BGWG #7: Mamiya 645 Pro TL and a Gimlet

Table of Contents:
- The drink recipe (1:12)
- Gimlet fun facts (2:52)
- Mamiya 645 purpose & history (4:10)
- Sample pictures (9:18)
- Camera walkthrough & features (10:37)

When you’re legally obliged to not leave your home, what else is there to do besides make cocktails? Talk about cameras, that’s what.

In this episode of Behind the Glass With a Glass, I’ll show you how to make one of my favorite cocktails: a gimlet. Perhaps it was named after a hand-powered drill, perhaps it was named after Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Desmond Gimlette. Either way, it’s delicious. The recipe is simple and can be easily modified if you don’t have all the ingredients.

As for the camera…well, buddy, strap in for a deep-dive into the Mamiya 645 Pro TL. It’s a 4.5cm x 6cm medium format SLR camera that’s as functional as it is customizable. Although you’ve never seen this camera featured in any of my on-location videos, it happens to be my most-used camera in recent months. It’s portable, it’s reliable, it has all the tools I need, and it’s way f’ing smaller than my RZ67.

Like all my cameras, I’m most interested in how easily it facilitates me getting the pictures I want. In that regard, this Mamiya 645 Pro TL is a winner. The control layout is logical and simple, the size is just-right, and it’s got the trademark Mamiya attention to detail that I’ve grown to love. Toss in a roll of Kodak Portra 400 and I’m ready to do this thing. Much like my RZ67, I hope this camera will keep up with me for years to come.

As always, thanks for watching, please drink responsibly, and here's to you - cheers!

[kelvinclancy]

After owning several Mamiya cameras and using them on a daily basis you quickly come to realize why so many working pros use these cameras. They are designed to work, not be prestigious, just make great images. I've beat the crap out of my 6 and it just keeps working, 2 year old batteries doing long exposures and not skipping a beat. the rb67 could kill and then make a magazine cover image, I mean they are the unsung heroes of modern image media.

Keep up the great work!!

[psanto]

You should try a Quarantini. It is like a regular Martini but you drink it home by yourself ;)

[markzelinskiphotography]

'I just wanted something smaller, that I could keep on the passenger seat and just grab when I needed it." Nick Carver: Mamiya 645 Pro TL. Rest of the photography world: Fuji x100V. ;-)

[markhesse]

"My Mamiya, here I go again..." Sorry, couldn't help it ;)

[lordkambing]

nowadays, the manual crank is more expensive than the auto winder

[geraldo]

Great video as always and exquisite pictures! In these quarantine and secluded days, your video is a delight moment of evasion for me. Cheers from Canada!!!

[iamentropy]

you make me nervous flapping your hands around with a drink next to a laptop.

[StudentBoots]

The Olympus XA has a switch on the bottom with an off/blank setting; backlit (+1.5 exposure); self timer; then a battery check, where it just shrieks at you. If you hear shrieking, the battery is good, if not then there's no power. THAT makes me laugh.

[irvb]

what the world needs right now - a new #bgwg :-)

[adventuresontheroadandywiley]

Omg my wife used to think you were cute but now you have made my need for a 645 bigger she DONT like ya now great vids thanks for Chesterfield UK :-)

[jaburchfield]

My absolute favorite photography VLOG!! Thanks Nick for the positivity in this negative situation!!

[christopherrasmussen]

Nick, what do you think about the Fuji GX617? I got a mint kit with all the lenses up to 300mm. Once things settle down I want to get out to the Everglades and get some pics.

[Tajd]

Hey Nick, thanks for the content. Keep em coming buddy!

[_o__o_]

now watch the prices of this camera going up in realtime...

[ferminlopez]

Hola. Gracias por tus vídeos. Me gusta cómo transmites la información. Un saludo desde España. Quisiera preguntarte por algún trípode para este tipo de cámaras (Mamiya 645 Pro Tl). Quiero comprarme uno. Un saludo y muchas gracias. Me tomaré ese Gimlet.

Hello. Thanks for your videos. I like how you convey the information. A greeting from Spain. I would like to ask you about a tripod for this type of camera (Mamiya 645 Pro Tl). I want to buy one. Regards, and thank you very much.
I'll take that Gimlet.

Nick, by no means I mean to be negative. Take my comment in the most positive light. I thought a lot of the shots you've posted on this video are of extreme quality, the choice of locations is superb, subjects, composition, light, just about the best I've seen from your work. I honestly think most of those are better than the shots you end up producing on your on location videos.

To be more objective, these I thought are among the best I've seen you produce (I mean, ever, not just amazing for a "stay in the car camera"). 9:40, 10:20 WOOOOWWWW the mood, the light!, 10:25, to select just a few (ALL shots in this video are jaw dropping gorgeous)

Please consider revisiting those locations for on location videos. It's incredible that those amazing subjects were left for car-camera shots, and at least in my opinion, are somehow superior to those subjects you've selected for the more serious, planned work.

These subjects deserve some super in depth, planned 6 x 17 shots.

BTW, I LOVE Mamiya as well. My favorite film format is 645, and I happen to use a Phase One with digital back, which is a system entirely based on the Mamiya 645 camera. So in a sense, I'm also shooting Mamiya :D and love it.

[JB-dmcp]

I was lucky enough (I am just a poor guy and amateur/hobbyist to boot) to get a (somewhat older, used) Mamiya 645AF and a few lenses as a 'gift' (more like a permanent loan), which I like very much, because I love medium format film photography, and it is a nice modern companion to my cute little 6x6 TLR (Ricohflex Dia). I am thinking about a scanner (a Epson V750 Pro) to really 'get going'. Ultimately, I think it will only 'just' be a hobby for me, but I like to really dive into this (even though I get pushback from digital photographers who say: why bother?)

[minigpracing]

You left off a ton of the history. 645, 645 1000s. You need to shoot a 1000s at some point, I really liked mine but haven't used it in decades. If you can solder, that remote adapter is easy to put a long cable on.

[randallstewart]

Watch the later video where he discovers that this camera isn't focusing properly because a dinky plastic p[art (mirror stop) just wore out. He got someone to 3D print a replacement from and onlie part file, or he's be screwed. Thus famous Mamiya quality. "So, that will be $3, 500 for you Mamiya 7, sir. Hope it works when you get home." Right!

[Loganalog]

My Bronica ETRSI 645 has replaced my 35mm Nikon as my take everywhere camera because its so easy to use and I get a really good size Negative and 15 exposures 36 exposures on my 35mm can sometimes take me more than a month to finish the roll. Also I take it backpacking so was looking for a good size negative that wasn't too heavy. was taking a Yashica 124G but like the versatility of a modular system similar weight. I don't think I would backpack with say pentax 67 or mamiya 67 people already look at me funny for my Yashica and Bronica.