I have a mamiya 645af with film back.I would like to use this camera simply because of the money that is invested into it along with lenses.I was told that i could convert it to digital. The digital back for this camera thru Mamiya is much much more than i can afford.I was told that there was a generic one.Does anyone know where i may get info on this product.
PhaseOne, Imacon, and Leaf are among the "generic" medium format digital backs, but most of the models are between fifteen and thirty thousand dollars. The price depends a lot on the megapixel count, with the current high end being 39 mp and in the 30K price range. You can often get last year’s "outdated" model, particularly in PhaseOne’s product line for a fairly affordable price. All the different makers have their own looks to the files, and depending on what you’re shooting, you may want to lean in one direction or the other. My personal favorites come from PhaseOne because of the well designed hardware and superb software. The future of Mamiya, with the divestature of their camera division, remains to be seen.
IMHO dump your 645 gear on eBay and buy a nice mid range Nikon or Canon digital system w/a prime and a wide to mid range zoom. Unless you do only studio work, all the hassles associated with retrofitting old technology will be a frustrating waste of time and effort.
The 8 – 12 megapixel sensors are more than enough for anyone who was using the ideal format and you’re already used to the aspect ratio. Work hard and make your investment pay for itself over 24-36 months and you can swap out your older digital body for a backup and slide the next generation camera behind your new lenses.
If you want to dive into digital, go head first! The waters fine…