BGWG #7: Mamiya 645 Pro TL and a Gimlet
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- Опубликовано: 28 мар 2020
- If you feel so inclined, contributions can be made at: www.nickcarverphoto.com/contr...
Table of Contents:
- The drink recipe (1:12)
- Gimlet fun facts (2:52)
- Mamiya 645 purpose & history (4:10)
- Sample pictures (9:18)
- Camera walkthrough & features (10:37)
Check out my online course all about manual metering for film photography: www.nickcarverphoto.com/meter...
When you’re legally obliged to not leave your home, what else is there to do besides make cocktails? Talk about cameras, that’s what.
In this episode of Behind the Glass With a Glass, I’ll show you how to make one of my favorite cocktails: a gimlet. Perhaps it was named after a hand-powered drill, perhaps it was named after Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Desmond Gimlette. Either way, it’s delicious. The recipe is simple and can be easily modified if you don’t have all the ingredients.
As for the camera…well, buddy, strap in for a deep-dive into the Mamiya 645 Pro TL. It’s a 4.5cm x 6cm medium format SLR camera that’s as functional as it is customizable. Although you’ve never seen this camera featured in any of my on-location videos, it happens to be my most-used camera in recent months. It’s portable, it’s reliable, it has all the tools I need, and it’s way f’ing smaller than my RZ67.
My kit came with a manual film advance, a waist-level finder, an FE401 AE prism finder, and an 80mm f/1.9. Then, with a little help from eBay and KEH (www.keh.com), I added on to it with a 55mm f/2.8 (my most-used lens) and a WG402 power winder. Depending on how loud and conspicuous I’m willing to be, I’ll customize the camera to match.
Like all my cameras, I’m most interested in how easily it facilitates me getting the pictures I want. In that regard, this Mamiya 645 Pro TL is a winner. The control layout is logical and simple, the size is just-right, and it’s got the trademark Mamiya attention to detail that I’ve grown to love. Toss in a roll of Kodak Portra 400 and I’m ready to do this thing. Much like my RZ67, I hope this camera will keep up with me for years to come.
As always, thanks for watching, please drink responsibly, and here's to you - cheers!
Website: www.nickcarverphotography.com
Instagram: / nickcarver
Gimlet Sources: gunthertoodys.com/classic-coc... and www.ginfoundry.com/cocktail/g...
Camera Sources: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamiy... and camera-wiki.org/wiki/Mamiya_M6... 
Развлечения
After owning several Mamiya cameras and using them on a daily basis you quickly come to realize why so many working pros use these cameras. They are designed to work, not be prestigious, just make great images. I've beat the crap out of my 6 and it just keeps working, 2 year old batteries doing long exposures and not skipping a beat. the rb67 could kill and then make a magazine cover image, I mean they are the unsung heroes of modern image media.
Keep up the great work!!
You should try a Quarantini. It is like a regular Martini but you drink it home by yourself ;)
bahahah gold
Quentin Tarantino's favorite drink?
Quentin Tarantino's favorite drink?
Excellent.
lol so hard - broke ma neck, shat ma pants
I've been enjoying your recent videos in these times, Nick! Feels like relaxing with a friend, talking about nerdy photography stuff. I'll happily watch as many as you put out. Godspeed.
My absolute favorite photography VLOG!! Thanks Nick for the positivity in this negative situation!!
The Gimlet was the first “drink” my father ever bought me, a rare occurrence actually, and that makes it very special for me. I remember the resturant in Monterey. Such a good wholesome memory. Nick I developed my first 8 rolls of color film today. The film passed through my RZ67. Thank you for your great videos! You’re a big inspiration.
Great video as always and exquisite pictures! In these quarantine and secluded days, your video is a delight moment of evasion for me. Cheers from Canada!!!
I can see a whole new RUclips channel evolving here and I must say I like it!!
Ah Gimlet...the first cocktail I've had alone, in my warm college bar. Refreshing memory. Thanks Nick, for once again producing a great video.
Nick- love your stuff, SOH, and the smash-up concept of a cocktail and a camera. Finally!
I have owned the Mamiya 645 Pro for about half a year now and I absolutely love it! It somehow feels like coming home. Everything is where it is supposed to be and the process of shooting the camera is such a joy. I always know what I'm going to get. Never have I owned a camera before that I shot so few bad pictures with.
Really appreciate all the time and effort you put into these videos, Nick! what seems like small details and maybe unimportant to most, like all the dolly shots, the lighting, the close ups etc, makes a lot of difference to me. Everything looks so darn clean! The production quality makes these videos go from a 9/10 to a 10/10.
what the world needs right now - a new #bgwg :-)
Nick, I can't even tell you how thankful I am. I ad the same issue for months. Glad to see I'm not insane. :D
Made the drink after you identified the ingredients and before watching the rest of the video. Great drink and enjoyable video! Cheers!
'I just wanted something smaller, that I could keep on the passenger seat and just grab when I needed it." Nick Carver: Mamiya 645 Pro TL. Rest of the photography world: Fuji x100V. ;-)
Not true. I keep a 500 c/m available to grab whenever I want.
Haha! My definition of “compact” is different than most.
Whatta 'bout my late Father's Kodak 620 Medalist folder??? Not much bigger than an iphone and just about twice as thick closed up. Good Ektar lens too.
i freaking lover your gear reviews. I almost bought the shenhao 617! I knew I don't need it, but I just wanna have it after watching your review!
Fun to watch. I’ve had two Mamiyas and completely agree about its engineers’ attention to detail.
Yay! Another BGWG! But bc of the time difference I'm watching it Monday morning (incl. a Gimlet ofc!) Cheers!
Thank you Nick for the frequent uploads these days! It really does take the edge off. Certainly can't see a decrease in production quality so far as you mentioned in your last video. I have two Mamiya M645s. I really like those older ones but I definitely see now how many more options the newer line gives you. Maybe I'll upgrade some day. Good thing they did not change the lens mount. Cheers!
I appreciate your videos. Your passion shines through.
Hey Nick, thanks for the content. Keep em coming buddy!
Thank you! Will do.
Your videos are like a good cocktail: chilled and crisp.
Another great review of a cool camera. I like the attention to details they put, like the red shield for the viewfinder.
I love my 645 Pro TL! I use it more than any other camera!
Great video Nick. I was using a Mamiya 1000s in my studio in the late 1970's, had three of them. Used a RB67 prior to that. Great cameras and miss those iconic machines.
Just made myself a Gimlet. Best drink ever! Thanks for your great videos!
I settled on this camera about 6 years ago. Love it. Thanks
I can feel that edge coming right off. Right on, brother
I enjoyed watching the video as always and joined you with a quarantini!
Hey Nick, thanks for the video. What a slick little camera!
I love this camera! its a great addition to anyones arsenal!
"My Mamiya, here I go again..." Sorry, couldn't help it ;)
Haha! Were you expecting me to break out in song at any moment?
Great review Nick, thanks for sharing
Alot of good information here, and stuff about a camera. Thanks
Best show on RUclips ! Thanks
I have no intention of getting (back) into film photography, but I still love watching your videos and listening to you talk about it. Keep up the good work!
Always my favorite comment to get. Love knowing my videos can appeal to more folks than just film hipsters. Thank you!
The yellow variant is one of the nicest looking medium format cameras I’ve ever seen, damn I want it!
Awesome Nick. I have the uttermost respect for the Mamiya, and even as a photographer using the system of Hasselblad and loving it, you sir are making some great clear points of why the system is not only just as good, but maybe even better. Obviously its a matter of taste, just as the drinks your pouring yourself. Invite me for a Mint Julep, and i'll fly across the sea from Denmark when the pandemic is over!
Keep up the videos. Cheers.
Nice video! Really nice to listen and watch :) keep it up.
Loved the info and the examples you shot with the camera definitely inspired me!
Thanks to you, I tried my first Gimlet 👍👍! Enjoy the channel!!
Stunning set of photographs. I have always liked Mamiya cameras. Having a grab and go medium format camera is great. I have gone super simple, lightweight and lofi with my grab n go and use an Agfa Isola 1, it cost me £3.
Fantastic shots bruh
you're basically my pops Nick. Cocktails and cameras, my role model
That's a great Gimlet review! Oh, and the Mamiya 645 is pretty cool too...:)
I tried the Gimlet for the first time. REALLY enjoyed it. We used Tanquaray Rangpur which is lime infused and a bit smoother then the Saphire. Worked very nicely.
I also love the Rangpur for my gin and sodas, just it's difficult to find in bars and restaurants.
The viewfinder shutter is actually great for when you are metering for long exposures or in general for a darker scene. The light coming from the eyepiece can throw your meter off quite a bit.
Hell yeah,other than on location videos these are my next fave videos on RUclips.
Fav person I never met :D Thanks for this
Beautiful camera!
Went out to Onyx/Welden, CA yesterday to shoot some photos. Your on-location series was an inspiration to do that. I am shooting a DX sensor Nikon with vintage lenses, so I don't have the sharpness that I'd like, but I'm working with what I have at the moment.
Bombay Sapphire helps take that edge off. Thanks for the info on Mamiya 645.
Great video!!
Thank you!
Great review of a great camera. I picked mine up from B&H in 2016 and also like the ease of use to grab and go. My local Darkroom club had a Garage Sale two years ago where I picked up a 500mm prime lens for it at a very cheap price. With that on the camera it's not so easy to "grab and go".
So crazy to me they had a 500mm for this system. And a 300mm f/2.8, I believe.
Also...as a studio camera, the option to use the leaf shutter lenses is really nice...the optional ribbon cable allows one to shoot without having to manually reset the leaf shutter after each exposure...
Carver, Nick Carver and shaken , not stirred !
The awkward hand crank, film inserts and nonstandard cable release were dealbreakers for me so I went with the Bronica but glad to year you found a small format camera you like!
I'll take one of each please. Thanks for all the info!
👍🏼🍸
I’m thinking an intervention may be in order! Love your work, as always. These images are stunning in their simplicity. Now imagine how much better they would be if made with a Leica. 😏
Haha - not sure how much better the images would be, but I know how much worse my bank account would look.
Had one of these back in the day, only let me down once when the flash didn’t sync
I don’t in anyway drink alcohol but I absolutely love this lol I’m hooked
I love my Mamiya 645 Pro!
Looking at my Bronica ETRsi sitting on the desk while watching this video. Had to lean over to it..."I still love ya".
Haha. “Ear muffs little buddy”
I have the Mamiya 645 super with the power winder and AE prism. I have the 45, 80 2.8, 150, 300, 3 tubes, 35, 120 backs. Love the system and use it fairly often. Added bonus, I have a adapter for my GFX50R and the glass is stellar on it.
Oh yeah that would be cool on the GFX.
nice video! My Nikon F3 actually has a red curtain as well which is really useful:) greetings from germany
nowadays, the manual crank is more expensive than the auto winder
Mine came with it on the box. Along with the electric winder.
The battery check button is part of the reason I want this camera lol
excellent! Mamiya is my favorite MF system. Thanks for sharing!! Prost!
The 645E is really reasonably priced and has a nice easy to use diopter adjustment. Also one less place to worry about seals (the viewfinder is molded in). If you don't need auto-exposure the "E" is very much worth looking at. It's basically their studio-use model.
Look in to a Zeiss Ikon Signal Nettar 518/16 folding camera Nick. I picked one up last year for £27 and it's so much fun, granted it's a rangefinder but it folds down small enough to take anywhere and the results have a wonderful quality plus it's built well. A little bit challenging to use compared to modern cameras but at 60 years old I can forgive that plus people love the thing and that really helps when I'm out pointing it at strangers. Another great video!
Thanks for the tip. Looks like a cool camera. Reminds of the old Mamiya Six.
Nick, by no means I mean to be negative. Take my comment in the most positive light. I thought a lot of the shots you've posted on this video are of extreme quality, the choice of locations is superb, subjects, composition, light, just about the best I've seen from your work. I honestly think most of those are better than the shots you end up producing on your on location videos.
To be more objective, these I thought are among the best I've seen you produce (I mean, ever, not just amazing for a "stay in the car camera"). 9:40 , 10:20 WOOOOWWWW the mood, the light!, 10:25, to select just a few (ALL shots in this video are jaw dropping gorgeous)
Please consider revisiting those locations for on location videos. It's incredible that those amazing subjects were left for car-camera shots, and at least in my opinion, are somehow superior to those subjects you've selected for the more serious, planned work.
These subjects deserve some super in depth, planned 6 x 17 shots.
BTW, I LOVE Mamiya as well. My favorite film format is 645, and I happen to use a Phase One with digital back, which is a system entirely based on the Mamiya 645 camera. So in a sense, I'm also shooting Mamiya :D and love it.
I appreciate the kind words! And I get what you’re saying. Truth be told, though, I’m not sure many of these pictures would have been taken at all if I’d done them for an on location video. Making an on location video requires so much of my time and attention to be sucked up by the video camera that I’m sure I would miss many of the still photos. That’s actually a big dilemma for me. I love making the videos, but I also know that it costs me photos.
I had a Mamiya 645 Pro TL and sold it about 8 years ago. Of all of the camera gear I have collected, bought and sold over the years it's the one I regret selling the most. I regretted selling it so much I just bought another one even at today's inflated prices haha! This time just the Pro, aint no body shooting TTL flash with these now days haha!
Personally, the Hasselblad 503CW with the automatic winder is my favorite. 😬I love your reviews. 😍
Can’t go wrong with a hassy. And thank you!
I have this Mamiya, amongst others. Bought it when my Pentax 645nII died and they said it was not repairable. Roll on a couple of years and another technician managed to fix my Pentax. Now I have 2 645 systems.
“A little drinky drink” 😂
That Mamiya is a beautiful Camera, I have a Bronica ETRS, love it but not so advanced as your Mamiya but that slows me down. Oh I wish I had more time to go take Photographs. I'll bring over some drinks and, we can sip some felavours ;-) sipping Scotch in locked down England.
those opening comments! haha. Cheers Nick!
Brilliant sir. Spent a few days considering what MF to get, was thinking the RZ but I know its too much of a chore to carry all the time. The 6 has a bad f distance for ports and the Contax is too expensive / unreliable. I'm going to grab one of these. Bottoms up, cheers!
For your information Nick
The Auto A-S system not only switches between average and spot.
It switches between 3 modes :
Average
Mean value of average and spot measurements
spot
The system is in mean value mode when both A and S indications light up in the viewfinder.
I wish I had a neighbor like Nick Carver....we could hang out and waste some time bullshiting about camera gear and film...there would be day drinking....would be low productivity... but good times. Love the videos...thanks for sharing! Cheers, Benjamin
Thanks for this video Nick. I'm hesitant between this camera and the Fuji GS645s. Want something that shoots medium format but is not a beast to haul around. The Nikon F3hp also has a red curtain in the viewfinder. Another proven camera. Cheers
The Olympus XA has a switch on the bottom with an off/blank setting; backlit (+1.5 exposure); self timer; then a battery check, where it just shrieks at you. If you hear shrieking, the battery is good, if not then there's no power. THAT makes me laugh.
Hahaha. That’s a great design. “If I’m screaming, we’re good.”
@@nickcarverphoto It's not the last setting - it's off, backlight, shriek, and then timer. So if you want a group photo it shrieks and then you sit there waiting awkwardly for 12s before the shutter actually goes.
Fun little thing though, fits in a back jeans pocket just fine.
For the metric people:
4cl Gin (dry Gin is preferred) -
2cl pure sirup (or thickened sugar water) and
2cl Lime Juice,
shaken or well stired in ice. Delicious 🍸🥴
Hi Nick thanks so much for the review I recently purchased this camera. I’m trying to figure out how to use a strobe flash with it. And cannot find any straight forward videos about it. Would really appreciate if you can do a video on this. Thanks so much for this video, huge fan .
Thanks Nick..I've been thinking of getting one since my RB67 is a beast to lug around especially with all my lenses..Damn thing is a bear to take into the woods on a hike. 10+lbs of shoulder ripping hell. (But I still do it from time to time because, well, we do that shit)
Just about every time I’ve brought my RZ on a hike, I regret it halfway in. Haha
@@nickcarverphoto I regret the RB in the Rocky Mountains above 10,000 ft half-way BACK with the camera, lenses and Bogen 4630 17 lb tripod!
WOOOOOOO BABY I AM EARLY AND I AM READY
Really enjoyed
your video comparing scanning methods, this video too was great entertainment. I
don’t do much photography these days. Used to be as meticulous with my
color (analog) color darkroom as you are with your printing from scans.
I’m talking the 1980’s and 1990’s. Still have all my stuff. (In a
different country than where I live today) Will probably never part with it,
Durst Super Laborator 5X7”with dichroic color head and lots of film holders,
top of the line Image Maker Machine from Minnesota for E6 C41 in
formats up to 5X7” and paper print developing and all the rest of it. Went to
visit the Image Maker factory in Minnesota. Dream of setting up my
color darkroom again in some not so distant future, but am a bit terrified
by all the toxic chemicals I used to inhale in the darkroom an all the toxic
waste that was produced . Never got too involved with scanners although I did
try a bit, bought myself a top of the line UMAX with Silverfast toward the end
of the analog era. Made some pretty nice scans but not at all on your very high
level. I congratulate you. You convinced me about the Epson Scanner and
wet mounting with the Variable
Height Mounting Station. Sending stuff to professional laboratories always
left me with an empty feeling. (An empty pocket too) As for photography enjoyed
you getting pissed off with yourself for silly mistakes.(Polaroid Type 55 Video) Made me remember a
book I bought with my first large format camera. It stated "The 13 steps of
taking a large format photo" in strict order, learnt it by hart. Also made me
remember so many field adventures, like when I went to Bali with the Wista and
it was so hot and humid the ground glass fogged up immediately, that pissed me
off. My other memorable photo stuff: Deardorff 5X7, Wista rosewood
4X5, Mamiya 6X7. Manfrottos, Gitsos , lots of Schinder lenses
including guess what? A Rodenstock Imagon on a Linhof board with all the
soft diaphragms. Some really long Nikors and Fujinons, Gossen profi
six with Sinar Probe. When the repro firms started to shut down because of the
then brand new revolutionary Photoshop software, I bought a few repro lenses to
adapt to large format photography, never got around to using them, I had a
friend in NY that specialized in food photography on his 8X10 Deardorff and
used a real bowler hat as a shutter, bowler hat on one hand big mechanical
stopwatch on the other. Since the repro lenses don’t have shutters I
wanted to use a bowler hat on them too but never got around to it. For
Indoors
Linhof 4X5 Kardan Master GTL with 5X7 additional back standard. Norman 4000 and 2000, and so on. I
remember a joke I heard once. What is the difference between photographers and
painters? That painters can hold an intelligent conversation about painting
without discussing brushes. So true. But analog photo gear is so beautiful and
the chemistry of film so magical. Hard not to get excited about it. I’ve also
visited the Linhoff factory near Munchen and the Ebony Camera factory on my
trip to Tokyo. Like you I am also more into colour than sharpness. Sharpness
goes only one way and colour a million directions. All though B&W is not my
thing I admire Ansell Adams enough to have briefly learnt the zone system, did
only a few prints with the zone system but it taught me a lot. The prints
of Polaroid’s where never much to look at, everyone discarded them, the negs
had always great character. What didn’t I do? Dye transfer prints, wish I
had, still the most beautiful prints I’ve seen. But enough rambling and
reminiscing. I’m going to follow you on your superb photo adventure.
Great for me to see people like you still exist.
PS the range finder is useful for looking without a lens, deciding your composition and then choosing your lens.
You can get smaller chemical kits nowadays that develop RA-4 papers (for color printing), C-41 and E-6 films.
About 2-5 liter kits, and I think it's easier to process in drums, which use a very small amount of chemicals.
As you might guess, they're nowhere near as toxic as they used to be, quite safe for doing at home, and the smaller amounts are easier to handle/dispose of.
Printing in the darkroom is something so mesmorizing, go back to it.
It's not all about the ease of scanning, you can get very similar results with scanning, but it will never have the magic of a wet darkroom, even though it's not as easy to make a good print.
19:20 the one on the Nikon F3 is also red :) nice talk
Great video thanks! Is the focus screen as bright as the mamiya rz? Cheers
Thank God for bourbon. And Carver videos. Nick, have you run across Michters American Whiskey? Based on your recommendation I picked up some of that Diplomatico...smoooooth and buttery. Great bottle too.
Tip if you use the mirror lock up lever: always let the mirror down gently or let it fall down on its own. There is a small plastic arm that catches the mirror and can easily snap off if the mirror is forced. Without the arm, the plane of focus in the finder is incorrect. Happened to me and had to get a new body.
Very good to know. Thank you.
Just what I needed on Monday morning B) I'd love to get the yellow version :O I've checked and there's one downside with the panoramic mode on 35mm back - it's a crop from 24x35 frame :/ (there is a back for Bronica, which exposes full width, giving 2.31 ratio :O)
I have the ETRSI and I looked into the 35 Wide back its to bad they cost as much as the rest of my whole Bronica System. It does take really cool pictures with the sprocket holes.
Cool vid Nick! Thanks for that. What lenses would you recommend? Any suggestions for the top 4 Mamiya 645 lenses? Maybe another good topic for an additional vid. ;-)
i recommend Prohibition Gin's small batch 'bathtub cut' from Adelaide Australia. not too many 69% spirits you can drink neat
I’ll add it to the list 👍🏼
You make me want to get one of those, but I think it would be a bit of a waste on me right now as I just don't have the knowledge shooting film that I would like to feel comfortable making that kind of a purchase. I'll be sticking with my Pentax K-1000 for now. Plenty of fun to be had with it and the cost is low. Great video, stay safe and be well Nick.
Amen to that - the camera don’t make the fun, the photographer does.
you make me nervous flapping your hands around with a drink next to a laptop.
Thanks Nick. I've been contemplating which 645 to purchase and the information here has me down to two - this one or the 1000s. It's good to see ya, take care friend.
From experience. Ask yourself two questions. Do you want auto focus lenses? And, do you want TTL Flash metering.
If that answer to both is no, get the 1000s.
@@GregoryVeizades Excellent! Thanks. Take care.
Great walkthrough!
The photos at at the 10:20 mark - is that Barker Ranch?
The viewfinder curtain on the Nikon F3 is also red.
Love shooting with this camera. What strap do you have? Every Mamiya 645 strap I’ve found always notes that it doesn’t work with the lugs on the pro/pro TL.