Mamiya 200mm F2.8 APO Telephoto for M645 & 645AF Family Ebay Auction
The 200mm F2.8 APO is an exceptionally sharp telephoto and can be mounted on Canon and Nikon dSLRs via a Mamiya/EOS (or Nikon) adapter. I purchased the lens new and it has been well cared for. It looks like new and performs perfectly.
I've been using this flash with a Mamiya 645AFDII and P25 back. I need more power, so I'm going to buy the Metz 54-4. The 40 MZ-3i works perfectly and is in excellent cosmetic condition. It comes with its box, manuals and pouch. The SCA module is not included. You'll need the appropriate module for your Canon, Nikon, Leica, Pentax, Minolta, Hassy, Mamiya, Contax, etc. Used ones Ebay cost ~$50-$75. If you have questions about the flash, you can read the user manual here.
Mamiya 36mm Auto Extension Tube
Mamiya Part Number: NA403
Price is $125 Paypal'd and shipped within the U.S.
Looks like new, comes with its box, caps and instructions. I used the 36mm a couple times with the Mamiya 200 F2.8 APO for some close-up work. My needs are more general purpose and the 12mm tube is working out better. Note - the 36mm tube is for the 645AF/645AFD/645AFDII and RETAINS the auto aperture function.
Mamiya 645AF Focusing Screen Type C - Prism
Price is $40 Paypal'd and shipped within the U.S.
Purchased new at the same time as the 2X flip-up viewfinder. The two worked well in tandem for nailing focus. It worked well in a studio setting, but when walking around outdoors I think the focus confirmation light was about as effective. Generally I prefer a split screen and find the prism distracting.
Just the P25. It's definitely sharper & more contrasty than the Canon 200mm F2.8 L @ F2.8. Has a nice 3D quality on the P25 too, but that's probably due to the FOV/DOF on the 48mm x 36mm sensor. Nice lens, but I have a hard time focusing manual lenses. Aging sucks...
Thanks John - always love your 'product' shots. Just exceptional. Looking at your pics of the lens on the auction - that rear mount looks about the size of the Holland Tunnel. Very, very tempting.
The 200 (IMO) is better with close subjects, and works well for portraits, candids and lifestyle on the 645 set-up. For tight close-ups it needs an extension tube to shorten the minimum focus distance. Even without the extension tube the DOF is extreme and produces wonderful DOF. Click on the slide show option and look at the last 9 pics, those were on the P25 and most wide open (Mamiya 200 APO).
I did goof around a bit with the 200 on the 5D (the adapter has been sold and shipped) and felt that it maintained the 3D-traits, but there was a trade off in the DOF because of the 35mm full-frame sensor vs that of the P25. I've always had mixed feelings about the Canon 200/2.8L on the FF because it's not one of my favored focal lengths. The Contax 100/2 has about the same FOV on a FF dSLR as the 200 as on a 645 body, so old habits die hard I'd rather pack along the 100/2 because it's smaller and easier to live with. If I'm shooting with the AFDII/P25, then the AF lenses win because the ultra thin DOF mixed with crappy eye sight doesn't work well.
For those interested, a chap at DPR did a quick test of a Mamiya 150mm (IIRC) with an adapter and then the same against the 70-200/4 (go to the link in the last post) - bokeh is about the same but the extra minute detail picked up by the Mamiya is clearly visible in the clay 'jars'.
I can feel some GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) coming on....
I'd rather pack along the 100/2 because it's smaller and easier to live with. If I'm shooting with the AFDII/P25, then the AF lenses win because the ultra thin DOF mixed with crappy eye sight doesn't work well.