What AF lens should be used for closeups for a Mamiya 645AF

[photocook]

I just got a Mamiya 645AF with a 80mm lens and on a recent shoot discovered I was not

able to get a tighter shot of my models face. I'm looking at purchasing another lens ,

which would be more suited the 150mm or the 55mm? Can either of those be used for

macro or close to it?

[bryan_thompson1]

Something between 150mm and 250mm is probably what you're looking for.

 

I found myself standing uncomfortably close to models with a 150mm and my Hasselblad for a head shot, so I bought a 250mm. It's great!

 

How do you find the autofocus on your 645AF? How fast is it / how well does it work in low light (weddings and receptions are my intended uses)?

 

Thanks,

 

Bryan A Thompson

[stwrtertbsratbs5]

You wouldn't want to get too close with an 80mm lens anyway - you'll get a distorted perspective.

 

I use a Mamiya 150/3.5 N manual focus on my 645 Pro TL. Great lens, but the close focus isn't that close. So I use an extension tube (lose infinity focus when it's in place).

 

Robert

[photocook]

I find the 645af to be very fast, still trying to figure out the auto focus with low light, I had

to put my model light at full power to focus on my model and then put it back for the

shot, it was in a room that was totally black and had a background light several feet away.

[elliot_n]

I shoot portraits on a Mamiya 645AF and I have a set of Hoya close-up filters (+1,

+2, +4) that I use on my three lenses (55mm, 80mm, 150mm) if I need to get closer. I

haven't noticed any

degradation of quality as a result of using these filters, though I'm sure tubes would

photograph lens test charts better. I can't be dealing with the exposure compensations

that

tubes would require (I meter everything with a light meter) - and the Hoya filters are dead

cheap.

 

I prefer the 80mm (or even 55mm) for close-up portraits, but if you're going for a

conservative look, then the 150mm (or longer) would be more appropriate.

 

I've never used the auto-focus feature on the 645AF - I don't care for bobbing the

camera back and forth to achieve focus.

[alec_kennedy]

So why not the 120mm AF Macro. It will give you a med telephoto, and you can focus from infinity to as close as you like.

[graham_welland]

As mentioned, the 150/3.5 is probably the best choice although you could also go with a different approach using the 105-210 zoom. Quality is excellent at the cost of an f-stop vs.150.