Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Medium Format / Film / Digital Backs – and Large Sensor Photography => Topic started by: Lozit on August 24, 2010, 04:26:25 pm
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Hello, i have a Mamiya 645D and i'm looking for a used digital back.
I found a leaf valeo 22 or a Mamiya ZD Back in The 3k/4k range.
I try to find some info about digital back but its very difficult :)
What do you think about those 2 backs ? Do you know some other back in this price range ?
Did you know some website to find used DB ?
Thanks for your help
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There's also the Kodak DCS ProBack 645M, produced from 2002-2004. Some people are frightened off these because Kodak no longer supports them, but I got mine not so long ago for mid-$2k, only 12,500 shots taken, no moving parts, and it had just been serviced at Midwest Camera, so I don't see what the problem is. It's shooting beautifully and has some great features like a click-on, click-off removable IR filter that you cannot get on a PhaseOne or Leaf back (the Mamiya ZD camera/back is the only other one that can do this).
And hey, merely repairing the Firewire port on a PhaseOne back costs the same as my entire Kodak back kit, so I think it's good value. ;D
I looked at the ZD back and all the other backs as well (I did up a massive spreadsheet), but I was not impressed that everything apart from sensor size is worse on the ZD: lower quantum efficiency, lower quality at > ISO 100, higher dark current.
Mr. Luminous Landscape himself, Michael Reichmann, liked the Kodak so much, he bought one for his Contax 645 (see reports here at LL).
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Did you know some website to find used DB ?
Try Adorama Rental Dept, they have sold used backs in the past......and they are reputable.
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I would think that an aptus22 should be in your price range seeing that the new aptusII5 is already close to your budget.
That's a modern back which can shoot to LC and capture one but also on a CF card.
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IMO, you may find Phase One P25 on Ebay in that price range too. I also saw one P25 sold on Getdpi for about $4000, but it is H mount.
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Thank you for your help !
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I got my whole Mamiya AFD II kit and Zd back for just at the top end of your price range. I consider it a pretty good value.
When the back works, it takes excellent photos. and it works about 95% of the time. Every so often, it throws a wobbly, and the battery needs to come out of the back, and reboot the thing. Of course, this happens at the worst of times.
The thing takes simply stunning photos. I use C1 to process them, and they by far blow away my Nikon D300, and I have a feeling, will hold up well to a D3X. Compared to a P25, I'm pretty sure they are in the same ball park, but that is not in your price range.
(http://www.private.jonesii.net/2010%2005%2022%20Mamiya/content/bin/images/large/MMFC2333_3.jpg)
If you want to see some of my attempts a fine art figure, drop me a note at djonesii at yahoo dot com.
Dave