But they are (were?) so inexpensive only a year or so ago...

[Ian Grant]

The 80mm f1.9 was never very common, it had a reputation for not being as good as the 80mm f2.8 but that may well have been the early versions as I bought my 645's in the early 80's, how deserved that was I don't know, but the f2.8 lenses are all excellent and very sharp at all apertures.

Keith's right in mentioning that Mamiya redesigned their lenses a few times, so try and get one of the newer series.

Ian

[dustbunny]

Is there a way to identify the newer lens? I remember reading about a letter code somewhere...

Thanks everyone.
Santiago

[Ian Grant]

They look different, but I can't post examples as I don't have them. But a good look a sites devoted to Mamiya's should help.

Ian

[thisismyname09]

I believe one way to tell is that the new lenses are labeled "N" and look new-ish. the old lenses use a slightly different font.
for example:
http://jcohenphoto.com/images/55110n1118above.jpg
http://jcohenphoto.com/ebay/photos/m15064above.jpg
look specifically at how "mm" is written where the focal length is listed. The ridges in the focus ring is a bit different, too.