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Mamiya DL28

Dynamic Range

Dynamic range, the total usable range of dark to light, is generally a strength of medium format, with the Mamiya DL28 specifying 12-stops, a more or less state-of the art ability (12.5 stops seems to be the limit with the newest PhaseOne digital backs).

Testing dynamic range on a test wedge isn’t very interesting, or even realistic; sensors don’t necessarily perform the same everywhere on the chip; real images tell a much more interesting story, and for this an extremely demanding scene was chosen, almost unreasonably demanding—it’s a scene that calls out for HDR (high dynamic range) processing.

Default Processing examples

First, let’s take a look at the original image (1/2 sec @ f/11, ISO 50) processed three ways: Aptus-II 6 Product, Aptus-II 6 Open, and Aptus-II 6 Open @ -0.5 contrast. It’s obviously a very difficult image to work with, and even the naked eye found the contrast quite extreme.

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Diglloyd Medium Format covers medium format camera systems, including the Hasselblad X1D and Fujifilm GFX.

These systems are hugely expensive, so make the right choice for your own needs (full frame vs medium format).

In-depth lens evaluations covering behaviors not likely to be found anywhere else, based on real-world field shooting.
How to configure menus and buttons and best operating practices, gotchas and how-to.
Real world examples with insights found nowhere else. Make sharper images just by understanding lens and camera behaviors.
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Aperture series from wide open through stopped down, showing the full range of lens performance and bokeh.
Optical quality analysis of field curvature, focus shift, sharpness, flare, distortion, and performance in the field.

Curve = Aptus II-6 Product