@ Ryu & @ Fred,
Really really nice work posted by both of you in above.
Also as an advanced amateur colors are to me very important. Yet this does not mere relate to skin tones. I gave up on Nikon after the D200, which I unlike many at time thought was crap in part due to colors. I loved Velvia 50 for landscapes and one reason was the pleasing colors. That is precise what I feel it is about, pleasing colors and not mere skin tones, already as a departure point when starting off to work in post on RAW.
While I did not shoot Aptus 22 my prior back was Aptus 65 and I believe they are not far apart in colors. Leaf do tend to be more film like than P1 and the files feel more graphic (in part due to the Dalsa sensors). Colors in Aptus 65 were really good for portraiture but there was something lagging to my eye for landscapes, both in colors and in enabling the recreation of light in the image. Updating to an 80MP Leaf back a bit over a year ago, I experience it over the Aptus 65 to have significant improved colors. They are more correct as departure point but also have to my eye very pleasing rendering. It made me finally drop shooting film and Velvia 50. I am not saying my current Leaf files are like Velvia, yet somehow they bring me the same sensation and satisfaction in photography. The 80MP Leaf has same Dalsa sensor as IQ180 but different implementation by Leaf. From what I was told the color filters on the sensor are improved compared to prior Leafs. Compared to Aptus 65 the 80MP Leaf have more colors, there are finer steps in gradation of tones of colors, a broader DR, and improved shadows. Important I now find that I can very well recreate a sensation of light in the images, by creating a transition into highlights and a shoulder similar to "film" by using curves. The more pixels help in all these, similar to on a 6x7 or larger MF film file, but I also attempt to work the files a tad on terms of a painter to create a sensation of color and light for the eye and leading the eye in an image. Capture One Pro is all I use. Attached are a couple of sample images shot using the 80MP Leaf. For skin tones, adjusting/correcting skin tones and select other color range edits, the color editor in Capture One Pro is downright superb and helps correct with simplicity.
Regarding a camera itself, it is a tool and if it is a good tool it lends us to capture and make good images. The D800 is perhaps the best image quality DSLR so far but by its nature of a DSLR invites a different approach than a medium format camera. I do rather relate to what Ryu writes of his RZ, since a camera is tad as a painters brush or as the violin of a master violinist. It is a thrill using a tool that feels intended for a master because it pushes to improve and to create in a different manner. Mine is Rolleiflex Hy6 with WLF and it aid me in visualize an image when shooting, and lends to achieve better images in portraiture than I have ever prior made. Importantly it lends to focus on the image and good capture.
Something more about D800 vs. the Leaf, the Aptus 75 (and current 33MP Leaf) is an older sensor and thus does not feel complete fair in comparison to D800. Obvious also Leaf has improved on sensors and technology. Leaf is also not mass produced same way as a DSLR and should thus have more precise tuned colors than a DSLR. The DR of D800 may appear to be better than it is because of the noise reduction in camera. In that context it is literally amazing how much you can push around a Leaf 80MP file and retrieve shadows in post! My sample file with the window had a very broad DR and was one shot.
Best regards,
Anders
P.S. @ Fred, b.t.w. both your graphs in above appear to be the same. I think you left out the DR comparison.