Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Medium Format / Film / Digital Backs – and Large Sensor Photography => Topic started by: Brian Hirschfeld on February 08, 2013, 05:03:54 pm

Title: Experiences with the Mamiya 2x Magnifier for 645DF Viewfinder?
Post by: Brian Hirschfeld on February 08, 2013, 05:03:54 pm

Has anyone had any experiences they could share with me about this accessory for the PhaseOne / Mamiya 645DF thanks,

Title: Re: Experiences with the Mamiya 2x Magnifier for 645DF Viewfinder?
Post by: FredBGG on February 08, 2013, 08:18:26 pm

Rear element is very small and your eye has to be really well centered.
You can only see the center of the image well.
You get no eyecup when it's flipped up so stray light is an issue.

I'd say it's only really usefull in macro reproduction work or
where you are OK for the area you want to focus on being right in the center of the frame.

It does mount nice and firmly if I remember correctly.

Title: Re: Experiences with the Mamiya 2x Magnifier for 645DF Viewfinder?
Post by: Brian Hirschfeld on February 08, 2013, 08:37:25 pm

Thanks, that sounds like what I was expecting, its going to be used with a custom mask which blocks 33% on each side of the frame resulting in simulating a 50% crop of the image (Like adding a 2x TC) for compositional purposes, hopefully allowing me to compose as if I am looking through a normal viewfinder and not seeing a) a small frame and b) lots of black.

which can be done to an 80mp file, while still having a highly usable 40mp file still while letting me technically double my focal length so my 300 + 2x TC becomes 300 + 2x + 2x. Of course the files will still be full resolution, but it makes things a lot easier when composing obviously.

Any alternate suggestions to the magnifier made by Mamiya?

Title: Re: Experiences with the Mamiya 2x Magnifier for 645DF Viewfinder?
Post by: Graham Welland on February 08, 2013, 10:10:36 pm

It works fine. The 'rubber' eye cup surround is about as cheap as cheap can get but overall it does the job. The nice thing as Fred mentions is that it has a clip to secure it to the camera and it flips up out of the way for normal use.

It's worth getting for the occasional use you may have for it but I wouldn't leave mine on full time, even though it flips out of the way.

I also find the 90 degree finder helpful too. That has a decent diopter adjustment too.

Title: Re: Experiences with the Mamiya 2x Magnifier for 645DF Viewfinder?
Post by: Brian Hirschfeld on February 08, 2013, 10:46:36 pm

Thanks Graham (and Fred) sounds like it should do exactly what I want it to.

Title: Re: Experiences with the Mamiya 2x Magnifier for 645DF Viewfinder?
Post by: Pics2 on February 09, 2013, 02:38:49 pm

Brian,
have you tried focusing on a piece printed material, like newspaper or anything with black text on white backgound?
I find it to be the easiest way to focus, no need for any magnifiers. Just lay down a printed paper on your object and focus. So simple and efficient.

Title: Re: Experiences with the Mamiya 2x Magnifier for 645DF Viewfinder?
Post by: Brian Hirschfeld on February 09, 2013, 03:53:53 pm

Unfortunately not still life