Lenses for Mamiya AFD - Zoom vs. Single FL

[Jack Flesher]

Jack - the Mamiya 80mm 2.8 AF peaks at ~F5.6; anything beyond F5.6 and it's a trade-off between DOF vs diffraction.  With the 12mm tube, it's a great a close-up lens for product shots.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=185453\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Could be... However, on my lower-rez sensor, the images look as good at f8 adn nearly as good at f11.  Also, I noted  sharper corners on my copy at f8...

Cheers,

[marcwilson]

i know the mamiya bodies can take the hasselblad lenses but can it also take the contax or pentax 645 lenses..I'm thinking here the 35mm Af lenses of both those cameras are pretty great so could substitute the weak mamiya 35mm?

Marc

[Jack Flesher]

i know the mamiya bodies can take the hasselblad lenses but can it also take the contax or pentax 645 lenses..I'm thinking here the 35mm Af lenses of both those cameras are pretty great so could substitute the weak mamiya 35mm?

Marc
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IIRC, both of those systems activate the aperture via electrical contacts on the lenses, so even if you made an appropriate adapter that could focus at infinity, you'd only be able to use them wide open.  The bigger issue with adapting lenses across cameras is the sensor to mounting flange distance: you need to be able to get to the same distance as the original lens manufacturer INCLUDING any extension from the adapter or you cannot focus on infinity.  THis is why most adapters convert lenses form larger formats down to cameras of smaller format...

Cheers,

[Bill Caulfeild-Browne]

Jack,

I would love to hear your experience with the 80/1.9. I have been trying to use one for sometime and unless stopped down quite a bit, it's an absolute disaster getting the thing manually focused on the intended content.

I want to shoot people wide open with it and can't get any frames crisp where desired even with the viewfinder magnifier.

I have a Bill Maxwell screen on order now for 2 months and can't wait until that thing comes. Bill is running WAY BEHIND on his orders. He qoted me 3 weeks at most originally. Mamiya's screens are hugely insufficient for critical focusing.

Optically the 80/1.9 seems solid. My 80/2.8 AF is usable but doesn't impress me as much as others here.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=185441\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I recently made the move to the Mamiya screen Type C, the microprism center. Helps tremendously with the 120 macro (manual focus) and the AF lenses because it shows you WHAT the lens has focussed on. With the magnifier I'm now much better equipped to judge sharpness.

My eyes are over 60....

Bill

[Bill Caulfeild-Browne]

I've thought about trying it but there is no off the shelf type C screen for the AFD that has the digital back frame etched. I'm hoping the $350 Maxwell screen works as it's touted.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=185545\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

True - I continue to use the "underlay" that P1 provides.
Bill

[nicholask]

I have found that the 80AF 2.8 softens off when you go wider than 5.6.  I shot some paintings recently on a ZD and the softening was quite noticeable.  Otherwise, it is a really good lens.

I also have a 45mm AF lens, which I consider excellent.  

The 105-210 that I have is great, too, but quite heavy and unwieldy - unless you are shooting flash it is unsuitable for hand holding, and it needs a substantial tripod.

Very impressed from having used the 120 F.4, and is on my must buy list.

Nick Kreisler

www.viewfinderdigitisation.com.au

[stefan marquardt]

i know the mamiya bodies can take the hasselblad lenses but can it also take the contax or pentax 645 lenses..I'm thinking here the 35mm Af lenses of both those cameras are pretty great so could substitute the weak mamiya 35mm?

Marc
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=185482\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

no pentax 645 lenses on the mamiya. I tried for a long time to connect my pentax 35 af to the ZD but it just doesnt work. the camera mount to lens mount-distance (while theoreticaly big enough) is just to short to get a homemade adapter between the two mounts. perhaps some super ingeneering could create an adapter. I know mr. zörkendorfer tried too, but couldnt come up with an "sellable" solution.

stefan

[Quentin]

I have the Mamiya 80mm, 55m, 35mm, 120mm Macro and a 45mm Hartblei Super rotator all used on a ZD camera.  The 80mm and 120mm macro are boith super sharp, the 55mm close behind, and the 35mm decent if not exceptional.  the Hartblei used carefully, is also sharp but has some asymmetric CA that is difficult to eliminate.  The only other lens with significant CA is the 35mm, but as that is symmetrical its easier to control.

The great thing about the Mamiya mount is the vast array of inexpensive older lenses for occasional use where you don't want to spend a fortune on marginally better exotic megabucks glass.

I do so hate hassy and their conceited closed system with overpriced lenses.  Thanks goodness for Mamiya / Phase One and the Hy6.

Quentin

[Justinr]

I have the Mamiya 80mm, 55m, 35mm, 120mm Macro and a 45mm Hartblei Super rotator all used on a ZD camera.  The 80mm and 120mm macro are boith super sharp, the 55mm close behind, and the 35mm decent if not exceptional.  the Hartblei used carefully, is also sharp but has some asymmetric CA that is difficult to eliminate.  The only other lens with significant CA is the 35mm, but as that is symmetrical its easier to control.

The great thing about the Mamiya mount is the vast array of inexpensive older lenses for occasional use where you don't want to spend a fortune on marginally better exotic megabucks glass.

I do so hate hassy and their conceited closed system with overpriced lenses.  Thanks goodness for Mamiya / Phase One and the Hy6.

Quentin
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=185642\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Not too sure about the older glass being as wonderful. I have a MF 45mm 2.8 which does leave me with distortion problems, especially when used inside and these things become obvious through strangely angled ceilings etc. I hate the idea of having to sort things out later in the computer but I fear that some sort of correctional software is going to be be needed with it.

I also have a 50mm shift lens which I snapped up when looking around. Haven't actually used it yet although a couple of jobs are on the horizon. Anyone else tried it?

The trouble with Hasselblad is that yes they do have a conceited view of the world but are 'oh so very nice' about it when you speak to them at shows etc. I really can't get cross with them.

Justin.

[eronald]

Not too sure about the older glass being as wonderful

I also have a 50mm shift lens which I snapped up when looking around. Haven't actually used it yet although a couple of jobs are on the horizon. Anyone else tried it?


Justin.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=185666\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I have one, it's nice but no exceptional. Doesn't shift far enough on the long axis for real urban architecture. A WIDE shift lens would be really nice for the Mamiya, and equivalent for the 24mm Canon. Of course, the other MF SLR platforms have the same issue or worse.

Edmund

[marcwilson]

I have one, it's nice but no exceptional. Doesn't shift far enough on the long axis for real urban architecture. A WIDE shift lens would be really nice for the Mamiya, and equivalent for the 24mm Canon. Of course, the other MF SLR platforms have the same issue or worse.

Edmund
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=185670\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Perhaps with the many solid shift cameras around...cambo, silvestri, etc etc..combined with one or more wide digital large format lenses and the back means the need for shift lenses on the mfdslr's is not that essential.
Certainly this method means a bit extra expence over the mf shift lenses (or perhaps not given the pricing of new wide mf lenses) and two bodies but for work requiring shifts the quality should be better due to the nature of the lenses.

Marc

[eronald]

Who's talking about better here - convenience is the issue. Shift on an SLR means you can take handheld or tripod mounted shots very quickly. Maybe if we get decent SLR-quality liveview we could do the same one day with an Alpa, but until then there is no replacement for SLR convenience, just as there is no replacement for the non-retrofocus quality on the dedicated bodies.

Edmund

Perhaps with the many solid shift cameras around...cambo, silvestri, etc etc..combined with one or more wide digital large format lenses and the back means the need for shift lenses on the mfdslr's is not that essential.
Certainly this method means a bit extra expence over the mf shift lenses (or perhaps not given the pricing of new wide mf lenses) and two bodies but for work requiring shifts the quality should be better due to the nature of the lenses.

Marc
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[Jack Flesher]

Who's talking about better here - convenience is the issue. Shift on an SLR means you can take handheld or tripod mounted shots very quickly. Maybe if we get decent SLR-quality liveview we could do the same one day with an Alpa, but until then there is no replacement for SLR convenience, just as there is no replacement for the non-retrofocus quality on the dedicated bodies.

Edmund
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=185721\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Actually, if you are familiar with the use of a view camera, then using a shift camera is not all that inconvenient.  Yes, you may need to take a teaser shot or two to get everything lined up perfectly, but in the end you're going to be on a tripod anyway to insure camera level and the quality of the resulting image is probably worth the added "inconvenience" if you are needing shift to begin with...  And you are probably double-checking the image for perfect focus anyway, not necessarily insured with an SLR.  Lastly, the added IC required for the shift lens means you are probably better off with a dedicated shift camera that can utilize the larger IC LF/MF digital lenses as well.

Cheers,

[clawery]

Bill,

Does the Phase One underlay cause a shift in metered exposures since it's a sort of a neutral density material? I shoot an Aptus. Leaf provides a new AFD screen etched with the digital back frame border.
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John,

The Phase One underlay should not effect metering with you AFD.  Some photographers do cut out the center of the underlay to make sure that their metering isn't effected.

Chris Lawery
Sales Manager
chris@captureintegration.com
[a href=\"http://www.captureintegration.com]Capture Integration, Phase One Dealer of the Year[/url]

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[marcwilson]

Who's talking about better here - convenience is the issue. Shift on an SLR means you can take handheld or tripod mounted shots very quickly. Maybe if we get decent SLR-quality liveview we could do the same one day with an Alpa, but until then there is no replacement for SLR convenience, just as there is no replacement for the non-retrofocus quality on the dedicated bodies.

Edmund
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=185721\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Yes I was talking better simply in terms of image quality.
Of course a dslr with shift lens is more convenient than a shift camera, just as perhaps a 35mm dslr is more convenient than a mf dslr with the wider shift lenses available, etc.

But overall for me jobs / shots requiring shift at top quality, i.e. non 35mm dslr, etc allow the extra bit of time for using a shift camera...just my experience of course.

Marc

[marcwilson]

Actually, if you are familiar with the use of a view camera, then using a shift camera is not all that inconvenient.  Yes, you may need to take a teaser shot or two to get everything lined up perfectly, but in the end you're going to be on a tripod anyway to insure camera level and the quality of the resulting image is probably worth the added "inconvenience" if you are needing shift to begin with...  And you are probably double-checking the image for perfect focus anyway, not necessarily insured with an SLR.  Lastly, the added IC required for the shift lens means you are probably better off with a dedicated shift camera that can utilize the larger IC LF/MF digital lenses as well.

Cheers,
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=185728\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Out of interest Jack, knowing your lf background, are you looking at ways of using your zd back on a view/shift camera?

Marc

[Jack Flesher]

Out of interest Jack, knowing your lf background, are you looking at ways of using your zd back on a view/shift camera?

Marc
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=185768\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Of course I'm investigating it, but nothing definitive yet.  Will keep you posted...

Cheers,

[Bill Caulfeild-Browne]

Bill,

Does the Phase One underlay cause a shift in metered exposures since it's a sort of a neutral density material? I shoot an Aptus. Leaf provides a new AFD screen etched with the digital back frame border.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=185595\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

John, if it does I'm not aware of it. The underlay for the AFD II is totally clear except for the black edge lines and I can't imagine they would affect exposure in any measurable way.

Bill

[Justinr]

Worried by earlier postings in this thread I went out to try the 50mm shift lens the other day and must admit to wondering as to why I had bothered with it, until I saw the results on the monitor rather than LCD. It really did produce some impressive photo's and is certainly a worthwhile addition to the armoury. One remaining concern is that the colours looked a little washed out compared to the 80mm, but the building I was shooting was not the most psychedelic so I best refrain from final judgement on that point for now.



Justin.

[rickk]

no pentax 645 lenses on the mamiya. I tried for a long time to connect my pentax 35 af to the ZD but it just doesnt work. the camera mount to lens mount-distance (while theoreticaly big enough) is just to short to get a homemade adapter between the two mounts. perhaps some super ingeneering could create an adapter. I know mr. zörkendorfer tried too, but couldnt come up with an "sellable" solution.

stefan
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An adapter to use Pentax 645 lenses on the Mamiya flange was available occasionally on ebay in photography / lenses & filters / lens accessories / adapters & mounts
As Stefan mentioned, it is really thin and has a clever design to deal with the aperture lever.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to work completely with the current crop of Pentax lenses -- the automatic aperture mechanism may need to be modified by a camera technician before it will stop down.  When I give up hope of a digital 645 Pentax, then the lenses will go to the repair shop.

Good luck finding an adapter.

Rick