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When I first got into the world of film I heard so much about the revered Contax with the 80mm 2.0 lens, but not much about other options for medium format film cameras. I wasn’t at a place in my business where I could invest in the Contax so I went in search of other options. I found that testing out and using different systems was exciting and I loved the way each looked and felt in a different way, but I also realized using the systems separately at different times and on different shoots didn’t help to show me which results I liked best. So that is why I set out to do some comparison tests of different medium format film camera systems with different lenses, to visually be able to see side-by-side results in the same lighting and same conditions.
First up: the Mamiya 645af with the 80mm 1.9 (manual lens) vs. Pentax 645n with the 75mm 2.8 (manual or automatic lens). Shots taken with the Mamiya are all on the left, and were all shot at 1.9; while shots taken with the Pentax are all on the right, and were all shot at 2.8. I shot Fuji 400h for both and all film was processed + scanned by PhotoVision. I tried to keep color as consistent as possible, so the only variable was the camera body & lens.
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You can definitely tell the difference in the depth of field and quality of bokeh. For that reason, I love the 80mm 1.9; but the focus is obviously much softer. Personally, I don’t mind the softness and actually am really drawn to it. But the Mamiya 80mm 2.8 is also a great lens if you’re not looking to shoot so wide open. Next up is my comparison between the Mamiya 645af with the 80mm 2.8 vs. the Pentax 645n with the 75mm 2.8. The results are interesting so stay tuned!
xo
[Images on left taken with a Mamiya 645af + 80mm 1.9 + fuji400h + processed by PhotoVision; Images on right taken with a Pentax 645n + 75mm 2.8 + fuji400h + processed by PhotoVision]
Beautiful images on both sides. Very curious to see the results of the next test. I have both the !.9 and the 2.8 but I rarely use the 1.9. I would love to have the sharpness of the Pentax, but the shallow DOF of the Mamiya.
Love your comparison! I’m personally drawn to the softer images with the creamier bokeh! I just bought the Mamiya 645 Pro TL with the 80 1.9 lens which doesn’t have the AF but will be a great way to just dive in to MF! After doing the comparison, and seeing the quality in person, would you say it’s too soft or are the images soft in an artistic way? If that makes sense! :)
Thanks!
I actually love the softness as well! But I will say that after I did this test shoot I upgraded to a modified split-screen focusing screen and it has made focusing much more precise! So now my images are much sharper while still retaining that creamy bokeh!
Really loved reading about your detailed comparison of the 2 cameras! I’m very interested in the Mamiya system…can you explain what the “modified split-screen focusing screen” is? I tried googling it but couldn’t find an example of what you used. Thanks in advance!
Hi Diana! Here is the link for the one I purchased on Ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemVersion&item=231628712985&view=all&tid=1271743577013. Originally these split screen focusing screens do not fit the 645af so you have to get a “modified screen” for it to fit. The split screen allows you to put the subject in focus while everything else becomes less clear, further isolating the subject and making your point of focus much more precise! Hopefully that helps!
Hi Callie, would you be able to send another link? The one you gave is currently unavailable. Thanks!
Hi Diana! If the link is unavailable, that just means it was a one-time purchase. I would just google and search on Ebay for “modified maxwell focusing screen mamiya 645”. Hope that helps!
Beautiful photos! I just purchased a mamiya 645 pro tl and the 80mm 1.9 and I’m not 100% confident that my shots are sharp when i’m manually focusing. With the new split screen you have, im assuming you focus and recompose? if you do, do you have any issues with out of focus shots?
Hi James, yes I focus + recompose. And of course if I’m not careful, I can miss focus by doing this — especially when shooting in really tight. But I still find I have a higher keep rate now with the new focusing screen, than I ever did before without it. So in my opinion, it’s still the best option!
very nice. its hard to tell which one i would prefer, but 75 2.8 is definitily on my shopping list :)
Love this test comparison! I have been saving up for a medium format film camera and can’t wait to have one. Do you have a place you recommend to rent the cameras to try them out?
Thanks Erica! I know Contax Rental has Contax kits and Pentax kits you can rent to try out, but I’m not sure if they have Mamiya. Check them out though!
[…] Today I want to continue with another comparison test using the Mamiya 645af and the Pentax 645n. And if you haven’t already checked out my last post, comparing the Mamiya 645af with the 80mm 1.9 lens vs. the Pentax 645n with the 75mm 2.8 lens, you can SEE IT HERE! […]
[…] and the Pentax 645n. And if you haven’t already checked out my last two posts, you can do so HERE [Mamiya 645af + 80mm 1.9 vs. Pentax 645n + 75mm 2.8] and HERE [Mamiya 645af + 80 2.8 vs. Pentax 645n + 75 […]
Hi, I just want to say that your work it’s amazing! Well after I read this review I got inspired about the Mamiya 80mm 1.9. I bought it a week ago and I would like to use it with my Mamiya AFDii but on the display it shows that the aperture is missing and the light meter inside doesn’t read the light. Saying that, can I just ignore that and put the aperture manually and use an external light meter instead? I’m super new with medium format, Thanks in advance!
Hi Hugo! Thanks for the kind words! Yes, you can just ignore the display. Since the lens is an all-manual lens, your camera won’t be able to detect it. So just set the aperture manually and use an external light meter!
Hi, I hope you answer my question as I am in doubt and I need an advise from a person like you. I am thinking about Mamiya 80mm F/1.9 lens with the body. So looked at the Mamiya 645 Pro TL and cannot understand one thing – it says it has maximum speed of 1/1000. I kind of think this is too slow for a bright day with F/1.9 outside. I have metered with my EOS 3 and it pushed speed to 1/8000 – 1/4000 in very bright situation pointing at skin (My ISO was set for 100, lens Canon L 50mm at F/2.0). How would that work with Mamiya Pro TL? Will I need to narrow aperture and loose my bokeh or start using ND filters? I am new to medium format and I just don’t know where to start to get the 1.9 look.
Hi, I hope you answer my question as I am in doubt and I need an advise from a person like you. I am thinking about Mamiya 80mm F/1.9 lens with the body. So looked at the Mamiya 645 Pro TL and cannot understand one thing – it says it has maximum speed of 1/1000. I kind of think this is too slow for a bright day with F/1.9 outside. I have metered with my EOS 3 and it pushed speed to 1/8000 – 1/4000 in very bright situation pointing at skin (My ISO was set for 100, lens Canon L 50mm at F/2.0). How would that work with Mamiya Pro TL? Will I need to narrow aperture and loose my bokeh or start using ND filters? I am new to medium format and I just don’t know where to start to get the 1.9 look.
Thank you for the comment! The limited shutter speed can be difficult to work around, but when this happens to me I just narrow my aperture so I can shoot at a slower speed. I don’t find myself shooting in such bright light that much so it hasn’t been a problem for me personally. I hope that helps!
Shooting with slower film or overexposing something like Ektar
should work. Ektar in 120 can apparently take up to 2-3 stops of
overexposure (25-12 iso) which would get you OK in the sunlight at
1/1000.