A while back I looked at the mamiya credo 40mp kit as the 645z was about to be released. I never pulled the trigger on either. I shoot mainly children/families and children/dogs in controlled but not always indoor settings. I don't do lifestyle photos so wile no one is running they are more likely to be at least a little wiggly OR are more likely only to hold their pose for a brief moment before becoming wiggly again. More and more I'm making enlargements at or over 40" on a side.
I've not shot with MF since my film mamiya 645 which I always liked. unfortunately in the time since I've had some cornea issues and I'm now 20/90 at best and therefore 100% reliant on autofocus. as it sits I mostly use center point and focus/recompose with my 5d mk III and am not particularly concerned with the effects of rotating my focus point off axis. The Hassy systems are not in the budget.
Has anyone had a chance to compare the 645z and the mamiya with the 40mp back? aside from the 10mp difference, what did you feel was the most notable difference? Do you feel that either would suit the use I describe above? since the price is basically the same can you think of other pros and cons between those two cameras?
thanks.
Some advantages for the
Leaf Credo options:
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Tethering: Robust, Professional, Feature-Rich, Fast Tethering with Capture One Pro
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Compatibility: with C1 Pro 8 for processing. If you've not thrown some of your Canon files into C1 instead of LR you'll be surprised how well C1 handles Canon files. As a result you can use C1 Pro 8 with both cameras, whereas with the Pentax you cannot use C1 Pro 8. Here are two articles on C1v8 I've written recently for
FStoppers and
Smashbox Studios.
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Dealer support/service:, any question you need answered, someone to help with the evaluation of different lenses/accessories etc (advice/loans/test-files/rentals)
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Manufacturer support/service: Professional, reliable, communicative repairs/service from the manufacturer if you need them
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Modularity: compatibility with an RZ (with it's waist level viewfinder), tech camera, view camera, pinhole camera etc. Possible because the back is separate from the body.
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Upgradeability: if you buy a Credo 40 now and want to buy e.g. an IQ260 next year you'll get a great value for your Credo 40 and you won't have to change your body. Likewise if you want to upgrade your body you can upgrade it without changing your sensor. Say in 2 years this whole foray into medium format has gone well for you and you find the trend towards large prints has continued you could upgrade to 60mp, 80mp, or whatever is available at that time. Team Phase One has led (in the modern era of MFD) in the release of high-resolution systems (first to 60mp, first to 80mp, first to full frame 645) and based on their public financials I'd say they are well positioned to continue this leadership.
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Lenses: top notch lenses. Full range of modern, made for digital, leaf shutter lenses (also a very nice line of non leaf shutter lenses and last-generation lenses at lower prices) Get some raw files from a dealer showing things like the Schneider 80LS shot wide open. Bokeh is beautiful, sharpness is exceptional, overall rendering is great (but again, everything is subjective, so test yourself or get relevant raw files).
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Sync speed: up to 1/1600th with the LS lenses. Control ambient and strobe independently in nearly any lighting situation. Allows wide-open use with strobe outside, day-as-night, stopping motion regardless of ambient light, and various special looks
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Color: the look of Leaf backs is well regarded. It is a subjective topic of course, but you'll have a hard time finding anyone, even on the internet where people tend to be grumpy, saying bad things about the color from a Leaf back. The fact that Team Phase One controls the entire chain (lens, back, color engine of software, color profile) is very significant. Read the
IQ250 CMOS Fully Realized article which explains some of this in more detail.
There are, of course, notable advantages for the Pentax as well. They are both good systems.