RZ67 210/250/350/500 Apo lenses with digital backs

[chrismuc]

The Hasselblad Zeiss 250f5.6 and 350f5.6 Superachromat lenses are considered to be among the sharpest lenses for medium format digital photography in this focal range. But they are extremely expensive on 2nd. hand market.

The Mamiya RZ67 Apo lenses 210f4.5, 250f4.5, 350f5.6 and 500f6 cost a fraction and can be found quite easily 2nd. hand in mint condition. Is their optical performance with the current 60/80 MP backs quite to the Hasselblad Zeiss Superachromats or to the Mamiya 645 Apo lenses 200f2.8, 300f4.5?

Any experiences?

[FredBGG]

The Hasselblad Zeiss 250f5.6 and 350f5.6 Superachromat lenses are considered to be among the sharpest lenses for medium format digital photography in this focal range. But they are extremely expensive on 2nd. hand market.

The Mamiya RZ67 Apo lenses 210f4.5, 250f4.5, 350f5.6 and 500f6 cost a fraction and can be found quite easily 2nd. hand in mint condition. Is their optical performance with the current 60/80 MP backs quite to the Hasselblad Zeiss Superachromats or to the Mamiya 645 Apo lenses 200f2.8, 300f4.5?

Any experiences?

I have shot with the 250mm Mamiya lens both on film and a few times with a digital back. The 250 is a fantastic lens.
However for the best results you should also get the double cable release for shooting mirror up. The RZ has a lot of machinery moving around
when the mirror goes up. Actually it's quite amazing how well damped the whole machinery is.

You will also find that shooting with the RZ waist level finder will be great for critical focus.

Here is how good it can do even with film. This is hand held  and stopped down to f8




Crop from the same shot.

Most of the RX lenses are very good. I did not however like the 180mm.

Two other really good MF lenses worth looking at are the Fuji gx680 250mm and 300mm
You can even get a stitch back from Kapture group and do two frame stitches with a digital back and see your composition in real time in the
large 8x8cm viewfinder. The loup viewfinder is fantastic for critical focus.
A 160 MP stitch with these lenses would be very hard to beat.

Here are a couple of shots with the 250mm with film.




Crop.. Focus is a wee bit off and is on the tip of the nose.



[/img]http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5297/5417246191_cf601ffe23_b.jpg[/img]

[chrismuc]

Thx a lot Fred. Wonderful pics and excellent sharpness. That looks promising! Actually I would consider using RZ lenses via the Hartblei RZ67-C645 helicoid adapter on my Contax, not with a RZ camera.
Christoph

[FredBGG]

Thx a lot Fred. Wonderful pics and excellent sharpness. That looks promising! Actually I would consider using RZ lenses via the Hartblei RZ67-C645 helicoid adapter on my Contax, not with a RZ camera.
Christoph

That would be an interesting combination. I wonder if Hartblei could come up with an adapter that also lets you shift the lens so as to do stitching too.
Photodiox is comming out with stitch adapters to use MF lenses with mirrorless and 35mm DSLRs

I'm working on a few interesting gadgets to use my GX680 lenses with the Nikon D800 sort of a stitch back idea for landscape. 2, 3 and 4 frame stitch for up to  about 140 MP.

Regarding your contax... you could use you Contax mount digital back on a Fuji gx680 too. There are really good deals on Fuji GX680 gear.

I can send you a Fuji gx680 system catalog if your interested in reading up about it. You also get tilt and shift with the Fuji.... but it's big