![contax 645 prism finder contax 645 prism finder](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/08MyjZ2rkJ0/hqdefault.jpg)
- #Contax 645 prism finder manual#
- #Contax 645 prism finder pro#
- #Contax 645 prism finder professional#
I believe there was actually a waist-level finder for this camera.įrom the shooter’s perspective, the top right of the camera contains the shutter speed (32-1/4000 in AV mode) and exposure compensation dials. The viewfinder is beautifully bright and contrasty. The body when fitted with AE prism and film back feels very solid and is as beautiful to look at, as it is to shoot. You can even add a nice (but expensive) accessory battery holder/vertical grip (the MP-1). The Contax 645 is a modular system with removable backs, prisms, and lenses. I couldn’t write enough to do the camera justice. I do have photos made with this camera and will be updating this article, once I can rescan and put them together. This is by no means a complete review of the Contax 645, just my memory and experience with it. When I sold it years back, I never thought I’d be writing about it one day on a blog ? I apologize for not having more photos of the camera. but man, if you have to have an excuse for another camera, the Contax 645 is IT!! Looking back now, it was just another excuse for G.A.S. I had actually gotten the camera initially because I had done a couple of weddings, was thinking of going down the weekend weddings path, and was thinking of adding something different and unique to my wedding portraits. I’d always say that I would only sell this camera if I had to pay the rent. I got the Contax 645 in 2008 and had the pleasure of using it for a few years, but eventually had to sell it.
#Contax 645 prism finder professional#
It was part of their 645 system, an ambitious foray in the (then) professional portrait and wedding world where medium format was king. The Contax 645 is a Medium Format autofocus film camera introduced by Kyocera in 1999. Perhaps one of the greatest camera systems ever made? I took this shot when I had to sell this dream combo. See some photos taken with this camera here.The almighty Contax 645 and 80mm f/2 Carl Zeiss lens. I own several lenses for this camera most of which are the C variety.
#Contax 645 prism finder manual#
Ten years ago the combination I have was selling for something like $3000 or $4000 and was considered a reasonably priced unit! There are at least two series of lenses for the Mamiya 645 Manual Focus line. It is very compact for a medium format camera and with the grip and AE-Prism finder it handles like a 35mm SLR.
![contax 645 prism finder contax 645 prism finder](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/images1000x1000/Mamiya_211_315_AE_Prism_Finder_Auto_33798.jpg)
Even though it is a manual focus camera, it uses rather advanced electronics. So here’s a little bit about the camera. Mamiya had several models of the 645 and this is the last and most advanced one before they went to auto-focus. I’ve been pretty resistant to buying any more lenses for this camera but sometimes it’s an honest struggle. So whether it was the 45/2.8 or the unusual older version of that lens with the word “Sample” printed on the lens front, or the uber-fast 80/1.9 (fastest medium format lens ever made!), or the really sweet 35/3.5 extra-wide angle, or the 80/4 macro with the macro spacer that allows for 1:1 magnification, or the 2x teleconverter, or the extension rings, or the…. So every time I see an interesting one at an irresistible price, “kaching!!” goes the cash register. All great deals in fact deals that I would have to be crazy to pass up on, right? Well, the thing is Mamiya made a lot of lenses for this system and they are generally pretty inexpensive on the used market. Later on I found the more advanced grip/winder for about 2,500 yen.
![contax 645 prism finder contax 645 prism finder](https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/ufiles/55/2030455.jpg)
The first two lenses I got each cost me about 5,000 yen because they weren’t in the junk bin. But soon I found a compatible 120 film back for about 2,000 yen. Then I kept looking and found a metered AE finder with all the paint chipped off, priced at 3,000 yen. The rubber was badly worn and kind of ugly but I had a hunch it would work just fine. I grabbed it and started quickly looking for other parts. First I spotted the mirror box (that is the central portion of the camera) loose in a box of old and mostly broken cameras. It all started innocently enough. It was another one of those lucky finds in the junk bins at a used camera store. But somehow, one thing led to another and now I have one entire storage box dedicated just to this kit and it is completely overflowing.
#Contax 645 prism finder pro#
My Mamiya 645 Pro TL kit is sort of like that! Honestly, I never intended to build a large kit around this camera. If you’ve ever had pet rabbits you may be familiar with the natural tendency of certain things to multiply, seemingly of their own accord.