Simple, ergo feel. Fairly light and balanced feeling (especially compared to my beastly RZ). Lenses seem quite contrasty when compared to RZ;s Sharpness is there.

Can barely tolerate lack of 1/3 stop increments for aperature in manual mode. When using AF lenses manually, they have too light a touch...could EASILY "bump" focus ring. Also, I'd love to watch a Mamiya tech guy try and put the Polaroid back on quickly...Really bogus interface here. CMON GUYS!!!! Also, in the year 2000 couldn't some type of "matrix" metering system been implemented. Using center weighted after 4 years with N90's puts me back in grade school. 150 and 80 mm lenses dont focus close enough...Can only get 5 ft. from subject with 150mm.

I've only run about 20 rolls through so far...I love the lightweight and balanced feel...I'm not used to the weaknesses listed here...Maybe a 200 roll report soon.

Customer Service

After 10 years with an RZ, Mamiya's service is excellent! They have a users forum on their website for the 645 AF.

Similar Products Used:

Spent 2 hours with Contax 645 at B&H.

Of course, the large negative. AF assist beam (very useful indoors). The magazine switches from 120 to 220 with a simple pressure plate rotation. Mirror and shutter lock up when back is removed. The polaroid back rules.

Slower focus than Pentax 645N. Zoom lenses aren't available yet. Inconvenient with MF lenses.

This camera is an excellent way to get started in medium format photography. I was going to buy the 645n, but I got the chance to try this camera and instantly fell in love. It is no more difficult to use and understand than my EOS-3. It is quite expensive, but very worth it. I bought the camera in a package in addition to the 45mm f/2.8 and 150mm f/3.5 and got a free loupe and polaroid back all for about 6 grand. Lots of jack, but much more fun than a cheap used car. One weakness that I have read about is that you must change the focusing screen and use the lens stopped down when using manual focus lenses. This is not a problem yet, but the next lens I will buy is the 120mm f/4 macro. I hope using this lens will not be too much of a hassle! When the zoom lenses come out, I will have to find a good justification for still using my Canon (Hugely less expensive developing is a strong argument though)!

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax 645n. This is my first foray into medium format.

Easy to transition from 35mm, controls well laid out, reasonably fast for MF, superb (but limited number of) lenses, works well in low light, exposure imprinting a plus. Takes great pictures.

Has taken forever to deliver full range of lenses. I have 45mm and 80mm, awaiting two zooms promised this summer. Slower focusing and consecutive shooting than my Nikon F100 takes some getting used to.

This camera and the other AF 645 will attract more to medium format. When the zoom lenses are available this will be a great camera for travel photography and portraits, where I do a lot of my work.

Customer Service

Excellent

Similar Products Used:

I evaluated Pentax. Already owned Mamiya 7ii (rangefinder).

Its really easy to use, and finally brings AF thats practical to medium format. Faster focusing than any other MF AF on the market.

not as light as other 645 cameras, but lighter than the Contax

A great camera! Mamiya has done it again.

Customer Service

Everyone knows Mamiya service is the best.

Similar Products Used:

Contax and Pentax AF

It's about time someone made a good autofocus camera in medium format. It is faster focusing than the others and it works in low light - the others don't!

It is still a little bigger than I'd like, but I still carry a Minox too.

If you've ever been unsure of your focusing, especially in darkened places, this is the one! Best camera I've eber used.

Customer Service

Mamiya has the best service in the whole US camera business. Ask any pro.

Similar Products Used:

Contax & Fiji

The date and exposure imprinting backs, the autobracketing, 1/125 second sync, sturdy body which is nice to handhold. Most dials and buttons are easy to reach.

The AF isn't very quick if you compare to the Pentax 645N. Believe me - I measured the time with a device custommade for measuring timelag and autofocus. The autofocus is also noisy (some high, sharp sound I don´t like too much) and it's also not the most reliable system on the market. It even had problems finding the focus on something as easy as a straight, vertical black line against a white background. The rear dial is a bit hard to reach for the thumb and is not too well placed on the right edge of the camera's grip. It is likely to be exposed to rough handling there, since a professional photographer's is likely to haul it up and down from a camerabag a quite repectable number of times. Wasn't too happy about the colour of the viewfinder either - too cold to my taste. The biggest problem though, is if you allready own a Mamiya 645 Pro or TL and want buy a 645 AF as well. the new AF-lenses won't fit on the non-autofocus cameras and the manual-focus lenses are a bit difficult to use on the AF-body since they have to be used with the aparture stopped down.

A nice camera if it's the first Mamiya you buy. A bit too slow AF compared to Pentax 645N and also not reliable enough. Has some really good features as bracketing, exposure-imprinting and so on but I think it's too expensive.

Customer Service

Don't know about the US-market.

Similar Products Used:

All out there. Hasselblad, Pentax 645N, Mamiya 645 TL, Contax 645,and so on...
Working as the technical editor of Sca

It has imprinting of settings used, the Af is quick! The back can be either 120 or 220 with a turn of the plate in back. It syncs at 125. It has a preview button for stop down viewing. It is affordable, and takes great pictures, and you can manual focus if you want to with out a problem.

Did give me a error message, but turned it off and the camera came right back up.

I really like it..and I think I am buying one today.

Similar Products Used:

hassy, pentax 645

Solid, with all of the features of high-end 35mm cameras; improved flash sync to 1/125;quick & surprisingly quiet AF.

A wait(for-2000)for the 150/2.8 lens; MF lenses must be stopped down for metering.

Has a great, solid feel, with everything I need in a camera. AF works well for my "aging eyes".

Customer Service

Always helpful with general questions.

Similar Products Used:

Mamiya 645 ProTL, Contax 645

-interchangeable backs
-choice of 120 or 220 film on one back
-data imprint on neg
-auto bracketing

-the viewfinder has a bluish cast to it-made me want to automatically put a warming filter on
-the polaroid back was a nuisance to put on
-it wouldn't focus for me for some reason in a low light situation (I am not talking dark here it was about 15 minutes after sunset)I had to switch to manual
- also I had a hard time focusing in my studio with it, maybe because the backdrop was black - can't figure it out
-on top of that the battery flipped out near the end of my studio shoot . I had to turn it off and on about 4 times to finish the shoot. I figured that the place where I rented it from didn't put fresh batteries in it. So I immediately went to buy some more. Before I put them in I thought I just test it again to see if they were okay and they were. I didn't replace them at all.

For $5000 I expected more. I am going to rent a couple more brands of medium format to see which suits me better before I buy.

Customer Service

n/a

Similar Products Used:

none yet

Small size. Auto focus is fine with me. Good lenses.

I have had problems with exposure. Bilt-in-meter was off inconsistantly. Not depentable at all. I had it sent back to Mamiya. They said everything is fine and sent me back. The problem is still there.
I cannot use it without a Polaroid back, which is hard to put on. I wanted to use it for "action shots", but I cannot do that.

I cannot use it for what I wanted to use it. When I use a light meter and a Polaroid back, it is fine. But if I do that, I rather use other cameras. Check the built-in-meter before you buy it.

Customer Service

I was disappointed.

Similar Products Used:

For medium format, I own
Pentax 6x7, Hassel., Fuji 680, Mamiya RB and RZ.