Mamiya 645 Pro 35mm f/3.5 Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by: contaxgeewhiz
(Expert)

Review Date
October 10, 2002

Overall Rating
2 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Review 1 of 6

Price Paid: $400.00

Summary:

Mine is latest version bought in last year. Very dissappointing. Sharp and contrasty in central 2/3rds of frame but outer part shows a rapid and unacceptable decline in resolution. Very soft in corners. Improves a little stopped down below f8 but never becomes sufficiently good for professional landscape photography. You might just as well use 35mm!

Strengths:

focal length with great dramatic potential

Weaknesses:

See above. Mine is so poor I wonder if it is a bad sample in which case quality control may be suspect.

Similar Products Used:

21mm 35mm format lenses from Nikon, Olympus and Zeiss (Contax G)

Customer Service:

Not used

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Rating
Reviewed by: David N VanMeter
(Intermediate)

Review Date
June 13, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Review 2 of 6

Price Paid: $799.00 from Cord Camera

Summary:

This has proven to be a top notch lens and is great for landscape and shooting in tight spots. Rectilinear image is wonderful but I still don't like shooting architecture with it, thats why I have an 8x10 camera. This is a rare lens so grab it if you see it

Strengths:

Excellent optics, tack sharp lens. Smooth focus and DOF from here to tomorrow! Even has IR markings

Weaknesses:

Weight

Similar Products Used:

Mamiya 45mm

Customer Service:

Not needed for this purchase but for others it has been first rate

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Rating
Reviewed by: Fleming Robert
(Professional)

Review Date
May 20, 2001

Overall Rating
3 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 3 of 6

Price Paid: $350.00 from Local camera store, years ago.

Summary:

If you need a super-wide MF lens, this is a very affordable, very useable alternative. I don't like the RB 50 (poor) or RZ 50 (just good, though I've vot tried the ULD). If you want really yummy Mamiya wide-angles, try the M7 43 or 50 lenses.

Strengths:

Solid, lightweight, affordable... a good performer.

Weaknesses:

The weakest lens in the M645 line. Resolution and contrast just not up to par. But have you seen the prices of the competition, Pentax excepted?

Similar Products Used:

55/2.8--superb, equal to any similar FL MF lens on the market.
45/2.8--very good lens.

Customer Service:

Top notch.

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Rating
Reviewed by: Christophe Mincke
(Intermediate)

Review Date
March 27, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Review 4 of 6

Price Paid: $525.00 from Bara Photo (Brussels)

Summary:

For use in landscape or architecural photography. You don't use that much such an angle and you must be very carefull to shot horizontaly. I use a tripod and a level indicator. It's necessary in architectural photography.
A rare and a little bit expensive lens but valuable one.

Strengths:

Very wide angle
Sharp lens
Low distortion
Huge depth of field

Weaknesses:

Heavy (I think)
Mamiya bayonet is not really easy to use

Similar Products Used:

80mm 1,9

Customer Service:

Never needed. Good unofficial one in Belgium (see Bara Photo Brussels)

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Rating
Reviewed by: Peter Glock
(Expert)

Review Date
February 28, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 5 of 6

Summary:

Great lens for interieur and outdoor photography: The widest angle I know for medium format SLR.

Strengths:

very sharp; compact and lightweighted;

Weaknesses:

Filter size of 77mm; at this lens the round filters (e.g. polarizers) of the Cokin P-System are not applicable without vignetting.

Similar Products Used:

45mm f/2.8; 55mm f/2.8

Customer Service:

never needed

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