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Author Topic: Decision 35mm to MF  (Read 5845 times)

stevecoleccs

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Decision 35mm to MF
« on: April 29, 2007, 09:34:07 pm »

After weeks of reading forums, seeking out advice, trying out different
MF cameras (H2, H3/31, Mamiya, Contax) talking to sales people & getting
over the sticker shock price I came to the conclusion that all the 31MP backs
I tested were petty damn close as far as quality, but the software made the
difference! So I went with the P30+ & Contax!  What a world of difference!

I had other sales people tell me "one day the software will be much better"
That's like saying "I know it's not very good now" but one day...
To hell with that, I need something now, I'm not going to base my decision on
"it will get better in the future".

The Contax feels better to me, more real in some way. I found everything
I needed on ebay & everything I bought was like new!  I already had
the original screen modify it to be 4 times brighter for about 140 bucks.
Two bodies & all the lens I ever need including waist level finder & lens shades.
I may even buy another body just for safe keeping. I also have a year if I want
to change to an Mamiya or H2 using the same P30 with a new plate & sell all
the Contax gear for what I paid for it (if not more).

I knew I would see a big difference in sharpness between the 1ds MKll & P30
(the + to come in May) but what I really enjoy is the digital workflow
using CaptureOne, before I was processing the 1DS MKll files (even in C1) & still
doing lots of retouching! Color correcting! Moiré! Bad colors!  No More!

What a world of difference. Cool, this is more of a comment with no real questions
welcoming myself to the MF world!
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william

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Decision 35mm to MF
« Reply #1 on: April 29, 2007, 09:44:50 pm »

Congrats, welcome to the Contax/P30 club!
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vgogolak

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Decision 35mm to MF
« Reply #2 on: April 29, 2007, 10:23:10 pm »

ditto on the congrats, and welcome to a fantastic world, contax and Phase MF.

Don't forget you have the option to use hassey lenses, and as I recently discovered, the fine older Leica screw mount telephotos.

Though pricy, get a contax 645 to hassey adapter ($300 or so) and then for $76 fotodiox has a M39 to hassey that will get you a wonderful range of 6x6 image circle lenses for under $500! The twp adapters work fine

the best
regards
Victor
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Randal32

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Decision 35mm to MF
« Reply #3 on: April 29, 2007, 11:23:04 pm »

I just upgraded too.  I got a Mamiya/P30 (plus ordered) ....

the files are 25 times better than the Mark II.

I tested a bunch as well... Reliability, Software, and Cust Service was what made me go with Phase.

It's great knowing that you don't have to wait to see what Canon's got coming next.  Even Canons next generation wont be able to get close Phase....

It's also great knowing you're giving your clients the best possible file.  Sometimes with the Mark II I  just crossed my fingers and hoped they wouldnt notice how soft it was at 100% ....

I feel like as MFDB becomes more affordable and faster, Canon is going to start losing more of it's high end commercial customers....

Randal
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BJNY

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« Reply #4 on: April 30, 2007, 06:09:11 am »

Contax 645 pricing has certainly ballooned...$500+ for an extension tube, $300+ for a focusing screen,  $3000+ for the 35mm lens.

James, see what you caused
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Guillermo

Tomas Johanson

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« Reply #5 on: April 30, 2007, 03:12:21 pm »

Quote
I already had the original screen modify it to be 4 times brighter for about 140 bucks.[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=114926\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Good camera choice!

Where did you modify your screen, I have some spare screens for my Contaxes which I want to get a little bit brighter.

/Tomas
« Last Edit: April 30, 2007, 03:12:59 pm by Tomas »
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G_Allen

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Decision 35mm to MF
« Reply #6 on: April 30, 2007, 03:57:50 pm »

Hey all,

I'm in the same process at the moment -- I'm going to buy a P30, but I'm not so sure about the camera.

I used to have a Contax, and enjoyed it very much. But the availability, dealing with ebay, and crazy prices at the moment have pushed me to take a closer look at the Mamiya 645 AFD. And, the prospect of using the P30 on the 645 and RZ (with the adapter plate) is very attractive, as I have a bunch of RZ stuff collecting dust here.

But my concern with the Mamiya 645 is the viewfinder -- I have never used it (it's not available in my area), but the prism magnification is listed as .71, which seems a bit weak.

So, any comments about the cropped P30 viewfinder on the Contax vs. the Mamiya? Is it a small, dark tunnel?

Any comments greatly appreciated.

cheers,

Gregory Allen
www.plasticimage.com
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stevecoleccs

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Decision 35mm to MF
« Reply #7 on: April 30, 2007, 04:28:22 pm »

"Where did you modify your screen, I have some spare screens for my Contaxes which I want to get a little bit brighter."

Bill Maxwell is the only person I know of that can take your screens & modify them "several"
ways - it's best to call him or email. I got this info off his www site. Terrific guy, he has done
lots of screens for MF as well as screens for Hollywood film makers. He can also
add a "Mask" onto the screen for a P30 crop or others, add grids etc...

His email:

maxwellprecisionoptics@toast.net"
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stevecoleccs

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Decision 35mm to MF
« Reply #8 on: April 30, 2007, 04:35:38 pm »

Quote from: gpaper,Apr 30 2007, 02:57 PM
Hey all,


So, any comments about the cropped P30 viewfinder on the Contax vs. the Mamiya? Is it a small, dark tunnel?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I tested all three camera side by side:
H2:  big bright viewfinder, but had distortions - not much fun if you are trying to make
       something straight or line up something
Mamiya: Darker & smaller than H2 - but still nice
Contax: Same as the Mamiya, but add the new screen & it's bright like the H2

You can also have the Mamiya screen modify to be bright too.
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eronald

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Decision 35mm to MF
« Reply #9 on: April 30, 2007, 04:42:04 pm »

What happens to the exposure if you mod the Mamiya screen ?

Edmund

Quote from: stevecoleccs,Apr 30 2007, 08:35 PM
Quote from: gpaper,Apr 30 2007, 02:57 PM
Hey all,
So, any comments about the cropped P30 viewfinder on the Contax vs. the Mamiya? Is it a small, dark tunnel?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I tested all three camera side by side:
H2:  big bright viewfinder, but had distortions - not much fun if you are trying to make
       something straight or line up something
Mamiya: Darker & smaller than H2 - but still nice
Contax: Same as the Mamiya, but add the new screen & it's bright like the H2

You can also have the Mamiya screen modify to be bright too.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=115055\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
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stevecoleccs

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Decision 35mm to MF
« Reply #10 on: April 30, 2007, 05:05:04 pm »

Quote
What happens to the exposure if you mod the Mamiya screen ?

Edmund
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=115057\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Mamiya 645AF - a company can "make" a new mamiya screen, but  cannot modify the orginial
one. After making the screen you MAY have to send the camera back to Mamiya to
have the focus calibrated. A little more trouble than the Contax. The exposure will
have to be adjusted as well or Mamiya can adjust the meter for the new screen.
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RKH

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Decision 35mm to MF
« Reply #11 on: May 01, 2007, 09:44:46 am »

Congratulations on making your decision.

I'm going through the same (long) process and am most likely going to go with the Contax + Phase option for a number of reasons. The Contax is a fine camera, and simply feels great in the hand. I'll look into that screen mod. also; if it's not too much hassle for me in the UK....

Ras
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James Russell

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Decision 35mm to MF
« Reply #12 on: May 01, 2007, 10:51:15 am »

In some ways I wish everyone would lay off the Contax because finding body and lens caps is now almost impossible.  

In other ways I understand the appeal.  Though the viewfinder is small the focusing is good and it doesn't have the womp and bend I saw in the Hasselblad.  It also is a much more substantial feeling camera than the Mamiya.

The P-30 I definatly understand as it's the only digital back I've used that works as easy as a dslr and has almost as good high iso as the Canons without the softness.

As far as the IR filter and seeing purple in blacks, I've seen none of that in the P-30.  I think most of that came from reports on the original P-25.

This was shot mostly with the P-30 and the color was never off in the blacks or anywhere else.

http://www.russellrutherfordgroup.com/fashion1/

JR




Quote
Congratulations on making your decision.

I'm going through the same (long) process and am most likely going to go with the Contax + Phase option for a number of reasons. The Contax is a fine camera, and simply feels great in the hand. I'll look into that screen mod. also; if it's not too much hassle for me in the UK....

Ras
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=115173\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
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