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Author Topic: Phase One 645AF (Mamiya 645AFD III) - Good or Bad?  (Read 8391 times)

haring

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Phase One 645AF (Mamiya 645AFD III) - Good or Bad?
« on: January 11, 2011, 04:32:38 pm »

Is there anybody who uses Phase One 645AF (Mamiya 645AFD III?)
Is the AF fast (relatively) and accurate?
Which digital back do you recommend with it?

Thanks!

Doug Peterson

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Re: Phase One 645AF (Mamiya 645AFD III) - Good or Bad?
« Reply #1 on: January 11, 2011, 06:10:52 pm »

Is there anybody who uses Phase One 645AF (Mamiya 645AFD III?)
Is the AF fast (relatively) and accurate?
Which digital back do you recommend with it?

Normally I'd reply with a lot of details.

But given that you're in Miami why don't you shoot me an email and we can schedule a time for you to come in next week to look at some different options and you can compare them head to head with whatever your current point of reference is.

Edit: Haring! Sorry - sometimes it's hard for me to associate usernames with real people. We spoke earlier this week. I'm looking forward to meeting you!

Doug Peterson (e-mail Me)
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« Last Edit: January 11, 2011, 06:36:08 pm by dougpetersonci »
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Frank Doorhof

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Re: Phase One 645AF (Mamiya 645AFD III) - Good or Bad?
« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2011, 10:28:05 am »

AFDIII is relatively fast compared to a DSLR however all MF cameras are slow.
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Rudy Torres

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Re: Phase One 645AF (Mamiya 645AFD III) - Good or Bad?
« Reply #3 on: January 12, 2011, 12:02:38 pm »

Purchased my Phaseone 645AF from CI just a week ago.
First impressions:
• A bit faster focus than AFDII. Not scientifically based, just MO.
• Focus accuracy helped by three point system but the manual doesn't tell you how to engage the three point system. You have to hold down the button to make the Selectable-Focus active.
• Three points of focus are so close together they only help in tight Headshot-shot scenarios. Use focus-lock instead if you need  to focus in a thirds type situation.
• Focus motor just as noisy as ADFII
• Rubber grip feels solid in the hands

Frank is right. MF is slower than 35-Style DSLR's
- Rudy / El Paso, TX
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ctz

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Re: Phase One 645AF (Mamiya 645AFD III) - Good or Bad?
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2011, 12:25:16 am »

I had a quick test yesterday with a Phase One DF vs my old Mamiya 645AFD2.
To jump to conclusions:
Focus speed a bit faster (not miles faster).
Focus accuracy about the same (although the old camera was pretty good in this regard).
Shutter release a lot better (like night and day better) than the "spongy" button of the 645 AFD2 (talking about the awkward delay from depressing the button to the actual exposure).
A lot better handling and a nicer finishing, a step away from the plastic feeling from the past.

Would I buy one? I don't know, the price is a bit on the heavy side (4200 euros list price), hard to compare with ebay prices of tons and tons of AFD2's, at 500 euros.
Plus, I shot 90% of my jobs on a view camera, but I guess your mileage does vary.
On the other hand I considered the AFD2 a big PITA whenever I need to shoot with it (mainly because of that ugly, >:( spongy, release shutter).
The DF 645 is a lot better, closer to a 35mm DSLR speed, at least in studio under flash lighting.
« Last Edit: January 13, 2011, 12:27:11 am by ctz »
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haring

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Re: Phase One 645AF (Mamiya 645AFD III) - Good or Bad?
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2011, 10:06:37 am »

Thanks for the input!

haring

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Re: Phase One 645AF (Mamiya 645AFD III) - Good or Bad?
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2011, 10:09:57 am »

I have tried the Phase One DF and the three point Af system is useless ( based on a 5 minute testing). As one described it: "marketing trick". In real life the DF has a one point AF.

ctz

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Re: Phase One 645AF (Mamiya 645AFD III) - Good or Bad?
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2011, 11:46:27 am »

same impression here, but maybe we've missing something...
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palmerson

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Re: Phase One 645AF (Mamiya 645AFD III) - Good or Bad?
« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2011, 02:25:14 pm »

I don't know what kind of work you are doing, but for me the sync speed of 1/800 is a great plus on the DF side!
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Ken Doo

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Re: Phase One 645AF (Mamiya 645AFD III) - Good or Bad?
« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2011, 02:57:11 pm »

I don't know what kind of work you are doing, but for me the sync speed of 1/800 is a great plus on the DF side!

...and up to 1/1600 flash sync with a properly equipped P40+ and P65+.

 :)

haring

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Re: Phase One 645AF (Mamiya 645AFD III) - Good or Bad?
« Reply #10 on: January 14, 2011, 05:14:38 pm »

I would use it for weddings.

ondebanks

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Re: Phase One 645AF (Mamiya 645AFD III) - Good or Bad?
« Reply #11 on: January 15, 2011, 12:38:15 pm »

hard to compare with ebay prices of tons and tons of AFD2's, at 500 euros.


You must be exaggerating? Where are all these 500-euro AFD2s/AFDIIs?  :o The cheapest I've ever seen them on ebay (searching "worldwide") is about 800 euros. You say there are "tons and tons" at this price? Please let me know how to find them! I was going to get another AFD body for 400 euros, but I'd chose a 500-euro AFDII over that!

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ctz

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Re: Phase One 645AF (Mamiya 645AFD III) - Good or Bad?
« Reply #12 on: January 15, 2011, 02:32:20 pm »

@ondebanks,

Looks like you're right. Now.
In the summer of 2008, I wanted to get rid of my Mamiya 645 AF2 kit of 3 lenses and then there was a lot of Mamiya stuff on ebay US.
Moreover, the euro/dollar parity were close to 1.6 instead of 1.3 and Mamiya was not yet bought by Phase.
At that moment I wouldn't succeed to sell my Mamiya with 35/80/150 lenses for more than 2300 USD or 1500Euros. Ridiculous!
That's why I recall those prices, but you're right, at this moment the situation is a lot different.
Now everything changed. Probably the merger with Phase One has something to do with the prices?
Nevermind.



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Steve Hendrix

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Re: Phase One 645AF (Mamiya 645AFD III) - Good or Bad?
« Reply #13 on: January 15, 2011, 07:32:56 pm »

You must be exaggerating? Where are all these 500-euro AFD2s/AFDIIs?  :o The cheapest I've ever seen them on ebay (searching "worldwide") is about 800 euros. You say there are "tons and tons" at this price? Please let me know how to find them! I was going to get another AFD body for 400 euros, but I'd chose a 500-euro AFDII over that!




We typically sell pre-owned Mamiya AFDII units for $699 USD and up with full dealer support. And we have offered Phase One AF Factory Refurbished units for $899 USD recently.


Steve Hendrix
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Frank Doorhof

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Re: Phase One 645AF (Mamiya 645AFD III) - Good or Bad?
« Reply #14 on: January 16, 2011, 01:01:45 am »

I've owned the afdII, III and now DF.
Three focus points is useless for me, also because you can't see where they are (a little blinking light would be perfect now even with center focus it's a guess)

Shutter feel/speed is a HUGE step forward with the DF

Syncspeed of 1/1600 is a big plus (also on leaf backs by the way, not only phase one)

I personally like the feel of the ADFIII grip more than de DF but I'm getting used to the DF and with the grip connected it's a very nice balanced system. Would only love a copy of all buttons on the vgrip like with canon, so also an on/off switch.

Every new camera has a slight improvement over the previous so I did upgrade every time, but would love a jump in the next one ;) the blinking focus conformation lights in the VF would be a huge plus.
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itsskin

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Re: Phase One 645AF (Mamiya 645AFD III) - Good or Bad?
« Reply #15 on: January 17, 2011, 01:30:09 pm »

Just got PO 645 AFD from Capture Integration. Perfect refurbished body. Only 899. Thank you so much!
3 points AF is a joke. But even on 35mm I have no problems with only the center one.
AF speed can compared to 85\1.2 from Canon. And quite accurate.
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