Mamiya RZ67 Replacement Options for my Valeo11

[Mark Howell]

Hey gang,

It's been a while since I visit the forum, but I know you all will help clear up the shopping fog I'm having.

In a nutshell, I'm an in-house catalog photographer and have been shooting Leaf backs on an RZ67 body for years. Our first back was a DCB2 and our current back is a Valeo 11. I love the quality Leaf offers, but Leaf's Capture software will no longer support the Valeo11 beyond my current version, LC11.1. (You invest over $12k to $15k in a back three years ago and they drop software support even the back still works like a champ.)

So, my supervisor and I are starting to research our options and are considering Leaf alternatives, mainly for the expense and frustration of not being supported anymore with the LC software.

Mamiya now has the DM22 & DM28 units that, according to their specs, capture 16bit color depth and are actually supported by LC software. Mamiya starting price for 22DM on a 645 body with a 80mm lens is under $10k. That's pretty impressive pricing. However, I'd hate to lose my RZ67 and it's lenses. Does anyone know if or how to use the DM series backs on an RZ?

Also, how do the DM units, or Mamiya's ZD series, compare to Leaf's Aptus series backs?

One a side note, we are also looking to replace our field unit, a Canon 20D. Think the 645 DM would be a worthy replacement vs. a full frame Canon (i.e. 5D)? Also, does Canon offer a remote capture software similar in operation to LC?

I look forward to reading some good feedback.

[RobertJ]

Mamiya now has the DM22 & DM28 units that, according to their specs, capture 16bit color depth and are actually supported by LC software. Mamiya starting price for 22DM on a 645 body with a 80mm lens is under $10k. That's pretty impressive pricing. However, I'd hate to lose my RZ67 and it's lenses. Does anyone know if or how to use the DM series backs on an RZ?

Also, how do the DM units, or Mamiya's ZD series, compare to Leaf's Aptus series backs?

Actually Mark, the DM22 and DM28 are Leaf Aptus backs (Aptus-II 5 and 6 as John-S has stated) that come with the 645AFDIII body, though I think the back has a Mamiya label on it, though that means nothing, IMO.  The DM33 and DM56 come with the new 645DF body.  The DM series apears to be Mamiya-branded camera packages that consist of Mamiya and Leaf products.  

You can use them via an adapter from Leaf or Mamiya.  I'm guessing you have the regular RZ67 or ProII, not the "IID" version, so you can use an adapter like this: http://www.adorama.com/MYDL33RZ67AK.html for the 36x48mm chip backs (33MP or 22MP Leaf backs), and for the smaller chipped 28MP Leaf back, this adapter should work: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/6050...dapter_Kit.html .  And you probably know you need the sync cables as well.

Since the backs have the 645AFD interface, you can use them on the RZ67 ProIID without cables using the Mamiya electronic adapter: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5027...ck_Adapter.html .

Hope this helps.

[RobertJ]

BTW, did you ever consider trying the Lightroom 3 beta or even the current version of ACR with your Valeo 11 files?  They are supported, and the file quality in LR3 is outstanding from what I've seen so far, though it's only a beta...

[JeffT]

I am assuming that you have an older Mamiya RZ and not the Pro II or IID. In either case, if you opt for a new Leaf or Mamiya branded Leaf back, you will want the Leaf Mamiya RZ adapter plate for AFD mount. Many report having had problems with the Mamiya branded adapters using Leaf backs on the RZ ProII and IID. I ended up with the Leaf adapter plate that does not have the electronic contacts for communication with the camera and therefore requires a synch cable (2 cables required if you want to fire the camera and back from the computer using Leaf Capture. This combination has worked flawlessly and seems to be the only consistent solution for a Leaf back on a Mamiya RZ.

...and you can use the back on the new Mamiya 645DF (Phase One 645DF, same camera). Advantages to the new camera are per report of those using pre-release cams:
1. faster autofocus, far superior to any prior Mamiya 645 AFDI, II, or III; on par with the better dslr's on the market.
2. can use the new Schneider designed, Mamiya manufactured leaf shutter lenses for flash synch up to 1/1600 if that is important to you.

I use an older AFDII in the field and for me, it handles very similarly to a larger pro dslr. The new 645DF is supposed to be considerably lighter than the older 645AFDs.

I would not want to lose the RZ glass either. There are a few of the newer D-series Mamiya 645 lenses that compete (e.g. 150/2.8D, 80/2.8D) but certainly not as consistently excellent as the RZ line of lenses. The clarity, detail and 3-D look of the RZ glass has been compared to the Schneider APO Digitars by several that use both and they say they are every bit as excellent.

I also on occasion use a Canon 5DII, but always end up missing the quality from my Leaf 75S...

Cheers!

[Alex MacPherson]

I am sorta looking at the same sort of thing myself.

From what I have read, the new Mamiya backs are rebadged old Phase One backs.

I would go for the new Leaf Aptus II 5 digital back. It is supported by both
Leaf Capture and Capture One 5.0

... and definitely keep the RZ

[Alex MacPherson]

I am sorta looking at the same sort of thing myself.

From what I have read, the new Mamiya backs are rebadged old Phase One backs.

I would go for the new Leaf Aptus II 5 digital back. It is supported by both
Leaf Capture and Capture One 5.0

[JeffT]

I am sorta looking at the same sort of thing myself.

From what I have read, the new Mamiya backs are rebadged old Phase One backs.

I would go for the new Leaf Aptus II 5 digital back. It is supported by both
Leaf Capture and Capture One 5.0

... and definitely keep the RZ

I think the backs you are talking about were the Mamiya M18, M21, M25...those were rebaged Phase backs...I have not seen that they made it into the US.

Mamiya also now has rebaged Leaf backs, the DM series...see: http://www.mamiya.com/dm-series-digital-backs.html

And I agree with Alex....KEEP THE RZ!!!

[RobertJ]

From what I have read, the new Mamiya backs are rebadged old Phase One backs.

The DM backs and DM/DL camera packages are Leaf.  Those Mamiya Phase One backs ('M' series) don't seem to be for sale in the US anywhere that I've looked...