Is it 645? I had a Mamiya 645 outfit which I still hanker after. If a digi back for it were not so eyewateringly expensive I’d be tempted to revert to that.
It had the auto exposure prism, motor wind grip - handled like a 35mm. I bought 45mm and 55mm lenses in NYC [if you’re going to smuggle stuff, make it high value/small objects] to go with the 80mm ‘standard’ and a 150mm. There were 3-4 film backs, lots of accessories …
The bizarre thing about my Mamiya kit was that, apart from the 45 and 55, it all came neatly set in an ali case from a bloke advertising it in one of the main photo monthlies, at the going rate.
I met him at Liverpool St station, did the deal with my photo account cheque, he signed an itemised receipt with all the part numbers on - all fine and dandy.
Some weeks later a knock on my door and two guys in mufti were standing there.
“I am Detective Sgt Smith” said one. Feeling in a jovial mood and not aware of having committed any crimes I quipped back, "And I suppose he is Detective Sgt Jones… "
Turned out that everything I bought at L/pool St stn was stolen.
I thought I was going to lose the lot but, having shown them the signed itemised receipt, the fact that the tea-leaf had take a cheque, that the prices were the going rate, Smith & Jones surmised that I had gone about the purchase in a patently honest manner, had bought it in good faith and could not remotely be pinged for receiving stolen goods. They said I could keep it. The victim studio had been paid by their insurance company.
The villain’s home was found to be stuffed with stolen photo equipment. Based in Norfolk, he had systematically raided all the studios in East Anglia.
My evidence at his trial was a written statement. I think I had a convenient overseas gig at the time.