Interesting article: "36 Megapixels vs 6×7 Velvia" and 4 x 5

[Ken Lee]

See 36 Megapixels vs 6x7 Velvia by Tim Parkin at On Landscape

[mdarnton]

Thanks for that. Here's another article, from yesterday, I was looking for a place for, and this thread seems to be the place:
http://petapixel.com/2014/12/18/comp...-film-digital/

[Ken Lee]

My only reservation/observation is that the Mamiya 7 used in the test is a rangefinder camera: precise focus is dependent on calibration of the rangefinder mechanism.

I don't know if the lenses for Mamiya RB67 are basically "diffraction limited" IE optimal as are the Mamiya 7 lenses but if they are, the resulting images could be even better than those obtainable from a Mamiya 7. A Pentax 67 might do better also for the same reason.

[koh303]

My only reservation/observation is that the Mamiya 7 used in the test is a rangefinder camera: precise focus is dependent on calibration of the rangefinder mechanism.

I don't know if the lenses for Mamiya RB67 are basically "diffraction limited" IE optimal as are the Mamiya 7 lenses but if they are, the resulting images could be even better than those obtainable from a Mamiya 7. A Pentax 67 might do better also for the same reason.

Mirror shake on the RZ needs to be considered more then glass quality. Modern RZ lenses, have usually tested better resolution then 7 lenses, last time i checked.

[Ken Lee]

Mirror shake on the RZ needs to be considered more then glass quality.

The mirror can be locked up, no ?

See http://www.mamiyaleaf.com/assets/fil...Z67_Pro_v4.pdf page 29:

With the RZ 67, it is possible to lock the mirror in the up position beforehand, and at the desired instant release the shutter without the usual accompanying mirror movement. Referred to as “mirror-up operation,” this technique is extremely valuable when desiring to eliminate even the slightest mirror shock...

[koh303]

The mirror can be locked up, no ?

See http://www.mamiyaleaf.com/assets/fil...Z67_Pro_v4.pdf page 29:

With the RZ 67, it is possible to lock the mirror in the up position beforehand, and at the desired instant release the shutter without the usual accompanying mirror movement. Referred to as “mirror-up operation,” this technique is extremely valuable when desiring to eliminate even the slightest mirror shock...

Yes of course. I guess for testing puproses the RZ is a better tool, regadless, the results of this test just blew my mind away. I knew it all along, but was basing this on 10 year old knowledge and testing. Surely, i told myself recently, technology has leaped ahead and the world is a different place. I guess not.

[Michael Graves]

The mirror can be locked up, no ?

See http://www.mamiyaleaf.com/assets/fil...Z67_Pro_v4.pdf page 29:

With the RZ 67, it is possible to lock the mirror in the up position beforehand, and at the desired instant release the shutter without the usual accompanying mirror movement. Referred to as “mirror-up operation,” this technique is extremely valuable when desiring to eliminate even the slightest mirror shock...

I only have a lowly RB-67 Pro-S, but with the double cable release, I push down halfway to release the mirror, wait a second and push down the rest of the way to take the shot. Piece of pie. Easy as cake. Even I can do it.

[buggz]

My RZ67 Pro II does this also, with a two connection cable.
No problems.

I only have a lowly RB-67 Pro-S, but with the double cable release, I push down halfway to release the mirror, wait a second and push down the rest of the way to take the shot. Piece of pie. Easy as cake. Even I can do it.

[Larry Gebhardt]

Mirror shake on the RZ needs to be considered more then glass quality. Modern RZ lenses, have usually tested better resolution then 7 lenses, last time i checked.

I found the Mamiya 7 65mm lens to be superior to the RZ 65mm lens with the floating elements. This was not the result of any rigorous testing, just looking at the results. Those were the only two lenses I had with a focal length overlap. However with the 150mm 7 lens I rarely get anything I want perfectly in focus. So there the longer RZ lenses gave me better results.

[Sal Santamaura]

...I don't know if the lenses for Mamiya RB67 are basically "diffraction limited" IE optimal as are the Mamiya 7 lenses but if they are, the resulting images could be even better than those obtainable from a Mamiya 7. A Pentax 67 might do better also for the same reason.

No, the 7 wins period. First, its lenses don't need to deal with a mirror box, so they're not retrofocus, enabling extraordinary performance. Second, any camera with a reverse-curl film path suffers from resolution-reducing bulging unless an entire roll is exposed in one continuous burst.

Pentax 67 lenses just don't achieve the same resolution as either Mamiya. See this page

http://www.hevanet.com/cperez/MF_testing.html

for some numbers.