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#1
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Digital back!
Hi,
Please excuse my primitive question. I am not familiar with medium format systems rather than my very first camera which was a Lubitel 2. I am sure many medium format users will not like Lubitel to be called a medium format. Anyhow, I have always been aware of the quality of medium format but as i am a hobbyist the expensive price of the equipment and specially development has been a hinder for me. Now, once again I am looking at MF systems, may be I can get into this realm as well. While looking at cameras I come to the concept of digital back. What does it do? Does it change the camera to a didital camera or only shows the pictures on an LCD screen? regards, Mojtaba |
#2
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Mojtaba wrote:
Please excuse my primitive question. I am not familiar with medium format systems rather than my very first camera which was a Lubitel 2. I am sure many medium format users will not like Lubitel to be called a medium format. Anyhow, I have always been aware of the quality of medium format but as i am a hobbyist the expensive price of the equipment and specially development has been a hinder for me. As long as you are having fun, it doesn't matter what camera you are using, or how much/little its costs. (Which is a thing some (former?) Kiev adepts residing in this group have trouble understanding... ;-)) And a Lubitel definitely is a MF camera. Now, once again I am looking at MF systems, may be I can get into this realm as well. While looking at cameras I come to the concept of digital back. What does it do? Does it change the camera to a didital camera or only shows the pictures on an LCD screen? A digital back does change a MF camera into a digital camera, yes. It simply replaces the 'normal' back holding film with one having an electronic sensor instead. So instead of recording the image on film, it is recorded and stored electronically. It must be downloaded to a computer, where it can be used as any other digital image file. Digital backs for MF cameras today are still far too expensive. Since digital photography definitely is the future of photography, and though many people will keep using film (as well), MF manufacturers will be either moving towards producing more and cheaper ways of producing MF digital images (cheaper backs, digital-only cameras even), or stop producing MF cameras. Theoretically, the format advantage that makes MF film produce better results than 35 mm film (and larger formats even better still) still holds in the digital world. Larger chips, with more area can either accomodate more pixels, have bigger pixels and thus less noise, or both. So if/when they manage to produce larger chips that do deliver beter quality than the smaller sensors now in use in both 35 mm format based digital cameras and digital MF backs, there will still be a reason to produce these large and heavy MF cameras we have and use today. If not, we might as well switch to 35 mm format based machines for our digital photography, and (again) MF manufacturers can stop producing MF cameras. |
#3
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Mojtaba wrote:
Please excuse my primitive question. I am not familiar with medium format systems rather than my very first camera which was a Lubitel 2. I am sure many medium format users will not like Lubitel to be called a medium format. Anyhow, I have always been aware of the quality of medium format but as i am a hobbyist the expensive price of the equipment and specially development has been a hinder for me. As long as you are having fun, it doesn't matter what camera you are using, or how much/little its costs. (Which is a thing some (former?) Kiev adepts residing in this group have trouble understanding... ;-)) And a Lubitel definitely is a MF camera. Now, once again I am looking at MF systems, may be I can get into this realm as well. While looking at cameras I come to the concept of digital back. What does it do? Does it change the camera to a didital camera or only shows the pictures on an LCD screen? A digital back does change a MF camera into a digital camera, yes. It simply replaces the 'normal' back holding film with one having an electronic sensor instead. So instead of recording the image on film, it is recorded and stored electronically. It must be downloaded to a computer, where it can be used as any other digital image file. Digital backs for MF cameras today are still far too expensive. Since digital photography definitely is the future of photography, and though many people will keep using film (as well), MF manufacturers will be either moving towards producing more and cheaper ways of producing MF digital images (cheaper backs, digital-only cameras even), or stop producing MF cameras. Theoretically, the format advantage that makes MF film produce better results than 35 mm film (and larger formats even better still) still holds in the digital world. Larger chips, with more area can either accomodate more pixels, have bigger pixels and thus less noise, or both. So if/when they manage to produce larger chips that do deliver beter quality than the smaller sensors now in use in both 35 mm format based digital cameras and digital MF backs, there will still be a reason to produce these large and heavy MF cameras we have and use today. If not, we might as well switch to 35 mm format based machines for our digital photography, and (again) MF manufacturers can stop producing MF cameras. |
#4
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Mojtaba wrote:
Hi, Please excuse my primitive question. I am not familiar with medium format systems rather than my very first camera which was a Lubitel 2. I am sure many medium format users will not like Lubitel to be called a medium format. Anyhow, I have always been aware of the quality of medium format but as i am a hobbyist the expensive price of the equipment and specially development has been a hinder for me. Now, once again I am looking at MF systems, may be I can get into this realm as well. While looking at cameras I come to the concept of digital back. What does it do? Does it change the camera to a didital camera or only shows the pictures on an LCD screen? I will give a somewhat brief overview of these digital backs. Obviously, I am leaving out a great deal of information, so feel free to ask more questions. Basically, the older digital backs were either a scanning or one-shot back. The differences are that a scanning back moved the chip, and really only worked well for scenes without anything moving in them. They produced a digital file, that often needed to be immediately downloaded to a computer. This was called a tethered digital back. So those older backs did not have an LCD for image viewing, and instead the view of what you just photographed needed to be seen on a computer monitor. That was okay for studio work, but not practical to carry on location. Newer digital backs also just produce a digital file, though a few have an LCD screen to review the images. Some are still tethered operation, or can be used attached to a computer when you want to do that. Almost all now available have built in image file storage, making them fairly portable. The older digital back designs were mostly constructed to attach to a Hasselblad, though some adapters were available for other companies. In theory, almost any medium format camera that could mount a Hasselblad film back, could probably mount an older digital back. The older adapters are much tougher to find, and getting a newer adapter could be difficult for an older back. New digital backs are still very expensive, and best left to rich amateurs, or a handful of professionals. It would be far lower cost in most cases to get a film scanner, or have a pro lab scan film for you. If you are curious about the older gear, these sometimes appear on EBAY, with a few going for under $2000. The greatest problem of the old one-shot digital backs is that most sensor sizes are only 36 mm by 36 mm square, which is much smaller than the approximately 56 mm by 56 mm square of many medium format cameras. That much of a crop really makes expensive medium format wide angle lenses give a not so wide view. If you are curious about the EBAY route of used gear, look for "Leaf", "PhaseOne", or "Imacon" in your searches. You could also try "medium format digital back". Happy hunting. Ciao! Gordon Moat A G Studio http://www.allgstudio.com/gallery.html Updated! |
#5
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Mojtaba wrote:
Hi, Please excuse my primitive question. I am not familiar with medium format systems rather than my very first camera which was a Lubitel 2. I am sure many medium format users will not like Lubitel to be called a medium format. Anyhow, I have always been aware of the quality of medium format but as i am a hobbyist the expensive price of the equipment and specially development has been a hinder for me. Now, once again I am looking at MF systems, may be I can get into this realm as well. While looking at cameras I come to the concept of digital back. What does it do? Does it change the camera to a didital camera or only shows the pictures on an LCD screen? I will give a somewhat brief overview of these digital backs. Obviously, I am leaving out a great deal of information, so feel free to ask more questions. Basically, the older digital backs were either a scanning or one-shot back. The differences are that a scanning back moved the chip, and really only worked well for scenes without anything moving in them. They produced a digital file, that often needed to be immediately downloaded to a computer. This was called a tethered digital back. So those older backs did not have an LCD for image viewing, and instead the view of what you just photographed needed to be seen on a computer monitor. That was okay for studio work, but not practical to carry on location. Newer digital backs also just produce a digital file, though a few have an LCD screen to review the images. Some are still tethered operation, or can be used attached to a computer when you want to do that. Almost all now available have built in image file storage, making them fairly portable. The older digital back designs were mostly constructed to attach to a Hasselblad, though some adapters were available for other companies. In theory, almost any medium format camera that could mount a Hasselblad film back, could probably mount an older digital back. The older adapters are much tougher to find, and getting a newer adapter could be difficult for an older back. New digital backs are still very expensive, and best left to rich amateurs, or a handful of professionals. It would be far lower cost in most cases to get a film scanner, or have a pro lab scan film for you. If you are curious about the older gear, these sometimes appear on EBAY, with a few going for under $2000. The greatest problem of the old one-shot digital backs is that most sensor sizes are only 36 mm by 36 mm square, which is much smaller than the approximately 56 mm by 56 mm square of many medium format cameras. That much of a crop really makes expensive medium format wide angle lenses give a not so wide view. If you are curious about the EBAY route of used gear, look for "Leaf", "PhaseOne", or "Imacon" in your searches. You could also try "medium format digital back". Happy hunting. Ciao! Gordon Moat A G Studio http://www.allgstudio.com/gallery.html Updated! |
#6
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On Thu, 19 Aug 2004 20:18:59 +0200, "Q.G. de Bakker"
wrote: Mojtaba wrote: Please excuse my primitive question. I am not familiar with medium format systems rather than my very first camera which was a Lubitel 2. I am sure many medium format users will not like Lubitel to be called a medium format. Anyhow, I have always been aware of the quality of medium format but as i am a hobbyist the expensive price of the equipment and specially development has been a hinder for me. As long as you are having fun, it doesn't matter what camera you are using, or how much/little its costs. (Which is a thing some (former?) Kiev adepts residing in this group have trouble understanding... ;-)) And a Lubitel definitely is a MF camera. Now, once again I am looking at MF systems, may be I can get into this realm as well. While looking at cameras I come to the concept of digital back. What does it do? Does it change the camera to a didital camera or only shows the pictures on an LCD screen? A digital back does change a MF camera into a digital camera, yes. It simply replaces the 'normal' back holding film with one having an electronic sensor instead. So instead of recording the image on film, it is recorded and stored electronically. It must be downloaded to a computer, where it can be used as any other digital image file. Digital backs for MF cameras today are still far too expensive. Since digital photography definitely is the future of photography, and though many people will keep using film (as well), MF manufacturers will be either moving towards producing more and cheaper ways of producing MF digital images (cheaper backs, digital-only cameras even), or stop producing MF cameras. Theoretically, the format advantage that makes MF film produce better results than 35 mm film (and larger formats even better still) still holds in the digital world. Larger chips, with more area can either accomodate more pixels, have bigger pixels and thus less noise, or both. So if/when they manage to produce larger chips that do deliver beter quality than the smaller sensors now in use in both 35 mm format based digital cameras and digital MF backs, there will still be a reason to produce these large and heavy MF cameras we have and use today. If not, we might as well switch to 35 mm format based machines for our digital photography, and (again) MF manufacturers can stop producing MF cameras. I am grateful for your detailed respons, Thank you. best regards, Mojtaba |
#7
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On Thu, 19 Aug 2004 20:18:59 +0200, "Q.G. de Bakker"
wrote: Mojtaba wrote: Please excuse my primitive question. I am not familiar with medium format systems rather than my very first camera which was a Lubitel 2. I am sure many medium format users will not like Lubitel to be called a medium format. Anyhow, I have always been aware of the quality of medium format but as i am a hobbyist the expensive price of the equipment and specially development has been a hinder for me. As long as you are having fun, it doesn't matter what camera you are using, or how much/little its costs. (Which is a thing some (former?) Kiev adepts residing in this group have trouble understanding... ;-)) And a Lubitel definitely is a MF camera. Now, once again I am looking at MF systems, may be I can get into this realm as well. While looking at cameras I come to the concept of digital back. What does it do? Does it change the camera to a didital camera or only shows the pictures on an LCD screen? A digital back does change a MF camera into a digital camera, yes. It simply replaces the 'normal' back holding film with one having an electronic sensor instead. So instead of recording the image on film, it is recorded and stored electronically. It must be downloaded to a computer, where it can be used as any other digital image file. Digital backs for MF cameras today are still far too expensive. Since digital photography definitely is the future of photography, and though many people will keep using film (as well), MF manufacturers will be either moving towards producing more and cheaper ways of producing MF digital images (cheaper backs, digital-only cameras even), or stop producing MF cameras. Theoretically, the format advantage that makes MF film produce better results than 35 mm film (and larger formats even better still) still holds in the digital world. Larger chips, with more area can either accomodate more pixels, have bigger pixels and thus less noise, or both. So if/when they manage to produce larger chips that do deliver beter quality than the smaller sensors now in use in both 35 mm format based digital cameras and digital MF backs, there will still be a reason to produce these large and heavy MF cameras we have and use today. If not, we might as well switch to 35 mm format based machines for our digital photography, and (again) MF manufacturers can stop producing MF cameras. I am grateful for your detailed respons, Thank you. best regards, Mojtaba |
#8
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On Thu, 19 Aug 2004 12:07:23 -0700, Gordon Moat
wrote: Mojtaba wrote: Hi, Please excuse my primitive question. I am not familiar with medium format systems rather than my very first camera which was a Lubitel 2. I am sure many medium format users will not like Lubitel to be called a medium format. Anyhow, I have always been aware of the quality of medium format but as i am a hobbyist the expensive price of the equipment and specially development has been a hinder for me. Now, once again I am looking at MF systems, may be I can get into this realm as well. While looking at cameras I come to the concept of digital back. What does it do? Does it change the camera to a didital camera or only shows the pictures on an LCD screen? I will give a somewhat brief overview of these digital backs. Obviously, I am leaving out a great deal of information, so feel free to ask more questions. Basically, the older digital backs were either a scanning or one-shot back. The differences are that a scanning back moved the chip, and really only worked well for scenes without anything moving in them. They produced a digital file, that often needed to be immediately downloaded to a computer. This was called a tethered digital back. So those older backs did not have an LCD for image viewing, and instead the view of what you just photographed needed to be seen on a computer monitor. That was okay for studio work, but not practical to carry on location. Newer digital backs also just produce a digital file, though a few have an LCD screen to review the images. Some are still tethered operation, or can be used attached to a computer when you want to do that. Almost all now available have built in image file storage, making them fairly portable. The older digital back designs were mostly constructed to attach to a Hasselblad, though some adapters were available for other companies. In theory, almost any medium format camera that could mount a Hasselblad film back, could probably mount an older digital back. The older adapters are much tougher to find, and getting a newer adapter could be difficult for an older back. New digital backs are still very expensive, and best left to rich amateurs, or a handful of professionals. It would be far lower cost in most cases to get a film scanner, or have a pro lab scan film for you. If you are curious about the older gear, these sometimes appear on EBAY, with a few going for under $2000. The greatest problem of the old one-shot digital backs is that most sensor sizes are only 36 mm by 36 mm square, which is much smaller than the approximately 56 mm by 56 mm square of many medium format cameras. That much of a crop really makes expensive medium format wide angle lenses give a not so wide view. If you are curious about the EBAY route of used gear, look for "Leaf", "PhaseOne", or "Imacon" in your searches. You could also try "medium format digital back". Happy hunting. Ciao! Gordon Moat A G Studio http://www.allgstudio.com/gallery.html Updated! Thanks a lot for your great respons. I got the answer to what i wondered about and a lot more. best regards, Mojtaba |
#9
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On Thu, 19 Aug 2004 12:07:23 -0700, Gordon Moat
wrote: Mojtaba wrote: Hi, Please excuse my primitive question. I am not familiar with medium format systems rather than my very first camera which was a Lubitel 2. I am sure many medium format users will not like Lubitel to be called a medium format. Anyhow, I have always been aware of the quality of medium format but as i am a hobbyist the expensive price of the equipment and specially development has been a hinder for me. Now, once again I am looking at MF systems, may be I can get into this realm as well. While looking at cameras I come to the concept of digital back. What does it do? Does it change the camera to a didital camera or only shows the pictures on an LCD screen? I will give a somewhat brief overview of these digital backs. Obviously, I am leaving out a great deal of information, so feel free to ask more questions. Basically, the older digital backs were either a scanning or one-shot back. The differences are that a scanning back moved the chip, and really only worked well for scenes without anything moving in them. They produced a digital file, that often needed to be immediately downloaded to a computer. This was called a tethered digital back. So those older backs did not have an LCD for image viewing, and instead the view of what you just photographed needed to be seen on a computer monitor. That was okay for studio work, but not practical to carry on location. Newer digital backs also just produce a digital file, though a few have an LCD screen to review the images. Some are still tethered operation, or can be used attached to a computer when you want to do that. Almost all now available have built in image file storage, making them fairly portable. The older digital back designs were mostly constructed to attach to a Hasselblad, though some adapters were available for other companies. In theory, almost any medium format camera that could mount a Hasselblad film back, could probably mount an older digital back. The older adapters are much tougher to find, and getting a newer adapter could be difficult for an older back. New digital backs are still very expensive, and best left to rich amateurs, or a handful of professionals. It would be far lower cost in most cases to get a film scanner, or have a pro lab scan film for you. If you are curious about the older gear, these sometimes appear on EBAY, with a few going for under $2000. The greatest problem of the old one-shot digital backs is that most sensor sizes are only 36 mm by 36 mm square, which is much smaller than the approximately 56 mm by 56 mm square of many medium format cameras. That much of a crop really makes expensive medium format wide angle lenses give a not so wide view. If you are curious about the EBAY route of used gear, look for "Leaf", "PhaseOne", or "Imacon" in your searches. You could also try "medium format digital back". Happy hunting. Ciao! Gordon Moat A G Studio http://www.allgstudio.com/gallery.html Updated! Thanks a lot for your great respons. I got the answer to what i wondered about and a lot more. best regards, Mojtaba |
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