Hi all,

I'm new to these forums and am looking for some advice please....

Can anyone tell me if there is a digital back that will work with the Mamiya 645 Pro TL - I have looked on the web, but all I can find is info for the later autofocus model....

Thanks in advance.

Duncan

hi Duncan,
the pro Tl is one of the nicest mamiyas to put a back on. You can use all wonderfull mamiya MF lenses without limitations of not working apertures with the 645AF. The second nicest thing is that lenses are dirt cheap.
I have two digital back's for my mamiya Pro tl of wich i am selling one. It is the hasselblad Ixpress 132c 22Mp back. Just connect it to a pro tl and you can start shooting. works like a charm.
grtz

Wow! What a speedy response - thanks!

I have a Hasselblad 503CW with just the standard 80mm lens - looking at the 645 Pro / Pro TL, I can build a complete kit for less that the price of a single lens for the Blad!

My aim is to build a kit and then add a digital back at a later date....

Many thanks for your help.

Duncan

I wouldn't jump so fast to build a 645Pro TL system. Digital backs made for the AFD series aren't intended for the Pro TL. Sure backs were made for the Pro TL camera years ago but not so much now. If you are expecting to find a used back for that platform, you may be looking in a very tiny pool. The backs that may fit that camera will most likely be the ones of the late 90's and very early 00's. A DSLR is a better choice all around than a Valeo 6, 11, 17, Phase 6 & 11 MP backs, older Imacon 3kx2k, 4kx4k, older Sinar 3kx2k, 4kx4k versions, most required a computer and tethering to older OS's. (unless you intend to do studio work ONLY)

None of the wonderful leaf Aptus backs fit a Pro TL, at least no literature says they do. I would not put money into a Sinar or Imacon back that dates back 5-8 years ago, for reason of software, if repairs are needed and none were self contained units.

If you want cheap but with automation to a Mamiya body, an AFD with used AF lenses can he had for cheap as well. I got my original AFD setup from ebay 3 years ago, for $2500, AFD body, 35mm AF, 80mm AF, 150mm AF, 55-110mm AF in all with film backs and polaroid back. You can find plenty of AFD compatible digital backs.

Simple question, what digital back do you think you want first of all?

hasselblad CF39, hasselblad CF39MS, ixpress 384c, ixpress 132c, ixpress 528c..... These are all of the finest back's ever made and the CF versions are still in production. You can buy a 22 Mp for 3350 euro with adapter so, why telling a person it is a bad deal??????? don't think so in my world.

Any of the new and old Sinar backs work on the Mamiya with the adapter plate system.

And of course the Hassy backs (not the ones for the H system only) work with the Hassy adapter plate system.

http://www.sinar.ch/site/index__gast-d-125...s-rand-774.html

ixpress 384c, ixpress 132c, ixpress 528c are not self contained correct? If that doesn't bother Duncan then by all means, go for it. To me, we are past the era of the "hip dialysis machine" just to power and hold the files.

And like I said, he will be looking in a small pool of backs on the used market with mounting plate options for the Pro TL which includes the ones you mention.

I agree the hasselblad CF39 and hasselblad CF39MS are great options. But he wants a budget camera system, then how is a used back that may still cost $10K-14K the best choice in Duncan's case. That's why I asked what back he is interested in, or better yet a budget for a digital back.

I didn't say it was a bad deal and I'm not trying to unload a digital back on him. My bias is directed towards leading Duncan to another platform that is very close but opens a huge world of options. In my view a Pro TL limits options greatly regardless of how good a camera and lenses they are.

I probably would ditch the TL system if I were diving into a digital back.

The Pro TL has a flash sync speed of 1/60th. Whether you care about this or not depends on what and how you shoot, but it's very low, even if you don't care about sync speeds that much.

Also, a used RZII system is worth about the same as the Pro TL (a little more), with world class lenses, 1/400th sync speed, and can be technically used with more backs than any other camera system on the market today (Hassy V mount backs with cables and adapter, Mamiya AFD mount backs with cables and adapter, Hassy H backs with a custom adapter, AFD backs with no cables on the RZIID with adapter, Contax mount back? and there's even an adapter for a Leaf AFi mount back, LOL).

Now that's an open system.

Many thanks for all your replies, it seems I created a bit of a debate!

I appreciate the comments and suggestions from all of you and I shall rethink the Pro TL option, maybe looking for a 645AFD, or even a RZII. I was drawn to the Pro TL as I am on a tight budget at the moment, but it seems I am limited to the potential for a back, so it would probably be false economy.

Thanks again!

Duncan

That's true and there is no need for a custom H adapter since we also make one of these. The only "custom" one is for Contax which can be ordered from ECO-Digital in Japan.

Yair

OK, I've looked at the RZII and also the RB. It seems that digital backs can be added to both cameras (Leaf Aptus for one). The RB is available considerably cheaper than the RZII and the only obvious difference I can see is that the RZ has electronic shutter control, which I imagine is more accurate than the RB's mechanical.

My question is: Is the RZII worth the extra money that they fetch, or will the RB do the job just as well? I know that the RZ Pro 2 D is the ideal one for use with digital, but that is definitely cost prohibitive at the moment!

My intention is to progressively build a system - either RB / RZ or 645 and use it with film initially, before getting a digital back. The camera will be used for both landscapes and portraits, the RB / RZ mainly on a tripod - I remember how heavy they are!

I have very little knowledge of these cameras, although I did use a RB briefly many years ago. Any insight will be gratefully received!

Thanks

Duncan

These are the cameras you should be considering:

Hassy 500, 501, 503, etc.
Mamiya AFD/II/III
Mamiya RZ/ProII/ProIID
Contax AFD
Hassy H1/H2

I see no benefit going with Rollei (I owned several 6001 bodies and lenses, great cameras but not worth the effort to take to digital).
I see no benefit in going cheap with a Mamiya RB, the back is not revolving, you have to remove it to rotate, heavy camera, full stop shutter speeds. An RZ is still big and heavy but a much better choice all around, the ProII and above have half shutter speeds.

What I don't get is that you have a great camera already, Hassy 503. Why not find reasonable priced lenses, they do exist, may not be the most recent versions, but still good glass. A 503 is a lot lighter than the RB/RZ setups. The 503 gives you 1/500 sync which the Contax and Mamiya AFD do not have.

Add a 50mm and 150mm to your 503 and just go shoot. There are plenty of Hassy V lenses on ebay to be had for low cost and in good condition.

there are 3 x leaf shutter lenses for the pro tl.
paul

My .02 added to the mix...

First you need to decide on basic functionality issues: IOW do you need leaf shutter lenses or can you live with focal plane shutters; is portability a concern? Once you answer those questions, the selection of system becomes narrowed.

A short primer: Leaf lenses synch with strobes up to their maximum speeds. In the RB/RZ world, that is 1/400th sec, 1/500th for Hassy V. Focal plane shuttered bodies generally have slower flash synch speeds of 1/60th or 1/125th, but deliver much higher maximum shutter speeds, usually 1/2000th or more. As for portability, the 645 cameras are smaller and lighter by a little than 6x6 cameras; both are significantly smaller and lighter than RZ/RB. However, the RZ/RB has a rotating back which is almost essential for a rectangular capture format with a waist-level viewfinder.

Re entry costs, here Mamiya is going to win. The Pro TL was a great camera, but as has been pointed out, future adaptability is virtually non-existent. The good news is its inexpensive glass can be used normally on the AFD1, 2 or 3 body. (Exception is the Pro TL leaf-shutter lenses -- they require the mechanical linkage in the Pro TL body.) The RB and RZ lenses are excellent. With prices being the same, I would go with RZ simply because the glass can be used on the oldest RZ1 body through the newest RZ Pro II D body -- and an important final PLUS: RB lenses can be used on the RZ, but not vice-versa! There are a plethora of accessories for 645 AFD and RZ systems as well, adding to their flexibility.

Contax 645 AF, Hassy 50x and Hassy 20x all are excellent as well, though glass and accessories are generally more expensive than comparable Mamiya lenses. As an alternative plus, many third-party lenses can be adapted to focal plane bodies like the Contax 645 and Mamiya AFD via inexpensive adapters, notable here is the ability to use Hasselblad H or F glass on either as well as the ability to mount large format view lenses at the end of a bellows assembly on either.

Good luck!