Hi Kent. I had the Mamiya-Sekor C 45/2.8 N, and it was a very nice lens. I've read comments that it's not as good as the C 35/3.5N and C 55/2.8N, but I would dispute that, they're all good lenses. I sold the 45, because the 35 and 55 provide the coverage that I need. Here's some links I use when I want info on the Mamiya M645 lineup:
The 45's very simple. Avoid the 77mm filter version, get the 67mm version in your choice of low-contrast (S) or moderate contrast (N) coatings. The S version is sometimes mistakenly identified as a C lens as it is cosmetically identical.
I also have the A 150/2.8 and C 80/4N Macro. The 45N will have similar contrast to the 80/4N, and more than the 80/4 non-N. The A 150/2.8 has slightly more or stronger contrast than my A 120/4 Macro, and so it's probably between the wider C and N lenses. I'm just in the process of hooking up the 80/4N to a 5D (in my portable studio) for some 'auction' photos. I generally use the 80/4N and 24-70/2.8L for this stuff.
A lenses use the same coatings as N lenses (as they are a subset of N lenses, just like S lenses are a subset of C lenses) so they should broadly resemble N lenses in terms of contrast. There is of course always variance between individual designs.
OIC ... so if I like the 150 2.8A contrast level (which I do) then I should like the N version of the 45mm (vs. the S or C).
I'm not sure which 80mm I have (I'm guessing not the N from my pics), but either way is okay, since the N would be consistent with my other glass, while the S/C might be a little better suited for portraits.
UPDATE: My 80mm f4 Macro is a C
Now that I know that, it should play nice with my (egads !!) EF 100 2.0 or my 80-200 f4 C/Y, both of which have higher contrast from which to choose. I have also have a Nikon 105 2.5 AIS in the arsenal (which I may let go to a good FMer home) and an Oly 135 3.5 sitting between the 80mm & 150mm Mamiya's.
gasrocks wrote:
Unless you are using the Mirex T/S adapter, I do not see a reason to get the 45mm, but that is just me.
I've thought about that ... both ways, and I'm a bit uncertain about whether I'll go with the Mirex just yet (would like to, but ??) ... maybe getting the 45mm would nudge me into the Mirex ??
Other than that, it would basically be my version of an M645 trinity.
I currently have my C/Y 35-70 3.4 filling in at that FL. I'm thinking about using the 45mm and replacing the 35-70 with the 28mm 2.8 Distagon. Won't know for sure until I get a chance to shoot the 45 & the 28 and see how they perform for my tastes, but that's at least the current thinking.
While I have multiples of various FL's with different mfr's ... that would make my lineup something like:
I agree with Gene (gasrocks). The wide and normal C and N Mamiya 645 lenses are best value for use with the Mirex T-S adapter. For straight-up 35mm or FF DSLR format, the Leica Summicron 35/2, Contax Carl Zeiss Distagon 35/2.8, Voigtlander Ultron 40/2, and many fast 50mm lenses are all better that the M645 35/3.5N, 45/2.8N and 55/2.8N. The Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 35-70/3.4 is a dynamite lens stopped down (personal experience), but I prefer the faster primes.
OTOH, the A 120/4 Macro, A 200/2.8 APO and A 300/2.8 APO are fantastic straight-up. I rarely (if ever) use them on the Mirex.
