Mamiya M645, Provia 100F, I think this was with the 55mm f2.8 N.
This is the Medium Format entry in my series of short takes on the various cameras I’ve owned. I’m going to break my rules somewhat and also include two cameras I’ve used but not owned, the Hasselblad 501CM and the Fuji GA645.
Coronet 12-Twenty : Your typical low-end box camera. cheap 2-element lens, wee mirror-based viewing window, 2 waterhouse stops at f16 and f22, 1 shutter speed which is approximately 1/25, takes 120 or 620 film, red window advance. Cheap, kinda fun, not terribly usable for more than playing around in good light. Bought it only because I was waiting for my Super Ricohflex to come in.
Super Ricohflex: Cheap Japanese TLR. 3 element viewing and taking lenses, red window advance (but an auto-stop advance is available as an accessory), old-fashioned shutter speed advance from 1/25 to 1/200, manual cocking separate from wind, focus ring is the mesh gear, PC sync for flash, coldshoe on the neverready case. My copy only has the bottom case and is allergic to the cold as the focusing helicals gum up. The lens is surprisingly good for a single-coated 3 element lens. It’s a fun camera to work with within its limitations and I do need to spend more time with it, it hasn’t seen much use since I got into 645 stuff.
Fuji GA645: It’s an MF P&S. Auto exposure, aperture priority or manual exposure, auto-wind, AF. vertically oriented 645 format, excellent but slowish 65/4 wide normal lens. good handling, nice and small, wind and AF a bit noisy on an otherwise very quiet camera. Borrowed this one from a friend while he used my 645 Super. Loved it, but they’re still somewhat expensive.
Mamiya M645: The first 645 system SLR. Semi-modular design with multiple prism options and motor or manual wind. Electronic shutter means batteries are required even for unmetered prisms, but said batteries also power the AE and PD(s) prisms (the CD(s) prism takes its own batteries), Uses standard Mamiya M645 lenses and film inserts. 120/220 only, no polaroid, 70mm or 35mm options due to fixed back design. I like the inclusion of the second shutter release on the top of the body at the front, it really does improve handling over the front release when used at waistlevel. It’s a bit awkward to shoot with the prism and no grip though and all I had was the standard prism. I sold it after getting the 645 Super but am thinking of getting another one with a waistlevel for street work.
Mamiya 645 Super: The M645’s more modern brother. A full system SLR with removable backs, prisms and winders. Supports 35mm and polaroid backs as well as 120/220 backs. Much better integrated than the first series M645’s. Shares many accessories with the later Pro and ProTL bodies. Excellent handling with prism and winder, not as good as the older bodies for waistlevel use. WInder is bloody LOUD, body requires electronic release or rare cable release adapter (which I own) unless you use a WG401 winder which has a cable release socket. Winder N is always in Continuous advance mode so don’t use it in combination with a locking cable release on the adapter. I’m very fond of this camera and have shot more film with it (66 rolls) than any other camera I’ve owned.
Hasselblad 501CM: THE classic MF SLR. Rather antiquated in some regards compared to the newer systems, it lacks quick back loading and an instant return mirror and you have to buy winder-specific bodies to get a winder. Handles very well with a waistlevel. Lots of fun to shoot, surprisingly light and compact when using an 80mm, waistlevel and A12 or A24 back. Borrowed one of these for a couple weeks, shot 5 rolls. Would love one as an adjunct to my 645 system (V series lenses which are compatible with the 200/2000 bodies have an available adapter to M645 mount).
