Mamiya M645

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The Mamiya M645 is the first series of 4.5×6 SLRs made by Mamiya. It has an electronic focal plane shutter. The finder and screens are interchangeable, but there is no magazine back, only pre-loadable film inserts. This made it easy to preload onto less expensive film magazines, but no mid-roll change is permitted. Up to 15 frames can be captured onto a 120 roll film. All the M645 models covered here share the same accessories (finders, screens, lenses, grips and inserts). The lenses and inserts (but not the viewfinders) can also be attached on later manual-focus cameras such as the M645 Super.

M645

The original M645 appeared in 1975. It has a knob advance with a flip out crank and shutter speeds from 8s to 1/500. It sports a mirror lockup and double exposure lever. There are dedicated flash sync terminals on the body, one for electronic X and the other for bulb FP. Flash sync is 1/60 sec. There are two shutter release buttons on the camera body. Both are useful depending on type of grips and viewfinders used in the system. The first one is on the front below the lens mount. It has a lockable collar and is threaded to accept a cable release. The second is on a small ledge on top of the camera to the right of the viewfinder.

The focal-plane shutter itself has cloth blinds, travelling vertically. This is electronically controlled, using a mechanism Mamiya patented. The shutter-speed knob is on the left hand side of the body. The speeds marked in green are for full seconds: they include 1, 2, 4 and 8 sec. For slower fractions of a second the speeds are marked in orange: 2, 4, 8, 15 (i.e. one-half to one-fifteenth), and in white, 30, 125, 250, 500 (1/30 to 1/500 second). 60X shutter speed is in red and represents the maximum speed for electronic flash sync. There is also a circle marked in red between B and 500. Set to this position to use the shutter speed dial on either of the metered prism finders (there are two, with CdS and photo-diode meters respectively); in either case, the film-speed dial is incorporated in the finder's shutter-speed dial. The camera body has lugs instead of slots for the strap mount.

The film back has a memo clip to attach a roll film box top as a reminder of film type. Opening the film door requires pressing on to this memo area, while moving the lever to the right. Loading film onto inserts require aligning the paper leader start mark with an indicator on the insert. There are two inserts available, one for 120 film the other for 220. The number of exposures on the film counter is affected by they type of insert used. The counter is reset when the insert is removed from the film chamber.

The M645 takes a 6 volt battery that provides power for the camera body as well as finders. It can be accessed at the base of the camera body by the tripod socket. To use twist the knob on the plate in the direction indicated and it will pop-up. It takes PX28 or 4LR44 type batteries. The location of the battery compartment is not the best. Grips and or tripods plates can block access to the battery. There is also a red battery test button by the top shutter release. By pressing it, a lamp on the shutter knob side will light.

The lenses have rings for focus and aperture, along with focus and depth of field scales. There is one switch changeable from A to M by the lens barrel. This changes the lens from automatic to manual for stopping down the lens to the aperture selected for depth of field preview. The lens has a metal yoke at the mount end; the signal pin of the metering prism (if used) must engage with this yoke as the lens is mounted. Its position signals to the meter what aperture is set. There are three lenses with leaf shutters, which also have a shutter speed ring and cable release socket.

M645 1000S

The M645 1000S (1976) adds the 1/1000 top speed, a self-timer, a depth of field preview button other details. The manual advance winder knob with fold out crank is now primary just a crank. It is still removable, so many cameras on the used marketplace might be different or they were lost because some hand grips require them removed.

M645J

The M645 J (1979) is like the original model with shutter speeds from 1s to 1/500 but with the mirror lockup feature removed. The J is for Junior. It also lacks the upper shutter-release button of the other M645 models. It was only made for export.

Gallery


System

Lens original C
  • C 35mm f3.5C
  • C 45mm f2.8C
  • C 55mm f2.8C
  • C 80mm f1.9C
  • C 80mm f.2.8C
  • C 110mm f2.8C
  • C 150mm f2.8C
  • C 150mm f4C
  • C 210mm f4C
  • C 300mm f5.6C
  • C 500mm f5.6C

Zoom

  • C 75-150mm f4.5
  • C 105-210mm f4.5

Special

  • C 24mm f4 fisheye
  • C 50mm f5 shift
  • C 70mm f2.8 lens shutter
  • C 80mm f4 Macro
  • C 120mm f4 macro
  • C 145mm f4 soft focus
  • RX 500mm f8 reflex


Lens Newer
  • C 35mm f3.5N
  • C 45mm f2.8S
  • C 45mm f2.8N
  • C 55mm 2.8N
  • C 70mm 2.8E
  • C 80mm f1.9N
  • C 80mm f2.8N
  • C 110mm f2.8N
  • C 210mm f4N
  • C 300mm f5.6N
  • C 500mm f5.6N

Zoom

  • C 55-100mm f4.5N

Lens Shutter

  • A 55mm f2.8N/L
  • A 80mm f2.8N/L
  • A 150mm f3.8N/L

APO

  • A 300mm f2.8 APO

Special

  • C 80mm f4N macro
View finder

Focusing screen

  • 1 Microprism - standard screen
  • 2 Matte - closeup, macro, no focus aid
  • 3 Checker - grid pattern
  • 4 Rangefinder - wide angle
  • 5 Rangefinder - center split 45 angle spot

Grip

  • pistol
  • left hand
  • power drive

Film

  • 120 insert
  • 220 insert

Lens accessories

  • Auto bellows
  • Balloon bellows
  • Bellows lens hood
  • Focus lever
  • Reverse ring
  • Adapter ZE (35mm SLR)

Specifications

M645 M645 1000S M645 J
Introduction 1975 1976 1979
Type 6cm × 4.5cm electronic focal plane shutter single lens reflex camera
Film back integrated w/ removable film magazines
Film 120 film magazine 15 exposures
220 film magazine 30 exposures
Finder interchangeable (Prism, AE, CdS, PD or waist-level/sports finder)
Focusing screen interchangeable (Microprism, Matte, Checker, RF Wide, RF Spot)
Focusing helical focusing built into each lens.
Mirror instant return, automatic mirror system
Mirror Lock Up Yes No
Shutter Moving coil electronic focal plane shutter
Shutter Speeds B, 1 to 500 B, 1 to 1000 B, 1 to 500
Shutter release 2 1
Multiple exposure Yes multi exposure knob
Film winding Removable
knob with collapsible crank crank knob with collapsible crank
Power 1x 6V silver-oxide PX28
Dimensions (W x H x D) 99.3 x 84 x 109mm
Weight (body only) 920g 965g

Bibliography

  • Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). P.147.
  • McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). P.647.
  • Sugiyama, Kōichi (杉山浩一); Naoi, Hiroaki (直井浩明); Bullock, John R. The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 国産カメラ図鑑 (Kokusan kamera zukan). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1985. ISBN 4-257-03187-5. Item 2172.

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