Mamiya old film camera!

C.A.V.

Active member
My grandfather used to be a proffesional photographer back in the day and he gave me this the other day, i dont really have much use for it becuase i dont even know how to use film or the camera, anyone know how much these go for? or how to use it? basically any info about this camera would be cool!

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Specifically a Mamiya m645 1000s

Sweet little MF camera, has DOF preview and a 1/1000 shutter speed. I'm not a huge fan of the 645 look personally, but it's pretty awesome to get 15 shots on a roll of 120, and the lenses are affordable and sweet. I saw something where a guy was shooting skating with a 24mm fisheye on one of these, and I'm pretty sure it has an 80mm f1.9, which is freaking fast for MF.

I'd be absolutely pumped if I came across one myself.
 
i feel i should learn to use film it be pretty cool and this would be fantastic to use i bet, what prices to these go for now?
 
Probably around 300 for that model, depending on the condition.

Honestly, I'd just keep it. You're going to get far better photos out of that camera than any DSLR out there (a 645 should be able to get you at least 30megapixel resolution scans). I'd be fucking PUMPED to stumble on that.

It's a great Medium format option, and not bad for learning to shoot MF. I'd learn to shoot a 35mm camera first, though... you can pick them up for cheap, and they're easier to find film for. Learning on Medium format would take some dedication, and some patience if you're a complete noob to film.

You're going to want to buy a light meter for the Mamiya, or buy a metered prism, but honestly, I'd just use a light meter. It's going to be cheaper, and more likely to work anyways.

Also, if you want cheap film to throw through it, you best options are here. It's what I use.
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/brands/211-Arista-EDU-Ultra?mfg[]=211&attr[]=1-1
 
no you arent. this camera has a built in meter that works just fine. and if i were you i would just buy some film and start shooting that thing. its very easy to shoot. look up a few youtube tutorials on how it works - its very simple and get after it.
 
I can assure you, that's not a metered prism on top of that camera. Just the standard viewfinder prism. There would be a knob off to the side where you select your shutter speed if that was a metered prism.

 
Sean's right. I've got the metered prism for my 645 and this one is just the 'plain' prism finder.

It's a great camera! Have fun using it.
 
Jesus... that lens right there is quite possibly the biggest reason to have that camera, because it's the fastest lens in the entire medium format world.

You can get some really crazy bokeh with that lens, and use it effectively in low light situations. That lens right there is one of the reasons why wedding photographers fucking loved that camera. It's not the best at f1.9 at all - you're going to have corner falloff and a slightly softer image, but the fact that you can go to f1.9 is remarkable. You can achieve the brightest MF viewfinder ever with that lens.

Fuck man... I'd roll with that camera all fucking day. It's light, easy to use, and with effectively a 35 f2.8 and a 50 f1.9, you have a really killer setup. I fucking WISH I could go to f1.9 on my hasselblad 80mm sometimes... but 2.8 is as fast as you're going to get with that.

 
fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu so so so so so lucky, those things are awesome. Enjoy it. You can probably kill somebody with it too, those are tanks.
 
Either way... I almost want to get one of these just for that lens... considering how surprisingly affordable they are, I might just do it this summer.
 
is there a lens adapter to use these lens for newer cameras like my t2i? so i can add 2 more lens to my collection and use it on the mamiya and t2i?
 
You can, but I can't tell you how well they'll work.

I'd just invest in some 35mm vintage glass that will end up being a lot more use-able.
 
If you're of the diy persuasion, I've seen people adapt mf lenses to act as tilt shift lenses on 35mm or crop digi sensors. Could be a fun project.
 
I know I don't know anything about your life or your relationship with your grandpa but if my grandpa gave me something like this as gift I wouldn't sell it. Maybe he gave it to you with some hope that you would learn to use it and love it like he did. Do what you want, just my point of view.
 
it was my dads idwa he will talk to his dad about it he wants to see what he can get for it since i probably wont lug it out to colorado
 
So worth lugging out to colorado... or anywhere, really. That fucker can take better photos than anything you can afford.
 
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