When I was stationed in Germany on my first tour (1969-1974) I didn't get into photography in a big way. But on my return in 1977 I got a great deal on a Mamiya 645. The local military outlet had a camera, complete kit, marked at $360. Body, prism-non metering, 80mm lens, and one 120-film insert. They had marked it wrong and had to sell it to me for that price. The two German instructors I had could not believe the deal I got. I learned a lot about photography and darkroom operations. I got rid of it in 1982 with additional accessories that I had acquired. Now I have three Mamiya systems and I am waiting for the fourth to come in to replace the first one I sold. All of them will get used as I attempt to introduce members of our photo club to shooting film again and processing their film. Great presentation on a unique and proven camera.

You can squeeze 16 shots if you load it just right. You can change backs by using a portable change bag. Ah the things we did to get around problems. Bride wanted black and white during the wedding. Fiddle but no problem. You could time when to swap back. Or talk to them. Change their pose while swapping backs. Remember in them days. We tended to only shoot 72 to 90 pictures. When I had a great couple lovely location I would shoot 120 lots of colleagues would be amazed that any. One would shoot so much. And yet after 38 years. I loved that time the best and probably earned the most. Doing as much as 54 weddings a year. One time 7 weddings in 10 days. I was asked to photograph a wedding for a lady on the last day of her life. Went from the hospital to the lab help in the dark room. Put the 20 pictures in the album and went back 3 hours later. In time for the family to enjoy their day with their mum. My wife was the ward sister her and the other nurses thanked me. But it was a privilege to be with this family at such a moment. We make memories that last for ever.

I had one of these back in 1978, loved it. Had several lenses for it, eventually sold the whole outfit to go digital. I miss it now! But I'm shooting with a C330f and can't justify both.

Man, I missed your videos. Thanks a lot for posting.

Love your reviews. They are thought out, clear and very insightful. Thanks for creating...now I need to get a 645!

You`re video`s are like candy. Can`t get enough. Thank-you for doing what you do. Very inspiring.

I have one of the early 645. My father was a professional photographer and gave me this "baby" Mamiya. Makes great pictures. I haven't used it much lately. I will use it more after watching your superb video. Greetings from Terrassa, Spain.

Years ago, I used mine for weddings. Complete with meter prism and motor drive. Heavy with the the motor drive, but very easy to hang on to with the grip and shutter button being very convenient. The grip also made portrait or landscape easy to handle. Nice system. Thank you for the video.

Great vid!!! I love how you appreciate underrated cameras like this and the Pentax slrs. They are great performers and good value. Thanks!!!!

Excellent! Loved the images with tack-sharp focus and grain-free detail. I have one, I plan to get another.

Beautiful review of a classic camera, and its expressive possibilities, greetings from Bogota Colombia.

It's difficult to get the tone of camera review videos right, but you guys really do it well. Thanks!

Thank you for another great video. I love how engaged you are as well the video quality, great pictures, and you know what you are reviewing. Keep up the good work. Would love to see a video reviewing a Nikon S2.

thank you for your review...love shooting with my mamiya c330. maybe i'll pick a 645 up next year.

Always high quality the way you are presenting your cameras. A pleasure to watch them. Belgian greetings.

brilliant video, very enjoyable to watch thanks, from Scotland.

Excellent review. My Mamiya has been sitting in a closet for more than a decade (life does get complicated doesn't it) but it is coming out before I turn in tonight and an order for some batteries and film to follow shortly thereafter. You have inspired me to get back to doing the things I love.

I’ve been on the fence with the camera since this will be my first medium format camera. This video sealed the deal for me and just purchased through eBay. Thanks!

background music is wonderful. it make me feel peace.

Taking person, pleasant voice, great film, enjoyable to see, great example photos! I enjoyed this review very much, personally i own a M645 also.

That was a very very comprehensive review of the Mamiya 645! I have my analog photography vlog too! More power!

Thanks for the review, it’s helped me with my decision to get one. I love the size of it.

Outstanding review, thank you! Your eye for composition is quite great.

My favorite camera. It was so well made and intuitive. Would love to shoot with it again. Mamiya glass is so good.

Great review as always!

I shoot primarily B&W on a Sony A7 and your B&W examples in this were eye opening. Looks worth the jump just for the tonality.

Super nice review! Thanks a lot!

Just a minor thing: 4/3 ratio (i.e. 6/4.5) is so very much different to 3/2 (as in 35mm) aesthetically. At least to my perception. I almost always find myself cropping digitals to 4/3 and I always find 35mm prints to "rectangular". Whatever you prefer, it *is* a different beast.

Purchased my Mamiya 645 in 1976 in Australia. My lenses are 55mm, 80mm, 150mm and 210mm. Then picked up a new 500mm f5.6 lense just before travelling to South Africa in 1980. It is a great camera, fabulous results with all lenses; but the 500mm lense on wildlife was/is a WoW! Still have all the gear and still shoot 120 format. Coupled with a Metz 45CT 1 flash unit the results are great. Would never sell. I'd recommend the camera and lenses to anyone wanting to get in medium format film photography.

Tolle Besprechung der Kamera, Ich liebe dieses Model aus genau den Gründen, die Ihr genannt habt.

tx for sharing your experience. I am thinking about getting one of those. So, the video has been very helpful.

I’ve had mine for some time. I love it’s basic simplicity.

I had a Mamiya M645 when it first came out (top shutter speed was 1/500), and it was a great camera. When I traded it in for a Leica M4-2, the Mamiya had held its value very well. If I’d kept it, I’m pretty certain it would still work fine. A robust construction for sure.

about to go pick one up for cheap was having doubts on it but you have given me confidence on it so excited to go pick it up

Oh, great. Another camera on my "most wanted" list, hahaha. Nice video! I love smaller medium format cameras, they're very inspiring to walk around and shoot with. I have the Bronica ETRSi, and I would heartily recommend that to anyone interested in the 6x4,5 format. Very light and easy to carry with you, but amazing sharpness and clarity. The lenses for that system are very underrated in my opinion.

Literally just bought one a couple hours ago. This was a nice surprise

Quality video! Like your presentation skills!

I really like this camera. Years ago I picked up a lizard-skin covered 1000s with metered viewfinder, 45 2.8, 80 1.9, & 150 4.0, plus extension tubes. Great kit for little money!

Mamiya 645 is a beauty! I have the Super version but it such a great and affordable system!

Great details, I personally have a M645J and never knew it came after the 1000S.

what a great review, thank you.

Great video! Really thought about getting this until I found my Hasselblad

I just bought one with a 150mm f/4 cant wait to get it!

Great video sir. One side note, the 645 Super, Pro, and Pro TL all have interchangeable backs if you need to switch formats while shooting.

The 1000s has become my camera. It is more inconspicuous than my RB67ProS and you are not so often "disturbed" when taking pictures ;-) I love the handling, the lenses and the quality, I wouldn't want to miss this cam anymore.

Thank you, I loved it!

Good one! Thx...just got my M645 1000s today:>)

Very nice video, thanks. I recently got a 1000s and so far I love it. Mine has the metered prism and while I like it a lot, I really need to pick up a waist level finder.

Another excellent video! It's nice to see Jules again too. With him gone for a few episodes, I thought maybe he was wanted by the police 😉

I'm a big fan of the Mamiya m645, I have the original version and I love the camera as my grab-and-go medium format!

Great video as usual. Would love to see something on your favorite square format cameras. I have a Yashica Mat that I love but would like to have interchangeable lenses.

Back in the day I had a 645J with the 80mm and the 210mm lenses and I have to say it turned out some really nice images, particularly the 210mm. Funnily enough I had that very same exposure meter!

Thanks ! Great tranquil video and gives a very good impression of the system. Photos are very nice. I'm trying out film again with the Nikon FE and just looking into medium format as a potential option.

That upper shooter release button 😍 I wish my Mamiya 645 Pro had one 😞

Thank you for this! My partner has the RB67 and I love it but it’s too large for me. This is perfect.

I have one of these, with Mamiya lenses from 35mm to 300mm. (And the Mamiya 2x extender) I often use Kodak Technical Pan film, which shows up the slightest imperfections of any lens. I have been delighted with the results and the film area is 3 times that of a 35mm. It is well worth the exercise. I highly recommend this robust, super camera. (The prism finder has an exposure meter that always surpasses my expectations)

It would be my favorite camera if they put in the meter inside the camera itself and not in the prism finder. I prefer using the waist level finder and also is the prism finder pretty heavy. One other thing. I have a Hasselblad 500 and I tried many different focusing screens but none are as brilliant and easy to focus as the one in the Mamiya. The difference is really noticeable.

I have a 645, and had it refurbished after I bought it. I have the 150mm portrait lens that is super fun to use! Just started getting back into it.

This is one of the very best and most thoughtful reviews I've seen for the Mamiya 645. I started shooting medium format with a Yashica D TLR and have had my eye on the M645 as my next medium format camera. Your video has fully convinced me to go get one. Thanks!

For a medium format beginner like me, this was the clearest and most useful guide, so thank you for taking your time to explain, and provide pointers to what's the most important aspects. I have yet to receive the camera that I have bought its an m645 and Sekor 150mm f4. The former is lacking the DOF lever and self timer, and that bugged me but the price was really good compared to 1000S units on sale. Still I have to wonder if I will miss the DOF. The latter apparently isn't the best Sekor, but I have start somewhere, and I live in France so light isn't a huge problem as I will do mostly landscape and close exterieur views. DOF/Boeh might be. For the self timer, I have anyway a tripod but will probably buy a cable release for some situations. Have you ever needed the self timer? I wondered about other things you didn't cover here. 1. Filters - Have you needed to buy ND or UV filters for your lenses? If you use others, which are the most useful in your opinion for general colour work and for B&W? 2. Front lens hoods - I see you using them on some of your lenses, and wonder if you guys have found they were needed after shooting for a while, or they just came with what you bought 3. Shake - as I mentioned I don't anticipate shooting in low light, but I do wonder if you have noticed shake through the shutter and mirror mechansims when shooting at low speeds. In particular do you see any difference between the two shutter releases? Also is a shutter lock a useful feature i.e. do you use it? In my youth when using mechanical 35mm, I didnt wind on my film as I encountered the issue when manipulating the camera in my bag etc. 4. AF - I am a LOT older than you, and my eyesight doesnt get any better. That means that I wonder at my capacity to accuratehly focus. Everyone says the viewfinder is amazingly bright and that's great as short sighted folk like me need it. But I also suffer from async astigmatism. Time will tell once I get started, but given the overall (increasing) roll and lab prices, I won't spend too much time if the results show this to be an issue. Do let me know if you have any friends 68 and over that use these. :-) Thank you so much for a really useful video.

What's up Maxi how are you? Like some of your commenters mentioned I was also looking at this camera I actually had it on my eBay watch list. Strange how you review this exactly on time. You know I'm a fan of the channel and how thorough you always are and passionate. I have to say there are two things I really wanted to hear about this camera that wasn't mentioned. I was hoping to see how to operate the mirror lock up, also there might be 3 lenses for this camera that have Leaf shutters built in i hope I'm not wrong about that. What I appreciate about your work is you don't try to be anyone but yourself thats very hard to find on YT. Big respect bro.

i have the mamiya m645j and love the simplicity

I picked up an M645 with wlvf and 80/1.9. Heavenly…

I really enjoyed the way you did te review for this camera...honest and friendly. I also have this camera in my closet and I think it is time to buy some 120 rolls

Great video! Love my 645 1000s. As you say, it's rugged and means business. My only complaint is that the glass on the focusing screen (at least, the default one) is pretty dim compared to other cameras (for example my Hasselblad 501cm). And the 80mm 1.9 is gorgeous

Great video

Great video.

I love my 645 1000s. When I got into medium format I purchased a Hasselblad, the Mamiya 645 1000s, and a Bronica. This Mamiya is the only one I have left from those. I sold the others. I’ve also added a C330 since. Mamiya delivers the most bang for the buck.

For me Mamiya 645 1000s is the most beautiful in Mamiya 645 camera's range :)

Finally, a camera video that doesn't use annoying ambient or trap music.

I just like the shutter sound alot~

Great video guys (V)

I really enjoyed your report on the Mamiya 645 and the pictures that accompany it! Do special note was the Deux Chevaux as car pictures are so difficult to achieve! The location is superb and I wish some day I will be able to walk those streets and renew my lessons in German on site! I inherited a Mamiya Standard 23 cameras from my dad with an assortment of film backs and masks for 6 X 4.5, 6 X 6 and 6 X 9 film. Later I purchased a 6 X 7 back! I was very lucky to be able to fix the camera as there was a light leak from the lens release lever and I was going to dump it towards a Hasselblad 501 C at a huge price...

I just found your channel and like this one and you got +1 too. Cheers

Really enjoyed this video , I have a question which of these lenses or not would you recommend for portraiture ? Environmental portraits , regular portrait and everyday photography?

Hello Max how are you? I ordered this camera a day before you put up this review and I've been using it a week now with the 55 mm 2. 8, coming from the rolleicord it's such a difference, not better or worse but I really love the build quality and the movement of the controls and the handling. The images from the 55 mm I'm shooting wide open and I have to say it's final images may just beat the Rolleicord I use especially wide open. Then again I haven't shot slow speeds yet. Stupendous camera bro . Respect

You guys missed out on the 80mm f1.9. That lens is one of two lenses that are considered the fastest lens in pre-millennial medium format history (the other being the Pentax 105mm f2.4 which is of equivalent aperture speed).

Loved this video! The original Mamiya M645 was my first medium format camera that I got for an absolute steal of a price. It really is a great camera and I need to shoot with it more! It was also nice to see some familiar sights of Munich, especially the lions on the way down to Marienplatz (never could resist stroking their paws), Odeonsplatz and, of course, die neues Rathaus! Need to try to get back to Munich sometime! Meet you for a weißbier? :)

Brilliant video, love Mamiya. Though as I guess others have pointed out, if you want interchangeable backs there is the 645 Super, Pro and Pro-TL. But anyway grate video review and cool images!

i just got both the m645 and m645 1000s with a hole lot of lens cant wait to hit the film with it.

Great overview of the Mamiya 645. Maybe you could do another running through exactly how it works? I'm planning on getting my first medium format camera, and I'm not sure whether to go 6*45, 6*6 or 6*7!! But I like these Mamiya cameras, they seem really sturdy. Cheers.

Just got the 645 m (500) so it is slightly older but still really well made. Good quality.

Bronica ETRS(i) next.

Nice review guys, and It's amazing because yesterday I started looking for Mamiya 645 1000s and Boom today fresh review :))). Maybe someone sell mint condition Mamiya 645 1000s camera? ;)

Long time viewer of your channel, and just curious about weight and ergonomics of the 1000s vs the Pro TL. I really want a light camera to walk around with and was curious about if the weight difference was significant for the pro. And if it felt comfortable to use the waist level view finder vs the prism? Should I just save up for the mamiya 6? Thanks!

Cheers !

Love the lenshood. Where did you got it, max?

Wie so oft - ein tolles Video! Vielen Dank dafür! Leider inspiriert ihr mich immer wieder weitere alte Kameras zu kaufen :) Die 645 habe ich seit zwei Wochen und bin nach dem Wechseln der Lichtdichtungen gespannt auf die erste Rolle. Welchen Entwickler nehmt ihr denn für den HP5? Die Bilder haben ein schön feines Korn.

Super.

Hello thank you for the video, great video. it seems to me quite an interesting machine. I have a question , or maybe what I am looking for is just a confirmation - I have never used WFL viewer as I always shoot with a light metering viewer , and in case you need to use the lock up mirror for very slow picture might the WFL be a problem ? ( it sholdn't be ) thanks . very good channel

Thanks for this video. I own this camera and love it. Brought it to Havana earlier this year and shot portra pushed a stop to increase the contrast and saturation - the results were wonderful, both in using the camera and the look of the images. Time for another outing with it now; thanks for the inspiration!

Thank you for this! between the mat124g vs this one m645, which optics perform better?

Awesome Insights video again! ..Your video series has me inspired to go take photos - do you have any tips on a good place in Germany to visit for a weekend of photowalks? Munich looks pretty cool, anywhere else you'd recommend? (I was considering Berlin as another option). Thanks!

i have three of them all the lens you can amazing camera something can be done with this amazing set

My workhorse camera… 30 years ago…

Thank you for the wonderful video! Do you use the light meter for every shot, or do you feel that you sometimes can approximately guess what your shutter time needs to be?

Thank you. I recently picked one up with the metered prism finder and I find that the camera is clunky to hold when shooting in portrait orientation because of the 645 format. With the waist level finder it must be even more difficult to shoot in portrait orientation as I noticed you did in one of your images. I do like the camera however and will be developing the first roll I shot with it this weekend.

Great overview of this camera thank you so much! I actually just picked one up last week and I'm having an issue with the mirror locking up when I'm using 1/125. Only way to set it back down is to rotate/advance the film. Every other speed works fine and the shutter curtains open and close, but that mirror locks up only at that one speed. Do you or anyone else have any ideas?

Vielen Dank für den sehr interessanten Beitrag. Ich bin nämlich gerade auf der Suche nach einem MITTEL zum FORMAT. Macht ihr zufällig in München auch mal Fotowalks oder -stammtische, wo man mit euch etwas philosophieren kann?

Switching backs made sense when film cameras were expensive but as they have gotten cheaper over the years, having a second body can cost no more then a film back.