arminw Posted December 30, 2006 Share #1 Posted December 30, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) I would be interested to find out if some of you forum members had have any experiences or knowledge, whether there is a noticeable difference in quality and resolution between the M8 and the Mamiya 7II medium format rangefinder camera? I‘ve been playing for sometime now with the idea of getting a medium format rangefinder camera, simply because of the size and portability, but if the M8 is so sharp and it seems to capture so much detail, why go for medium format Film? I also seem to remember reading somewhere (It might have been on here) that 10mega pixel cameras and higher do indeed produce the equivalent image quality of a medium format film camera. Is that true ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 30, 2006 Posted December 30, 2006 Hi arminw, Take a look here M8 comparison to medium format film. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Your Old Dog Posted December 30, 2006 Share #2 Posted December 30, 2006 "I also seem to remember reading somewhere (It might have been on here) that 10mega pixel cameras and higher do indeed produce the equivalent image quality of a medium format film camera. Is that true ? " I think you are referring to a thread started by a man who made commercial prints. What he was saying if I remember correctly is that if you know what you are doing when you take the image and know what you are doing when you process the image that you can go into the realm of 40" prints with some amazing results using an M8. I don't think he was suggesting we could throw away our 8x10 view cameras now that the M8 was here! Some seemed to take it to mean that and it became a controversial thread !! But the guy who made the original thread had come up with some stellar results. Maybe someone will be able to find the thread for you in a search... You may want to read this thread. I think it's the one you refer to. http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/9022-30-x-40-inch-m8-prints.html?highlight=4x5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
graham_mitchell Posted December 30, 2006 Share #3 Posted December 30, 2006 35mm film seems equivalent to around 8MP to me. 645 film is 2.7 times the area, which should therefore be around 22 megapixel. 6x7 film should be around 4.2 times the resolution, i.e. ~33 MP. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfogle Posted December 30, 2006 Share #4 Posted December 30, 2006 IMO it's the smooth tones of digital compared to film that makes it 'medium-format like'. I would think the M8 would easily emulate medium format qualities for most purposes. Probably for subjects with lots of fine detail (landscapes?) medium format would be better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted December 30, 2006 Share #5 Posted December 30, 2006 Armin and Ray, IIRC the thread was about 30 x 40 inch prints by David Adamson at this link: http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/9022-30-x-40-inch-m8-prints.html Best wishes, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdewitt Posted December 30, 2006 Share #6 Posted December 30, 2006 In recent years I stopped shooting 35mm and shot a lot of 6x9. IMO my M8 produces better resolution, less noise and greater dynamic range than any 35mm color film I've ever shot. But less than any 6x9 color film. Where exactly is the dividing line? I can't say because I have never shot 645 or 6x7 and haven't shot 6x6 in decades. But for me there's more to it than that. Though I can get better results from 6x9 they aren't THAT much better and they are much more difficult to get. Part of that difficulty has to do with scanning in that any scan less than a good drum scan will have DR probems. Plus I simply hate working with film these days; I want a full digital worklow. Futhermore my M8 is a lot easier on the back than my 6x9 setup. All in all I could certainly get somewhat better image quality out of 6x9 film than my M8, but at a price (not financial) that I'm simply not willing to pay. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike prevette Posted December 31, 2006 Share #7 Posted December 31, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) All I can say is get the mamiya. I am still kicking myself for getting rid of my mamiya 6 years ago. It was one of the most fun cameras I have ever shot with. I still look at some of the prints from it and am amazed. _mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spersky Posted December 31, 2006 Share #8 Posted December 31, 2006 The only old 35mm digital I have seen that even comes close to Medium format film is the Canon 1Ds Mark II. You have to realize that once you enlarge past 13x19 the quality differences will become noticable when you are dealing with lower megapixel cameras. In 4x6 prints or internet thumbnails a P&S is equal to almost any camera. Regards, Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arminw Posted December 31, 2006 Author Share #9 Posted December 31, 2006 Thanks to all of you for your comments . I think I do have to get a medium format camera after all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidada Posted December 31, 2006 Share #10 Posted December 31, 2006 Thanks to all of you for your comments . I think I do have to get a medium format camera after all. Hold off until you have seen output from the M8 - I have many great pro photographers come through my studio and everyone of them who has seen my prints has agreed this is equal to medium format, however in a much more portable package. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bnelson Posted December 31, 2006 Share #11 Posted December 31, 2006 David... I just read the entire 30x40 thread. Thanks a bunch for your input. With a new M8 I am encouraged. Just as a point of reference, how do you see the difference between large (30x40 or so) prints made with the M8 and ones made with a medium format (33-39mp) back? Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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