Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Medium Format / Film / Digital Backs – and Large Sensor Photography => Topic started by: eronald on September 16, 2006, 04:32:45 pm

Title: Mamiya ZD vs AFDII
Post by: eronald on September 16, 2006, 04:32:45 pm

I got my 30 seconds with a ZD and AFDII today. Wideangles at F2.8 on both bodies. The viewfinder on the AFDII looked impressively brighter. Of course it didnt have the masks for a digiback, and the ZD has a magnification factor I think, but scribing lines on the AFDII focus screen would, it seems to me, give a much better finder than the ZD.

Anyone here care to comment ? I am judging rather quickly from such a small time with each camera.

Edmund

Title: Mamiya ZD vs AFDII
Post by: bcroslin on September 16, 2006, 11:03:42 pm

I just picked up the original AFD and I'm thrilled with it. The viewfinder is big and bright  and is so much easier to deal than the Canons I'm coming from. I never laid a hand on the ZD but even if they were available in the states I think I'd still stick with the AFD. Getting "trapped" into a system where the sensor can't be upgraded is a drawback IMO. There isn't much of a conversion and the AFD's viewfinder only covers 94%. That probably gets close to making up the difference.

Title: Mamiya ZD vs AFDII
Post by: eronald on September 16, 2006, 11:27:53 pm

Quote

I just picked up the original AFD and I'm thrilled with it. The viewfinder is big and bright  and is so much easier to deal than the Canons I'm coming from. I never laid a hand on the ZD but even if they were available in the states I think I'd still stick with the AFD. Getting "trapped" into a system where the sensor can't be upgraded is a drawback IMO. There isn't much of a conversion and the AFD's viewfinder only covers 94%. That probably gets close to making up the difference.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=76637\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Yes, I was astonished at the AFD II viewfinder.The ZD was ok, but the AFD was really punchy. Which back are you using ? How have you marked off the sensor area ?


Edmund

Title: Mamiya ZD vs AFDII
Post by: bcroslin on September 17, 2006, 01:52:04 am

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Which back are you using ? How have you marked off the sensor area ?
Edmund
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=76640\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I got a very good deal on a Valeo 22 and so far I love it. I haven't felt the need to mark the sensor area off as it's so close to what I'm seeing. Maybe I need to look a little more carefully.

Title: Mamiya ZD vs AFDII
Post by: mcfoto on September 17, 2006, 04:10:33 am

Quote

I got a very good deal on a Valeo 22 and so far I love it. I haven't felt the need to mark the sensor area off as it's so close to what I'm seeing. Maybe I need to look a little more carefully.
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Hi
Leaf sells a mask for the 645 AFD that shows your sensor area.
Thanks Denis

Title: Mamiya ZD vs AFDII
Post by: eronald on September 17, 2006, 08:04:08 am

Quote

Hi
Leaf sells a mask for the 645 AFD that shows your sensor area.
Thanks Denis
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=76649\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Yeah, I like the Mamiya AFDII. The problem now is finding a back I can afford that works with it and is physically robust. Aptus has a nice look to the files, but Phase seems tougher and better integrated (and no fan).

My experience is that the physical properties of electronic hardware count a lot: Mac Powerbooks for instance stay usable in their original configuration for years and become symbiotic with their users who cling to them even when outdated. My 1Ds proved tough as hell and I ended up taking it everywhere.

Edmund