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Author Topic: Mamiya 645 AFD Lens  (Read 8150 times)

hobbsr

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Mamiya 645 AFD Lens
« on: April 21, 2008, 09:38:09 am »

Hi All,

Can I have some recommendations for the best and sharpets lens to put in the 645 AFD kit. I foyu order them to your expereince, best first.

To start with I am looking to pick some up second hand so maybe can you share thebest out of the older versions and not the new D ones.

Also if you had to only have one lens in the bag which one would it be and why and maybe what subjects would you use it on. I will use this system from landscapes to wedding/portrait work.

Regards

Rodney
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Snook

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Mamiya 645 AFD Lens
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2008, 10:50:26 am »

Quote
Hi All,

Can I have some recommendations for the best and sharpets lens to put in the 645 AFD kit. I foyu order them to your expereince, best first.

To start with I am looking to pick some up second hand so maybe can you share thebest out of the older versions and not the new D ones.

Also if you had to only have one lens in the bag which one would it be and why and maybe what subjects would you use it on. I will use this system from landscapes to wedding/portrait work.

Regards

Rodney
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120 mm macro is a must!! I have not tried the "D" model but have the model right before that. (AFDII)
And it is really nice.
The 55-110 does not focus close enough for my shooting and am looking forward to the new 45-90? zoom...
The manual lens stink as you have to stop down and for me and portrait photography that is just not happening..
Tried it,  as I have the 55/80/150 leafshutters all F2.8 but basically useless.
WHEN are they coming out with the leafshutters!!!!!!
We need them NOW!
Snook
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drew

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Mamiya 645 AFD Lens
« Reply #2 on: April 21, 2008, 11:22:35 am »

I have the 35, 55, 80, 75-150 and 300 f4.5ULD as well as the 200 f2.8 APO MF. I agree that for your applications, especially weddings, the MF lenses make little sense. So, you will be looking at AF lenses. The 75-150 is excellent, so unless you need macro, I fail to see why the 120 Macro is a must(!!). I see good reports of the (very expensive) 28mm and for the little use I have made of the system so far, the AF lenses other than the 75-150 seem fine.
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dburdeny

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« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2008, 11:36:40 am »

The 120mm macro and 75mm-150mm zoom are wicked sharp.  I highly recommend them.
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Jack Flesher

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« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2008, 11:49:56 am »

I own the 35, 55, 80, 150, 210 and 55-110 in AF, and tested the 75-150 D.  Also own in manual focus, the 24 fish, 50 shift, 145 soft focus and Hassy 110 F, and tested the Hassy 50 and 150 F lenses.

At the end of the day, the 55, 80, 150 and 210 are very sharp, even wide open.  The 35 is good wide open but gets excellent at f8.  The 55-110 isn't quite up to the primes, but as a people lens, I suspect it would be tough to tell the difference between it an a prime in a print unless you compared them side-by-side.  The Hassy 110 is stunning, though the 50 and 150 F lenses I tested were not nearly as good as the Mamiya equivalents (yes, this surprised me). The 75-150 is excellent and as good as the primes when stopped down to f5.6 or more. (FWIW, I prefer the primes because on par they're a stop faster and sharper wide open -- but if I needed a zoom in that range I wouldn't hesitate a bit on this one.)   The 24 fish is very sharp, the 50 shift is too, but does have some CA.

The 145 SF is sweet too, but takes a lot of testing to find its best settings for your uses. It uses an adjustable front cell and imparts some veiling flare at the wider apertures.  I am still in the process of figuring it all out, but my initial recommendation is the second and third soft setting at f5.6 are both gorgeous, unlike any other lens or filter effect I've seen.  0 setting is sharp with some flare present at f4, less at f5.6, but at F8 is as sharp and contrasty as any normal prime.  If I were doing weddings, this is one lens I'd keep in my bag, especially for the mother of the bride shots...

Cheers,
« Last Edit: April 21, 2008, 12:01:26 pm by Jack Flesher »
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Ken Doo

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« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2008, 12:01:48 pm »

I'm not a real fan of the 55-110, but this lens does perform well for portraits and I find it on my 645 AFD more than I'd like to admit.  

150mm is an excellent portrait lens and remains a favorite.

105-210 is also very nice, and excels on location.

35mm receives more criticism than is really due; I've found it to be an excellent wide angle lens, though certainly not in the class of the new 28mm.  All of my Page, AZ images from the Antelope Slot Canyons were taken with this lens and P30.  See, www.houseoflandscapes.com

Don't use the 55mm, 80mm, or 210mm that much, nor the Hartblei 45mm T/S Super Rotator, though it is a good lens.

The 300mm APO is very nice.  (Unforntunately for Don Libby, he touched this lens in my studio and ended up buying on for himself---he liked it!)    

I want the 75-150mm.......  now.    

For your wedding/portrait work, my bet would be on the 55-110 and 105-210.  Then add in the 120 and 150 or others.....

mcfoto

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« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2008, 02:59:25 pm »

Hi
For your application I would go for the 28 or 35, 45-90, 75-150 & 210 all AF lenses. I own the 55-110 & use it more than my other lenses. I think you will use the zooms 90% of the time.
Denis
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Don Libby

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« Reply #7 on: April 21, 2008, 06:32:04 pm »

Coming from the landscape and nature side; I've got the 28, 35, 75-150, 210 and the 300 (thanks Ken).  I also have the Hartblei 45mm T/S Super Rotator.  The lens I find I use the most (in order) are the 28, 35, 75-150, 300.  Just returned from shooting a cliff dwelling in New Mexico and used just the 28 and 75-150.

Again this is from a landscape/nature application.

don

btw the 28 stays on the camera all the time and is taken off only when I feel I need to change to a longer lens.  This last shot I did I also carried the 35 and never used it.

SecondFocus

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« Reply #8 on: April 21, 2008, 09:03:01 pm »

I would go with the 45 2.8 and the 105-210. I certainly expect that the 75-150 would be great but you can pick up the other two used, inexpensively. Check out KEH.com.

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landscapes to wedding/portrait work.

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