OK then. Some of you guys have a ZD back and seem to be happy with it,I'm not so happy.
The color is great but almost all of the shots come out soft.
I've tried:
An AFDII
An AFD
Spot Focus
Different Apertures (2.8 to 8)
ISO from 100 to 400
Mamiya's raw developer program
Capture One
RAW Developer
Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom
Different lenses
Manual Focus
Is my back just bad or are they all bad ? There has to be some trick to getting a sharp shot.
Out of shooting hundreds only a handful are very good. Which leads me to believe that it can be done. What's the trick ?
Maybe a different brand of back ?
Any help will be appreciated.

My first reaction was that you have a problem with the position of the focusing screen in the camera, and thus were never really focused properly. However, you have tried two cameras so that seems unlikely. And in any case, shots at smaller apertures would show something in focus even if it wasn't what you thought you'd focused on.

Can you post a shot or two? Can you borrow another back to compare?

Bill

POST a shot... you'll get more suggestions!
Snook

Here is a link to two shots that I think are typical.
http://gallery.me.com/grappa#100101

Shots below are cropped from Mamiya ZD on left,Kodak Proback on right.

The Mamiya is sad even when compared to an 8 or more year old back
shot with the same camera.

That is sort of what my problem P45 images look like..?
Like a little blurry or something...
No experience with the ZD here..
I am sure some people will tune in here.
maybe posting what you shot the particular images at would be helpful.. Did you tripod?
what speed etc...?
what camera you using the ZD camera or Mamiya AFDII etc...
Snook

These were shot on an AFDII at 200 ISO 3.4 Aperture.
with the camera resting on solid object.

A simple ruler test with an 80mm wide open will tell you if your back is front or back focusing.

Mamiya's spec for the focal plane if I'm not mistaken is +-4mm from 100 cm with the 80mm

The AFD can be adjusted by a technician to a certain degree, best is to send both Camera and back in and have them both adjusted

Yair

I have shot with the Zd back on my 645AFDII and it wasn't certainly sharper than the photo you posted and also sharper than the Kodak photo too.

My ZD is sharp. Is it possible that you got an AA filter installed by accident? The AA filter costs a lot so I'd assume that is unlikely.

Bill

Hi
Set the camera up tethered to the computer & then check your focus. I own the ZD camera & do not have focus issues. I have also used the Kodax back & it is one of the worst backs I have ever used!

Thanks Denis

Images I shoot with the the ZD back are tack sharp.
Yair is correct, send the back and camera body to Maiyya Service in Elmsford, N.Y.
The only problems I have encountered with the ZD back were corrected by revisions in the camera and back firmware. When the camera and back are being serviced for your "sharpness" problem have Mamiya upgrade the firmware and you will be a happy camper.

JIm

The unit went back to Mamiya today. They were very good about it. I will post some results when I get it back.

Funny, my ZD Back went back to Mamiya (MAC) today too for a few issues as well (though soft images not being one of them). They're going to be "full" of returned backs. Keep us updated on your progress. I'm glad they've been so accommodating with us thus far.

I hope they don't just replace yours with mine and mine with yours

-Josh

Jim,

FYI, in my conversation with Mamiya today, they assured me that there is no firmware upgrade for the ZD back or the AFDs. They only firmware that they said exists is a firmware for the AFDII when using Phase One backs, which requires a firmware upgrade on the AFDII only (not AFD).

Was it Mamiya that explained the firmware upgrade to you?

We'll see what comes of our 'repairs,' if that's what happens. I'll be interested to see what is listed on the work order sheets.

-Josh

Josh's report on firmware is exactly what Mamiya NY told me as well a few weeks ago--firmware upgrade only for certain PhaseOne backs. The more general firmware upgrade is, apparently, an urban legend.