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Author Topic: Mamiya ZD sample image  (Read 24503 times)

Quentin

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« Reply #20 on: August 30, 2006, 07:10:17 pm »

The new review of the ZD-

 http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/...ZD_Second.shtml

is very much in line with my own findings, reported here and elswhere.  I would only add that Mamiya Digital Photostudio is OK for capturing images tethered, or downloading them from the camera to a computer without a card reader, but my preference is Silkypix, appropiately set up.  I really rate SilkyPix for its ease of use and quality of its output, particularly for quick results. And I would mention I don't use the 55-110 zoom.  It seems to have done a decent enough job for the review, but a better choice would be one of the primes, particlarly the very sharp 80mm F2.8 standard lens.

Quentin
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ivan muller

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« Reply #21 on: September 06, 2006, 02:49:44 am »

hi Quinton. which lenses have you got for the ZD? Do you find that you can stop down a lot, say f16/22 and still have acceptable quality?
thanks Ivan
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KenRexach

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« Reply #22 on: September 06, 2006, 10:22:34 am »

Quote
I have posted a sample image from my Mamiya ZD here on pbase

http://www.pbase.com/image/64654543/original

I used Lightroom to decode the file.  In fact, since I first processed this image, I am inclined to think that Silkypix does the better job, but I like Lightroom's workflow.

Some slight processing in PS - a touch of sharpening and some NR on the sky.

Quentin
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Thanks for posting the image. Wow, detail is amazing and image very "film like" I to ownder why this camera wasnt promoted a LOT more.
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alba63

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« Reply #23 on: September 06, 2006, 04:06:04 pm »

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Wow, detail is amazing and image very "film like"
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=75678\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Looking at the sample again, I have to agree - no "digital- ness" - the colors especially look "analogue". I am impressed. If anything this shows that MF digital has a necessary place until smaller format DSLRs reach the same image quality.

Bernie
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Quentin

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« Reply #24 on: September 06, 2006, 06:02:44 pm »

Ivan and all,

The lenses I currently have are the 80mm F/2.8, a very sharp lens as most "standard" lenese are, the 35mm wide angle, and a non-AF old 210 "N" F/4 lens.  I also have the 120mm F/4 macro, a really excellent lens, probably the best macro lens I have ever used.  No AF, unfortunately.

I am looking at buying a Harblei super rotator 45mm lens for architecture.  Now, Hartblei have just announced a Zeiss version here: http://www.hartblei.de/english.html but Michael's review of the original version suggests it is good quality, so I question the need to spend what is likely to  be a lot more on a Zeiss version.

As to colours, I agree, the ZD has great colour, but its helped by using Silkypix as a converter.  You can get similar results with, say, lightroom, but it takes more work.

Quentin
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BernardLanguillier

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« Reply #25 on: September 06, 2006, 06:49:51 pm »

Quote
Thanks for posting the image. Wow, detail is amazing and image very "film like" I to ownder why this camera wasnt promoted a LOT more.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=75678\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

It wasn't in NA since the ZD isn't distributed there.

It got a fair amount of coverage here in Japan, and Mamiya did also invest reasonnably in promoting it.

Regards,
Bernard

mcfoto

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« Reply #26 on: September 07, 2006, 04:40:51 am »

And I would mention I don't use the 55-110 zoom.  

Hi
You should it has become my favourite lens and I have used this lens on advertising shoots. The quality is amazing. I use it hand held with the ZD and I rarely use the Canon 5D these days except for the higher iso. I also use the 150 3.5 mm which is super sharp. I have compared this 150 to the Hasselblad 150 ( H series). I think the Mamiya has the slight edge, not a surprise as you are really comparing Mamiya to Fugi.
Thanks Denis
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nik

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« Reply #27 on: October 02, 2006, 01:00:49 pm »

Quote
And I would mention I don't use the 55-110 zoom. 

Hi
You should it has become my favourite lens and I have used this lens on advertising shoots. The quality is amazing. I use it hand held with the ZD and I rarely use the Canon 5D these days except for the higher iso. I also use the 150 3.5 mm which is super sharp. I have compared this 150 to the Hasselblad 150 ( H series). I think the Mamiya has the slight edge, not a surprise as you are really comparing Mamiya to Fugi.
Thanks Denis
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I used the ZD for 2 jobs last week, (weblink with full res images below) I had it for 7 days in all, like all pieces of equipment, there is a learning curve with this camera. After all is said and done, I really liked it, I would have liked it even MORE if they released it when they said they would, it's results are not as great as a 22MP back from Sinar (eMotion22), which I tested earlier this year, but, looking at the broader picture of handling/feel, weight, auto focus lenses and image quality overall (at 100ASA or less) it's a competent camera if you're not rushed! Yes, the buffer is a problem, yes, the screen is small and crappy, but it's so easy to shoot with, I did most of my shooting handheld - that's how I shoot film, so, that's how I'll shoot digital, image quality does suffer, but then it suffers when shooting film too. So, here's a link to a few shots I took,  and a link to full resolution 16-bit tiff files. I was particularly interested in how this camera handles 'green' something my cann seems to struggle with.

[a href=\"http://www.stoqq.com/zd]http://www.stoqq.com/zd[/url] webpage
http://www.stoqq.com/sinar-test/zd < hires 16-bit images 125mb each.

If they do a version 'II' it will be awesome if they upgrade to 16-bits, increase the RAW buffer, provide a larger screen and less noise at anything above 100ASA
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wilburdl

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« Reply #28 on: October 04, 2006, 04:11:59 am »

Quote
Just curious but did Mamiya get the ZD back shipped before shuttering for the transition or whatever limbo they're currently in? Any pre-Photokina word on whether Mamiya will show up?
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Bob, I like you're stuff.
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mcfoto

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« Reply #29 on: December 11, 2006, 07:26:54 am »

Quote
By way of a brief follow-up, I took the ZD to Kefalonia and (as a guest) took some shots of a friend's wedding I was attending there at 400 ISO in low light.  Eeek, I hear you say, but the files were very useable with a touch of judicious noise reduction, compliments of Neat Image.  The problem areas are in the shadows.  Mid-tones and highlights were reasonable.  No samples, sorry, as this was a strictly prvate function.  You'll just have to take my word for it   

Something else I have noticed and appreciate, coming from a Kodak dslr, is the good dynamic range and ability to recover overexposed images.  There is quite a lot of headroom to recover blown highlights, and its worthwhile trusting the blown hightlight warning on the rear LCD and not the appearance of overexposure from the preview image.  Exposing to the right is a good idea with the ZD as it was and is with the Kodak dslrs

Quentin
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Quote

Hi
I am thinking of getting Neat Image for the ZD and was wondering what your results have been with this program. I normally shoot at iso 50-100 and noise is not an issue. I also have not tried longer exposures with this camera. The ZD sort of reminds me of what the Valeo 22 was like 3 years ago. Anyways what are your thoughts on Neat Image.
Thanks Denis
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eronald

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« Reply #30 on: December 11, 2006, 07:56:56 am »

I looked at Neat Image a while back, as a reviewer. This is a best-of-breed and highly flexible package, but what you get out of it depends heavily on how familiar you are with its parameters.

I got feedback (writein) from several users at the time (after the review !) who confirmed that they used NeatImage regularly and found it very useful. As the positive feedback came after the review, I am confident that it was genuine.

At the time NeatImage responded quickly, and provided some tech support speedily by email.

I therefore think it's a fairly safe way to spend your money, costing about as much as a polarizer.

Photoshop itself also has a new smart noise reduction built into CS2, and you should give that a try as well. There are also some competitors to NeatImage, most notably NoiseNinja - most have demos and you might profit by doing your own testing -

My own approach has been to keep the noise globally, and selectively retouch areas which I need improved, or filter the blue channel brutally  - but then I only own 35mm digital.

Edmund
« Last Edit: December 11, 2006, 07:59:50 am by eronald »
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Quentin

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« Reply #31 on: December 11, 2006, 08:01:25 pm »

Neat can be useful, but to be honest, as I rarely shoot higher than ISO 64 and decode raw files with Silkypix, I don't often have a need to use any NR.

Quentin
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BernardLanguillier

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« Reply #32 on: December 11, 2006, 08:09:43 pm »

Quote
Neat can be useful, but to be honest, as I rarely shoot higher than ISO 64 and decode raw files with Silkypix, I don't often have a need to use any NR.

Quentin
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Silkypix does indeed deliver Silky smooth conversions.  I have found that to give somewhat of a blotchy look with small details like distant leaves in landscape shots, but there is indeed zero noise to be found.

Raw Developper offers more control on that.

If you use Raw Developpor and decide to keep the max amount of detail, then there will be some noise left in the images even at ISO50.

Per my first tests, it doesn't show much in print at A2 size, but applying some noise reduction with Neat Image or Noise Ninja for the skies etc... could be needed in some cases. The good thing then is that you can overlay the 2 images and use masks to selectively control where NR is needed and where it hurts detail.

Doing a double conversion with differnt NR settings in Raw Developper could achieve the same thing and might be faster.

Regards,
Bernard

tonypassera

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« Reply #33 on: December 11, 2006, 10:24:55 pm »

Quote from: mcfoto,Dec 11 2006, 08:26 AM
Quote

Hi
I am thinking of getting Neat Image for the ZD and was wondering what your results have been with this program. I normally shoot at iso 50-100 and noise is not an issue. I also have not tried longer exposures with this camera. The ZD sort of reminds me of what the Valeo 22 was like 3 years ago. Anyways what are your thoughts on Neat Image.
Thanks Denis
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=89842\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I've used Neat Image a lot over the last 4 years or so.  Mostly used it with noisier
cameras like the D100 and occasionally some point and shoots.  Since I got a D2X,
I haven't used it as much.  With a little experimentation setting the parameters you can get
remarkable results.  I found with Neat Image that it's possible to remove so much
noise that the image looks a little plasticy. But you'll quickly find the right amount
of NR for your taste.  

I haven't used the ZD, but  i'll bet its noise characteristics are more forgiving
than a D100, and easier to clean up with Neat.   I've also used Noise Ninja, which
i like as well.  I think the Neat Image interface is a little easier to grasp and
remember if you're only using it casually. Both products are excellent IMHO.  
I prefer the photoshop plug-in rather than the standalone version.
Tony
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rueyloon

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« Reply #34 on: December 11, 2006, 10:53:32 pm »

how is the ZD for long exposures ?
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mcfoto

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« Reply #35 on: December 12, 2006, 01:47:53 am »

Quote
how is the ZD for long exposures ?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=89979\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Quote

Hi
I did a test in as store room today at iso 50 (1/2, 1 & 2 sec) and it was pretty clean. The file was developed in Raw Processor. I will have to test it further and will try Neat Image soon.
Thanks Denis
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