Which 645 do you suggest

[Derrel]

I actually thought that the Bronica SQ-AM (built-in motor and handgrip!) and its ability to shoot 645 "talls" was a super-duper advantage of the Bronica SQ-series bodies, so...I bought one!!!! I don't know how much lighter a 645 Bronica like the ETRs series "is", versus an SQ body....it's probably a lot lighter than the massive SQ-AM and its bulky, heavy metering prism added, to get that nifty half-stop shutter control and to get eye-level focusing, viewing, and shooting. Yestersay, I ran ito this fellow, shooting a 50-megapixel Hassy and 50-110mm zoom lens. Talk about a monster outfit--it's about the same size as a Bronica SQ-AM with its built-on grip-and-motor!!

 

[cgw]

Lose the motor, lose the camera. The main reason SQ-AM bodies are cheap.

 

[Sw1tchFX]

I actually thought that the Bronica SQ-AM (built-in motor and handgrip!) and its ability to shoot 645 "talls" was a super-duper advantage of the Bronica SQ-series bodies, so...I bought one!!!! I don't know how much lighter a 645 Bronica like the ETRs series "is", versus an SQ body....it's probably a lot lighter than the massive SQ-AM and its bulky, heavy metering prism added, to get that nifty half-stop shutter control and to get eye-level focusing, viewing, and shooting. Yestersay, I ran ito this fellow, shooting a 50-megapixel Hassy and 50-110mm zoom lens. Talk about a monster outfit--it's about the same size as a Bronica SQ-AM with its built-on grip-and-motor!!

View attachment 40087

That 50-110 sucks donkey balls, the only reason anyone uses it is to look like they've got a big camera. Guy's a complete tool if he's just walking around waterfront park with that.

 

[cgw]

I actually thought that the Bronica SQ-AM (built-in motor and handgrip!) and its ability to shoot 645 "talls" was a super-duper advantage of the Bronica SQ-series bodies, so...I bought one!!!! I don't know how much lighter a 645 Bronica like the ETRs series "is", versus an SQ body....it's probably a lot lighter than the massive SQ-AM and its bulky, heavy metering prism added, to get that nifty half-stop shutter control and to get eye-level focusing, viewing, and shooting. Yestersay, I ran ito this fellow, shooting a 50-megapixel Hassy and 50-110mm zoom lens. Talk about a monster outfit--it's about the same size as a Bronica SQ-AM with its built-on grip-and-motor!!

View attachment 40087

That 50-110 sucks donkey balls, the only reason anyone uses it is to look like they've got a big camera. Guy's a complete tool if he's just walking around waterfront park with that.

So like you shoot with one regularly when it's not attached to the burro?

 

[Sw1tchFX]

I actually thought that the Bronica SQ-AM (built-in motor and handgrip!) and its ability to shoot 645 "talls" was a super-duper advantage of the Bronica SQ-series bodies, so...I bought one!!!! I don't know how much lighter a 645 Bronica like the ETRs series "is", versus an SQ body....it's probably a lot lighter than the massive SQ-AM and its bulky, heavy metering prism added, to get that nifty half-stop shutter control and to get eye-level focusing, viewing, and shooting. Yestersay, I ran ito this fellow, shooting a 50-megapixel Hassy and 50-110mm zoom lens. Talk about a monster outfit--it's about the same size as a Bronica SQ-AM with its built-on grip-and-motor!!

View attachment 40087

That 50-110 sucks donkey balls, the only reason anyone uses it is to look like they've got a big camera. Guy's a complete tool if he's just walking around waterfront park with that.

So like you shoot with one regularly when it's not attached to the burro?

More than a few times.

 

[cgw]

That 50-110 sucks donkey balls, the only reason anyone uses it is to look like they've got a big camera. Guy's a complete tool if he's just walking around waterfront park with that.

So like you shoot with one regularly when it's not attached to the burro?

More than a few times.

Really? Then share some shots. Otherwise...

 

[epatsellis]

Maybe I'm an outlier, but the best 645 I've shot was a 500c/m (or EL..) with an A12 back. That eliminates the whole vert/horizontal angst.

 

[jritz]

Maybe I'm an outlier, but the best 645 I've shot was a 500c/m (or EL..) with an A12 back. That eliminates the whole vert/horizontal angst.

645 Refers to the format, 6x4.5 cm, the 500cm is a 6x6cm camera....

 

[epatsellis]

Somehow the irony gets lost when typing...

I've been shooting for the better part of 4 decades, having used every major brand of 645, 6x6, 6x7 and 6x9 camera over that time.

My outfit now consists of a Hassy outfit and an RB. While there's nothing inherently "wrong" with 645, many times I find myself thinking "that would look better as a horizontal (or vertical)". The nice thing about 6x6 is that the horizontal/vertical composition can be decided when looking at a contact sheet (or trannies on a light table, at least for a little while longer....).

If I had to shoot 6x4.5, it would be a Contax, thankfully I don't have to make that choice.

erie

 

[Josh66]

Somehow the irony gets lost when typing...

HAHA - I get it now.

I shoot more 6x6 than anything else, but I do like 6x7 too. That's pretty much the extent of my medium format experience...

 

[ktan7]

I would suggest the Mamiya 645, love the sound of the shutter.

 

[rightup]

I would suggest the Mamiya 645, love the sound of the shutter.

Me, too! And I've enjoyed the 'hard to break' feel of the whole system.

 

[OldManJim]

I used to shoot 4X5 and an RB67. Since I retired, I can't afford to pay the boy to carry these around for me, so I moved to a Mamiya 645 Pro TL and a Voigtlander in medium format. The 645 has a variety of lenses and I'm pretty happy with the "small" film size - even tho I miss the larger 4X5 sometimes.

 

[pendennis]

I picked up a Mamiya Pro TL "kit" from a Japanese dealer last year. Since, I've added most of the lenses, from wide, to telephoto. It's a superb system, and supplements my 35mm and large format nicely. The prices for the Mamiyas, especially the Supers and Pros are great.

The Hasselblad 500CM was a consideration, but the prices are still on the steep side. They do offer flexibility when you can get a 645 back for them.

I also use a Mamiya C330s for 6x6. The TLR's are really good deals, since they're far less popular than any of the medium format SLR's.