February 7th, 2013 | 
So, this is the story of my transition to medium format photography territory and my first impressions of the Leaf Aptus 75, 33 Mpx digital back I’ve bought a few days ago.
My Story and First Impressions
Specifications:
| Imager: Technology: Pixels: |
Full frame CCD, Dual Sensor Readout (DSR) for double capture speed (patent pending) 6726 x 5040 48 x 36 mm 6.8 x 6.8 micron |
LCD Screen: Size: Pixels: Interface: Functionality: |
6 x 7 cm (3.5 in.) 211,680 Advanced touch-screen interface. Pre-shoot file naming, image flags, full browsing and file management, job folders, preview up to 20 images on one screen and more. |
| Digital Image:
Color depth: Dynamic range: File size: |
16 bit (65,536 levels per color) 63 MB ~35 MB 95 MB 127 MB |
Operating conditions:
Temperature: Camera support: |
0° to 40ºC (32º to 104ºF) Hasselblad H1 and V series |
| Sensitivity:
ISO: Camera System: Capture rate: |
50, 100, 200, 400, 800 1.85 seconds/frame. |
Portable storage options: | Compact flash (CF) card type II, tested: Sandisk Extreme III, Sandisk Ultra II, Lexar CF pro Series 80x. 30 GB Digital Magazine (read/write speed—17 MB per second). High-volume portable Firewire disks are optional. |
Highlights and Shadow Recovery Tests:
On each I was trying to pull up as much as possible using ACR. I’ve used Adobe RAW converter because it gave me slightly higher range of adjustments over Capture One. The quality of the output was the same from both.
100% Crop From the Image Above
100% Crop off the Leaf Aptus Shot
Another Highlight and Shadow Recovery Example
100% Crop From the Above:
Another Example of Leaf Aptus Dynamic Range
Highlights Recovery Example: Not the Best From Leaf
Highlights recovery is not that impressive though. But there is always could be a level of overexposure when sensor frys pixels. May be one day we’ll have something like electronic iris on each pixel? this would be cool:-)
Download Sample LEAF RAW files:
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Thank you!
What Is Next:
Full in-studio test similar to Hasselblad and Leaf Aptus II I did a while ago.
P.S Speaking of the pricing of Medium format backs on eBay: Check this Hasselblad H3D39! Average selling price is around $6000, and this one was sold for $2900
About The Author: Alex Koloskov
The lighting magician, owner of AKELstudio, Inc.
I found Aptus 75 1800 €
I’d love to have a medium format camera!! I prefer Phase One with IQ back, it is my dream!!
Except the resolution I’d like to see studio samples for example jewlery, how the dynamic range can help in such shoots?
The biggest problem is that I have not so big clients to can get medium format, for the time deign I investing to 180mm macro and 4 -5 C stands with flags.
Step by ste I am building my studio fro 2006 but it seems that the steps never stops !! I am also a gear geek