Mamiya zd 22

Hello!

I purchased a Mamiya zd 22 megapixel camera, but had to return it after one

week because of the following problems:

 

Highlight area's were blown out to clear flat white without any detail.

 

The pictures had a yellow cast under all lighting conditions and under all 6 of

the standard White Balance settings. Mamiya suggested that I use the customized

white balance settings, which I refused because I feel the pictures should not

have had a yellow cast under at least one of the standard white settings. The

yellow cast, by the way, had a glowing intensity to it, I don't know if that

means anything?

 

The pictures were not nearly as sharp as my 4.5 megapixel point and shoot

camera, which Mamiya said was because point and shoot camera's have a special

software built into the camera, which sharpens the picture. So, what do the

sharpness settings 0-3 on the Mamiya mean? Not Sharpening Software? Even when I

sharpened the Mamiya picture with software the $100.00 point and shoot was still

sharper.

 

The histogram has four boxes and for most of the photos the whole histogram was only

in box number three?

 

The camera frequently flashed that the dark slide was in, but the digital back

was on? This was only correctable by removing and putting the digital back on again.

 

I am grateful I was able to return the camera as defective.

I would appreciate any comments on this situation.

 

Mary

I don't know, if I payed $12,000 or so for what it cost for that camera and the Rep is giving me these lame excuses as you mentioned. I would have turned it and asked for my money back. Then I would have puchased a Hassy, or a Canon 1Ds with the money.

You purchased a high-end digital camera when your previous experience was with a point-and-shoot camera? You were wise to return it (and fortunate for the opportunity).

 

It sounds like you are profoundly ignorant of the basic of photography - focus, exposure and shutter speed. You compound this by your confusion over post processing (e.g., sharpening and white balance).

 

It could well be that the camera was defective. It is just as likely that you failed to set up the camera properly, electronically or mechanically.

 

I found the transition to digital relatively painless, but that followed a long background including traditional, non-automatic photography. There were still "special" techniques to learn, and more yet when moving to medium format digital. I can't imagine having to learn every aspect of photography at the same time. Good luck in the future.

Dear Edward,

I would just like you know that I am a Hasselblad medium format user for

20 years and have taken some wonderful photos all manually. Believe me, I do understand shutter speed, aperture, bracketing, light meters, lighting, exposure, etc. Focusing, oh yes have you ever focused

a 20 year old vintage Hasselblad with a old dark screen pal. While I no longer

develop my own photos and did have a dark room.

Thanks for assuming that I am so completing stupid about photography.

Mary

"The pictures were not nearly as sharp as my 4.5 megapixel point and shoot camera, which Mamiya said was because point and shoot camera's have a special software built into the camera"

 

They were right, you were wrong. No one said you were stupid about photography (traditional), but your comments suggest you are totally unfamiliar with digital gear too compare it with a 4.5 mp "point and shoot"...wow....why not at least a good dslr, or did you never have one?

 

You might be right and it is defective, but I get the feeling you didn't give it a chance, and if it were defective, why didn't you exchange for another new one? Instead, you use something for free for a week, and leave the retailer/mfr hanging with a return item that must be sold as refurbished. I find it interesting if your so knowledgeable that you only registered today at photonet to complain.

 

"Even when I sharpened the Mamiya picture with software the $100.00 point and shoot was still sharper. " Yeh, right, that is absolutely rediculous. I find your comments insulting, Edward is not the only one finding your comments irritable. You need another camera from Wallmart, there you can return all you want, get yourself a nice sharp 10mp point-and-shoot.

Mary,

 

I am sorry to hear of your bad experience. I am presently shopping to get a medium

format digital system and was considering a Mamiya ZD kit, which inludes the

camera body, 80mm lens, and the 22MP back. It seems like a good deal at $9900.

 

I have done some research and I think the way to go is with a system that has a

Phase One back. I will most likely be getting a Phase One camera (just came out

and is made as a joint effort with Mamiya) with an 80mm lens and a Phase One 20+

16MP back because I want the square format. Those items are offered as a kit for

about $12500.

 

Please feel free to contact me in the near future if you want to know how I am doing

with my new camera when I get it.

 

Good luck.

 

Mark

 

marksablow.com

Medium format digital photography as close to a digital point and shoot as a Smart is to a Ferrari. The learning curve is vastly different. It's a shame you didn't realize that before buying the camera. Better preparation and education would have produced better, more predictable, results and you'd probably still be off shooting.

 

Good luck in whatever path you take.

Dear Mark and Harry,

Thank you for your helpful comments. As for the rest of the bunch it would be helpful if you could tell me where I went wrong, what I possible did wrong? Or perhaps there something wrong with the

camera, which I believe to be true.

Instead of just telling me I just don't understand digital photography. What in

my original post is an operating error? Why would the ZD not be as sharp as a point and

shoot yet ZD does have internal sharpening software as well?

So tell me how are your ZD's preforming for you boys. Is there a ZD owner's out there?

Mary

It took me a week or so to get the interface sorted out between my Hasselblad CFV back and 205TCC camera (and others). There are many settings and some things which should work, don't. The accompanying software is not always user-friendly either. The fact that you jumped to a comparison with a P&S without any indication of trouble shooting was an immediate turn-off.

 

What is your fixation with sharpening? Let's start with some fundamentals. Sharpening improves contrast but does not improve the actual sharpness. Medium format digital backs do not, in general, have an anti-aliasing filter. Up front the results will be sharper than a comparable small-format DSLR, but with more tendency toward Moire. Don't talk about sharpness unless you are using a solid tripod and good shooting technique - you waste everybody's time including your own.

 

There are several levels of review of the Mamiya ZD at the Luminous Landscape site (q.v., http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/zd-review.shtml). This will let you know what you can expect if you get it right.

Mary,

The most annoying thing is not the Mamiya, but the way other posters attack your

credibility.

scott

Dear Edward,

 

Did I use a tripod? Yes I did. I used a new tripod which takes up to a 42lb load, Mirror Lock up and cable release.

 

So, what do mean by interface. I purchase the kit of 645afdII with 80mm lens and digital back all together, also a 120mm lens. Quote from Mamiya's website:

"Mamiya Serial Communication for External has optimized two-way communication between the 645AFD II and the ZD Digital Back. This produces an operating experience identical to using a one-piece digital camera"

I believe Mamiya is stating that there is no interface problems with this camera.

 

To answer your question: "What is your fixation with sharpening?"

I am not fixated with sharpening. I am just looking for a picture that does not have ALL of the above

listed problems, not just sharpness. I believe I listed 5 problems.

 

 

Signing off for good. Goodbye.

 

And Scott! Thank you for your words of support!

Mary

Wow, 5 problems now! Maybe also too big, or in wrong color?