Updated June 26, 2026
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The Mamiya 645AF is an incredible camera. It has taken some of my favorite photos over the years and I’m still so sad that I sold mine. But I only sold it so I could buy my dream camera, the Contax 645 (be sure to watch my video about this camera too)! The Mamiya 645 is much more affordable though, and is a perfect camera if you’re ready to take the dive into medium format photography. It takes 120 film (not 35 mm) and the negatives are much larger than 35 mm. This basically means that there is more detail in your photographs and you can blow them up much larger without losing quality.
The Mamiya 645AF launched in the late 1990s and was a follow-up to the M645, the manual version of the camera. It was Mamiya’s first autofocus medium format camera. It became known for it’s fast autofocus, super sharp lenses and simple controls. It was meant to be an easy transition camera for photographers coming from 35 mm cameras.
Pros:
The 80mm f/2.8 lens is super sharp and takes beautiful photos (portraits in particular)
It has a setting for multiple exposures that is easy to use (personally, the most important feature of a camera for me!)
It’s somewhat affordable for a medium format camera (around $1500 with the 80 mm f/2.8 lens)
It has the option to do aperture priority and shutter priority (very important if you are a wedding photographer or need to shoot quickly)
It has autofocus (also important for quick shooting - but keep in mind it may be unreliable in these older cameras)
It’s known for being easy to use and a great medium format introduction camera from 35 mm
Cons:
t’s very heavy and large (around 4.5 pounds)
The autofocus can be slow and not always accurate, or stop functioning due to the camera’s age
It’s only getting more expensive because there are less of them that function correctly as time goes on
If you’re on the hunt for a Mamiya 645, I recommend checking KEH Camera first. They will occasionally have one in stock, and they have great customer service, especially for vintage cameras like this one. If KEH doesn’t have one, eBay is the most likely place to find it. You can also find them on Etsy from time to time! There are various versions of this camera, but I’d recommend the Mamiya 645AF with the 80 mm f/2.8 lens (you can find the lens on eBay here). This is because it has autofocus, which is definitely useful if you shoot weddings or need to capture an image quickly. However, keep in mind these cameras are vintage. Unfortunately, the autofocus on mine never worked quite right so I used manual focus the whole time. The autofocus in my Contax 645 also stopped working recently, so I’d say it’s probably pretty common for that feature to fail at some point. These cameras aren’t getting any younger, so if trying out the Mamiya 645 is something you’ve been considering, I’d definitely say it’s better to get one sooner than later!
Overall, even though these cameras might not be as reliable as they once were, I’d still recommend it to anyone interested in medium format photography. Some of the images I took with mine are still favorites to this day. If you’re interested in learning more about medium format cameras, or if you want to know what other options are out there, make sure to check out my blog post - 10 Medium Format Cameras to Start Your 120 Film Journey.
WHERE TO BUY THE MAMIYA 645
SHOP KEH CAMERA
SHOP EBAY
SHOP ETSY
FILM RECOMMENDATIONS:
KODAK PORTRA 160 120 FILM
KODAK PORTRA 400 120 FILM (BETTER IN LOW LIGHT BUT MORE EXPENSIVE)
KODAK GOLD 200 120 FILM
ILFORD HP5 PLUS 400 120 FILM
LOMOGRAPHY 400 120 FILM
#CommissionsEarned
If you’d like more 120 film recommendations, make sure to read my blog post - 120 Film on a Budget.
I made a full YouTube video about the Mamiya 645 too if you’re wanting more! In the video, we take a trip to the Oregon Coast and take tons of photos, plus I show you how to load film and take multiple exposures. I also offer my thoughts on the Mamiya 645 vs. the Contax 645. Watch the video below, and then scroll down to see all of the sample photos featured in the video, plus more!
If you found this post helpful or if you’d like to see more of my work, I’d love it if you considered signing up for my Patreon! For as little as $1 a month, you’ll get early access to all of my YouTube videos, plus tons of photos that I don’t post anywhere else. Depending on which tier you choose, you could also receive seasonal prints and/or discounts! I always use all of the proceeds towards cameras, film & processing. Find out more here!
If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help! You can contact me here, or leave a comment below! Thanks so much for stopping by! You can also check out my B&H Photo storefront & Amazon Storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a magical day!
<3 Myles Katherine
