Medium format digital itself is a niche field, but please bear with me as the content this time is deeper and more maniacal.
As you can see, I used the “Mamiya RZ67 Pro II” camera. For the digital back, I borrowed “Leaf Aptus 22” (released in 2005) from the editorial department’s collection. Leaf is an Israeli digital bag manufacturer. It used to have a reputation in the beauty and fashion industries for its soft expression of human skin and unique color.
Leaf Aptus22 large sensor
Aptus is the name of Leaf’s digital back, which allows you to take pictures on its own without being connected to a computer. Like Phase One, it was released for camera systems from various companies. This individual is for Hassel H mount.
The sensor size is 48 x 36mm. It’s exactly the area of two 35mm full-frame sensors. The number of pixels is 22 million pixels, which seems normal nowadays, but it is equipped with a larger CCD sensor than the currently mainstream medium format digital cameras.
At that time, there were two sizes available, large and small, and you could choose the smaller 4433 (currently this size is the mainstream for medium format digital) or the slightly larger 4836. Naturally, the larger the size, the more expensive it was, and there were bottom-pixel and high-pixel models for each size. Also, all of them are Dalsa CCD sensors with 16-bit recording.
In 2009, Leaf formed a capital alliance with Mamiya and has adopted the name “Mamiya Leaf.”
Mamiya’s digital back “DM series” is the same as the “Leaf Aptus II series,” and Aptus branded ones continued to be sold for Hassell and Contax. There is a wide variety of models available, including the 80-megapixel 645 full-frame model and models with a revolving function for the Hassel V system. By the way, this unit is equipped with the same sensor as the later Aptus-II 5 / DM22.
In fact, the first medium format digital camera I ever purchased was the Aptus 22 for Mamiya.
I was captivated by the radically different image quality from the 135-format digital SLR camera I was using at the time, and became hooked. This was the day he was freed from the spell of film. After that, he went on to purchase two Aptus machines, and this was the model that caused him to go off the rails.
Mamiya RZ67 Professional II
The RZ67 is a standard 6×7 camera released by Mamiya in 1982, and is an excellent tool often used in studios and photo studios. From the mechanical RB67 (RB means revolving), the RZ uses electronic controls for aperture and shutter speed. You can also shoot in AE using the AE prism finder.
The RZ67 Pro II (released in 1993) that I used this time is an advanced model that can now fire the intermediate shutter (until then, the shutter could only fire one stop at a time).
Later, the fully digital compatible “Mamiya RZ67 Pro II D” and the adapter “HX701” with electronic contacts were released (compatible with Mamiya mount only), making cableless and Exif recording of shooting information possible, but the one I used this time is Since it is an RZ67 Pro II, aperture and shutter speed are not recorded in the shooting data.
Also, the H adapter used this time was made by a third party, but judging by the actual footage, it seems that the accuracy is not that bad.
The biggest feature of the Mamiya RZ and RB series is this revolving function. This mechanism is even revolutionary when used digitally. In the case of the Hassel V system, it is necessary to remove the digital back and replace it vertically, so it is larger as a mothership of digital backs, but this has a great advantage.
The second feature is that the focus is adjusted by extending the bellows on the main body. Thanks to this, I can get very close to the subject and it is quite easy to focus.
Attaching to camera
Remove the RZ67 Pro II’s film back and attach the Aptus 22 via the H-mount adapter. In the case of the Leaf, simply specify the camera as “Mamiya RZ 67” on the digital back side and connect it to the synchronization contact on the lens, and you are ready to take a picture (all you need is a synchronization cable to transmit the shutter timing). However, please note that this cable is fatally obstructive and difficult to manage.
A long time ago, when I was using the Aptus 22 for Mamiya, I used it attached to the RZ67 (type 1) in the same way, and this is the first combination in 10 years.
Naturally, the angle of view is narrower than 6×7, so I ended up using a 48×36 mask over the viewfinder (I used Permacel tape instead). The 4433 sensor tends to give the impression that the angle of view is suddenly narrower, but the 4836 sensor eliminates this impression to some extent.
All Aptas models are equipped with a large 3.5-inch touch panel LCD. It can be operated with your finger or a stylus pen (stored in the shoulder). The roughness of the LCD screen and narrow viewing angle are difficult to control, and without a histogram, you can’t tell the exposure at all, and if you change the angle a little, the way you see changes dramatically, making it hard to know what to trust.
The successor Aptus II has slightly improved LCD quality, but it is still a business machine. Since the premise is that it will be connected to a computer, it would be better to just think about the rear LCD being “somewhat” visible.
Invested in photographing works
When I tested it before shooting, I discovered that I couldn’t do tethered shooting with Capture One Pro (v11), which was supposed to work. Even if it recognizes a digital back, an alert will appear if it is not compatible. I suspected that it was because it was an H mount, but the OS, software version, and 12w FireWire requirements were cleared, so the cause is unknown.
I immediately gave up on using it as my main camera (this monitor on the back made it difficult to check between teams), so I switched cameras and took just a few shots while using my own camera.
Leaf Aptus22・MAMIYA-SEKOR Z 110mm F2.8 / ISO25 ・1/125s ・F8
Flower artist: Risa Ogawa
Hair makeup: Kanna Murokita
Model: Rose Yuzuriha
Photographer: Hidekazu Tominaga
*Click on the image to enlarge
In the case of a 48×36 sensor, a 110mm lens has an angle of view equivalent to 79mm in 135 format. It can be said that the operability when shooting is outstanding. Since the bellows is retractable, you don’t have to worry about the shortest shooting distance, and it’s very easy to focus. The shutter charge lever picks up a light tempo, and it feels really good to take pictures. Switching vertically and horizontally is also smooth. There is no problem if you use it on a heavy tripod.
Unique “ISO 25” live-action sample
It can be said that the biggest feature of Aptas 22 is its “ISO 25”.
ISO 25 is the highest image quality, and although noise becomes noticeable at ISO 100, it doesn’t feel like film grain or anything unpleasant, and I feel that this is a range that can be used regularly for hobbyists. Hand-held shooting is difficult unless the weather is sunny, and there are some aspects that require a lot of strobe output in the studio, but if you consider it to be a substitute for a film camera, you won’t have to worry about it. We’ve become so accustomed to the benefits of digital that we often forget that even when it’s not convenient, photos still come out great.
Leaf Aptus22 ・ MAMIYA-SEKOR Z 110mm F2.8 / ISO25 ・ 1/250s ・ F5.6
*Click on the image to enlarge
Leaf Aptus22 ・ MAMIYA-SEKOR Z 110mm F2.8 / ISO25 ・ 1/250s ・ F4
*Click on the image to enlarge
Leaf Aptus22 ・ MAMIYA-SEKOR Z 110mm F2.8 / ISO25 ・ 1/90s ・ F5.6
*Click on the image to enlarge
Basically, digital backs require RAW development (Aptus cannot record JPEGs in the first place), and colors are shallow when taken as is, and it looks like LOG data in a video, but when developing, use Leaf’s genuine profile and make fine adjustments. That alone makes for a very unique depiction.
This time it was developed to look natural, but you can get a glimpse of the slimy feeling as if you were looking at a Shinogo (4×5) positive.
summary
Leaf Aptus22 ・ MAMIYA-SEKOR Z 110mm F2.8 / ISO100 ・ 1/60s ・ F4
*Click on the image to enlarge
When I used the RZ67 for the first time in 10 years, the first thing I noticed was its weight.
This time, I spent about an hour hand-held snapping without using a strap, and while it can be used without any problems, it’s hard to say that it’s very easy to take out. You should never think about how many kilometers there are. Would it make sense to use it on a tripod, especially if it is combined with a CCD sensor that starts at ISO 25?
The SEKOR Z 110mm F2.8 for 6×7 that I used this time is not a lens that emphasizes sharpness, but I think it turned out just right. When using a relatively new lens for the 645, the Leaf’s sensor is unusually sharp, even to the point where it suffers from moiré. Nowadays are a good time, as that part becomes less noticeable when opened with the latest Capture One.
When you check the data at 100% magnification, you get a strange impression of the unique sharpness of the Leaf, the bokeh caused by the large sensor, and the smoothness of ISO 25. Perhaps because the number of pixels is small (= the size of one pixel is large), it produces colors that are difficult to express with 35mm full-frame, or even other digital backs. On the other hand, I think it takes a certain amount of developing skills to create a natural finish with this sensor. Even among Leaf’s digital backs, it seems to have a bit of a quirk.
Recommended for these people
The price of “Leaf Aptus22” at the time of its release was a whopping 3.98 million yen. Over the years, high-end commercial equipment has become available second-hand at fairly reasonable prices. Of course, given its age, there is a risk that it could break at any time (repairs are no longer accepted), so it is not something that can be recommended to everyone.
As with all digital backs for professional use, there are no functions to compensate for your own inexperience as a photographer, and it is painful that the scenes that can be used are limited due to the problem of regular sensitivity. There is no magic trick that says “no matter what I shoot, it will look good”. It’s entirely up to you how to utilize the potential that comes from a large sensor with so much individuality.
Cameras have evolved so that anyone can take pictures without making mistakes, and in this day and age where people are becoming more dependent on cameras, it would be crazy to choose “Leaf Aptus” just like using your favorite film.
It may not be suitable for use in client work in the future, but it will be a very interesting tool for shooting works or hobby photography. As you face the light at low sensitivity, you should be able to arrive at a finish unique to this model.
Hidekazu Tominaga | Profile
Born in Fukuoka in 1983. A photographer by profession who turned from a graphic designer. He bought a used medium format digital camera in 2013 and fell in love with his expressive power. He gained experience at a shared studio in Fukuoka and moved to Tokyo in 2022.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) fan.
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