Have you ever wondered why your landscape prints look so unsharp, have less details compared to the ones by
Pro-photographers? It is likely that they are using better equipment. Now better does not mean the latest and
greatest tool. In case of landscape photographers it is more likely that they are in fact using old technology.
Better for landscape photographers mean larger real estate, film area to start with. Not everyone wants to start with a large format view camera, for them there is medium format. Now medium format may mean anything from 6x4.5 (or 645) to 6x9. There are various camera companies making medium format equipment able to produce pictures in different film sizes. Many people move to 645 as it is almost like a 35mm SLR equipment in size and handling. 6x6/9 are larger and heavier, however produce pictures on almost double film area. Those who move to 6x7 or larger trash 645 as they think it is not much larger than 35mm film. Truth is they have never used the format. 645 is almost 3 times larger than the 35mm, prints show it.<br>
Mamiya and Pentax are the two major camera companies producing medium format equipment. There is also Bronica which makes different medium format equipment and Hasselblad famous for its 6x6 cameras.<br>
My first medium format camera was Mamiya 645, 1000s. I bought a second hand from a store in Munich and was lucky to get one in almost mint condition.<br><br>
Features
<br><br>
Being called as a Pro camera, 1000s has most of the features a landscape photographer will need. The fact that the camera was made almost 30 years ago and the attention given to the small details is amazing. For example a spring-controlled lever in the front which one can use for Depth of Field(DOF) preview is amazing. There is of course a dedicated lever for DOF preview on the lense which one can use. This camera, unlike its predecessor, comes with a Mirror Lock-up lever, an important feature for landscape photographer as the mirror of the camera is large and a source of vibrations. There is another lever for multi-exposure if one want to make sandwich exposures or experiment. There is a small red button at the top-right for battery check and a small battery-check window(on the top-left) flashes green if it is order. One lithium battery lasts for at least 40 roll films depending on the season/temperature it is used in. One the left side there is a knob for shutter speed setting which has maximum 1/1000s (and thats where 1000s name comes from) and minimum 4s exposure time, there is also a B (bulb) setting which one can use for longer exposures. One must press the middle part of this knob to advance the exposure timing to slower or faster shutter speed. There are also contacts for external flash at the back. On the right side there is a knob for frame advancing frame and a counter shows the number of frames used. One of the other good features is one can change the screens, I preferred for a screen with grid for guide while composing. It is bright and clear.</br><br>
Field Test
</br><br>
This camera never failed, worked flawless for about 3 years. I was lucky to get one in a very good (almost never used) condition. It was my perfect travel camera and I took to Holland, Japan, and different countries in Europe. I always used it with a Waist Level Finder (WLF). The downside was composing verticals but I got used to composing using WLF. It was not comfortable but definitely more comfortable than carrying the other viewfinders in the field. I used 80mm secor most of the time. I also owned 55 and 150mm, both very sharp lenses. My favorite remains 80mm though. It was always on the camera and fitted well in my smallest Tamrac pack. I carried an extra roll film, battery and remote release, small tripod in backpack. Perfect. I carried one(80mm) lense and 2 roll films to Holland and got more keepers (ratio) than ever before. <br><br>
Conclusion
<br><br>
I highly recommend this camera to anybody who wants to go medium format. If it was a 6x6 camera it would have given some sleepless nights to Hasselblad and inflated Hasselblad prices would have been lower than what they have been. Okok, the viewfinder of 500CM is a joy and Carl Zeiss lenses may have that micro-contrast but at almost 1/3 <br><br>t<br><br>he price 1000s is a very fine performer. My 80mm was as good as 80mm CZ I used. This camera is more intuitive than Hasselblad and easy to use. My only complaint is the vertical composition but one can get used to composing using WLF. Not comfortable but works. Another problem is film back or lack of it. You can not change the film mid-way as some may prefer to. For me it was not a problem as I use only one type of film at a time. It is also possible that if something breaks down repairing it may not be possible, but the prices are so low now that you can easily replace it.
<br><br>
This is a very nice review for a very fine product made by Mamiya. I happen to lug around the big brother to these units, the RB67 Pro SD. The 645 are a very nice size unit and are an easy move from the 35mm format for most users. I was one of those that moved from the 35mm format to the Medium Format RB67 without too much trouble at all. Like you, I make a lot of images using the standard lens; in my case instead of 80mm it is the 90mm. I find the natural perspective the standard lens provides me what I really like as a finished image. I do also use the 65mm, (about 35mm-in the 35mm format), a lot too. I rarely jump to the 50mm wide angle unless being too close requires the move. Mamiya recently was sold to some software development company from what I understand and we will see how life goes for them going forward. It seems as though the very pricey ZD stuff is starting to populate the world now, but that looks to be having issues too. Thanks for the article here on some of the good old hardware still out there!
You are 100% right on with the weight factor, it can be brutal on the RB/RZ line. The 645 is a better choice when considering the weight factor for sure!
Posted by Jim Hutchison on November 27, 2006 at 1:28 PM
I've owned this same baby for about 6 years, and it's been to the repair shop once, so - they're not infalable. However, the image quality is increadible; I've had transparencies scanned on an Imacon and Howtek; both come out amazingly clear and sharp. Though I've gone digital, I still use it for serious landscape photos. The equivalent quality in digital is simply far too expensive to consider for this dude...
For anyone wanting to get into it, eBay usually has a variety of them for auction at reasonable prices, including lenses.
Excellent review Prashant. Your points about price, availability and function are well made.
We use a subsequent model with equal happiness, but I need to pass this along. Beware of the 645 Super. The body is weak around the lens mount and subject to bending with prolonged use, especially with longer lenses. We went through four of them, with the problem usually developing right after the warranty expired. It's a fatal flaw with no fix once the condition develops. Consequently there are quite a few damaged units floating around from unscrupulous sellers.
If you are considering purchase of a Super, try the MLU. If the mirror drags or hangs in any way, run away as fast as you can. That's the symptom of the problem, as the clearances for mirror movement are very small and the slightest flex in the body interferes with it.
The subsequent 645 Pro model is superb and takes care of the problem nicely. Fortunately for us, it uses the same lenses as the Super, so we weren't stranded with a bunch of useless lenses when we upgraded. Our Pro's are now many years old and have had lots of rough usage, but they still function flawlessly.
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on December 1, 2006 at 2:45 AM
Prashant, your primary complaint was about the difficulty of vertical compositions while using the waist level finder. Mamiya made a prism finder for the original 645. I therefore assume these were also available for the 1000s model?? I did, however, prefer the great view through the waist level finder, so I shot a lot of horizontal landscapes.
I still have my old 645 that was purchased in 1977. Still works fine! Should have sold it 10 years ago, while it was still worth a few pennies.
I agree the 645 is a great value, however, if I were to buy a MF film body for landscape today, I would go for the Mamiya 7II.....Small, low weight, 6x7 format, world class sharp lenses.
Discussion
6 repliesPro-photographers? It is likely that they are using better equipment. Now better does not mean the latest and
greatest tool. In case of landscape photographers it is more likely that they are in fact using old technology.
Better for landscape photographers mean larger real estate, film area to start with. Not everyone wants to start with a large format view camera, for them there is medium format. Now medium format may mean anything from 6x4.5 (or 645) to 6x9. There are various camera companies making medium format equipment able to produce pictures in different film sizes. Many people move to 645 as it is almost like a 35mm SLR equipment in size and handling. 6x6/9 are larger and heavier, however produce pictures on almost double film area. Those who move to 6x7 or larger trash 645 as they think it is not much larger than 35mm film. Truth is they have never used the format. 645 is almost 3 times larger than the 35mm, prints show it.<br>
Mamiya and Pentax are the two major camera companies producing medium format equipment. There is also Bronica which makes different medium format equipment and Hasselblad famous for its 6x6 cameras.<br>
My first medium format camera was Mamiya 645, 1000s. I bought a second hand from a store in Munich and was lucky to get one in almost mint condition.<br><br>
Features
<br><br>
Being called as a Pro camera, 1000s has most of the features a landscape photographer will need. The fact that the camera was made almost 30 years ago and the attention given to the small details is amazing. For example a spring-controlled lever in the front which one can use for Depth of Field(DOF) preview is amazing. There is of course a dedicated lever for DOF preview on the lense which one can use. This camera, unlike its predecessor, comes with a Mirror Lock-up lever, an important feature for landscape photographer as the mirror of the camera is large and a source of vibrations. There is another lever for multi-exposure if one want to make sandwich exposures or experiment. There is a small red button at the top-right for battery check and a small battery-check window(on the top-left) flashes green if it is order. One lithium battery lasts for at least 40 roll films depending on the season/temperature it is used in. One the left side there is a knob for shutter speed setting which has maximum 1/1000s (and thats where 1000s name comes from) and minimum 4s exposure time, there is also a B (bulb) setting which one can use for longer exposures. One must press the middle part of this knob to advance the exposure timing to slower or faster shutter speed. There are also contacts for external flash at the back. On the right side there is a knob for frame advancing frame and a counter shows the number of frames used. One of the other good features is one can change the screens, I preferred for a screen with grid for guide while composing. It is bright and clear.</br><br>
Field Test
</br><br>
This camera never failed, worked flawless for about 3 years. I was lucky to get one in a very good (almost never used) condition. It was my perfect travel camera and I took to Holland, Japan, and different countries in Europe. I always used it with a Waist Level Finder (WLF). The downside was composing verticals but I got used to composing using WLF. It was not comfortable but definitely more comfortable than carrying the other viewfinders in the field. I used 80mm secor most of the time. I also owned 55 and 150mm, both very sharp lenses. My favorite remains 80mm though. It was always on the camera and fitted well in my smallest Tamrac pack. I carried an extra roll film, battery and remote release, small tripod in backpack. Perfect. I carried one(80mm) lense and 2 roll films to Holland and got more keepers (ratio) than ever before. <br><br>
Conclusion
<br><br>
I highly recommend this camera to anybody who wants to go medium format. If it was a 6x6 camera it would have given some sleepless nights to Hasselblad and inflated Hasselblad prices would have been lower than what they have been. Okok, the viewfinder of 500CM is a joy and Carl Zeiss lenses may have that micro-contrast but at almost 1/3 <br><br>t<br><br>he price 1000s is a very fine performer. My 80mm was as good as 80mm CZ I used. This camera is more intuitive than Hasselblad and easy to use. My only complaint is the vertical composition but one can get used to composing using WLF. Not comfortable but works. Another problem is film back or lack of it. You can not change the film mid-way as some may prefer to. For me it was not a problem as I use only one type of film at a time. It is also possible that if something breaks down repairing it may not be possible, but the prices are so low now that you can easily replace it.
<br><br>
Highly Recommended!!<br>
In the picture above:
1.DOF lever, 2.MLU 3.Frame Advance 4. Remote/Shutter Release 5.Multi-exposure
6.Timed release 7. Lense Release 8.Shutter Speed setting knob
Full review here.
I have seen/used (borrowed) RB/RZ67. My only problem with it is weight otherwise it is a very fine camera and 6x7.
For anyone wanting to get into it, eBay usually has a variety of them for auction at reasonable prices, including lenses.
Thanks Prashant for the review...
We use a subsequent model with equal happiness, but I need to pass this along. Beware of the 645 Super. The body is weak around the lens mount and subject to bending with prolonged use, especially with longer lenses. We went through four of them, with the problem usually developing right after the warranty expired. It's a fatal flaw with no fix once the condition develops. Consequently there are quite a few damaged units floating around from unscrupulous sellers.
If you are considering purchase of a Super, try the MLU. If the mirror drags or hangs in any way, run away as fast as you can. That's the symptom of the problem, as the clearances for mirror movement are very small and the slightest flex in the body interferes with it.
The subsequent 645 Pro model is superb and takes care of the problem nicely. Fortunately for us, it uses the same lenses as the Super, so we weren't stranded with a bunch of useless lenses when we upgraded. Our Pro's are now many years old and have had lots of rough usage, but they still function flawlessly.
I still have my old 645 that was purchased in 1977. Still works fine! Should have sold it 10 years ago, while it was still worth a few pennies.
I agree the 645 is a great value, however, if I were to buy a MF film body for landscape today, I would go for the Mamiya 7II.....Small, low weight, 6x7 format, world class sharp lenses.