Lomopedia: Mamiya 645 Pro

Introduced in 1992, the Mamiya 645 Pro was a continuation in Mamiya's line of medium format SLRs that catered to the mid and professional-level photographer market. It was an improvement on earlier models like the Mamiya 645 and the Mamiya 645 1000S. It's a versatile medium format camera that allowed different attachments to tailor fit a photographer's creative needs — all thanks to its modular system.

The 645 Pro is capable of shooting 15 6 × 4.5 cm exposures on 120 film and as much as 30 shots on 220 film. It also accepts 35 mm cartridges and instant film packs with the help of specialized backs/accessories. The 645 Pro's modular system makes it a good choice for serious photographers who want to customize their shooting experience — with its body being able to accommodate different accessories like lenses, finders, winders, grips, and etc.

While the addition of these accessories may point to a heavy setup, the Mamiya 645 Pro is actually lighter than most medium format SLRs due to its unique body composition. It has a metal frame and plastic panels to reduce weight, making it fairly easy to bring along shoots and photo walks. While some would argue that this choice in material is nowhere near the quality or durability of other all-metal medium format SLRs, it is a good trade-off for the photographer who prefers to keep it light while shooting on medium format film.

Apart from these design features, the Mamiya 645 Pro is a host of reliable and high-quality optics, contributing to clear and crisp shots. To add to that, aftermarket finders and grips contribute to a more ergonomic shooting style and handling, an advantage the 645 Pro holds over other medium format SLRs in its segment.

All in all, the Mamiya 645 Pro is a good investment for the photographer who's looking to experience a variety of shooting styles with just one camera system. Its ability to shoot with different film formats is also a big plus, not to mention that it is relatively cheaper compared to other SLRs in the market.

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Technical Specifications:

Type: 6 × 4.5 cm electronic focal-plane shutter SLR
Film: 120 rill film (15 exposures), 220 roll (30 exposures), Polaroid pack film (Polaroid 100, 600 series), 135 roll film in film cartridge
Loading: Daylight loading — interchangeable film holders with film speed dial available
Standard lenses: Mamiya-Sekor C 80 mm f/2.8 N, Mamiya-Sekor C 80 mm f/1.9 N
Mount: M645 bayonet mount (applicable to all M645 lenses)
Shutter moving coil, electronic controlled focal-plane shutter
Shutter speed: (Manual) 4 sec. to 1/1000 sec., B (T), (Auto) 8 sec. to 1/1000 sec. (when the AE Prism Finder FE401 is used)
Shutter release: Electromagnetic release, Selectable release lock or self-timer mode
Mirror: Instant return, front coated mirror, with mirror lock-up capability
Viewfinder: Interchangeable (Waist Level Finder N, Prism Finder FP401, and AE Prism Finder FE401) (Viewfinders for the M645 Super can be used)
Focusing Screen: Standard: Rangefinder Spot/Microprism with Fresnel Lens, accessory screens available (Same as the M645 Super)
Field of View: 94%
Power Supply: 6V battery × 1 (4SR44 silver-oxide battery, 4LR44 alkaline-manganese batter for 2CR1/3 lithium batter)
Dimensions and Weight: Body with 120 Roll Film Holder HA401 124 mm (W) × 102.5 mm (H) × 124 mm (D) 980 g

All information used in this article was sourced from Camera Wiki, Emulsive, and Wikipedia.

written by cheeo on 2019-07-19 #gear #mamiya-645-pro