My Experience w/ Mamiya 645 | Long Term Film Camera Review 

I don't know how I missed this video, but it is good. I got my first Mamiya 645 while stationed in Germany (1977-1980). I got it through my local military exchange called Sight and Sound. The camera, with insert, 80mm lens, and prism was marked at $360.00. Called the wife and asked her if I could get it. The manager told the clerk that it had to be sold at the price shown. For some reason, someone forgot to put the 1($1000) as the first number. I really came out on top with this buy. I made the mistake and sold the camera around 1983. Now I have about four different 645s manual models that are working. Also, have about five of them in various states of repair. My best lens is the 80mm 1.9. I also have an AF with three lenses that are really nice. As far as I am concerned M645 is probably the best medium format cameras' ever made. I may be partial, but then that is my story. Keep the great work up.

Robbie Maynard, Grainy Days, and Bad Flashes videos all on the same day!?! Best Thanksgiving ever!

Great shots! Love the documentary style. Been debating getting a M645 for awhile now for backpacking and landscapes. Used to have a 6x7 but like you said they're so heavy. Think you may have convinced me to pull the trigger. Keep up the good work.

I can only say it the and time again, you're SOOOO good on camera brother. Really enjoyed the episode.

The Mamiya 645 is my favourite film camera. I have the 1000s and the mirror lockup is definitely worth having. Great video. You nailed all the good points of the camera. Excellent. Thank you

I really, really like how relaxed and down-tp-earth your videos are! Awesome work, thank you!

In my neck of the woods we call them "the ROZZERS" among other things. Loving the work Robbie.

The best compliment from law enforcement “make sure to get my good side” These are great photos Robbie! Stay safe and continue shooting documentary style as most of my style is about the same and I switch it up from time to time.

I have the 645 1000s, and I love the camera and lens as well. But they are also reliant in batteries..... Not fully mechanical as you alude to. The shutter is electronically activated.

Great contribution. Thinking about the Mamiya 1000s. I like the pure mechanical aspect.

Mamiya 645 + Ektar = Pure Joy!

You said you preferred the M645 and 645J because they were mechanical. I had both of these and the they needed a battery for the shutter to operate - so not purely mechanical. I enjoyed the my 645 Super for its interchangeable backs. Best lens for the 645 system is the 110mm f/2.8 Sekor but they are rare to find,.

The 210 mm f/4 makes a head and shoulders shot at 8' with gorgeous bokeh and at f/4 2" dof and 2.5" at f5.6, 3.5" at f8and at f11 6". All will give you the eyes in ears out shallow dof. It is a roughly 135mm equivalent.

Love what you do with that camera, man. The Mamiya 645 line up is incredible. I completely forgot that you bought that from Jamal. It’s good to see my old 645 getting put to good use. Haha

I can fully recommend the 150mm f/3.5 lens for portrait shooting on the M645. Its about a 90mm equivalent in 35mm. You won't have to stand nearly as far away as with a 210mm.

I had a Pro and a Super with 35, 55, 80 and 150 lenses, all now long gone - the 35mm was an awesome piece of kit !

8/20-23 I own 2 of the Mamiya 645 bodies & various lenses, but also the light meter penta prism that I back up with a hand-held Minolta light meter. I shoot all film size formats from 135mm to a 4x5 Speed Graphic, depending on the subject matter and needs will determine which format I use. I do like the Mamiya 645 for portraits and scenic the amount of details and being able to make larger prints is a great plus when darkroom printing compared to 135mm negatives. I have also used the 645 for wedding photography with flash where the action is more controlled making it easy to get great shots that look and feel more professional. I do agree the weight of a 645 setup is between 135mm and a larger format affects how you compose in the viewfinder by slowing you down to really compose the images instead of burning many frames as you would on a 135 camera.

The best there is, best there was, best there ever will be

I’ve got a 645 pro-tl and really enjoy it. The only issue I find is that these days my eyesight is a bit weak to focus it easily, even with glasses, so I have shy away from shooting it wide open

Great review. Just got my Mamiya 645. Great SLR!

It's such a pity that many M645 camera are sold today with a chimney finder that never was standard but an accessory that doesn't enable handheld vertical shooting. M645 standard delivery new was with a prism finder. I guess people who sell them today simply sell the body with the cheap chimney finder and sell the prism separately to make money. It's even weirder with Hasselblad C cameras. Recent modells like 503CW or 501CM were sold new with the amazing Acute mate C screen. Many second hand cameras no more have these screens but ar fitted with the bad original screen, precedent owner having sold the C screen separately for big money.

Thanks Robbie love your video style

Holyoke! I was there a few years ago and some of your pictures remind me of. It's a cool place to take some pictures, I got some pretty nice photos in West Springfield too

We have very similar thoughts!! I have the 1000s, but I really do love the camera a ton. Its so inspiring and fun to use. Thanks for sharing dude. Your work rocks as always

Another banger 🎈

I'm looking to get one of these medium format film camera. Thanks for the video! I fkin loved it

Good work!

Nice colors! I like these photos ! Thank you for sharing !

Love it I remember when I just to cut my hair in hair hunter thank you for sharing this beautiful video great work 🙏👍

I found that for the battery...there are ppl making enclosure exact same size 3D printed and you just stick in 2LR44 batteries and it works :D

Great video, but I’m most impressed to see another photog who is a pipe, or cigar man!! Cheers.

Wow! Amazing that you don’t like the images you got with the longer focal length. I LOVED that image of painting over graffiti!

As far as I am aware, the Mamiya M645 series all have electronically controlled shutter, which operate on a battery. This is different from what you have stated in the video that them being mechanical.

You say that the first generation Mamiyas are "non Battery" I cannot find one of these all seem to require a battery and even the online specs say that these all have electronic shutters am I missing something?

I'm a little puzzled when you call the m645 1000s, J and m645 "mechanical", as they use the "Mamiya moving coil electronic shutter", and I can't see in my m645 1000s manual, nor an online m645J manual, ANY mention of any mechanical speed. Even that flash sync speed of 1/60th is not mentioned as being mechanical.

I'd love to hear how you shoot impromptu photos of strangers, I'd love to get into doing it

how slow can you shoot withought camera shake from that mirror. I just got my negs back and most of them have camera shake and I shoot @ a minimum of 1/125

I am happy to have found your feed. Dig the style and the way you put together your videos. It’s great insight seeing you go through your process and It helps me a lot with my own approach so thank you for creating such great content! How are you liking that strap? Is it custom? I have been on the search for something like that for my 645.

I love your content man! Also, that Bret Hart shirt 🥵

That Bret Hart shirt goes HARRDDD

Thank you Robbie for an enjoyable and educational video. I just got a 645 1000s and on my first roll of film I got 5 frames with light leaks. Now I have replaced the light seals and will be shooting a couple of rolls of film this weekend. Looking forward to using this lovely camera. I really like the colors you are getting. Could you share what color negative film you like? Thanks

Awesome content! I stumbled across this video after picking up and checking out a Mamiya 645 at my local camera shop in Minneapolis. It felt like a fine piece of machinery just tinkering with it in the store. I think I'm going to invest in the system, since it's a pretty good deal. Hopefully it'll be in stock, when I get back to Minneapolis, I'm working in Alaska currently. I have a Pentax 6x7 & Yashica TLR for my current medium format collection. I'm not a huge fan of the 6x6 format, and sometimes really struggle to find a good composition in square. My Yashica TLR doesn't like -40F either, the shutter keeps getting stuck. I'd think the 645 would be best for me finanically. Anyways, I've been binging your content! Keep it up, you've got awesome content, and you tell a beautiful story with each video. I like that it breaks the mold of the stereotypical LA/NYC pastel tones of some very big film RU-vidrs. Wish I'd stumbled across it sooner.

im new, how do you export the photos to laptop?

I'm scanning 1000s of medium format film right now. Most taken with a Mamiya C330f and various lenses and some 6x7 to 6x9 on other cameras. I see absolutely no reason to use film anymore. Why?

What camera strap are you using for your mamiya? I’ve been looking for one for a while

As a Brit I loved the “the fuzz” reference. 👍

i shoot a looot of portraits, so does anybody have experience shooting on the mamiya 645 with a prism finder but without a grip in portrait orientation? is it annoying/difficult?

I have found the 55mm f/2.8 to be pretty expensive of late. I wonder if you ever considered the 55-110mm f/4.5 zoom? I've got a 645 1000s with 80mm f/2.8 and 150mm f/3.5, both of which I love. But I'm not willing to spend $250 for the 55mm prime. As you shoot stopped down anyway, do you think the zoom used at f/5.6 or f/8 would be nearly as good? These can be found for half the price, or less if you don't mind cleaning fungus. I'm all about budget options since my 645 1000s is only one of many cameras that I use.

I want a use a waist level finder with one but I can't find someone selling a 645 with that. You're saying there's no glass on it? So I could just take the ae finder off if I want to shoot waist level?

Great video!

My trusty M645 has a 1/60th second default if the battery dies

Hi, thanks for sharing your experience and images! Could you tell, did you made any color correction to your film photos? Thanks!

Still shooting my thrifted TLR, but when that one breaks, this camera is next in line!

You can always find the battery at Walgreens.

I like your lightheadedness

Does the battery on the M645 1000s power just the optional meter or is the shutter electronically fired?

As much as I enjoy these cameras they have a common fault that is the film advance is prone to jamming or not advancing the film properly or getting stuck in a particular frame. Once that happens it can be an expensive fix or paperweight.

Bro how do you only have 6k subs!!

Do you edit the images after at all ?

What shutter release cable do you use?

Where to get your strap?

People have been programmed to be lazy and to buy buy buy...... I use a 50mm f1.4 lens and walk closer or walk further away..... very simple ......

what view finder is this?

3:49 are you kidding?

I am a total idiot for selling mine 😭. I miss it everyday.

That mirror vibration is a source of concern. I wonder if anyone's done any kind of rigorous testing. My guess is the larger mirrors like the RB67 & Pentax 6x7 are worse. My search for a portable MF camera narrows down to only RF folders like Fuji GS645 or the older Fuji 6.