Can a digital back be used on a Mamiya 645AF (non-AFD)?
Asked 1/8/2014
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I have an original Mamiya 645AF film body, not the later 645AFD. I know the AFD models were designed with digital-back support in mind, but I’m wondering whether any digital backs can still be used on the older 645AF.
Has anyone successfully attached a digital back to the original 645AF, and if so, which models are compatible? I’d also like to know whether this is practical today or if upgrading to an AFD/AFD III body is the better route.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
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Some searching online seems to indicate that the Kodak Proback would work, but most places agreed that you are better off, both price and quality wise, to simply update to a newer body unless you can find a good deal on one of the very few backs that will actually work with the 645AF.
The cheapest I could find a Proback in my quick looks was several grand, used. On the other hand, the 645AFD is only $350 and you could then use a much wider selection of backs that are substantially more modern.
One caveat, note that this is all second hand information that I researched briefly since nobody else had been able to answer yet. Take it with a grain of salt for what it is.
Originally by user11392. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11392
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—but only in a very limited way. The original Mamiya 645AF can work with a small number of older digital backs, such as certain Kodak ProBack and early Phase One/LightPhase-era models. However, compatibility is narrow, those backs are now quite old, and the experience is generally not seamless.
The key difference is that the 645AFD added the contacts and communication needed for much better digital-back integration. In practice, the non-AFD 645AF leaves you with few choices, and they tend to be low-resolution, noisy, and slow by modern standards.
So the practical answer is: yes, a few backs may fit and function, but for real-world use you’re usually better off moving to a 645AFD or later body. An AFD body opens up many more back options, and AFD III or later is the better long-term choice if you want broader compatibility.
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