The Mamiya 645E was the final manual focus medium format camera by Mamiya for the Mamiya-Sekor C Lens series. A plastic body camera, but very capable and easy to use.
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The camera is light and handles very easy with or without the optional grip attachments. This SLR – Single Lens Reflex medium format film camera came with a cartridge to load 120 film, and optionally a different cartridge to load 220 film.
From this line of cameras, it is by far the lightest and easy to use camera, however it also feels the cheapest, which has no impact on the actual results.
The camera features an electronic focal-plane shutter, an eye-level finder showing 94% of the image area, with a micro split image for easy focusing. Operates fully manual, but also in Aperture priority mode with a Center-weighted TTL metering system.
With a 1/1,000th of a second maximum shutter speed, I often find myself using low ISO films with the Mamiya 645e, especially for landscape photography. The overall specifications of this camera, make a great beginner kit for starting medium format film photographers.
It uses the same battery as the Canon AE1 – Program, the 6-Volt (4LR44 alkaline manganese battery).
The “mirror-up” function is very helpful to reduce camera vibration for landscape or stationary object photography, especially in low light conditions.
Back in the day, when there were no auto-focus alternatives, this would have made a great wedding camera in 6X45 format, however, manual focusing can really slow you down during a wedding shoot.
