The Mamiya 645 vs. the Contax 645 | Mamiya 645AF Sample Photos Using Kodak Portra on a Cross Country Road Trip

March 31, 2025

Ugh, I miss my Mamiya 645AF. Over the years I’ve learned to never sell the gear that I love because I always end up regretting it. Yes, I technically upgraded from the Mamiya 645AF to the Contax 645, but there is still something so special to me about the photos I took with the Mamiya 645AF while I had it. Maybe it’s because it was my first professional medium format camera or maybe it’s because something about the images just felt more “me” than my Contax 645. Don’t get me wrong, the Contax 645 is worth every penny and takes incredible photos. You can check out some sample photos I’ve taken with it here. But, because of it’s high price tag, I feel the need to be extra cautious with it when I’m traveling and shooting. In many cases, I just leave it at home because it seems like too much of a risk to be lugging it around haphazardly. With the Mamiya 645, I didn’t overthink, I just brought it with me and didn’t worry as much about the cost if something happened to it.

While I definitely notice a difference in sharpness and quality when it comes to comparing the Mamiya 645AF and the Contax 645, I still have an affinity for the dreamy and playful vibe I got with the Mamiya. The Contax 645 is really geared towards professional photographers and high-end luxury photography. It’s super, ridiculously sharp and quite a bit more reliable than the Mamiya 645. I always had issues with focusing when it came to the Mamiya. The Contax 645 is a workhorse of a camera and I’m never disappointed with the images. You can read my full review of the Contax 645 here, or check out my YouTube video featuring the Contax here! But for anyone just starting out with medium format photography, you will not be disappointed with the Mamiya 645AF. There are so many images I took with it that I still cherish to this day.

It’s on my wish list to pick up another Mamiya 645AF at some point, just because I’d like to have it back in my collection. Before I sold it, I took it with me on a cross country road trip and I still dream about the photos I took with it. We witnessed a sunrise over the Grand Canyon, the vastness of the Hoover Dam, and the empty, movie-like landscapes across the southwestern United States. I’ve included all of my favorite photographs from that trip below so you can decide if this camera is for you! I used Kodak Portra 160 and Kodak Portra 400 film for these photos, along with the 80 mm f/2.8 lens, which is the standard lens that most people use with it. I tend to shoot with the aperture wide open when I can, which gives me that dreamy, cinematic feel that I love. But, as you will notice in some of the images, sometimes the focusing up close just wasn’t quite right. I think there was an issue with my particular camera though, because I would have trouble with the autofocus and end up just manually focusing my images. That was another reason I sold mine, but I’m hoping if I pick up another one, that it won’t have that issue!

I also love that it is super easy to take multiple exposures with the Mamiya 645AF. I found it much easier to create multiple exposures with the Mamiya than the Contax. It’s easy to forgot that you have the multiple exposure setting on with the Contax, leaving you with triple or quadruple exposures every once in a while! The Mamiya multiple exposure function was nice because you can pre-set the number of images you want to take and that way, you won’t end up shooting more than you’d planned for. I’ve included a few examples of multiple exposures with the Mamiya below!

If you’re thinking of diving into medium format photography, the Mamiya 645AF is a great place to start. The Mamiya will make you fall in love with medium format photography. It’s also nice that it’s relatively affordable (around $1500-$2000), at least compared to the Contax 645 (around $3000-5000)! The Pentax 645 is also a popular medium format camera that runs quite a bit cheaper (around $700-1000) than the Mamiya 645AF and the Contax 645, but I don’t have any personal experience with that one. I’ve heard it’s great though and is on my list to try out in the future! If you’ve never shot with 120 film before, I’d recommend starting out with a Holga GCFN or Diana F+, which are toy cameras that are much more affordable (anywhere from $60-150). The Holga is my favorite camera in the world, and the one camera I never leave home without! You can read my full review with tons of sample photos on my blog here, or watch my YouTube video!

If you’re on the hunt for a pro level medium format camera though, here’s where you can find the Mamiya 645AF or the Contax 645. There are a few different models for the Mamiya 645, but I had the 645AF model. The AFD models are a bit more modern and have the potential to use a digital back, which could save you lots of money on film. However, I’m a film girlie through and through so I like to shoot with it the old-fashioned way. But the digital back would be a great place to start and could save you some money while you’re learning the functionalities of the camera. :)

WHERE TO BUY THE MAMIYA 645

KEH Camera

Etsy

eBay

MAMIYA 80MM F/2.8 AUTOFOCUS LENS

KEH Camera

eBay

Etsy

WHERE TO BUY THE CONTAX 645

KEH Camera

eBay

Etsy

WHERE TO BUY THE PENTAX 645

FILM RECOMMENDATIONS

Kodak Portra 160 120 film

Lomography 400 120 film

Kodak Gold 200 120 film

Neopan Across 100 Black & White 120 Film

(By using the affiliate links and/or codes in this blog post it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

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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

(click to enlarge images)

(By using the links and/or codes in this blog post it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

Review of Lomography's Lomomatic 110 Zebra Crossing Camera & Flash Using LomoChrome Color ’92 Film and B&W Orca 110 Film | My First Two Rolls of Film

March 5, 2025

I’m so excited to team up with Lomography for this blog post featuring the Lomomatic 110 Zebra Crossing Camera. I’ve been wanting to try out a 110 camera for years and it was honestly as fun as I’d hoped. There are a lot of things I love about this camera, but there are also a few snags I ran into that I’m hoping to sort out while shooting my next roll of film. As with any film camera, it takes some time and patience to learn a new camera, and especially a new film format. 110 film has been around since the 1970s and is known for it’s retro vibes and easy-to-load film cartridges. You can find vintage 110 film cameras on Etsy and eBay, but Lomography went above and beyond and created their own version of the 110 camera. They have tons of different styles and colors, but I wanted to share the pros and cons I discovered through my first two rolls of film with the Lomomatic 110 Zebra Crossing, so that your experience using 110 film goes smoothly and you end up with beautiful photos!

PROS OF THE LOMOMATIC 110

Perfect for Travel
I think my favorite thing about this camera is the portability. It’s so small and convenient. It was super easy to take with me wherever I went. I used the wrist strap most of the time, which made it simple to use quickly when I stumbled across something I wanted to photograph. It’s definitely one of the smallest cameras I own, and it’s nice that I don’t have to worry about a detachable lens or anything like that that might get damaged easily. You guys know I like to travel with at least 5-8 cameras and the fact that I can squeeze this camera in any camera bag is a huge pro for me, and means I can take it with me on more adventures!
The Photos are Grainy & Vibe-y
I wasn’t expecting super sharp photos going into this process, but the photos are even more old school that I thought they’d be. I absolutely love vintage-looking photographs with lots of grain that look like they’re from hundreds of years ago. There is something so addicting about creating photographs that are strange and unusual (because I, myself, am strange and unusual). I know that not everyone feels the same way, but I encourage you to step outside your comfort zone! This camera will definitely make you do that. :) I did learn that this camera requires a lot of light to function properly, so I’d recommend only shooting in very bright conditions, or using the flash if you’re inside or in the shade. You’ll notice some of my images have motion blur or aren’t fully in focus, and that’s because the images were taken close to sunset and the shutter was too slow. Next time, I’ll be sure to shoot in full daylight with this camera. It’s also important to make sure you have the correct distance setting for each image before you take it.
Lots of Creative Features for Such a Small, Affordable Camera
I was surprised by how many different options and features this camera is capable of. If you follow my work, you know I’m obsessed with multiple exposures. The fact that this camera has a dedicated multiple exposure button is a huge plus for me. I’m actually going to be ordering more 110 film today because now that I’m sitting here writing this blog post, I feel antsy to test out another roll! I’ve learned so much with my first two rolls and can’t wait to learn from my mistakes and go into it with a little more user knowledge. It also has various distance settings, a flash, flash filters, a bulb setting, and two aperture settings - day (f/5.6) & night (f/2.8). For such a tiny camera, the creative control is really nice.

CONS OF THE LOMOMATIC 110

The Film Doesn’t Advance Occasionally
The main issue I have with this camera is that sometimes the film doesn’t advance when you close it and pull it back open. The film counter will sometimes stay on the same number. I’ve watched a few videos from other photographers and they seem to run into the same issue. However, on my second roll of film, I think I figured out what was happening. You have to make sure you push the shutter button down all the way when taking your photo. I believe what happens is that you think you’ve captured your image, but really, the shutter wasn’t decompressed and you actually didn’t even take your photo! If you just make sure to fully push the button all the way, you should be totally fine.
The Frames Become Misaligned
By the end of both of my first two rolls of film, I noticed the frames became misaligned. This is probably because I began to close the camera and then changed my mind and opened it back up. So, essentially, the film began to advance a little but then was stopped. So, whatever you do, make sure to fully open and close the camera in between shots and you shouldn’t run into this problem. I’ll be testing this theory out again with my next roll of film, but it makes sense that halfway closing the camera would cause the frames to get out of line.
Film Development is Expensive
It’s difficult to find labs that will process 110 film. Personally, I used Blue Moon Camera in Portland, Oregon. I also had to buy a 110 film holder for my Epson Perfection V750 Pro Scanner so that I could save some money by scanning the film myself. It was a bit of an investment just to experiment with this camera. However, I do think that I’ll feel a bit better about the whole thing if I follow the tips mentioned above for my next roll of film. It’s definitely more of a hobby camera and not something I would use at a client photo shoot, mostly because I don’t have the functionality fully down yet. I’m hoping in the future I will feel differently.

(example of the frames being misaligned)

FINAL THOUGHTS

I’m so glad that Lomography has created their own 110 camera. It’s incredibly important as photographers and hobbyists to support these dying film formats. I love that 110 film hasn’t disappeared from the world yet and that Lomography is working to keep it alive. While I do think that the camera has a few glitches and requires a bit of a learning curve, it was still an absolute blast to use. It might even be the most fun I’ve had in years trying out a new camera. I plan to test out more of the fun features with my next roll of film.

The Lomomatic 110 is something special though. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another company that values film photography as much as Lomography. The fact that they’ve put time into developing a 110 camera, along with a handful of different film options to choose from, is truly a miracle in today’s world. I always love checking out what Lomography is up to and the new cameras that they release.

I’m honestly so excited to try this camera out again and see what I end up with. I recommend shooting only one roll for your first time so that you can learn from any mistakes you might have made. Make sure to check the aperture, ISO, and distance settings before taking each shot too. I had the wrong distance setting for a few of my images and it definitely makes a difference if you want your images as sharp as possible with a camera like this.

While it is a pricey venture to get into shooting 110 film, it’s always fun for me to try out new cameras and learn something about photography along the way. As my first 110 film experience, it was exciting and different for me. I get bored easily and this camera kept me on my toes. I’ll be sure to share my next roll of film with you!

WHERE TO BUY

Lomomatic 110 Camera & Flash

Lomography.com

eBay.com (used)

Etsy (vintage 110 cameras)

110 Film Cartridges

B&H Photo Video

Lomography.com

Amazon

Etsy (vintage 110 film)

(By using the links and/or codes in this blog post it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

<3 Myles Katherine

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Lens Review with Sample Photos in Japan!

October 1, 2024

WHY DID I BUY THE CANON EF 17-40MM F/4L USM LENS?

You might know that the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II lens is my absolute favorite Canon lens, but when I started doing occasional real estate photography for AirBnb and local businesses, I needed a lens that was a little bit wider. I didn’t want to make a huge investment into yet another super expensive lens, especially because I knew that I could use my 24-70mm lens for most situations when it came to real estate photos. I really just needed something I could use for tight and cramped spaces like small bathrooms, bedrooms, and kitchens. The Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Lens seemed like the best price for what I was looking for. It’s an L series lens, which is Canon’s pro level lens series, but at a fairly reasonable price of $600 (especially compared to the price tag of $1899 for the 24-70mm lens). Though, I actually bought mine gently used so I got an even better deal (you can find them used on KEH Camera or eBay). At this point in my life, I rarely ever steer away from the L series lenses, except in the case of the Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens that has a special place in my heart. I have yet to try the RF lenses yet, though it’s on my wish list for next year. :)

WHY DID I BRING THE CANON 17-40MM F/4 L LENS TO JAPAN OVER THE CANON 24-70MM F/2.8 L II LENS?

When I was debating which cameras and lenses to bring with me to Japan, I was torn between bringing my beloved Canon 24-70mm lens and my newer Canon 17-40mm lens. I like to bring a digital camera with me on my trips, along with a handful of film cameras. I mostly use the digital camera as a backup to my film cameras, many of which can be unreliable. It’s mostly just for peace of mind because I actually rarely end up using my digital cameras on my trips! Knowing this, I decided to leave my heavy and large Canon 24-70mm lens behind for the first time on a major trip. The 17-40mm lens is 0.67 pounds lighter, which doesn’t sound like much, but makes a huge difference when I’m lugging a giant camera backpack around a foreign country. Not to mention, it took up less space in my camera bag, allowing me to bring an extra film camera… Yes. I realize that filling that space with another camera probably doesn’t help with my dilemma of a heavy backpack…

THOUGHTS ON THE QUALITY OF THE IMAGES

While the 17-40mm lens doesn’t quite have that professional and super sharp quality to the images that I’m used to with the 24-70mm lens (I think I’ve been spoiled!), it got the job done. And even going through the photos now for this blog post, I’m pleasantly surprised by how beautiful these images turned out. You can really only notice a difference when you zoom in on the images in Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom and compare the overall sharpness and the noise in the shadows and corners. It really was a great backup to my film cameras and worked in all lighting conditions, even dark city streets and low-light rooms. And because of it’s ability to capture super wide shots, I easily managed to photograph the stunning architecture of Japan. I always love a wide lens for traveling. I prefer to use the 17-40mm lens with my Canon 5D Mark IV or Canon 6D over my Canon EOS R because I find that the additional lens adapter that I have to use with the EOS R tends to add additional distortion to the edges of the photos when shooting wide. One of the main differences I noticed between the 17-40mm f/4 lens and the 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is the fact that the 24-70mm lens handles edge distortion much better. Portraits look more natural and the added aperture value of the 24-70mm makes for better images overall. However, when I’m traveling, I’m mostly capturing landmarks and buildings, so it worked out just fine! If you’re going more for portraits or detail photos, the 24-70mm would definitely be a better option.

Did I miss my Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 lens?

Yes. I always do, mostly just because the 24-70 is my heart and soul in a lens. But looking at my images now, I think the 17-40mm lens fulfilled my needs as a backup camera on my trip. I never really end up doing much with my digital images after my trips. I tend to lean towards my film images for sharing on social media and blog posts. Though, if for some reason, my film didn’t turn out from my trip, it’s nice to know that I’d have these images to remember our trip by.

Make sure to scroll to the bottom of the post to see more of my favorite images I took in Japan with the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Lens. I hope these help you to decide if this lens is for you! If you’re on a budget looking for an affordable but professional lens, the 17-40 mm lens would be a great option to start with. Plus, you can always upgrade later! You could also check out my blog post about the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens for comparison. I also posted a video on my YouTube channel about all of the cameras I ended up taking with me on my trip to Japan. You can watch it here!

WHERE TO BUY THE CANON EF 17-40MM F/4 L USM ZOOM LENS

WHERE TO BUY THE CANON EF 24-70MM F/2.8L II USM ZOOM LENS

Amazon

B&H Photo Video

KEH Camera (used)

eBay (used)

#ad #affiliate

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 Amazon storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a magical day!

<3 Myles Katherine

(click to enlarge images)

WHERE TO BUY THE MAMIYA 645

MAMIYA 80MM F/2.8 AUTOFOCUS LENS

WHERE TO BUY THE CONTAX 645

WHERE TO BUY THE PENTAX 645

FILM RECOMMENDATIONS

PROS OF THE LOMOMATIC 110

Perfect for Travel

The Photos are Grainy & Vibe-y

Lots of Creative Features for Such a Small, Affordable Camera

CONS OF THE LOMOMATIC 110

The Film Doesn’t Advance Occasionally

The Frames Become Misaligned

Film Development is Expensive

FINAL THOUGHTS

WHERE TO BUY

Lomomatic 110 Camera & Flash

110 Film Cartridges

WHY DID I BUY THE CANON EF 17-40MM F/4L USM LENS?

WHY DID I BRING THE CANON 17-40MM F/4 L LENS TO JAPAN OVER THE CANON 24-70MM F/2.8 L II LENS?

THOUGHTS ON THE QUALITY OF THE IMAGES

Did I miss my Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 lens?

WHERE TO BUY THE CANON EF 17-40MM F/4 L USM ZOOM LENS

WHERE TO BUY THE CANON EF 24-70MM F/2.8L II USM ZOOM LENS