What do you think about Mamiya ZD?

[MFPhotography]

I'm planning to buy a Mamiya ZD in summer this year. Have anybody experiences with this camera?

I'm will using it for a big food commision and commerical(fashion/beauty).

and what do you mean is a relativly afordable mobile light gear? i thought about elinchrome ranger system...?

regards matthias

 

[AperturePro]

I'm planning to buy a Mamiya ZD in summer this year. Have anybody
experiences with this camera?

PhaseOne backs are, IMHO, a better buy. A Mamiya 645afd with a PhaseOne
back is the ticket.

I'm will using it for a big food commision and
commerical(fashion/beauty).

Depends on the ratio you like. Can you use square? P20 is $8k now which
is a great PhaseOne back. P25 is "reasonable" up against the ZD body.

and what do you mean is a relativly afordable mobile light gear? i
thought about elinchrome ranger system...?

Elinchrom (swiss) are some of the best. Didn't look up your model, but
some have computer communications for very good control.

Did you want mono lights or heads/power pack versions?

Some good buys on ebay if you wait.

 

[MFPhotography]

thanks for the promt answer! i thought about phase one, too. But ZD is completly weather resistant(i dont know if phase one are too?).

i will have a look for phase one but the prices are damn high for phase one(mamaiya Zd too) here in germany...rather impossible to get one easily...

i thought about power pack system from elinchrome, ranger rx s with 2 heads and a ringflash i think.

reagards
matthias

 

[AperturePro]

thanks for the promt answer! i thought about phase one, too. But ZD
is completly weather resistant(i dont know if phase one are too?).

That is a concern. Any MF with a back does lack sealing. I would bet that
Canon will give Mamiya ZD a run for the MP race. Canon must be moving
toward the 22MP by the summer, but at a price over their top line $8k.
Is ZD in the $13K range? I haven't been keeping up on its price.

i thought about power pack system from elinchrome, ranger rx s with
2 heads and a ringflash i think.

Can't go wrong with Elinchrom. I just added a Broncolor as our main light,
but Elinchorm would be equal in use to Broncolor. With powerpack you can
go anywhere and contol them easily. The thing about Broncolor or Elinchorm
is that all the extras are expensive too. Once you have the system you like, it
is a decades investment and that is the good news.

reagards
matthias

 

[hendrikm]

i will have a look for phase one but the prices are damn high for
phase one(mamaiya Zd too) here in germany...rather impossible to
get one easily...

You should contact your sales rep before even thinking about prices. Contact phase one in Köln, they´ll tell you who´s your rep

 

[riddell]

I'm planning to buy a Mamiya ZD in summer this year. Have anybody
experiences with this camera?

I looked at the ZD, and couldn't quite if decide and / or justify the expense for the increase in performance from a 1ds.

Sure, its better, and if I was starting again... but not as an upgrade. Not for me anyway. Its also a bit bulky for handheld work.

I'm will using it for a big food commision and
commerical(fashion/beauty).

But despite the above, if I had the right clients, then I can see its worth, but for the level I am at now I can satisfy them with the 1ds.

and what do you mean is a relativly afordable mobile light gear? i
thought about elinchrome ranger system...?

Can't go wrong with Elinchrom.

The ranger system is great. Just make sure your assitant is aware that he is carrying the batteries!

 

[CharlieDIY]

thanks for the promt answer! i thought about phase one, too. But ZD
is completly weather resistant(i dont know if phase one are too?).

That is a concern. Any MF with a back does lack sealing. I would
bet that
Canon will give Mamiya ZD a run for the MP race. Canon must be moving
toward the 22MP by the summer, but at a price over their top line $8k.
Is ZD in the $13K range? I haven't been keeping up on its price.

Aren't current Canon owners worrying about increased MP and lens resolution? Or, in fact, worried about lens resolution with the present 16.7 MP Canon? What is 22 MP going to do to that?
--
Charlie Self
http://www.charlieselfonline.com

 

[MFPhotography]

i think thats not part of the discussion in this thread

 

[MFPhotography]

my eperience told me that everythink that is over 12mp(12mp is a good a0 print...) is not really nescearry at all...

22mp would be nice for fine retouching but 16 is okay i think

i think i will buy a 1dsmk2 for the necessaries of weather sealed or quick works(like events and nature ^^) although you can cover a much wider lens coverage than with middel format...(widest lens for mamiya af mount is equially 22mm...and longest about 200mm...)

the bronelinchrome thing is that bron have a focus umbrella...

 

[MFPhotography]

i have a big russian bear who carry my equipment hrhr .

yeah for me it is the first professional camera(going from 4/3 to something more pressional...)

thanks for all youre answers!

 

[KAllen]

You will get more information if post here http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/ there are ZD users there that can answer your questions.

Kevin.

 

[Jon Laye]

I would wait until the summer, see whats on the market at that time. Looking 6 months into the future in the world digital photography is a long time.

 

[CharlieDIY]

i think thats not part of the discussion in this thread

Sho nuff? You new to the MP ranks?
--
Charlie Self
http://www.charlieselfonline.com

 

[denis montalbetti]

Hi

I own a ZD and this camera really grows on me. I aiso own a Canon 5D which now gets little use. I am not mad about the Mamiya software however there is a possibility that Phase will make there software work with this camera this year. I now process the Mamiya files (MEF) in RAW processor and get outstanding results. with the ZD you really have to keep the iso between 50-100. I also own a 645AFDII body and on major jobs I will rent the Aptus 22. The ZD buffer does fill up after about 11 rapid shots. Since I have purchased the ZD I now own the 35,45,80,120,150 & 55-110 zoom. It is such a light weight system to the point that I have not put any more money in my Canon system. I shoot a lot of personal shots with the ZD and most of the time I use the P setting and shoot RAW. This camera has the same chip as the Aptus 22 & Sinar E motion ( Dalsa ). Most of my use with the ZD is location & flash cards ( Extreme III 2 gig ). Using the RAW processor the file quality @ iso 50 is close to the Aptus 22. The Canon 5D is great for the higher iso stuff.
Thanks Denis

 

[denis montalbetti]

Hi

Depends where you live but I would go with Profoto or the lght weight Broncolor. The Acute systems are excellent & if you want you can use acute heads on the D4 pack. In the USA there is also Dynalight. If you need a small light weight mono go for the Alien Bee. I own 2 of these units along with my Profoto and bang for the buck these are incredible lights, great for a fill or a spare fill.
Denis

 

[Bernard Languillier]

I have been using a Mamiya ZD for about 3 months for landscape applications. I am overall happy about it.

I had been mostly using a Nikon D2x and 4x5 until then.

The file quality of the ZD is great at low ISOs, but there are some serious drawbacks compared to the d2x - but then again the d2x is head and shoulder above the competition in terms of reactivity and ergonomics.

What disturbs me most with the ZD is:

• very short battery life in cold weather (below -10C the battery life is about 10 - 15 images per battery charge),
• slow display of images,
• no RGB histogram,
• no 100% zoom capacity, it is therefore impossible to assess sharpness in the field.

The camera can deliver amazing results when handled properlly, but it is not as easy to use as the latest 35 mm DSLR and could be frustrating for some users.

Some sample images:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardlanguillier/sets/72157594375306114/

Cheers,
Bernard