The Mamiya 645 is a medium format camera. It is an SLR camera.
The Mamiya M645 was manufactured by Mamiya Camera Co.,Ltd. in Japan in the 1970s and 1980s. At that time it was very popular with wedding photographers. They especially appreciated the larger recording medium compared to 35mm film. As you can tell from the name, it exposes an area of 6 x 4.5 cm on roll film.
The Mamiya M645 does not have an interchangeable back, but it does have removable film holders, which make quick film changes possible, of course only if you have more than one. The medium format camera supports both 120 and 220 film. There is a special slot for each of the two types.
However, the lenses of the Mamiya M645 are interchangeable. Normally, the M645 comes with a Mamiya Secor C 80mm f/2.8 lens. There are, of course, other lenses available for the M645 bayonet. The viewfinder attachments are also interchangeable, here there is for example an ordinary light shaft viewfinder or a prism viewfinder. The latter enables exposure metering with the camera.
Focusing is manual and the photographer can also select the aperture and exposure time as desired.
Things like a tripod connection (1/4″), flash connection (PC) and a thread for a cable release must not be missing, of course. Due to the fact that the housing is largely made of metal and the camera isn’t necessarily compact overall, it weighs around 1.5 kilos.
For the electronic shutter, the Mamiya M645 needs power, which comes for example from a 4LR44 battery (eBay / Amazon*).
Films for the Mamiya M645
The Mamiya M645 is designed for medium format film. This kind of photo films are made by some producers. For color images, for example, there is the Fujifilm PRO 400H*. An option for black and white images is the Kodak TRI-X 400*.
The Mamiya M645 1000S
The Mamiya M645 1000S is a variant of the normal M645. Among other things, it was equipped with a self-timer and a button for a preview of the Depth of Field and was given another exposure time (1/1000 s).
The Mamiya M645 J
The Mamiya M645 J is another version. It was produced for export and features exposure times between 1 second and 1/500 second. However, this model lacks the ability to flip up the mirror.
Technical datasheet
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type of Camera | Single lens reflex camera |
| Film format | 120 |
| Film transport | Manual |
| Picture format | 60 mm x 45 mm |
| Lens mount | M645 Mount |
| Focus | Manual |
| Exposure times | 1/500 second to 1/8 second, Bulb |
| Bulb mode | Yes |
| Light meter | Yes |
| Exposure modes | Manual mode |
| Date imprinting | No |
| Built-in flash | No |
| Flash Connection | PC-Flash |
| Tripod mount | Yes |
| Cable release thread | Yes |
| Self-timer | No |
| Power supply | 4x LR44 batteries |
| Estimated value / Used price | 410,48 Euro Estimate based on used prices of 100 offers (possibly with different scope of delivery and/or condition). As of June 15, 2026 |
| Average used price in the year 2023 | 372,50 Euro (402.65 US-Dollar) |
| Average used price in the year 2024 | 377,77 Euro (408.06 US-Dollar) |
| Average used price in the year 2025 | 403,17 Euro (436.21 US-Dollar) |
FAQ about the Mamiya M645
What kind of film does this camera use?
The Mamiya 645 uses medium format film, specifically 120 and 220 film. It doesn't use 35mm film like smaller cameras. You can find various color and black and white films to use with it.
Is the lens interchangeable on the Mamiya 645?
Yes, the lenses are interchangeable. It typically comes with an 80mm lens, but you can use other lenses designed for the M645 bayonet mount. This gives you flexibility in your photography.
How do I change the film in this camera?
The Mamiya 645 has removable film backs, making film changes relatively quick and easy. You simply remove the back, insert the new film, and then replace the back onto the camera.
Does the camera have any automatic features?
No, the Mamiya 645 is primarily a manual camera. You manually focus the lens and set the aperture and shutter speed yourself. This gives you lots of control over the creative process.
How heavy is the camera?
Because it's made mostly of metal and is a larger camera than many others, it weighs approximately 1.5 kilograms (about 3.3 pounds). It's a sturdy, durable device, but it's not lightweight.