Focus - Mamily 645 vs Contax

[stevecoleccs]

Does anyone have any trouble with the auto focus on the Mamiya 645 ll
or the Contax 645?  Is the mamiya better because it has a smaller
auto focus setting?

thanks - cole

[david o]

I didn't expect too much of the Mam AF. But it's precise. And not too slow.
The setuo I choose is spot. The large area makes it go back adn forth

[Bill Caulfeild-Browne]

While I have used the Contax, I'm really not familiar enough to pass judgement. I do own the Mamiya and find the autofocus noisy but very accurate.
Hope this helps,
Bill

Does anyone have any trouble with the auto focus on the Mamiya 645 ll
or the Contax 645?  Is the mamiya better because it has a smaller
auto focus setting?

thanks - cole
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[mcfoto]

Hi
Back in 1999 when I made the decision to buy the Mamiya AF over the Contax I felt the AF was better with the Mamiya especially in low light. I think the AFDII has improved from the first version. This was not my only reason for going with the Mamiya at the time.
Denis

[stevecoleccs]

Thanks for everyones reply, this helps!

~ cole

[bcroslin]

Don't know much about the Contax but the Mamiya autofocus is akin to the Nikon F4 AF. Very slow but accurate and super noisy.

[eronald]

Don't know much about the Contax but the Mamiya autofocus is akin to the Nikon F4 AF. Very slow but accurate and super noisy.
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I use my Mamiya AFD II on the wide focus setting, and it always seems to find the *right* focus. It is surprisingly good, my images are much more in focus than with my Canon EOS-1 series cameras. However, in low light the focus stutters - on Canon there is an initial delay before it moves and then it simply locks.

Edmund

[RKH]

I own a Contax 645, but have used every major MF camera so hopefully I can help.

I think as far as AF speed and accuracy, both the Mamiya and Contax are fairly equal. The Mamiya is quite noisy wheras the Contax is not. For me the tie-breaker in /this/ instance was the manual focus. The Zeiss lenses are far superior in-terms of build quality, and they have just the right amount of resistance. Things genuinely do pop into focus compared to the Mamiya which is a little 'thin' and 'tinny', making it difficult to operate.

While I have used Mamiya on several occasions, I don't own one so I can't say if the following problem applies to both Contax and Mamiya....or just my particular Contax 645. Sometimes focus can be a little-off and is actually focussing slightly higher than the AF point.
The AF confirmation light is basically always right though it seems....Has anyone else had this issue?

Ras

[mcfoto]

Hi
Personally I don't think buying into a Contax system today is a wise idea. For photographers already using it keep on using it. However with the recent developments with Mamiya & Phase, new camera & 2 more new lenses plus an upgraded 120 macro ,Mamiya is expanding there system. They are both 125X & the new Mamiya body will accept some new leaf shutters. I am not knocking the Contax camera but it has not been made since 2005. Today there are 4 cameras been made ( Hasselblad, Hy6 & Mamiya 645 + RZII ). This is a small market compared to the 35D systems. In my opinion the new Nikon D3 is going to have a further impact on the MFD camp. In the past 3 months there have been a lot of major announcements.