paulhu54

I had the same problem with one of my film backs. After about 10-11 exposures, the back decided to go crazy, the film counter will reset to ZERO, and I could not take any more images, unless I take the film back off the camera, then mount the back to the camera again. Of course the film counter still showed ZERO.

 

I called Mamiya, and they told me that I need to send the back back, but I never asked about repair cost, since I have 3 other backs to use.

I have both systems, the Mamiya 645AFD w/Kodak Pro Digital back, and Hasselblad H1D.

 

For the amount of dollar investment, Mamiya 645AFD is at a very, very low price(in the used market), and a used Kodak digital back is around $4,000 - $5,000. On the other hand, H2D is a substantial investment, and the return on your investment may take a longer time. It's true that the leaf shutter in the Hasselblad let you sync flash at any speed, especially for high fashion photo shoot. But for wedding and studio portrait, I think that the Mamiya 645AFD and a digital back should be sufficient. Instead of a Kodak Digital back, you can always invest in a Phase One, Leaf, and other digital backs for your Mamiya.

 

Choice is yours on whichever system you wish to purchase. Remember, it is not the tool that makes the image.

I would suggest stick with Hasselblad CFV, no electronics, no cables, Just set your iso, white balance, and type of camera body on the digital back. then you are set. In this case, I would stick with the same family of body and digital back.

I have both the Hasselblad 501CM kit like NEW. This unit was provided to Kodak Corporation by Hasselblad for testing digital back, then Kodak discontinued the digital back. This camera is still in box, never used, no film has ever been loaded into the magazine. I have the unregistered Warranty paper. You can verify with Hasselblad given them the S/N of the body, and they can tell you that this unit was recorded as Kodak Corporation.

 

I also have a 503CW body, brand NEW, Warranty papers, never registered, bought from TMPromotions on ebay.

 

The reason why I have not used those 501CM and 503CW cameras is that I use Hasselblad H2 and H1D for my work, the 501CM and 503CW are just my colletion items.

 

If anyone is interested, you can e-mail me and make me an offer.

I am so glad that someone found my camera. The last time I was on the moon, I had to leave in a hurry, because my spacesuit had a hairline rip. During my quick exit, I left not only my SWC, but also my wallet. Finders can keep the money in the wallet, but please return my camera and wallet, which contains my driver's license, a few credit cards, and ex-girlfriend phone numbers.

STAY AWAY!!! Some points to consider: 1. Seller has ZERO feedback(not purchasing or selling experience with ebay) 2. Seller is not a registered ebay user(no protection from ebay) 3. Seller has no other items for sale, except this one time sale of this professional grade camera 4. Seller is overseas(out of US jurisdiction).

I have both the Mamiya 645AF, 645AFD, and the Hasselblad 503CW. I prefer to use the Mamiya AF due to the automatic metering and auto focus when shooting people and things that are moving. When I shoot nature and landscape, and things that are static, then I use my Hasselblad 50CW(everything manual). This is just a personal choice. If you are doing assignment work that requires quick action and re-action on your part, such as photo journalism, then 35mm SLR or 35mm DSLR AF is much faster than MF AF.

I have the 503CW and a Metz 54 MZ-3 with SCA390 adapter and PME45 on my camera. With the waist level finder, the good flash indication light is on the left side of the screen, but with the PME45 your image is reversed positively(what you see is what you get), so the good flash exposure light is NOW on the right of the screen.

 

On the side of the 503CW, there is an ISO dial which is the iso dial for flash only, not film. You must set the iso on the dial to match the film iso to get full flash, or a faster iso than the film iso to get fill flash.

 

Again, nothing would work without the SCA390 adapter(Hasselblad part number 51681).

Make sure that the cable is still connected to the flash and lens whether the flash is on the shoe or off the shoe. Playing around 35mm SLR too much, I sometimes forget to connect the cable when I mount a flash on my Hassey cold shoe, thinking the shoe will fire the flash, yet I connect the sync cable when the flash is off the camera every time. Nikon SB15 should not have anything that detects whethere it is on the shoe or off the shoe.

Just make sure that you also have a SCA390(51681) adapter to use with your Metz 54 MZ-4i and Hasselblad 503, otherwise the flash will not work.

On my Hassey 503CW, the 80mm is a general all purpose lens, which I use for most occasions. When it comes to specifically portraits (head shots, half length, and 3/4 length), I use the 150mm. For full body length, I can use the 80mm or the 150mm(standing at a distance)

I use Kodak Pro Back 645M on my Mamiya 645AFD, and I have Hasselblad H1D. I love the Mamiya and Kodak combination (of course I still love my Hassey). No magazine has complained about the quality of the TIFF file I submitted to them. As a matter of fact, not one client asked me what equipment I used to capture the image and how I did it. My clients just want results.

 

Sure it is nice to have the 39MP PhaseOne or Leaf. But with the current price of pre-owned Kodak Pro Back between $3000 - $5000, it is money worth spent, and it does the job.

 

Talking about megapixels, a lot of my images submitted to my clients are taken by a 4.1MP Nikon D2H, still no client has compalined yet.<div></div>

I have the exactly setup as in John's photo. I have my pocket wizard mounted on top of my PME45. Since the PW is mounted on a cold shoe, you can try different orientations of mounting the PW with the PW side with the switch facing front, back, lfet or right of camera to see if it helps any. I just use the prism finder for focusing, and I normally use the cable release to fire the shutter, so I have not observe any obstruction hitting on my hard head.

The press release was dated 05/10/06 on Mamiya's website. I am glad that MAC is committed to the future of the Mamiya cameras and accessories.

 

I just love my Mamiya 645AFD II and all the lenses. I just came back from Virgin Islands shooting some Playboy playmates and other swimwear models. I shot both 35mm digital and 120 film (Provia 100F). There is absolute no comparison between digital and film images. I had to do several white balance adjustments on my digital images, but the slide images were right on as far as the crystal blue of the water, the white clothing of the models, and the skin tone of the models.

 

As long as I can get support and service on my existing equipment, I am very happy with the tools that I have.

Dump the Hasselblad, since everyone is going digital. I will give you the address where you can donate your antiquated kit to, and I will make sure that you will get a charitable contribution form for your year-end tax deduction. Of course, we will pay for shipping.

 

You got your best years out of the Hasselblad, and it is time to let go to pursue something younger and newer(that's what I told my ex-wife). Don't be afraid to let go, because new things(digital) will come along your way(I am still waiting....).

OOPS!!!

 

'April 2005 issue of Shutterbug'. I meant the April 2006 issue, currently on sale. I have my years mixed up. I am still living in the past.

Paul,

 

You are the one who purchased the 712 case from KEH. I was looking at it for the past several months. I hope yours will fall apart, just kidding. Well, I will settle for the 612 case they have in stock. :)

Terence,

 

'the only affordable current digital back for the V series has the same megapixels as a Canon 1DS-MkII but costs about 50% more'.

 

This is like saying 'Both Ford Taurus and Mercedes E320 has four wheels, but Mercedes costs 50% more'.

 

FYI, April 2005 issue of Shutterbug, page 155:

'... the Aptus 17 has a 43.2x31.7mm sensor....By comparision the 17-megapixel Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II uses a 36x24mm sensor.....Also 17 megapixels on a 43x31mm sensor means larger individual pixels than 17 megapixels on a 36x24mm sensor. The larger the pixel(should be sensor) the better it is at accurately capturing and recording color.

 

Let's compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges.

 

I also made some recent investments in a complete V system with several lenses. Hasselblad may not manufacture any more V system, but they will still support them. Hasselblad is concentrated completely in the digital medium format market.

I purchased many accessories at 'BGN' rating from KEH. To me, those are 'good' in my rating. I have never purchased any body or lenses at 'BGN' rating, so I cannot advise you on that. Of course, if you don't like it, or if it does not work, KEH has an excellent return policy.

Karl,

 

I have PM'd you regarding the some of the differences(not too many) between 645AFD and 645AFDII.

 

The 645AFDII does not have a 'T' mode for timed exposure, while the 645AFD does. In place of the 'T' mode on the exposure knob, the 645AFDII has the 'CF' for custom functions.

 

In 'T' mode, you can use a mechanical shutter release cable screwed into the shutter release button. If you have a screw on the cable release, you can lock the shutter release to keep it open. To disengage the 'T' mode, you do not just release the cable, you have to (while the shutter release button is still pressed down) turn the exposure mode setting dial to 'X' to cancel the 'T' mode and the shutter closes.

 

The 'T' mode uses mechanical control, so it will NOT drain the battery to keep the shutter open, but the bulb mode uses electronic control, so the batteries are in constant use during the entire exposure.

 

I have never played with the 6x7 format, but I have the Hasselblad which is 6x6. I am looking for Mamiya 7II in the used market

Calumet in the Netherlands has the ZD DSLR listed for Euro 9,995.00.

"If you can wait, Hallelblad's new CFV digital back looks pretty good. Check out the earlier post in this thread: "Hasselblad 500CM - Digital?"

 

I don't think the Hasselblad CFV digital back will work on Rollei 6008AF.

"The long awaited (is it soup yet?) Mamiya ZD appears to be ready to

start shipping in Europe, following its introduction in Japan last

December. It was shown by several dealers at the recent Focus show

in the UK, and Calumet in the Netherlands now lists it.

 

MAC, the US distributor for Mamiya, is completely mum on the subject

(could it be because they are also the distributor for Leaf digital

backs in the US?) For this reason it may be that photographers in

the US won't be seeing the ZD at all, or there might be a delay till

the politics are sorted out."

 

The above information is quoted from The Luminous Landscape at

http://luminous-landscape.com/

 

FYI, Creo and Mamiya formed Leaf America Corporation.

Since the 220 films are free, it does not hurt to try in the 120 film back. You are not going to get 24 exposures, but may be 16-18, I think. Of course, you cannot depend on the frame counter of the 120 back. The 220 film does not have paper backing, so, if you use an older model of the 120 back, there is a window that you need to plug to prevent light going into the film back.

The 'D' models have MSC(Mamiya Serial Communication), which works with digital backs. The AF model without the 'D' does not have communication with digital backs, no flash exposure compensation, no bracketing in manual mode, and few other things.

 

This is really a personal choice on which model you like. I have both the 645AFD and 645AFD II.