Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Medium Format / Film / Digital Backs – and Large Sensor Photography => Topic started by: D Fuller on June 10, 2015, 11:15:57 pm
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Hi. I've been lurking around here for a while, but it's time to ask for some opinions. (I've noticed an abundance of those here... :-)
I have a much-loved Contax system that hasn't been seeing much use for a few years, but it's my favorite camera ever, and I own all the lenses except the 350. I occasionally rent a Phase back for it when it's right for a client, and occasionally run a roll of film through it for fun. But recently I spent a week with the excellent IQ250 back on it. The combination of 50MP and the Contax Zeiss glass was so enchanting I started thinking about purchasing a back for the system.
Since this is not really a purchase justified by business, I've been looking hard at a refurbished P65+. Not quite as much DR as the IQ250, but lots of resolution, and its full frame, and I understand that the IQ would be the same as the IQ160/260 series (though certain features would be missing.) Longer exposure would be nice, but rarely, and I have Nikons for that. Abnd the price of the P65+ is within reach. All good. Now Phase One has announced that they are not going to support Contax once current stocks are sold. (Since they own Leaf, is the writing on that wall too?)
Whadya think? Am I nuts? Should I:
1. Buy a P65+ and not look back, or...
2. Forget the whole thing and occasionally rent a back if I have a paying gig, or...
3. Dump all the Contax stuff on EBay and buy a Pentax 645z system, or...
4. Forget all this MF nonsense and buy the new Sony...?
5. Or none of the above--here's a better idea...
Any words of wisdom?
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The most important question here is what do you love about the Contax and what do you not love?
There's no right or wrong question here. But the answer greatly informs whether a Sony or Pentax will be a substitute.
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The most important question here is what do you love about the Contax and what do you not love?
There's no right or wrong question here. But the answer greatly informs whether a Sony or Pentax will be a substitute.
I love a lot about the Contax, but two things stand out in my mind: the feel of the camera and the lenses. No camera has ever felt so balanced in my hands. I'm always surprised by how good the thing feels in my hands when I take it out. And no set of lenses I've used (other than Master Primes for motion) have ever seemed so reliably good across the range. But especially the 35mm, the 140mm, and the astonishing 120mm macro.
And the viewfinder is a treat.
There's not much I don't like. I'd like leaf shutters, but for that I'd have to find a king to ransome.
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It´s a legacy camera that runs good and doesn´t cost much, so why not just buy a legacy db that also runs good and doesn´t cost much and enjoy it until you also become a legacy photographer unless you prefer making photos with a shoe box like the Pentax or a computer like the Sony or you win the lottery?
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Hm.. I photograph people mostly and don't have any issues with the p65+ Also have p25+ a bit slow frame rate for this kind of job, but this is very personal feeling .. I would say the camera is very nice, focus is critical with hi-res backs (I never rely on AF, just manual). Manual focus rings on the lenses are not comfortable enough for my taste. No leaf shutter. Even with these obstructions I prefer the camera over my D800E. Film back is a good option also.
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I didnt say there are "issues" with P65+, but if you shoot fashion/editorial, faster frame rate, focus masks and ability to zoom in 100% of IQ140 might worth the trade off for me. Of course I wish I have the money for IQ160.
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Also agree on P25+ being quite slow/not responsive enough for this kind of work. If budget is priority get a P21+
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I didnt say there are "issues" with P65+, but if you shoot fashion/editorial, faster frame rate, focus masks and ability to zoom in 100% of IQ140 might worth the trade off for me. Of course I wish I have the money for IQ160.
You may be right.. I didn't tried these IQ backs yet, but if the focus mask is the same as in Capture One.. I don't need it (personally). The fast 100% zoom is enough.
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It´s a legacy camera that runs good and doesn´t cost much, so why not just buy a legacy db that also runs good and doesn´t cost much and enjoy it until you also become a legacy photographer unless you prefer making photos with a shoe box like the Pentax or a computer like the Sony or you win the lottery?
LOL! Maybe I already am a legacy photographer...
This sounds a lot like what I've been thinking. And if a legacy db can deliver on image quality, it's a pretty compelling value proposition.
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You may be right.. I didn't tried these IQ backs yet, but if the focus mask is the same as in Capture One.. I don't need it (personally). The fast 100% zoom is enough.
One tip if you get IQ140, get Nikon eyepiece DK-17M, it fits Contax and you have full frame view finder again :-)
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One tip if you get IQ140, get Nikon eyepiece DK-17M, it fits Contax and you have full frame view finder again :-)
Thanks! Looks promising. Just curious - is this magnifier covers full 6x4.5 frame? I'm asking because I'm a little freak about crop factors. Just in my priority list, sensor size is on top, not DR or resolution, just sensor size.
Sorry for the off topic.
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I recently went through an exact struggle like you...
The choice finally come down to IQ140 or P65. They are available second hand/refurbished for roughly the same price. Pros and cons have been discussed many times on these board, but summary of my perspective, I would say if you are more a "people" shooter, then get the IQ140, and if you are more a landscape shooter, get the P65. I wish there were IQ145, that would have been perfect ..
Hm.. I photograph people mostly and don't have any issues with the p65+ ... Manual focus rings on the lenses are not comfortable enough for my taste. No leaf shutter. Even with these obstructions I prefer the camera over my D800E. Film back is a good option also.
I didnt say there are "issues" with P65+, but if you shoot fashion/editorial, faster frame rate, focus masks and ability to zoom in 100% of IQ140 might worth the trade off for me. Of course I wish I have the money for IQ160.
So it's heartening that no one has said I'm just nuts to put money into a camera system that's 10 years past its sell-by date.
If I decide to go ahead, the choice between the IQ140 and the 65+ is worth looking at. The interface on the rented IQ250 was very nice--especially the ability to go to 1-1 when untethered. But I did miss having the full frame on the wider lenses. And nothing wider is going to be made for Contax, so that's a consideration. I'm trying to arrange a side-by-side between the IQ250 (with which recently I'm familiar) and the P65+ (which is a price I can justify--or rationalize) to see if the workflow considerations get in the way, and to see how the IQ compares.
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So it's heartening that no one has said I'm just nuts to put money into a camera system that's 10 years past its sell-by date.
If I decide to go ahead, the choice between the IQ140 and the 64+ is worth looking at. The interface on the rented IQ250 was very nice--especially the ability to go to 1-1 when untethered. But I did miss having the full frame on the wider lenses. And nothing wider is going to be made for Contax, so that's a consideration. I'm trying to arrange a side-by-side between the IQ250 (with which recently I'm familiar) and the P65+ (which is a price I can justify--or rationalize) to see if the workflow considerations get in the way, and to see how the IQ compares.
Sorry, can't help with this, for the reason I'v mentioned above.. Personally I never considered to bye a back with smaller chip than p25, which have a crop factor about 1.1 according PhaseOne specs.
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Thanks! Looks promising. Just curious - is this magnifier covers full 6x4.5 frame? I'm asking because I'm a little freak about crop factors. Just in my priority list, sensor size is on top, not DR or resolution, just sensor size.
Sorry for the off topic.
Yes it covers full frame as well. Viewfinder is one of my top priority, so that really helps. If you think about IQ140 vs P65, image rendering at pixel level is exactly the same, sensor size really only manifests in resolution and a little bit of DOF, which Contax has abundance of.
By the way, read somehwere that you also have the Maxwell Hi-lux screen, how much is it and what is turn around time? This is also an excellent recommendation to OP (we are not going off topic!)
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Yes it covers full frame as well. Viewfinder is one of my top priority, so that really helps. If you think about IQ140 vs P65, image rendering at pixel level is exactly the same, sensor size really only manifests in resolution and a little bit of DOF, which Contax has abundance of.
By the way, read somehwere that you also have the Maxwell Hi-lux screen, how much is it and what is turn around time? This is also an excellent recommendation to OP (we are not going off topic!)
Yes I have one, and will recommend it. First I contacted with mr. Maxwell and we discussed about few personal preferences. Be careful it's take time, but it's very pleasant to talk with person like him. Then I bought new focusing screen from ebay and arranged the shipping directly to Maxwell's address. When it was ready, he shipped to my address. All the process took about a 3-4 weeks, keep in mind I'm in Bulgaria - not so close to USA. The manufacture process took if I remember correctly about a week or so. The price for Maxwell's wonder I don't remember, but it shouldn't be more than 300$..
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..about the sensor size.. The topic is well discussed around and for me most important is field of view. I want exactly the same Field of View from my lenses as they expected to provide for the given format. I don/t want to make a step backward just to be able to frame and simultaneously loosing some physical properties of the given lens.
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What a camera like the contax does is feel special, or feel better in the hand, with a quality feel. Quality always feels nice and for 1/5 the price of the newer cameras, it's a steal.
At times long cameras like the Contax, Hasselblad and Phase just work differently, i.e. slower than a a flat camera like a 35mm dlsr, a leica S or even a pentax 645 which is almost a flat camera.
Now I love the contax have 5, but rarely use it because of the Leica S2 and if I was buying a digital back for my contax I wouldn't spend past a p30+, never an IQ anything, given how I use cameras.
The only issue with the contax is the viewfinder with a prism seems small, (I've gotten use to it) with the wlf it is huge. No big deal either way and at least you can manually focus with it.
Issue 2 is you must polish all of the contacts, lens, prism, body and back before a week long shoot (though everything should be cleaned on every camera anyway).
To me the Leica doesn't have the sharpness of the p30+ but it's a slightly faster camera to work, and build like a solid piece of billet, but it really does very little the contax won't.
Firstly because a p30 or p30+ will have more sharpness and detail with the contax zeiss lenses than you'll ever need at any size reproduction (if your skilled in post production) and has microlenses which seems to smooth out some of the zeiss lens contrast.
The lcd is limited, but if you work professionally you will be or should be good enough where that won't bother you and if you work for clients your going to tether anyway.
If you really need 35mm dslr type features and shooting experience buy a pentax, but it's a much different camera than a contax and nothing is sharper than the contax zeiss lenses. Their almost too sharp.
The DF+ I haven't held one, but it's new, not tested and I am positive won't do enough to justify the price of $40,000 something for a camera, cmos back and one lens. No still camera today is worth $40,000.
In fact and it's all been said before, but I hear all of this stuff about precision alignment, space aged materials, (i.e. sales talk) and I've never had a focusing issue with a contax and I've owner 4 different backs for mine.
You just have to be careful about keeping the focusing screen flat and never use the phase mask that goes under the focusing screen because it slightly moves the screen up and throws off the alignment, but that's not on contax it's on phase.
In regards to central shutter lenses, you can freeze action a lot easier with short duration flash than with lens shutters.
As you move up line, if central shutters are a must you can buy a demo leica S2 for less than 8 grand and put on any H or contax lens (without cs) with full focus functionality with the leica adapters.
Also once you buy into any phase camera system it takes a strong will to withstand the constant marketing of move up, move up, spend more, trade in, you'll here "be a better photographer if you spend more if not your an okay photographer" . . . but that's all talk, not images.
Now you'll hear a lot about a p30 being a "cropped" camera and that's just more negativity, but it's really not much different in size than most medium format sensors. A p45 for examples has around a 1.14 crop a p30+ a 1.24 crop. Your just splitting hairs.
It's funny you never hear any negativity about the cmos almost 645 cameras that are a 1.3 crop so I wouldn't worry about it.
You'll also hear about "end of life" and "what if it breaks?" Well anyone that shoots for a living needs a backup so try paying for two phase xf cameras and backs vs. a contax and a p30+. Scenario one (new phase one w/ backup is the price of a BMW 7 series, scenario 2 (contax) is a used 3 series and both will work virtually the same.
It's up to you, your money, your life, but if the newest and most advance gets you hot then sony just announced an amazing 42 mpx still camera that shoot 4k video, track focuses and has on sensor focusing and stabilization for $3,200. Now that's advanced tech, but much more computer than camera.
p30+ Contax, 80mm lens f.2.8, 125th second, iso 200, 575 watt HMI
(http://www.russellrutherford.com/v2_julia_lescova_LA_p30+.jpg)
Leica S2, 640 iso, 1/30th second, F4, Contax 55mm lens, tungsten and window light mixed.
(http://www.russellrutherford.com/rockers_2_leica_contax.jpg)
I could show more but this should give an idea of the camera's use.
IMO
BC
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... if the newest and most advance gets you hot then sony just announced an amazing 42 mpx still camera that shoot 4k video, track focuses and has on sensor focusing and stabilization for $3,200. Now that's advanced tech, but much more computer than camera.
Coots, now you're being a naughty boy!
You know that Sony announcement made you blink twice ..
It's enough camera, with the right lenses, that you don't even think computer.
Customise it and you'll only need to go into the menu for tethering (with C1Pro) ...
Edit:
BTW, luv that first shot - evocative mood.
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So it's clear we can't help to the author of the tread, let then share some Contax's output..
P65+
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So it's clear we can't help to the author of the tread, let then share some Contax's output..
P65+
Oh, youy've helped a lot. And this image does as well. Lovely. Is this the 140mm?
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Dragomir,
Looked at your website, love much of your work.
BC
Looked at both of your websites. Love much of the work. And the work is the thing, really, isn't it? I can see no reason not to coax my Contax fully into the digital realm.
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Now I love the contax have 5, but rarely use it because of the Leica S2 and if I was buying a digital back for my contax I wouldn't spend past a p30+, never an IQ anything, given how I use cameras.
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I'm fascinated by this comment -- the "given how I use cameras" particularly. Is it because you always work tethered? Or are there other aspects of use that come into play here? For client-driven projects, that's usually my case. For personal work, not so much.
Now you'll hear a lot about a p30 being a "cropped" camera and that's just more negativity, but it's really not much different in size than most medium format sensors. A p45 for examples has around a 1.14 crop a p30+ a 1.24 crop. Your just splitting hairs.
It's funny you never hear any negativity about the cmos almost 645 cameras that are a 1.3 crop so I wouldn't worry about it.
The only reason i care about the a cropped sensor is that i know there will never be a wider lens than the 35mm for Contax.
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LOL! Maybe I already am a legacy photographer...
This sounds a lot like what I've been thinking. And if a legacy db can deliver on image quality, it's a pretty compelling value proposition.
dunno about you but for me the contax and a legacy db is quite adequate in terms of image quality.
it is hard to judge via internet but here (https://sites.google.com/site/peterlowefoto/Mexico) are some sample images from a recent project with this combo.
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You are right. Always have been.
Yes the Sony made me blink enough to start placing calls to buy one or two and how soon how much, etc. etc.
It's one of the few camera announcements Ive seen where they didn't intentionally hobble the camera to sell the next one.
Won't love it but if it does what the specs say it will make me money and maybe save my back from lugging all of those REDs.
IMO
BC
You're right BCooter. Always have been.
Just buy a $%&! Sony and let me help you get rid of all those REDs
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I would keep the Contax and buy the most megapixel back i could find. Aptus-10, Aptus-12, IQ180, or Credo 80. I used to have the Contax with an Aptus 75S. Should have kept it and saved a lot of money.
Now have an IQ140 on a Mamiya DF and a Cambo WRS with three lenses. Could have saved $30K.
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/59754911@N06/18537348826/in/dateposted-public/
p45+
go get that p65+, yolo! you wont regret it
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Dragomir,
Looked at your website, love much of your work.
BC
Looked at both of your websites. Love much of the work. And the work is the thing, really, isn't it? I can see no reason not to coax my Contax fully into the digital realm.
Thanks for the kind words guys!
@BC respect for your work, this means a lot coming from you.
@D Fuler, I agree the object, concept and the style (language) are important, not the gear. Especially these days, when everybody can make an image. So maybe the best investment should be to produce a few projects, and shoot them with what is good enough to deliver the message. The differences between formats are not so important for the above, they are for as - the photographers like me, nervous and tired of looking tons of images.
Oh, youy've helped a lot. And this image does as well. Lovely. Is this the 140mm?
By the way this is 80/2.. I would like to be 127 on a 6x7 or 210 on 4x5 but there is no such digital backs.. With one exception - http://aphotoeditor.com/2011/08/23/mitchell-feinbergs-8x10-digital-capture-back/ (http://aphotoeditor.com/2011/08/23/mitchell-feinbergs-8x10-digital-capture-back/)
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FWIW, I found the P65+ to be an excellent back. I put 50k exposures on mine before I traded it in on the IQ260. Now the IQ 260 is on the block because of... Sony. Still, Man... I have always REALLY wanted a Contax 645. But then, I'd also love a Rollei Hy6... so don't listen to me.
CB
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The P65+ can produce beautiful files. I have an IQ160 and love the file quality. The files can be pushed and pulled in post-production a lot. I personally like the look of the larger chips (depth of field / optics). It's not 6x7 (loved the look of my Pentax 6x7's) but its a as close as one can get nowadays.
The Phase backs are rock solid while tethered. The hardware/software integration is superb.
As usual with photography it's all a matter of personal taste. What is in front of the lens and how you direct it as a photographer is what matters most.
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Dammit, forget about Contax, where do I buy the spray can to get that skin tone?
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Dammit, forget about Contax, where do I buy the spray can to get that skin tone?
..pff hahaha, my type sense of humour! By the way your Bhutan's project looks interesting. A bit in this social/Colors/Fabrica Magazine aesthetics which I like. Too small and only three.. or I miss something?
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Too small and only three
it´s just a blurb & all the photos for that project were made with a Crown Graphic or Mamiya 7... those were the days :-)
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All I was saying is don't get caught up in the upgrade path system.
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Now I use my Contax less because our work has changed. We shoot 20 to 29 something setups a day, still or motion or sometimes both. We spend months on a motion project, the still camera is sometimes secondary and time is a premium.
My Contax and P30+ shoots a little better file than the leica, though is slightly harder to work in post for a pretty look.
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Our of all the digital cameras, I find the Aptus series the prettiest file for most applications.
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Not from this small jpg but this image we've cropped full face for a poster with no issues, so I guess it's all up to you.
BC, your images are a pretty compelling argument for the connate + legacy back being a viable choice. I like the images I see from leaf (not =just yours) but I don't see many options available for buying one, so I'm looking harder at the phase backs.
FWIW, I found the P65+ to be an excellent back. I put 50k exposures on mine before I traded it in on the IQ260. Now the IQ 260 is on the block because of... Sony. Still, Man... I have always REALLY wanted a Contax 645. But then, I'd also love a Rollei Hy6... so don't listen to me.
CB, your recommendation means a lot. I share a lot of your taste in motion imaging, and I expect stills to fall in that line.
But Sony... What they're doing might just make me re-think the whole Red thing. But that's another discussion altogether.
Something that amazes me is that in this entire thread, no one has come in and said, "let that 10-year-old camera die and move on." That speaks volumes about the what Contax achieved. It reminds me of the respect Aton carries in the film camera world.
DF
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On the other note, Phase One has discontinued support for Contax. 5 years from now on when sensor technology will have moved leaps and bounds, IQ280 will still be the best thing we can have for Contax. So it makes me a bit uncertain to keep holding on/keep investing in the system (back up lens/bodies)
I wish Phase One still offer back for Contax at least in a made to order basis, even at premium (+3k). Then I will be much more at peace.
I have two thoughts on this:
The first is that it doesn't seem that sensor technology has moved much at all in the past seven years. Usability technology has moved, but the sensors, with the notable exception of the 50MP CMOS sensor, are pretty much the same as in the P65+. There's an 80MP version, but that's all I see for movement in sensor tech. (I may well be missing something, but that's why I'm so seriously considering a P65+ as an option.)
The second is that we haven't heard from Leaf yet. I find myself wondering if Phase is not being smarter than some give them credit for in limiting support of old tech in the new camera and backs. It's a very Apple thing to do, throowing out the old tech so it doesn't impede the new. (Of course Apple is a consumer products company, and its support for pro markets has been notoriously weak.) But might it be that Phase One has a strategy to keep support of other systems through Leaf? They already support more of them than Phase does.
This is, of coourse, just idle speculation... or maybe wishful thinking.
DAF
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I have two thoughts on this:
The first is that it doesn't seem that sensor technology has moved much at all in the past seven years. Usability technology has moved, but the sensors, with the notable exception of the 50MP CMOS sensor, are pretty much the same as in the P65+. There's an 80MP version, but that's all I see for movement in sensor tech. (I may well be missing something, but that's why I'm so seriously considering a P65+ as an option.)
The second is that we haven't heard from Leaf yet. I find myself wondering if Phase is not being smarter than some give them credit for in limiting support of old tech in the new camera and backs. It's a very Apple thing to do, throowing out the old tech so it doesn't impede the new. (Of course Apple is a consumer products company, and its support for pro markets has been notoriously weak.) But might it be that Phase One has a strategy to keep support of other systems through Leaf? They already support more of them than Phase does.
This is, of coourse, just idle speculation... or maybe wishful thinking.
DAF
Hi, I also own C645 system with all lenses but the 350 and use two backs on it, both with multishot ability, a Hasselblad CF-39MS and a Sinarback 54H, the CF-39 I also use alternatively to my DSLRs sometimes. What keeps me with the platform are three things:
1. The superb performance of the Zeiss 120mm APO micro lens which I mostly use for multishot
2. The trouble free compatibility of Contax mount backs with Fuji GX-680 which allows me to have movements and even combine them with multishot on my Fuji 5 lens system.
3. The ...JAS adapter(!!!) which allows me to use my Contax glass on my Nikons (there is one for Canon too) with full dedication, which improved the performance of my DSLRs a lot, but also restricted considerably the equipment I have to carry, since one can only add a DSLR body to the bag and have both systems.
If movements and multishot was not in my essentials and it was within my buget, I would have P-65+ as my first choice due to:
A. The size of the image area which would allow my 35mm lens to work as real wide angle,
B. The ability to use the back in "exposure +" 15mp mode with 2 stops of sensitivity gain.
If my budget was restricted to spend as low as possible, I would either look for an old 22mp Kodak sensor back which IMO (and many others) have superb image quality (the famous "fat pixel magic") but are a bit more prone to moire issues, or look for a Dalsa 33mp back which are known for their superb color and accuracy. As you previously said, Image quality hasn't changed with CCD backs during the last decade... only sensor size and pixel count has...
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Hi Theodoros, just a quick question about fuji gx680, is there a focal plane shutter or only leaf shutter inside the lenses? Im always intrigued when someone brings it up but never handled one.
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Hi Theodoros, just a quick question about fuji gx680, is there a focal plane shutter or only leaf shutter inside the lenses? Im always intrigued when someone brings it up but never handled one.
Hi, the Fuji has no focal plane shutter, the shutter is only of the leaf kind and is (of course) built in the lenses, the choice of Fuji for me (I used to use Sinar P2 before that) was because the image area (circle) of the lenses is ideal for use with respect to the image area of MFDBs and because the expenses where much less... With the Fuji, one needs only a cable to do multishot, with a view camera, one needs digital lenses with electronic control of the leaf shutter built in and the command mechanism that accompanies it... The drawbacks with the Fuji is that one can't use "real" WA lenses with respect to an MFDB's image circle (the wider lens is "only" 50mm), the bulk of it and that there is no geared movements as to be "dead accurate" when using movements (which costs in time)... The advantages are the fact that the camera is a DSLR one, the image quality is superb, the revolving back (the image circle of the lenses is an 7.6x7.6cm "square" one) and of course that one who uses an MFDB platform like the Contax for his MFDBs can use an inexpensive (revolving) adapter plate and thus be able to use his backs on the Fuji too without any conversion by doing this, he also adds leaf shutter capability in his system which a camera like Contax doesn't provide.
Fuji is difficult to use in multishot mode with MFDBs because of the "noisy" huge mirror that can't be locked up for the whole multishot sequence, but there are ways to work around this problem and if one does, the results are both rewarding and can be compared with any image coming from any other view camera with the best of digital lenses at only a (very small) fraction of the respective cost. Further more, in the rare case that one may need to have a "real" WA image shot with it, he may use 120 film, scan it with a Nikon coolscan 9000 or using his multishot back with Kaiser lightbox (I do both) and do it... The question (IMO) clearly is whether one is prepared to forward equipment as to perform a task, or if he follows the "skills path" which happens to be much more cost effective too... I happen to belong in the second division and that is more a decision rather than a cost saving path... I simply believe that today's photography has nothing to be jealous off than what photographers where doing 50 years ago and thus (although I follow the "progress" info), I don't trust much the (expensive) solutions that are proposed from the makers these days, I rather prefer to stick with equipment I already own and try to optimize its use to achive the best possible results at the minimum of cost. It is more a political choice that makes me feel good rather than having to "believe in a different God" all the time....
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Thanks for your reply. In which case Fuji 680 is not for me then.
I use a lot of LF antique brass lenses with Sinar P and Sinar Copal shutter (with either 4x5 film or polaroid), which gives me a lot of pleasure. I'm thinking of bringing them to digital age, more out of curiosity rather than practicality. If Fuji had focal plane shutter then it had potential to replace the Sinar nicely. However now I will look at finding an adapter to fit DB back on Sinar P. What is your recommendation? Apologise for slightly out of topic, but its also about extended use of Contax digital back ;-)
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Thanks for your reply. In which case Fuji 680 is not for me then.
I use a lot of LF antique brass lenses with Sinar P and Sinar Copal shutter (with either 4x5 film or polaroid), which gives me a lot of pleasure. I'm thinking of bringing them to digital age, more out of curiosity rather than practicality. If Fuji had focal plane shutter then it had potential to replace the Sinar nicely. However now I will look at finding an adapter to fit DB back on Sinar P. What is your recommendation? Apologise for slightly out of topic, but its also about extended use of Contax digital back ;-)
I agree with you... If one doesn't need multishot or other feature that requires the use of "digital lenses" to stick with the "traditional" path... However, it all depends on what one needs... As for recommendations, my suggestions (IMO) would be the same as the ones made for the O/P a couple of comments back... "Chose a back that is good with movements"... As for sliding rear standard adapter, I would go for one from China.
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I am seriously considering dumping my Leica M kit with Noctilux and Summilux's for a Contax 645 and P65+ kit. I feel a bit edgy about it though given that, for example, my 75mm Summilux has almost doubled in value in 3 years.
The things is, I really need the resolution and the Contax 645 and 80mm will give a similar look to my current outfit, which is very important, but with far more detail and output size. I was hoping Leica would play ball in the resolution game but it seems they are asleep at the wheel, or want you to buy the S, which I have no interest in at all. It's so frustrating because I love the Leica kit so much and it's look is really something I love but I need more in resolution and MFD look and image quality (one current job needs 4 meter prints)
My concerns are that medium format value will plummet soon and I will be left with yet another dead value kit (i have several: 4x5, mamiya rz, hblad V) when some of my Leica kit is almost as good as keeping the money in a bank. I wish I could afford to keep the Leica kit but it has to go for me to afford the MFD. I have been using the Leica M kit and hiring the Phase One kit (frequently) for jobs I needed it, but I have more and more jobs needing the res and I also need to remain competitive and step things up all round.
So I'm torn between the two, what would you do?
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Bo you can't think of it as an investment - you have to think, "Does this get me where I need to go? Does it let me make photos I have in my head? Does it do that better than other options?" I shudder to think what my once $5k D3s is worth, but it paid for itself many times over in the images I got from it.
-Doug
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Has anyone here ever used the Contax 645 bellows? I'm wondering if any of the lenses can be used with it for portraiture (full body/head & shoulder shots), or is it strictly macro/product only? I'm after some tilt shift portraiture. I notice Cooter used to use the Hartblei tilt shift quite alot for full body shots, but I'm after something a little longer, focal length wise.
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Has anyone here ever used the Contax 645 bellows? I'm wondering if any of the lenses can be used with it for portraiture (full body/head & shoulder shots), or is it strictly macro/product only? I'm after some tilt shift portraiture. I notice Cooter used to use the Hartblei tilt shift quite alot for full body shots, but I'm after something a little longer, focal length wise.
It´s made for macro photography and with the standard Contax 645 lenses nothing else is possible.
But if you want to experiment you can use it with large format lenses. Around 135mm or longer lenses will get focus at infinity.
/Tomas
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Thanks, much appreciated for the wealth of tips here.
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Theodoros
What is the workaround with mirror lock up and multi shot on the Fuji?
Thanks
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Theodoros
What is the workaround with mirror lock up and multi shot on the Fuji?
Thanks
If you aren't familiar with multishot captures, it's really difficult to explain... I'll try my best...
Multishot is a capability that some MFDBs have, which allows them through special software to shoot at every single pixel position with all Green, or Red, or Blue polated by the Bayer pattern pixels... To do this, multishot backs have a piezzo-electric crystal controlled mechanism included in the back, which allows them to move the sensor so that pixels of different color are aligned and thus, every single pixel records "true color" without any interpolation involved... The result is absolutely stunning, to the extend that there isn't any single shot back currently that can compete for all aspects of IQ or color accuracy...
Now..., because the process only applies (obviously) to still subjects and constant lighting, for one to achieve optimum performance, all camera vibrations must be eliminated too.... but Fuji GX-680 can't lock the mirror up (for multishot takes - it only can for single captures) and additionally, its mirror is the most vibrant there is (obviously because of size)... but there are ways to work around the issue and do fully successful multishots even if the back is attached on a GX-680...
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Here's another note on the useability of the Contax/P65+ combination:
I recently discovered that my Nikon version Profoto Air TTL trigger works perfectly with the Contax 645 if I simply set it to manual. Obviously the TTL function doesn't work, but the triggering and the ability to control the strobes works just like it should.
(http://airstreampictures.com/pics/pencils-26062.jpg)
Pencil Box. Contax 645, Zeiss 12mm macro, P65+ Profoto B-1 Strobe
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Hello fellow Contax users,
Somehow I've managed to lose my Contax dark slide. Anyone has a spare that you could part with for a reasonable cost, please let me know. Much appreciate.
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Hello fellow Contax users,
Somehow I've managed to lose my Contax dark slide. Anyone has a spare that you could part with for a reasonable cost, please let me know. Much appreciate.
PM sent...