Mamiya ZD + 645AFDII review !!!

[Anders]

Frank,

I shoot mostly landscapes, the first photo is very good (with the curve in road). I like it!  

I much like the way MF has less DOF. In your opinion, would it be possible for the 1Ds Mk III or D3x to reach the other qualities of the ZD? It seems like big gap from the 5D.

It would be very helpful if you would be able to post some RAW images (or please email me). I am tempted by the ZD slr (which assumably should be same as the ZD back).

If any time you travel to Asia and look for gear here, Hong Kong seem cheapest, just drop me an email and I can help you in return.

Much kind thanks for all your posts!

Regards
Anders

[frank]

I don't think the new Canon can reach this simply because the sensor is smaller so the 3D look and DOF will be totally different.

I don't know about the SLR ZD, I have heard alot of people complain about noise at ISO200 and up and flat looking pictures, it seems the back is different, but I don't know 100% sure because I never tested the ZD SLR, and never will probarbly because I don't want a closed system.
And this combination has arround the same pricing

[frank]

Still in the testphase of the Mamiya 645AFD/II, these shots were all taken in the studio with the 120mm Macro f4.0 manual focus.

Colors are really much better in the 16 bits versions and on print they are STUNNING.

This was the first serious studio session I did with this combo and the results are more than pleasing.
I decided to do something with lots of color and difficult lighting, lots of lights aimed to the camera and difficult focussing due to the smoke (more a test of myself because I use the manual focus lens most).

Dynamic range is indeed absolutly stunning of the back compared to the 5D.
Also it's refreshing to not HAVE to sharpen anymore, especially on hairs this is a MAJOR step forwards for me, my portfolio is mostly A2 prints and the hairs were always difficult to get exactly the way I wanted, with the 645 + ZD back I don't have to think about it because the sharpness is allready there due to the direct sensor recording.
This can cause problems with staircasing but up untill now I did not encounter this in my picture.
I did notice some moire on some pictures but this is very easily fixed with the Capture one moire plugin.
I can't overcome the pricing of 1200,00 euros for the lowpass filter, which in my case is just too much money (if Mamiya japan is reading this, I just had my birthday ).

I will update this post more in the comming week, especially after this weekend in which I will be shooting ALOT material mostly nature and city/street and I will do some long night exposures.

Here some examples from today.

Model : Nadine
MUA : Carla

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MvrGr.
Frank

[OldRedFox]

Frank -

That first picture with the faux guitarist has sold me on MF, specifically, the goosebumps on her arm.  Natural, detailed, not forced and yet perfectly sharp.  Add in the depth you got in those tree shots and the tonality on your portraits and I am in awe.  Ok, some of it is the photog, but that back proves why adding more pixels in a 35mm format will never get you there.  Thanks!

[frank]

Trust me, the internet version doesn't do it justice.
I was struck with these shots to be honest, because this session was meant to push the system into an area it would probarbly got to the limits of it's dynamic range.

As mentioned before the nice thing about the files is the sharpness of camera.
The first series I sharpened in photoshop but with the modelshots I hardly have to use sharpening and if I do it's purely because I want it, not that the file needs it

This was one of the things that bugged me from digital DSLR's, the sharpening was needed but it always gave the files a digital look.
When you see the ZD back files it all just plays out as it should.
Photoshop CAN be used, but it's not necessary any more.

I have a print on A2 from the first one and the detail in the hair in front of her face and the colors of the guitar are so deep and nicely rendered I got goosebumps myself and woke my wife up at 2:00 AM in the morning to show a print, somehow I don't believe she got it
But this morning she did.

[frank]

By the way I got the 75-150 lens as a testobject from Mamiya today, will take it with me this weekend to test it, will post a review after the weekend.

[paul thompson]

Frank, thanks for the review. I got one in my hands two days ago and ordered it right away. I shoot landscapes and your shots proved this cameras performance advantage in my type of shooting. I love the easy mirror lock up button on the top of the camera. I believe I can capture images with this camera that will blow away my D2X and my D200 images and you've done a great job of showing in those images the 3D effect. Cudos

[frank]

I hardly shoot landscapes but this weekend I will do them, nothing else to do there anyway I think.
I'm afraid my 35mm AF did not come in so I have to work with the widest being the 75-150 but I think that will work out anyway.
And I still have the 5D with me

[pixelpro]

Great review. The camera is on my wish-list!

[WJ66]

I am very close to purchasing the Mamiya ZD back along with the Mamiya AFD II. However I'm contemplating a Phase II back as well. Frank, have you had a chance to compare the ZD with the Leaf or Phase II? Can they justify the extra 15-20k? Looking at your images I’d find it hard to justify the cost difference myself. By the way I shoot mostly interior design and architecture.

[frank]

I had no direct comparison but I decided for this price it would be the perfect start for me.
Knowing myself I will grow towards a full 16 bits workflow within a year or two but I don't want to fork out 15K more without knowing what the future brings.
With the pricing of the ZD back it's almost certain the others will respond so I guess within a year or 2 you can switch to 16 bits for probarbly 2-3K.

[byronK]

i think for the price the zd back represents  a great value...but i too find myself struggling with the question whether or not this is the right back for me...price wise it is without a question, and i do believe after meeting with the rep last week and handling it that the dynamic range  is without a doubt greater than the 5d,  but since the zd was  announced,   some of the other manufacturers have made strides in terms of higher iso availability and performance, as well as offering  true 16 bit recording....while 7grand is certainly an attractive price for a new back with a warranty, you are 2/3's of the way to a p20+ (yes i realize it is square format and higher crop factor-1.4 vs 1.1 of zd) and 50% of the way to a p21+ and an aptus 17....i don't want to look at this as  an interim solution...( i found myself sometimes doing that with the dslr's which resulted in me spending more money in the long run) i don't want to find myself a year from now struggling with this issue again....i am pretty committed to  mamiya as i own a 645 afdII and some lenses and do love the system:  but before i definitively commit to the zd back, i am going to look at it against some of the other digital backs -just to be sure.

[frank]

The problem is that you will always upgrade, that's the normal course of things digital.
For me I had to start a new system from scratch.

The ZD back is the PERFECT start for me, I will eventually upgrade to a 16 bits system in the long run, but for now I can sit back and wait for the prices to drop, I'm already shooting something so much better than what ever Canon can come up with

[frank]

KEEP ON READING HERE:
http://www.doorhof.nl/blog/index.php?topic=1162.0

[frank]

Some more shots have been placed on www.doorhof.nl/models under Ombretta.
Especially look at the amazing color the camera is capable off, even on the 8 bits versions it shows.

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