Mamiya 645 Rehoused vs. Cine-Modded
Cine-Modded Mamiya 645 Set housed here at DFI Rentals.
As a beginner, I would always be too perplexed to grasp the concept of rehoused vs. cine-modded lenses. Both are different practices but have similar outcomes: an upgrade from the original.
At DFI Rentals, we house the TLS Rehoused Mamiya 645 & the Cine-Modded Mamiya 645, and we are regularly asked about the differences between the two sets. Therefore, today we will discuss what does it mean to rehouse & cine-mod lenses & what the differences are between the two Mamiya 645 sets.
Rehoused Lenses
Before & after of Vintage Zeiss lens being rehoused. Source: Old Fast Glass
When someone mentions the term rehoused, they often refer to the process of taking the optic elements from an existing lens & implementing them into newer, often stronger & more versatile, housings. You are essentially rebuilding & optimizing old photo lens for video camera use, while the inner workings of the lens itself are largely the same. Some optic elements in vintage lenses can still be deemed effective but it’s the physical housing itself that cannot handle the modern standards of filmmaking. This process is common in the film & photography industry, as artists aim to improve the functionality, durability, & usability of the lenses, transitioning from still photography to professional cinematography.
The housing of older lenses cannot handle the rigors of professional use today. You must account for frequent handling, terrible weather conditions, & the constant demand of shooting on set. Modern housings built today are made of stronger materials that’ll enhance the durability of the lens, offering them an extended life.
When it comes to functionality, the differences are very evident. For example, the focus throw on photo lenses is much shorter than rehoused lenses. Transitioning between subjects are meant to be quick in photography. Rehoused lenses offer much longer focus throws, allowing more veracity & fluid transitions. This type of control allows one to add creative touches to their shot, like seamlessly changing the focus from the background to the subject in the foreground.
Another major enhancement in rehoused lenses is the ability to smoothly adjust the aperture. The distinct clicks at every f-stop around the aperture ring are removed, allowing continuous aperture adjustments. Having this ability is vital for capturing precise exposure changes during a shot.
Now, we’ve covered the main upgrades from a traditional photo lens to a rehoused lens. Essentially, the biggest differences are smoother functionality, improved durability, & since all the new parts are made with better material, it comes with a heftier price tag. You will see next how similar, yet different cine-modded lenses are to rehoused lenses.
Cine-Modded Lenses
Like adding mods your favorite video game on PC, you are still playing the same base game, but adding different modifications to enhance your gameplay for a new & fresh look. That is what cine-modded lenses are, making key alterations to enhance the functionality & compatibility for motion picture applications. Unlike rehoused lenses, the physical housing isn’t completely replaced, but improved to withstand the rigors of filmmaking today.
The layers of the lens that can be modified displayed here. Source: Precisious
Similar to rehoused lenses, cine-modded lenses’ upgrades revolve around smoother functionality. The aperture ring is modified to remove the f-stop clicks, or “click stops,” to achieve smoother & continuous aperture adjustments. The degree of rotation (focus throw) is also extended, providing a sleeker control over focus.
Focus gear rings are inserted around the focus ring of the lens to allow use of follow focus systems. When filming, this is beneficial for….you guessed it: smooth focus pulls.
Ultimately, both types of lenses produce the same optics & look of image. Most functions are very much similar but rehoused lenses are more streamlined for professional cinema sets. It has all the attractive added benefits, great quality & minimal issues, but it will cost you a lot more to rent/purchase. Cine-modded lenses has all the benefits, won’t put a dent in your wallet, yet they are more obtuse to work with. Now that you’ve finally grasped the concept of these lenses, let’s tackle the comparisons between the TLS Rehoused Mamiya 645 & Cine-Modded Mamiya 645 lenses to see which one suits your next project!
The Battle of Mamiya 645 Lenses
Both these lenses have the same base, but one costs $620/day to rent & the other costs $289.99/day. If you’ve kept up the entire time, you should know the answer without looking it up on our website.
Manufactured to cover medium format photography, True Lens Service masterfully rehoused this Mamiya 645 set to merge the time-honored excellence of Mamiya optics with modern on-set workflow. There are some noticeable differences in this rehoused set. The housings have been completely replaced & optimized for cinematography. TLS was kind enough to construct a more robust & durable outer shell for professional use.
With a new housing comes improved ergonomics. New characteristics are featured like precise focus markings, smoother & longer focus throws, & improved balance. Ultimately, the complete reengineering of these lens housings offer the highest level of optimization & customization for cinema use.
The Cine-Modded Mamiya 645 lenses focuses on modifying the existing lenses to add necessary cinema features. The de-clicked aperture ring is a typical yet important modification for cinematography. Focus gearing is also implemented to make shoots less stressful. The set of lenses is now compatible with cinema accessories like matte boxes & filter holders.
If both sets have similar functionality, why the price difference? The rehoused Mamiya 645 set completely replacing the housing for modern, expensive parts is the reason why it is almost double a day to rent. Both methods aim to make still photography lenses more suitable for professional cinematography, but rehoused is professionally handled & offer a more robust experience compared to our cine-modded lenses. Ultimately, the image quality is both very similar, so your choice comes down to the type of set you’re heading into. If you want to make a good impression with the crew & have a worry-free day, then go with the rehoused. If you have a student project & want an opportunity behind the Mamiya lenses without draining your bank account, the cine-modded ones are for you.
It looks like you’re ready to begin the rental process with these lenses, let me expedite it for you. Take a deeper look into the TLS Rehoused Mamiya 645 set & Cine-Modded Mamiya 645 sets here!