Mamiya 645 Pro TL review - Should you get one?
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- Опубліковано 9 лип 2024
- In this video, I give you my thoughts on the Mamiya 645 Pro, after using it for about a year. If you're shoping for your next film camera, give the little Mamiya a go, it won't disappoint ;).
Music from Epidemicsound, stock footage from StoryBlocks, BoloBellheimerDeadChannel and TheKinoLibrary.
► Mamiya 645 deals on eBay: (ebay.us/imPOer);
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MY GEAR FOR MAKING UA-cam CONTENT
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► Camera: Canon R6 mark 2 (amzn.to/4bOzvGU) Amazon;
► Lens: Canon RF 24-105 f4.0 (amzn.to/3UPfYjy) Amazon;
► Fast SD cards: Lexar UHS-II 256 Gb (amzn.to/3SU2GzT) Amazon;
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► Drone: Mavic 2 Pro (amzn.to/49sAHhz) Amazon;
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MY FILM PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR
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► Favorite medium format camera: Hasselblad 500 C/M (ebay.us/IWXpRD) eBay;
► Another favorite camera: Mamiya RB67 (ebay.us/7bsse6) eBay;
► Favorite color film: Portra 160 (amzn.to/49sH5Ft) Amazon;
► Faster color film: Portra 400 (amzn.to/49i9rlT) Amazon;
► Favorite BW film: Ilford FP4+ (amzn.to/3IcHMH9) Amazon;
► Faster BW film: Ilford HP5+ (amzn.to/3Icsxhi) Amazon;
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Watched. Bought one. Happy.
Once again, you nailed it with this serial! Great video Alex!
I bought a 645 Super in 2016 at a bargains prize to today's standards, and have since added some lenses, a grip/winder and a metered prism, and have 3 backs, and even an original shutter release cable. It was very worth it to invest in preriferals, at least for m it was. Biggest plusses I found over the years are the ease of use, portability and robustness of the camera system, and I love the lenses (the 80mm N f/1.9 is wonderfull, and is often the only I need together with my 45mm N 2.8) which are mostly all compatible for IR film as I'm aware of. I often doubt between taking my Hassleblad 500c or the Mamiya, and it holds up pretty well with some practical advntages over the Hassie. Only drawback is that the Mamiya 645 Super (and supposibly also the Pro and Pro TL) can't handle cold very well, especially with a bit older battery. It litterly freezes (stuck shutter), but is easily "defrosted" by letting it get back on temperature indoors. I wouldn't ever consider selling it, I love it that much. Currently I have it paired with an Epson v850 scanner and SilverFast software, and images blow me away. Getting your hands on a good kit is a no-brainer IMHO.
I agree. 😍
Underrated Channel
Thank you 😃
Mamiya is lookin mighty fancy!
Awesome review, thnx Alex!
🥲👍🏻
Another great one my friend, glad to have you back!❤
Thanks bro! 🥲 I hope to “stay” this time
@@alexander.starbuckplease do so, I need it so I can find 🔥 to continue mine 😂
I personally prefer the 645 1000s with a PDS prism. Just gives me the fizz like a camera should. These later version Mamiyas tend to encroach into the world of plasticky DSLRs we all have had to experience. Nothing like a late 70's made 645 1000s.
I agree, I’d also prefer that one but this one was available closely to me.
@@alexander.starbuck It's still a great camera to have no question. Get as much use out of it as you can.
I ended up keeping the 80mm lens from my 645E and sold the body to KEH for 200 bucks.
Then I bought a 645 1000/s body and PDS prism from them using some of that money. The interchangeable film back would literally mean nothing to me. I'm ok with getting my 15 exposures of whatever I have in the camera and then switching films if I find it necessary.
Hey bro! Happy to see your channel! I like your relaxed vibe, the way you deliver value and how you talk. So relaxed, so nice. And those zooms too se what you do when you change something to the camera are somehow so natural. I know it's a simple thing, but you have your way to do it. Congratulations!
Thanks for the nice words, Gabriel! 😃
@@alexander.starbuck All of them are true words :D You deserve them! Thank you!
Having done heaps of printing from 35mm and the various 120 film formats, both the 35mm and the 645 format, enlarge almost perfectly to A4 paper, which around the world in general, is the format mostly used for magazine printing. The other nice enlarging size is the 6x7 format.
Measurements are taken from the actual negative size, and yes, one could and still can get, A4 darkroom paper for B&W printing.
So happy to see you back, Alexander! Great video and well done. Personally, I fell into the “big format/higher res” camp a few years ago. Then I realized my favorite photos (mine and every other photographer I like) had absolutely ZERO to do with sharpness, clarity, resolution...in fact, many of my faves were shot on 35mm or Holga and had motion blur, poor focus and low resolution in general. Well, that’s me. No big deal. Welcome back!
Thanks Paul! I hop it won't take another year for the next video :)
1:12 Don't worry. Only the "skin" of these cameras is made of plastic (polycarbonate)😊. The internal frame is still made of aluminium die cast. Polycarbonate skins do not age gracefully; they tend to become shiny and start looking cheap, but they are very very strong material, and definitely not a "downgrade".
I agree but yes, they do look… cheap and somehow make me not want to use the camera. Even though it is excellent! 😉
645 is nearly 3 times the area of 35 mm. 24x36 prints on my epson printer are a piece of cake. But the images out of the rb67 make you feel like you could fall into them. But no way I am lugging that around for hours. the 645 pro tl goes from a tiny, light weight box in stripped down wlf and plastic hand crank to elf still manageable to adding power winder for speed and ergos and now weighs in at 5 lbs. But no matter what it kicks out negs 3x of 35 mm all at a reasonable price. Love this camera.
Watched your video and ordered one a few minutes after, thank you sir.
I’m sure you will enjoy it! 😃
Learned a better way to hold this camera with elf and hand crank. Thanks. I print and have a huge large format printer... in my living room. 35 mm I can print to 20" with fine grained film like portra or acros. With 645, with any film, but with 67, 24x36, the largest my printer will go but that is a minimal reason for mf. The tonal transitions are amazing. If I want images I feel like I could walk into, with tonal transitions across the face that are incredible. it's 67. But the RB67 is pretty large and only 10 shots. The 645 is the perfect compromise, excellent resolution, mf look, but easily portable. Oh, it has THREE TIMES the image area over a 35 mm. That's significant.
I've shot many weddings with the mamiya 645!
Yes, it seems like a great tool to do just that!
I kind of went the same way, have been using my RB67 for 10 years, fantastic images but it is heavy to carry around so I "downgraded" to a M645 1000S (cannot stand plastic cameras so an M645 it is ;)
❤
I'm between this and a Bronica ETRSi but I'm not sure which to get. The professionals I've spoken with say these days a Mamiya is easier to repair, but then again Bronicas are a tad bit cheaper, so who knows...
I’ve tried one of the Bronica’s and… while not a bad camera, I feel I’d always go for the Mamiya. Save up a bit more, get the Mamiya, they really do feel premium. If you want a bit better review and oppinion, check out Kyle McDougall’s YT video on the ETR 😁. Good luck!
@@alexander.starbuckGreat advice - will do, thanks!
❤👏🏻
Always loved this camera, never managed to get hold of one in full working order
It’s nice, really really nice 😉
👌👏
like... if i didnt have a 645N, possibly.
I actually got rid of my 645N recently, because of the price and size it didn't fit me. The pro-TL can be got for under 500, saving about 50% on the 645n kit - so this is why I'm considering it now
Samo Motorola buraz :-)
Hahahaha…. Razr ili cak 8810 Nokac jos jaci!
645 as a format is fine if you're printing your photos in a darkroom.
For scanning, things look a lot different. Using what most of us can afford, i.e. a 35 mm film scanner and a flatbed scanner for medium format, there isn't much difference in the quality you get. In order to really exploit the full quality of the 645 negs, you'd have to use a real medium format film scanner, e.g. a Coolscan 9000, and we all know what they cost, even used.
Great option is to “dslr scan”. Many of us already own a good digital camera, get a Kaiser Slimlite for 200$ and you’ll get really good quality scans. ESPECIALLY if you have a macro lens 😉
I use my digital camera, a 46 mp nikon d850 with zeiss 100 mm makro planar both that I had for portraits. A rolling studio camera stand, ball head and led video light meant all I had to buy was a valoi film holder for 35, 645, 66 and 67. Just like folks buying 46 mp cameras to only show their images on line or their cell phone, they don't need the added resolution, nearly triple, of 645. But I print and although I can make a 20" print off 35 mm, the 645 are gorgeous. But the 67 from my RB feel like you could fall into the picture. Camera scanning is fast and I scan tethered to light room so can adjust shutter speed to nail placement of the histogram.
the 80mm f2.8 is probably the best lens on this camera & you don’t even have it. 😵💫
Thanks for the comment Stephen! ;) Yes, I know... (I think it was even a 1.8 or 1.9, which makes it the widest aperture medium format lens ever). I thought about getting it but 35mm is really my preferred focal length (in 135 terms) and I somehow never got to like that camera body enough so I finally sold it all away.
@@alexander.starbuck that makes sense! For some reason I’ve always loved 50mm when it comes to medium format. But I also love 35 & 28mm. Good to know. I had this camera for a bit and miss it a lot. Have been considering getting it again. That or the Fuji GA645 - enjoy your videos though man, keep it up!
I am Inlove with mine 💕🦩