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Mamiya 645 lens questions and observations. Build quality.
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 25, 2024 4:03 am    Post subject: Mamiya 645 lens questions and observations. Build quality. Reply with quote
I've started acquiring MF Sekor lenses for Mamiya 645. I've read countless threads and have picked up a couple lenses so far and have more on the way.

The C vs C N debate: I understand that the N lenses are newer and have different coatings. The C lenses are more robust and heavier. The newer lenses are said to have more plastic parts. I have in front of me a 55/2.8 C N and a 80/2.8 C N. The 80 was clearly Mamiya's budget standard lens. I've read complaints that the newer lenses have a plastic lens barrel that can crack. The 80/2.8 C N I have has a plastic barrel, but the 55/2.8 clearly has a metal lens barrel. So do other lenses besides the 80/2.8 have plastic lens barrels or just that focal length? They both have plastic control rings, which doesn't really bother me.

Focus is surprisingly smooth and light on both with a short focus throw. These are nice little lenses.

Are the pre-N lenses similar in handling? I plan to buy an 80/1.9 which is a little pricier lately. Should I consider the non-N version if build quality is a concern? I intend to use these for video, so smooth focus is a higher priority than contrast.

Next purchases are the 35, 110, 150 A, and 200 APO. But I'm trying to decide (besides the 150 and 200) if I should focus on C lenses or N.

Also, is that earlier 70/2.8 worth picking up?

Thank you.


PostPosted: Thu Jul 25, 2024 7:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
https://forum.mflenses.com/mamiya-sekor-645-c-35mm-f3-5-haze-inside-the-lens-t84981.html


PostPosted: Thu Jul 25, 2024 1:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I have several C lenses, and I’m terms of handling they are as good as it gets IMO. Very precise focusing with the right resistance, very good aperture control as well. Also, I had my C 105-210/4.5 adjusted for infinity by my local camera guy, and he was impressed by its build quality (and optics).

My experience is with the 210/4, 300/5.6, 105-210/4.5, and 120/4 macro. All of them are excellent IMO.


PostPosted: Thu Jul 25, 2024 2:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I have about twenty Mamiya Sekor C and CN lenses, and two of them both as C and CN: The 2.8/45mm and the 5.6/300mm. Apart from the focusing rubber I can't see any differences. Focusing on both CN lenses feels slightly stiffer. Their optical perfomance is identical (even though the C 5.6/300 doesn't have the "ULD" markings of the CN 5.6/300mm ULD.

That said, the Mamiya Sekor C lineup has some really excellent lenses, among them the Sekor A 4/120mm Macro, the Sekor C 4/210mm and the Sekor C/CN 5.6/300mm (ULD). The Soft Focus 4.5/145mm is remarkable as well due its smooth bokeh and relatively long focal length. On the other hand the C 1.9/80mm and 2/80mm as well as the 2.8/45mm and 3.5/35mm lenses are nothing special if used on 35mm FF sensors.

S


PostPosted: Thu Jul 25, 2024 4:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
stevemark wrote:
even though the C 5.6/300 doesn't have the "ULD" markings of the CN 5.6/300mm ULD.
S


I noticed that the C and C N 5.6/300 look essentially identical. I picked up a "ULD" marked one for what amounts to "free". Looking forward to trying it out.


PostPosted: Thu Jul 25, 2024 4:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
LittleAlex wrote:
https://forum.mflenses.com/mamiya-sekor-645-c-35mm-f3-5-haze-inside-the-lens-t84981.html


Thanks for that information. I'm noticing balsam separation in the description of a significant number of early C lenses.


PostPosted: Thu Jul 25, 2024 8:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Another plug for the C 120mm f4 macro. Impressive resolution and very nice bokeh.


PostPosted: Fri Jul 26, 2024 2:24 am    Post subject: Re: Mamiya 645 lens questions and observations. Build qualit Reply with quote
Noritar wrote:
...The 80/2.8 C N I have has a plastic barrel, but the 55/2.8 clearly has a metal lens barrel. So do other lenses besides the 80/2.8 have plastic lens barrels or just that focal length? They both have plastic control rings, which doesn't really bother me....Thank you.


I have these M645 lenses (lens, metal/plastic barrel/issues or notes):

35/3.5N, metal, haze or separation rear elements
45/2.8N, metal, no issues
55/2.8N, plastic, no issues
80/2.8N, plastic, no issues
80/1.9N, metal, no issues
110/2.8N, metal, no issues
A120/4, metal, no issues
A150/2.8, metal, internal flocking sucks dust into lens so effectively there is haze but not separation (bad design)

Noritar wrote:
... I plan to buy an 80/1.9 which is a little pricier lately. Should I consider the non-N version if build quality is a concern? I intend to use these for video, so smooth focus is a higher priority than contrast.
...


The 80/1.9 N is one of my favourite lenses, although it purple fringes a lot wide open it's still very sharp. Excellent from F2. it's great as a portrait lens wide open and at F2.

The 110, 120 and 150 are excellent lenses.
The 110/2.8 is just superb, high contrast, very sharp wide open.
The A120 is excellent but has a hotspot issue when stopped down a lot, as you typically do with a macro.
The A150/2.8 is a dust magnet and seems to suck flocking into itself so whilst very sharp it has it's own issues.

I tend not to use the 35, 55 and 45 although the 45/2.8N is excellent, as it should be considering how slow it is.

I think there are different optical designs of the 45.

As mentioned elsewhere, there may be a separation issue with the 35mm lenses. I have the 35N which seems to show signs of separation.


PostPosted: Fri Jul 26, 2024 11:55 am    Post subject: Re: Mamiya 645 lens questions and observations. Build qualit Reply with quote
jjphoto wrote:

55/2.8N, plastic, no issues

The 110/2.8 is just superb, high contrast, very sharp wide open.

I tend not to use the 35, 55 and 45 although the 45/2.8N is excellent, as it should be considering how slow it is.

I think there are different optical designs of the 45.


That's odd about your 55/2.8 N having a plastic barrel. Mine is metal. The serial number is stamped in the plastic aperture control ring, but the lens barrel and filter threads are metal.

The 110/2.8 is on the top of my buy list. Everyone seems to love that lens.


PostPosted: Fri Jul 26, 2024 1:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
jamaeolus wrote:
Another plug for the C 120mm f4 macro. Impressive resolution and very nice bokeh.


Hear, hear!


PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2024 4:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
stevemark wrote:
the Mamiya Sekor C lineup has some really excellent lenses, among them the Sekor A 4/120mm Macro, the Sekor C 4/210mm and the Sekor C/CN 5.6/300mm (ULD).


I too back up stevemark's assertion here. I bought all three of these lenses to use on my GFX, and they're all excellent.

I also agree that the 120 Macro is good for a lot more than just macro. I've gotten some great portraits with that one, and it does indeed have very nice bokeh (as does the 210, for that matter).


PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2024 8:58 pm    Post subject: Re: Mamiya 645 lens questions and observations. Build qualit Reply with quote
Noritar wrote:
jjphoto wrote:

55/2.8N, plastic, no issues

The 110/2.8 is just superb, high contrast, very sharp wide open.

I tend not to use the 35, 55 and 45 although the 45/2.8N is excellent, as it should be considering how slow it is.

I think there are different optical designs of the 45.


That's odd about your 55/2.8 N having a plastic barrel. Mine is metal. The serial number is stamped in the plastic aperture control ring, but the lens barrel and filter threads are metal.

The 110/2.8 is on the top of my buy list. Everyone seems to love that lens.


I forgot to mention that I briefly owned that lens. While it’s a good lens, I didn’t find it any better (on FF) than let’s say the very affordable Minolta AF 100/2.8 macro. In fact, I think the Minolta has slightly better resolution wide open. What I díd like about the lens however, is relatively round bokeh all over the frame because it is a medium format lens.


PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2024 10:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Himself wrote:
jamaeolus wrote:
Another plug for the C 120mm f4 macro. Impressive resolution and very nice bokeh.


Hear, hear!


There is the dedicate topic:

https://forum.mflenses.com/mamiya-sekor-c-lens-image-t84700,highlight,%2Bmamiya.html


PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2024 10:18 pm    Post subject: Re: Mamiya 645 lens questions and observations. Build qualit Reply with quote
Noritar wrote:
The 80/2.8 C N I have has a plastic barrel,

Thank you.


Well, but it does it's job quite well:

https://i.ibb.co/0nfhTtz/CF016258-min.jpg


PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2024 10:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
caspert79 wrote:


My experience is with the 210/4,.


Well, it is really perfect lens for portraiture:



PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2024 11:24 pm    Post subject: Re: Mamiya 645 lens questions and observations. Build qualit Reply with quote
caspert79 wrote:
...

I forgot to mention that I briefly owned that lens. While it’s a good lens, I didn’t find it any better (on FF) than let’s say the very affordable Minolta AF 100/2.8 macro. In fact, I think the Minolta has slightly better resolution wide open. What I díd like about the lens however, is relatively round bokeh all over the frame because it is a medium format lens.


I think approx 100mm is a kind of sweet spot for lens designers so it's not hard to make a really good one, as long as it's fairly slow (IMHO F2.8 is slow).

Interesting point about the bokeh and I suspect this would be the case with most medium format lenses because they effectively avoid mechanical vignetting altogether (when used on smaller formats).


PostPosted: Tue Jul 30, 2024 7:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Really to say the later AF lenses were very nice indeed. And very nicely performed also.

For example - the very last zoom in that system (Mamiya Secor D ZOOM AF 75-150mm 4.5) is build as a tank, all metal, and performs incredibly starting from the open diagram. There are some samples of it:

https://forum.mflenses.com/phase-one-645-dfand-p-25-mamiya-secor-d-zoom-af-75-150mm-4-5-t85353.html


PostPosted: Tue Jul 30, 2024 7:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
LittleAlex wrote:
Really to say the later AF lenses were very nice indeed. And very nicely performed also.

For example - the very last zoom in that system (Mamiya Secor D ZOOM AF 75-150mm 4.5) is build as a tank, all metal, and performs incredibly starting from the open diagram. There are some samples of it:

https://forum.mflenses.com/phase-one-645-dfand-p-25-mamiya-secor-d-zoom-af-75-150mm-4-5-t85353.html


Very Nice !

Last edited by caspert79 on Tue Jul 30, 2024 7:54 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Tue Jul 30, 2024 7:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
caspert79 wrote:


Very Nice ?


Well, in it's own class, of course.

At least that sample is all metal. Excluding the blend of course.

And quite heavy unfortunately.


PostPosted: Tue Jul 30, 2024 7:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Sorry, I’m having some issues with mixing up exclamation marks and question marks lately.


PostPosted: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
caspert79 wrote:
Sorry, I’m having some issues with mixing up exclamation marks and question marks lately.


Laugh 1


PostPosted: Wed Jul 31, 2024 5:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
caspert79 wrote:


Very Nice !


https://photographylife.com/lenses/mamiya-75-150mm-f4-5-d
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