Hello all; I have been shooting interiors and large product on 4x5 for ever but since polaroid is discontinuing their proofing film and clients are wondering why I still shoot with film I am forced to take a serious look at new options. Mamiya has come out with the 645ZD kit ( camera, lens, and digital back) they are also coming out with the 645AFDlll. These are much lower priced digital backs then phase one etc. The Mamiya price for the kit is $10,000 - rather attractive. Does anyone use this or have experience with it?
Posts: 8 | Location: Vancouver Canada | Registered: 18 January 2007
Stay away from the ZD, it is only a 14 bit while everything else is 16 bit. The new Phase looks interesting and cheap but we'll have to wait and see on it.
Posts: 776 | Location: USA/EU | Registered: 21 January 2002
Originally posted by skinshooter: [qb] Stay away from the ZD, it is only a 14 bit while everything else is 16 bit. The new Phase looks interesting and cheap but we'll have to wait and see on it. [/qb]
That should not be the reason for staying away - there are plenty of ZD users out there making great images.
I love my ZD now... it took me a while. Since I know and tested that it works the new capture one, I'm happy as can be. Far more important for me than the 14bit is the high increased dynamic. I heard that a new firmware update is in the pipeline and that should decrease noise and enable the camera for longtime exposures.
But without a doubt the phase one is the better tool.
for more info go to luminous landscape forum.
Posts: 244 | Location: Berlin | Registered: 13 September 2005
Originally posted by skinshooter: [qb] Stay away from the ZD, it is only a 14 bit while everything else is 16 bit. The new Phase looks interesting and cheap but we'll have to wait and see on it. [/qb]
That should not be the reason for staying away - there are plenty of ZD users out there making great images.
Oh No, they really have gone to the dark side...I used to LOVE their film work - they really pushed the envelope and were doing something different that everyone wanted to copy. Everyone ranting about MF and LF and they'd just turn up with their 35mm gear and stun everyone with their fantasy/gritty realness that they had going on with film. Simplicity at it's best, which is what I think photography is about. Gay Campbell is easily one of the best printers the world has seen, and Dennis is clearly a brilliant photographer. The old film work in Gallery 4 just speaks volumes IMO, really iconic classic imagery that will never die. Looks kinda Lachapelle(ish) now with too much digital, too much retouching, the colours just don't look right to me.. I hope this doesn't sound negative or digital bashing for the sake of it as it's really great imagery. I do love digital and I've certainly embraced it, it really has it's place but so does film with it's completely unique characteristics and I don't think it should be replaced.
Posts: 673 | Location: London | Registered: 09 January 2005
I have to agree with Paul Jameson on this. The look is very different, and I like their older imagery more. I suppose there is an evolution of style with all photographers, but their newer images do look overworked and overprocessed.
Posts: 978 | Location: Houston & San Diego | Registered: 16 June 2005
I have the ZD back (Fashion)and it does everything I need it to do. I do not know what your requirements are for shooting interiors but try renting the ZD kit in addition to other MF kits to see what works best for you.
For the price I really do not think you can go wrong and since I am a Canon shooter as well you might look at the 1DSMKIII (from a price standpoint).
Posts: 33 | Location: Washington, DC | Registered: 31 December 2004
Originally posted by skinshooter: [qb] Stay away from the ZD, it is only a 14 bit while everything else is 16 bit. The new Phase looks interesting and cheap but we'll have to wait and see on it. [/qb]
That should not be the reason for staying away - there are plenty of ZD users out there making great images.
Oh No, they really have gone to the dark side...I used to LOVE their film work - they really pushed the envelope and were doing something different that everyone wanted to copy. Everyone ranting about MF and LF and they'd just turn up with their 35mm gear and stun everyone with their fantasy/gritty realness that they had going on with film. Simplicity at it's best, which is what I think photography is about. Gay Campbell is easily one of the best printers the world has seen, and Dennis is clearly a brilliant photographer. The old film work in Gallery 4 just speaks volumes IMO, really iconic classic imagery that will never die. Looks kinda Lachapelle(ish) now with too much digital, too much retouching, the colours just don't look right to me.. I hope this doesn't sound negative or digital bashing for the sake of it as it's really great imagery. I do love digital and I've certainly embraced it, it really has it's place but so does film with it's completely unique characteristics and I don't think it should be replaced. [/qb]
Hi Paul I came across this blog through our web site. I had to respond to the comments to our work especially the older work. Well we had to move on & we LOVE digital. I have shot some film with the Apec stuff. But the darkroom is dead & we have kept some of it (boxed). Jim Carey would still be a stand up comedian if he did not change. The industry has changed so much today that if you are not shooting digital I really don't know how you would do Ad work anymore. BTW the ZD is a good camera great for hand held work. Glad to see they are improving the buffer to 20 shots. The 1DsMKIII is amazing & will change the way we shoot! Denis
Posts: 1 | Location: Sydney Australia | Registered: 05 May 2008
I'd be glad to help guide you with MFDBs if you like. I'm the sales manager at Capture Integration in Atlanta and we are a Phase One exclusive dealer. Each of the Phase One backs have certain types of photography that they gravitate to. The P45/P45+ is great for architectural or product photography because of the resolution. It is almost a full frame chip. The P30/P30+ is cropped a bit, but is great for fashion or portraits. Since it has microlenses it does a great job to eliminate moire. The P25/P25+ is similar to the P45, but without being a large file DB. The P21/P21+ is similar to the P30, but much faster.
Chris Lawery Sales Manager Capture Integration (404)234-5195
Posts: 30 | Location: Atlanta | Registered: 23 April 2007
Fellow Pros, Just wanted to share my new favorite find here in Chicago - "ProGear" 312-376-3770... they rent Phase One, Profoto, Canon, Nikon and all the other goodies. My first rental included 7 Profoto packs and a bunch of heads & accessories and everything went very smoothly, they also have a large rental studio for $500 per day. check'm out. www.progearrental.com
Posts: 3 | Location: Chicago, IL | Registered: 16 May 2008
Fellow Pros, Just wanted to share my new favorite find here in Chicago - "ProGear" 312-376-3770... they rent Phase One, Profoto, Canon, Nikon and all the other goodies. My first rental included 7 Profoto packs and a bunch of heads & accessories and everything went very smoothly, they also have a large rental studio for $500 per day. check'm out. www.progearrental.com
Posts: 3 | Location: Chicago, IL | Registered: 16 May 2008
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