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Archive 2013 · Mamiya 120mm f4 Macro - samples on full frame or mirroless cameras please

joe88
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Mamiya 120mm f4 Macro - samples on full frame or mirroless cameras please

I was asking about adapting some older manual focus macro lenses on another thread and the Mamiya 120mm f/4 macro came up in a discussion/recommendation. Not much info on this lens other than some samples on flickr. Searched the ALT forum and nothing came up.

Anyone here has some experience to share on this lens and how well it adapts to mirrorless (NEX, etc) or even to full frame 35mm DSLRS? Any sample pics to share would be great. Thanks!

This is the lens I found at KEH for $299
http://www.keh.com/camera/Mamiya-645-Manual-Focus-Fixed-Focal-Length-Lenses/1/sku-MS069990345880?r=FE

Thanks,
Joe

Jun 11, 2013 at 10:38 AM

CVickery
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Mamiya 120mm f4 Macro - samples on full frame or mirroless cameras please

There should be some here, it was discussed quite a bit a while back. I had one until recently and used it on my 5DII. No faulting the IQ of the lens and it's an excellent value. It is fairly large however and extends significantly while focusing so it may be less desirable on smaller bodies as a result. The only other complaint I've heard is that it's a bit slow at f4.

Here's a link to a few shots that I have online with the lens:
http://www.pbase.com/vickery/mamiya_120f4

Jun 11, 2013 at 11:09 AM

joe88
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Mamiya 120mm f4 Macro - samples on full frame or mirroless cameras please

Cal, thanks for the info! Those samples look good. I'll be using it on a tripod in a studio most of the time. What piques my interested is that it is a medium format lens. Curious what alternative lens have you decided on for this focal length after moving on from the 120 f/4?

Jun 11, 2013 at 11:22 AM

AhamB
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Mamiya 120mm f4 Macro - samples on full frame or mirroless cameras please

joe88 wrote:
Searched the ALT forum and nothing came up.

That's because it's in the archive, which are cumbersome to search -- better to use google to search with terms like this: "site:fredmiranda.com mamiya 120mm macro" (without the quotes)

It gives you some relevant results:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1007284
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/847268
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/864237
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/882423 (general thread with 49 pages about Mamiya 645 lenses, so you have to pick out the samples from the 120/4)

Edited on Jun 12, 2013 at 06:04 AM · View previous versions

Jun 11, 2013 at 11:38 AM

joe88
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Mamiya 120mm f4 Macro - samples on full frame or mirroless cameras please

Thanks!!

Jun 11, 2013 at 11:40 AM

CVickery
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Mamiya 120mm f4 Macro - samples on full frame or mirroless cameras please

joe88 wrote:
Cal, thanks for the info! Those samples look good. I'll be using it on a tripod in a studio most of the time. What piques my interested is that it is a medium format lens. Curious what alternative lens have you decided on for this focal length after moving on from the 120 f/4?

I haven't, actually...I don't do much that requires true macro and I have a number of options that get me in close if I need to OM50/3.5 and C/Y35-70/3.4 for Canon and for Olympus m4/3 the12-50 kit lens does OK. I generally am not using a tripod so stabilization would be useful so I'm debating about the Canon 100/2.8 IS and the Oly 60/2.8 depending on which system.

For non macro shooting in the ~120mm FL I have a number of options that are easier to use than the Mamiya

Jun 11, 2013 at 11:15 PM

Tri Tran
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Mamiya 120mm f4 Macro - samples on full frame or mirroless cameras please

I like the lense a lot. It is quite large, but optically as other people said already it it is hard to beat

Mamiya 120 Macro11 by Anh Tri, on Flickr

Mamiya 120 Macro15 by Anh Tri, on Flickr

Jun 12, 2013 at 12:47 AM

joe88
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Mamiya 120mm f4 Macro - samples on full frame or mirroless cameras please

Tri Tran, thanks for the samples. I also looked through the links to the older Mamiya lens thread. Lots of excellent examples there and I agree on the smoothness of the rendering. Some of you should have kept the Mamiya tread active.

I've decided on another route for my macro setup but will definitely look at some of those Mamiya lenses in the future.

Jun 12, 2013 at 08:26 AM

joe88
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Mamiya 120mm f4 Macro - samples on full frame or mirroless cameras please

CVickery wrote:
I haven't, actually...I don't do much that requires true macro and I have a number of options that get me in close if I need to OM50/3.5 and C/Y35-70/3.4 for Canon and for Olympus m4/3 the12-50 kit lens does OK. I generally am not using a tripod so stabilization would be useful so I'm debating about the Canon 100/2.8 IS and the Oly 60/2.8 depending on which system.

For non macro shooting in the ~120mm FL I have a number of options that are easier to use than the Mamiya

Thanks Cal! You're not the only one who mentioned the OM 50/3.5. Seems like a good buy for the price.

Jun 12, 2013 at 08:29 AM

phuang3
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Mamiya 120mm f4 Macro - samples on full frame or mirroless cameras please

I use it with Mirex adpater for my work. It's a sharp lens for medium format, but not as sharp as the 100L or Leica 100 APO. Good thing about Mamiya is their bokeh rendition. Most Mamiya lenses render their bokeh smoothly and beautifully.

Jun 12, 2013 at 11:02 PM

Beni
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Mamiya 120mm f4 Macro - samples on full frame or mirroless cameras please

We use the newer AF version with a 40 megapixel MFDB. Great lens, sharp, great colour. Only thing that really annoys me is that it can't be used in a copy setup, the focusing barrel doesn't stay where you put it, droops in seconds. That shouldn't be possible for a macro.

Jun 13, 2013 at 08:28 AM

jcolwell
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Mamiya 120mm f4 Macro - samples on full frame or mirroless cameras please

My Mk I version is pretty stable when pointed down. Definitely OK for a few images, but it might creep over time if setup on a copy stand. Sounds like a case for gaffer's tape.

Jun 13, 2013 at 08:36 AM


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