On Mon, 02 Jun 2003 23:46:50 -0400
"John A. Lind" <jlind@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> At 21:35 6/2/03, Thomas Heide Clausen wrote:
>
> >Me? I lug around a Mamiya 645-something, a nice mechanical
> >manual-focus thing. A pile of interchangeable inserts (but not
> >backs), an expensive 80mm lens and a shaft viewfinder. Ohh, and
> >the Sekonic 308II flashmeter (real MF cameras do not have build-in
> >meter). Build like an OM, operates very unlike an OM and I think
> >that it can be had 2nd hand for almost nothing. New, I think the
> >model I have is no longer available (others are, though, in the
> >Mamiya 645 series)....but it works like a charm :)
>
> I have a Mamiya M645j body and an M645-1000S body plus several
> lenses and 120 and 220 inserts for them. The original model was
> the M645, followed by the M645j and then the M645-1000S. They're
> the "little brother" of the RB67 without removable or rotating
> backs. They were originally being designed for removeable film
> backs. At some point during the latter stages of design that was
> dropped to keep price down. The frame inside the body shows
> vestiges of being set up for dark slide, etc.
>
Interresting. I did not know that about the dark slide / backs....I
should dig up an old M645 and take it apart, I suppose :)
<SNIP>
>
> I agree that they're built like an OM. However, numerous design
> concepts look like they were lifted straight from a Nik*n F2!
> Don't know if you have a metered prism finder, but the linkage tabs
> on the lenses and mating pin on the prism look straight out of the
> Nik*n manual focus design cookbook.
Yup, they are very nikon-inspired. I have a metered prism, but I am
not using it. I was in the beginning, a little, but I find that I
actually prefer the folding shaft viewfinder. So I am considering
finding a new home for the prism (i.e. selling it).
To me, one of the great benefits of the medium format is actually the
shaft viewfinder, which I think is just wonderful to work with.
Especially on a tripod, where I can remain standing upright whereas
the prism requires that I kneel down. Anyone wants to purchase a
metered prism for the M645? :)
What I meant by "build like an OM" was "all metal, sturdy, solid like
a tank, minemalistic without lacking features.
I checked, btw., mine is the M645-1000s. I use MLU all the time, even
with my small 80mm.
> The Sekor 50mm f/4 shift lens (I have one) is also straight out
> of the lens section of the same cookbook. Unlike the Zuiko's, it
> has a single jackscrew to shift the lens off axis. The lens
> rotates on its mount to position the shift in the desired direction
> (IIRC there are detents in the rotation every 30 degrees).
Huh? I did not know that shift's existed for the M645. See that might
be something I should add to my shopping list :)
> Likewise, focus and aperture are in the same direction as the Nik*n
> lenses. Cannot remember which, but one of them is opposite the OM.
>
Hmm, I don't remember either :) I have not even noticed that it is
different...
> You can get an M645j with 120 insert, 80mm f/2.8 Sekor C standard
> lens and one of the metered prism finders for relatively low cost.
> The bodies are very sturdy and the Sekor lenses are excellent.
>
I think I would go for the -1000s rather than the -j, precisely due
to the lack of MLU on the -j. Also, I do find that the 1/1000 shutter
speed of the -1000s is usefull at times. Still, both the -j and
-1000s are excellent, and I think that you may even find a -1000s at
a very low cost.
> Among the 6x6 SLR's, in addition to the Hasselblad, are the Rollei,
> Contax and Bronica. A good friend uses a newer Bronica SQAi . . .
> also very reliable, well built, excellent lenses and not nearly as
> expensive as the others.
>
Yeah, good you remembered that. Bronica are actually surprisingly
good cameras. I have a friend who uses them, and who is very happy
with them. I have very little first-hand experience with them, but
Bronica's may well be worth looking into if price is an issue.
--thomas
> Also not certain I'm recommending anything, but they've been very
> reliable and have served me very well. I agree with Thomas that
> you should visit a dealer and handle a few MF cameras to discover
> what feels right for you.
>
> -- John
>
>
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>
--
------------------------------------------------
Thomas Heide Clausen
Civilingeniør i Datateknik (cand.polyt)
M.Sc in Computer Engineering
E-Mail: T.Clausen@xxxxxxxxxxxx
WWW: http://byzantium.inria.fr:8080/~voop
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