Hi, curious how we went through the same rabbit hole at basically the same time and following a remarkably similar path; some months ago I discovered by chance on YT a video on the Mamiya ZD and got very intrigued by it, after a brief search I was lucky enough to get a hold of a perfectly functioning sample at a very reasonable price and with two batteries (which differently from the ZD back which has third party options, are proprietary and basically impossible to find nowadays). It became very swiftly basically my favorite camera, I just love the files it churns out, being a Foveon-aficionado I was shocked to see basically the same level of acutance but on a medium format sensor, those 22MP fat pixels definitely look like many many more. Also the colors are quite nice and peculiar, as you mentioned the C1 profile for the camera (and I assume the back) is pretty good and I like a lot the warm tone and the pastel-like colors that the files have, really quite unique (even if not to everyone's tastes). Curiously enough, the camera's base ISO is higher than the back at 100 ISO. Like you I got both the 80 F2.8 AF and the leaf shutter version that I use with my (again like you) DF+, which I paired (guess what) with a P45+ back :) I admit I quite like those punchy Kodak colors, pretty different from the ZD's ones so variety in my shots is guaranteed and as you pointed out, is also a very sharp back, C1 profile is definitely cooler than the ZD one and maybe with just a tad of purple tint, but it is also pretty good in my opinion. Both for me come highly recommended if someone wants to experiment with some old CCD goodness. P.S. one last remark on the Aptus 22: I'm a bit surprised that you found the colors but especially sharpness lacking vs your ZD, as the sensor should be the same for what I know (colors can actually be tweaked by the manufacturer of course, but sharpness I doubt, maybe there was something off in the plane of focus? happened to me with my DF when I paired it with the P45, until I dialed in some AF fine-tuning, all pictures looked pretty soft, so I knew something was odd). Cheers and sorry for the long post :)
are there cameras that has close color science to this camera but smaller? I dont like many of the current digital cameras but the sample pics blew me away!
Great video, I wonder how hard is to get CCD look from GFX. I have GF50 3.5 and I was pretty disappointed with image, super sharp and that's it.... so im using adopted lenses. RAW files on your site are really helpful.
I don't know what raw converter you're using, but for pleasing - not necessarily accurate - colors, you should try Mamiya's old Photo Studio software. Arcsoft's PhotoStudio Darkroom and Darkroom 2 do a good job. Capture One can be OK, and Lightroom is in the last place. Nothing really beats that Kodak sensor, but enthusiasts on Russian forums (now defunct, sadly) have made DCP color profiles for ACR/Lightroom that come very close. Not every camera's rendition can be transformed with color profiling, but this is one is surprisingly versatile if one has the proper charts, software, and skill. I had the Mamiya ZD camera - not the digital back - and had problems with strong color cast, but I enjoyed its images otherwise.
i did have two cameras in the GFX system. Found the 50s better than the 100 but both are sold. I use a Leica S3 (a bargain system with excellent lenses). and a Phase. My system was bought from another photographer, so got what she had, but I find the Mamiya lenses imprecise in focus. The Schneiders are excellent.
Greeting Flickr friend - Well, you have opened a new way of photographing which is quite unfamiliar to me. However after seeing your images it is very appealing. Yes, I see some of your comments suggest to just use software to post process those sterile harsh digital images, but I don't appreciate having to pay that type of money to subscribe to software year after year.... Now, allow me top settle down and enjoy a whole new realm of photography -
Hi, thank you! Software, hmm I use onder version of Photoshop + Camera Raw and Capture One. Capture one (until recently) could be bought with a license, so maybe look into that? Capture One is superior when it comes to image quality. I do very little editing, adjusting exposure, raising shadows a tiny bit, adding more sharpness, adjusting color balance, normally that's it. You need to do editing 🙂
Hi, curious how we went through the same rabbit hole at basically the same time and following a remarkably similar path; some months ago I discovered by chance on YT a video on the Mamiya ZD and got very intrigued by it, after a brief search I was lucky enough to get a hold of a perfectly functioning sample at a very reasonable price and with two batteries (which differently from the ZD back which has third party options, are proprietary and basically impossible to find nowadays). It became very swiftly basically my favorite camera, I just love the files it churns out, being a Foveon-aficionado I was shocked to see basically the same level of acutance but on a medium format sensor, those 22MP fat pixels definitely look like many many more. Also the colors are quite nice and peculiar, as you mentioned the C1 profile for the camera (and I assume the back) is pretty good and I like a lot the warm tone and the pastel-like colors that the files have, really quite unique (even if not to everyone's tastes). Curiously enough, the camera's base ISO is higher than the back at 100 ISO. Like you I got both the 80 F2.8 AF and the leaf shutter version that I use with my (again like you) DF+, which I paired (guess what) with a P45+ back :) I admit I quite like those punchy Kodak colors, pretty different from the ZD's ones so variety in my shots is guaranteed and as you pointed out, is also a very sharp back, C1 profile is definitely cooler than the ZD one and maybe with just a tad of purple tint, but it is also pretty good in my opinion. Both for me come highly recommended if someone wants to experiment with some old CCD goodness. P.S. one last remark on the Aptus 22: I'm a bit surprised that you found the colors but especially sharpness lacking vs your ZD, as the sensor should be the same for what I know (colors can actually be tweaked by the manufacturer of course, but sharpness I doubt, maybe there was something off in the plane of focus? happened to me with my DF when I paired it with the P45, until I dialed in some AF fine-tuning, all pictures looked pretty soft, so I knew something was odd). Cheers and sorry for the long post :)
Mamiya ZD rulez ever!😮Belissimo!
Amazing! Wow thanks so much. Very interesting. Definitely worth checking the blog post! Amazing Pictures!
are there cameras that has close color science to this camera but smaller? I dont like many of the current digital cameras but the sample pics blew me away!
@@suzukitaka4470 i dont know of any, its a bit unique sensor
Great video, I wonder how hard is to get CCD look from GFX.
I have GF50 3.5 and I was pretty disappointed with image, super sharp and that's it.... so im using adopted lenses. RAW files on your site are really helpful.
it's also a very small lens and relatively inexpensive if you bought it at $499. but i def wish it was faster.
awesome! If you don't mind, I'd like to see a review of the dcs proback.
Thank you, I will do that soon
I don't know what raw converter you're using, but for pleasing - not necessarily accurate - colors, you should try Mamiya's old Photo Studio software. Arcsoft's PhotoStudio Darkroom and Darkroom 2 do a good job. Capture One can be OK, and Lightroom is in the last place. Nothing really beats that Kodak sensor, but enthusiasts on Russian forums (now defunct, sadly) have made DCP color profiles for ACR/Lightroom that come very close. Not every camera's rendition can be transformed with color profiling, but this is one is surprisingly versatile if one has the proper charts, software, and skill. I had the Mamiya ZD camera - not the digital back - and had problems with strong color cast, but I enjoyed its images otherwise.
Ah yes would love to try Mamiya Photo Studio, you don't have a copy to share? I was using a mix of Adobe and Capture One
i did have two cameras in the GFX system. Found the 50s better than the 100 but both are sold. I use a Leica S3 (a bargain system with excellent lenses). and a Phase. My system was bought from another photographer, so got what she had, but I find the Mamiya lenses imprecise in focus. The Schneiders are excellent.
Interesting, still have to try the Leica digital medium format, maybe one day 🙂
I have absolutely no idea and actually no interest in old large format cameras but still enjoyed the video and it aroused interest!
Greeting Flickr friend - Well, you have opened a new way of photographing which is quite unfamiliar to me.
However after seeing your images it is very appealing.
Yes, I see some of your comments suggest to just use software to post process those sterile harsh digital images, but I don't appreciate having to pay that type of money to subscribe to software year after year.... Now, allow me top settle down and enjoy a whole new realm of photography -
Hi, thank you! Software, hmm I use onder version of Photoshop + Camera Raw and Capture One. Capture one (until recently) could be bought with a license, so maybe look into that? Capture One is superior when it comes to image quality. I do very little editing, adjusting exposure, raising shadows a tiny bit, adding more sharpness, adjusting color balance, normally that's it. You need to do editing 🙂
Cheers.