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New Leaf Credo camera back series for the Mamiya 645DF to ship in June
If you shelled out for the $5,990 Mamiya Phase One 645DF, you probably have the funds to support your photography habit. Mamiya Leaf wants you to expand your arsenal, offering three new digital backs to go with that medium-format camera. The Leaf Credo 40, 60 and 80 are named for the number of megapixels their CCD sensors are packing, and all have a dynamic range of 12.5 f-stops. Each sports a 3.2-inch, 1.15-megapixel touchscreen that extends beyond the edges of the LCD (so you can edit images without covering them up). The $19,495 Credo 40 is the fastest of the bunch, shooting at a rate of 1.2 fps, with a 43.9 x 32.9 mm sensor and an ISO range of 50-800. The $32,495 Credo 60 has the same ISO range but a 53.9 x 40.4 mm sensor and a slower 1-fps shooting rate. Finally, the $38,995 Leaf Credo 80 has the 53.7 x 40.3 mm sensor, a wider ISO sensitivity range of 35-800 and the slowest capture rate: 0.7 fps. The 80 also has two-minute max exposure time, while the 40 and 60 top off at one minute. Mamiya Leaf says all three models will start shipping in June. If that steep pricing hasn't scared you away, you can jump past the break for the full press release.
Photographer goes digital, blows half a million dollars on a 10MP sensor
Ever spent way too much on a luxury watch or handbag? We hear ya -- the Engadget closet is bulging with Balenciaga clutches we hardly ever take out any more. But do you know who we blame for these inexplicable lapses of consumer judgment? A professional photographer by the name of Mitchell Feinberg, who happens to own the world's largest digital sensor. He uses the $500,000 custom-built 8x10-inch camera back to help capture mouthwatering advertising stills for couture clients like Bulgari and Vogue. What's really loco, though, is that the sensor is only 10MP, which isn't remotely sufficient for printable art. Instead, Feinberg puts it to work as a replacement for Polaroid; grabbing full-size test snaps during a shoot before reverting to an old-fashioned sheet of 8x10 film for the final money-shot. Whereas he previously spent $50k per year on Polaroid stock, now he spends nothing. So, unlike those silly blue-tinted Ray-Bans we bought for our vacation, this block of light-receptive love should eventually pay for itself. (Oh, and speaking of summer breaks, Feinberg says he's currently away on his, but he promises to post some sample pics on his site when he returns.)
Visualized: Leica's first digital camera
In 1996, Deep Blue defeated chess grand-master Garry Kasparov for the first time, Dolly the cloned sheep was born, and digital cameras were still out of the reach of most consumers. This was also the year that Leica released its first digital scanning back, the S1. This bad boy was designed for the company's 35mm R-series lenses (with lens mounts for a number of other manufacturer's optics) and captured 1.4-inch square images. And what did you get for your $21,500? A camera that operated at ISO 50 and produced 48-bit (151Mb) image files with "little if any of the artifacting, blooming, and fringing that continue to plague us to this very day," according to B&H. And as one would expect from Leica, it has a design that inspires significant gadget lust. Hit the source link for plenty more photos.
Leaf debuts Aptus-II 10R digital camera back with rotating sensor
When you pay tens of thousands of dollars for a medium or large format camera and camera back you expect at least a bit of convenience, right? Well, it looks like Leaf is now making folks' lives a tad easier with its new Aptus-II 10R digital camera back, which packs a rotating sensor that will let you switch from portrait to landscape orientation without actually removing the camera back from the camera. Other than that, you can expect a 56-megapixel sensor, a 3.5-inch touchscreen, ISO range from 80-800, and full compatibility with most medium and large format cameras. Oh, and a price of €24,995, or about $33,700.
Leaf announces new Aptus-II 22 megapixel camera back
Neither for the faint of heart nor the slight of credit, Leaf's newest -- the Aptus-II 5 digital back -- boasts a 0.9 fps capture rate, 22 megapixel sensor, 2.5-inch touchscreen display, a 12-stop dynamic range and a 25-400 ISO range. Sounds great, right? What if we told you it would run you €5,995 (about $9,000) for the back itself, or you could bundle it with the Phase One 645AF body and an 80mm lens for €7,995 (about $12,000)? Right, you'll take two. Pre-order now from your favorite Leaf Imaging retailer and you should get your new device in November. PR after the break. [Via DP Review]
PhaseOne P40+ medium format camera hits the streets of Copenhagen
It's been a few moments since Phase One had us lusting after one of its devices, and now the company is back with a 40 megapixel system named, appropriately enough, the P40+. Like the P65+ we peeped last year, this new guy offers two separate image-capture modes -- in this case, you're looking at either a standard mode for full 40 megapixel shooting, or a 10 megapixel Sensor+ mode that gives you a four-fold increase in light sensitivity (ISO to 3200), and a 1.8 fps capture rate. Both modes feature a 12.5 f-stop dynamic range. The camera is shipping now, and it will run you a cool €16,990 ($22,073). Or pick up just the camera back for €14,990 ($19,475). Actually, you might want to think about picking up two. You know, just in case. One more image after the break.
