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These cameras are a fantastic bargain. Professional film cameras are available for next to nothing compared to their original cost and there are enough film processing labs around to service the needs of people like me returning to film. Film delivers a unique quality and combined with manual cameras like the mamiya 645 pro's the discipline and craft needed make you look at image making in a whole new way. Ironic for a process thats well over a hundred years old. The Mamiya 645 pro and pro tl deliver excellent value for well built cameras with a good range of lenses that are also very affordable. And while the pros move over to digital 645 cameras and the old keen amatuers do the same the rest of us who always wanted a pro medium format camera can enjoy the great deals. Film processing is out there (uk) if you look but it does vary in quality. Peak imaging do great deal by mail order, quality processing in a professional quality lab. Mini labs can offer similar deals but the quality varies. Prints, well you can print from the negs, obviously, or scan and get digital prints. The difference is the cost, traditional prints cost more than digital. Either way of printing both retain the unique quality of film. I would recommend a return to film to anyone thinking about it.Read full review
What I personally like about the Mamiya 645 Pro TL is that the quality of the camera and lenses it has is good to have a choice of interchangeable lens lengths for different shoots or looks and the removable back allows several backs to have different film types to change to loaded (iso, b&w, color/slide) or even mount a polaroid back when shooting to check exposure or lighting before taking pictures. It is a very versatile medium format camera that for its age still can be used by someone on a budget like a photostudent. When using film the larger the negitive the more you can enlarge a photo without loss of quality.
This camera allows me to experiment with photography with no limits. Also has taught me so much about controlling exposures with F-stops and shutter speeds. Depth of Field preview is great to allow you to see what detail or lack of that you will get with your settings. The large fast 80mm lens atracts light like a magnet and assures great photos. I'm rwally enjoying this camera and I have used many others film and digital but my first experience with 120 format. A tad heavy to hold and carry around but I have large hands and it fits them fine. Definitely a tripod for longer exposures but that would be the case with any camera for sharpness.
For the price, the quality can't be matched. A good selection of lenses is available and these are very durable workhorse type cameras as are the RZ lineup. the optics range from razor sharp to great contrast. The lens element designs produce remarkable photos. The great thing about buying high end equipment is that it lasts for a long time and is still effective to current standards and then some. The medium format size gives it an distinct advantage over a 35 digital by size alone. Add this to the great coating these lenses have and great color and sharpness are easy to come by.
I've done film for over 40 years, and one blessing of digital is it has made fine film cameras affordable. I purchased a TL Pro, AE finder, winder, inserts, and an additional zoom lens and Metz flash. High quality pix and the precision and design of a fine watch. I haven't put the Nikon D300 on a shelf, but this camera brings a lot of pleasure and fun.
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