On Location with the Mamiya RZ33

[MattBeardsley]

Hello LL,

I spent a crazy week setting up location shoots with the relatively new Mamiya RZ33 (a kit combining an RZ67 PRO II and DM33 digital back).  It's a bear to shoot on location, but the results have been really rewarding!  Does anyone see any mistakes or edits I should make?

Have a great day!
Matt

The Link:
http://photoartsmonthly.com/blog/2011/02/14/on-location-with-the-mamiya-rz33/

[Eric Kellerman]

An excellent review. Thank you very much. I have an RZ67D, and have been thinking about getting a DB for it.

[yaya]

An excellent review. Thank you very much. I have an RZ67D, and have been thinking about getting a DB for it.

Hi Eric, I'll be at the Pro Imaging show in Nieuwegein next month with both Leaf and Mamiya so if you would like to try one of the backs on your RZ just let me know

Cheers

Yair
ysh@leaf-photography.com

[JV]

From the blog:
I’d venture to say that I like the way the RZ33 records color more than any camera I’ve ever tested.

For my information, have you tested the same digital back with another camera? 

[billthecat]

I have a RZ67 and a AFD2 with a ZD back.

I love the colors from my RZ67. It is more 3D and better color. It is a lot nicer than my AFD2. The RZ 110 is a world better than the 80mm lens for the AFD. My old AFD 150mm is nice, and I haven't tried the new 150mm D.

Bill

[uaiomex]

Those creamy lenses of the RZ make the digital capture look well... non digital. Luv it.
Eduardo

[MattBeardsley]

JV,

I've used a previous generation of LEAF back on a Hasselblad H2D and had similar experience with very good color rendering...  I haven't had an opportunity to test the DM33 with another camera system...

~Matt

[MattBeardsley]

Hello LL,

Just added a new entry, Image Quality and the Mamiya RZ33.  Always a tricky area to write about, given the subjectivity involved.  I've definitely found that the Mamiya RZ33 (a RZ67 Pro II body with a re-branded Leaf Aptus-II 7 digital back) puts out beautiful colors and smooth tonal transitions and contrast.  The files are very workable and have lots of color and exposure range.  The back has a pretty gentle approach to in-camera noise reduction and sharpening, but its output can be easily amped up in Capture One...  Interesting experience!

Take a look and let me know if you catch any errors or would describe the subjective portions in a different way.  I'm really curious to hear about other shooters' experience with digitized RZs!

http://photoartsmonthly.com/blog/2011/04/01/image-quality-and-the-mamiya-rz33-aka-the-dm33-and-leaf-aptus-ii-7/

Thanks! Matt

[AlDoori]

thank you for the review of a great camera that kind of got lost in the transit to digital.
just a note:
i can trigger my RZ from the mac via firewire using leaf capture 11.
i just connect the back with the release cable supplied with the leaf RZ adapter to the electric socket under the camera release button to activate "take shot" in the software. in combination with the winder a nice feature.
and the black metal finder mask of the 645 film back is quite usefull to reduce real estate of the 67 screen.
kind regards

[Steve Hendrix]

Hello LL,

Just added a new entry, Image Quality and the Mamiya RZ33.  Always a tricky area to write about, given the subjectivity involved.  I've definitely found that the Mamiya RZ33 (a RZ67 Pro II body with a re-branded Leaf Aptus-II 7 digital back) puts out beautiful colors and smooth tonal transitions and contrast.  The files are very workable and have lots of color and exposure range.  The back has a pretty gentle approach to in-camera noise reduction and sharpening, but its output can be easily amped up in Capture One...  Interesting experience!

Take a look and let me know if you catch any errors or would describe the subjective portions in a different way.  I'm really curious to hear about other shooters' experience with digitized RZs!

http://photoartsmonthly.com/blog/2011/04/01/image-quality-and-the-mamiya-rz33-aka-the-dm33-and-leaf-aptus-ii-7/

Thanks! Matt

Hi Matt -

I am assuming you mean RZ Pro-IID in the article, not Pro-II (as stated).

I would also say that while ProPhoto RGB can be selected as a Color Space, it can also be selected as an ICC Input Profile via the Color Looks tab. I've found it works well as an input profile, delivering accurate, slightly under-saturated color over a wide variety of subjects, as opposed to using some of the biased Color Look profiles, that often push slightly warmer or cooler. But this does cause some confusion as those using ProPhoto RGB as a Color Look need to understand in this use it is not expanding (nor addressing) the color space itself, but only the input profile of the camera, ie; the actual hue of color, rather than the gamut of it.


Steve Hendrix

[MattBeardsley]

Steve,

Good to hear from you.  Thank you for your editorial help!  Back in journalism school, we would have called misnaming a subject a G.F.E... Gross Factual Error.  I'm glad you caught it.

Also, I hope you won't mind me reproducing your comment, with credit and a URL, at the end of the article.  You made the difference in the Leaf's two profiles much clearer.  It was a distinction I discussed in part three of three and will have to take another look it tomorrow (and add a few "D"s to that piece too!)

Thanks again,
Matt

[itsskin]

black metal finder mask of the 645 film back is quite usefull to reduce real estate of the 67 screen.
kind regards

where can I get this part? Any links?

[Steve Hendrix]

Steve,

Good to hear from you.  Thank you for your editorial help!  Back in journalism school, we would have called misnaming a subject a G.F.E... Gross Factual Error.  I'm glad you caught it.

Also, I hope you won't mind me reproducing your comment, with credit and a URL, at the end of the article.  You made the difference in the Leaf's two profiles much clearer.  It was a distinction I discussed in part three of three and will have to take another look it tomorrow (and add a few "D"s to that piece too!)

Thanks again,
Matt

Not at all - glad to help. 


Steve Hendrix

[AlDoori]

where can I get this part? Any links?

it is a standard accessory of the 645 film back, and it looks like you can still order it as a spare at any store that carries mamiya .

Mamiya RZ67 Finder Mask 120/6x4.5

Mfr. Part: 212-509     SKU: MYRZMF645

19.95 $

http://www.adorama.com/MYRZMF645.html

btw: with the release cable i mentioned above you can trigger the RZ from the mac using the "take shot" button not only in leaf capture 11, but also in capture one.