I see many posts about the fact that D800 killed MFDB. But... As far as I know (I may be wrong) you can't do tilt/shift with a D800 as you do with a view camera. Because of micro lenses used on the D800. Right or wrong ? The Nikon 24mm Tilt/Shift lense doesn't do it the you do it with a view camera. Only digital backs can do it no ? Doing a nice Scheimpflung with a D800 seems to be not possible.
First, you're wrong.
Second, have you ever tried "doing a nice Scheimpflung [sic]" of a scene with tall mangroves in the foreground straddling the waterway receding into the background? No? Because you CAN'T, since DOF along the adjusted plane of focus expands outward as a WEDGE. But focus stacking CAN capture both the vertical foreground flora AND the horizontal background. Oh, but focus stacking can be done with ANY digital sensor. So let's not bring that up.
Lately it seems there's a ton of posters coming out of the woodwork trying to use more and more contrived situtations to justify to themselves why MFDB is better than 35mm DSLRS. And how has D800 killed MFDB? My IQ140 still works, even after I got a couple of D800 bodies. Sure, I hardly use the back anymore, but so what? When I want to use it I can still use it.
Also when one needs to do big enlargements (2m or more) then the DB still is the king in its realm no ?
One of the things I use backs for is large prints, yes. But for REAL large prints, I'm still using 8x10. So, no. It's not the king of its realm.
So why comparing the two systems ?
As far as I can tell, it's only the amateur MFDB users comparing the two systems. Folks who are using the d800 more or exlusively now are just using it. Folks who are still using their backs are still using them. It seems to me only the people who overreached in the first place are now trying to justify to themselves why their low ROI purchase is still "superior" to newer sensor tech.
Is a Honda supercar better than a Ferrari ? It's as fast, as safe (or as unsafe...). But... And it's not olny a cosmetic subject. For sure using a Hassy H or a Phase one system to shoot sport is not the easiest choise. Bit some do it and it's just beautiful.
Honda doesn't have a supercar. But I'll take the Toyota LFA over a Ferrari anyday. I have a friend who brought along his 645d (with the 400mm AF) for a superbike race. He let me try it out, and I politely handed it back to him and went back to my 1DX and 600mm. Don't get me wrong, the pentax's autofocus seemed better than my Mamiya AFD III, and the shutter lag was comparable. But let's be honest, that's like doing a mythbusters test between a snail on concrete vs a snail on sheet metal to see which one goes faster.
Why do all the images I love and that the aspect nails me on the wall are all coming from MFDB ? Question of precision/sharpness allied to smooth transitions. A bit like the difference between my beloved Hassy V lenses compared to the Mamyia RZ lenses. Both are wonderful, but different. I highly prefer the presision and smouthness (sorry I'm not english, so I may not use the correct words, I hope you will understand my thought).
You THINK you do. Do you really? Can you REALLY tell the difference without knowing what sensor/system was used to capture which image a priori? Straight out of camera? What about after just the slightest hint of post?
If you have some time, I suggest looking up the Kuleshov Effect on wiki.
Also, there's this new philosophy going around where if you cannot measure something quantitatively, consistently, and repeatably, then "it" might be only as good as ether. I think the new kids call this philosophy "science" or something like that.
A question : if you can have a Hassy H or phase one system or Alpa system for the price of a D800 system, wich one will you choose ?
Even Doug answers this question realistically, and HE'S A DEALER.
Come on, really? Do you really think price is the ONLY issue? Or even anywhere CLOSE to the main issue? Live view, low light, long macro, autofocus, frame rate, video, long exposure, blah blah blah. Medium format systems are good for some niche things. For those areas, they are quite good, but they do NOT do things that 35mm systems can't (albeit with some more effort). On the otherhand, what 35mm systems are good at, is impractical or impossible for MFDB.
Plus, it seems like one of the main reasons that amateurs and some, uh, "professionals" get MFDB is for the exclusivity. In English it's called "outgunning the client": meaning to have more expensive equipment than the client in order to APPEAR more professional. But, if medium format systems cost the same, wouldn't that then eliminate the MAIN PURPOSE of buying medium format systems (for some people at least)
Another concern : I very often shoot sunsets with the sun right in the middle of the lense. No issue with my Hassy V with T* lenses. But with my dslr (oly) it´s a nightmare, no way to have a sharp sun with color into it, it´s a wite circle and the light kind of overflaw the photosites. It seems to be problem with small photosites. I also had the issue on a canon dslr ( dont remember wich one). I.m afraid the D800 has lts of chances to have the same issue. Didnt have that issue with a H4D50.
Here is what I want to do concerning the sun: http://jeanmabar.fr/route-des-cretes-et-pointe-rouge/ specialy the images where the sun is still yellow.
Trying not to be too rude here, but: have you considered using acrylics? Or maybe oils? I won't comment on what I think about these images subjectively, but objectively from an information entropy point of view there's not much content in those images. You really don't even need a camera to convey whatever message/feeling you're trying to convey with those.
Here is what I want to avoid, it is really underexposed, but still no texture in the sun. With Hassy and a provia ou ekta, I wouldn't have such problem.
Yes, in that picture you see the sun is yellow. Done with Hassy 503CX, Tessar 8/500 and provia 100F. f22.
Except you shot at F22 (or so you claim) for the film, and only f16 for the digital. And there's bracketing. It might take some sleight-of-hand for something moving as fast as the sun, but it can be done with some practice. That's sarcasm by the way.
I think that, from what I saw, the gape between dslr and mfdb isn't filled by the D800, depends on what makes a good picture for the one who looks at it.
Why should the d800 fill the gap? That'd be going backwards.
OH SNAP!