2024-01-12 23:49:55
I would like to introduce the imacon ixpress 132c digital back, which is the oldest medium format digital camera featured in this series “Medium Format Camera ANTHOLOGY”. The camera body used is a Mamiya 645 PRO.
What is imacon?
Imacon is a major Danish scanner and digital back manufacturer that was acquired by Hasselblad’s parent company, Schrilo, in 2004 and integrated into Hasselblad.
The digital part of Hasselblad is essentially Imacon, and the RAW data file extension “fff” is the RAW file format originally used by Imacon. Additionally, Hasselblad’s famous high-end film scanner “Flextight” was originally a product of Imacon.
imacon ixpress 132c
The digital back I will be using this time is “imacon ixpress 132c”. It is a transitional product from the era when a computer connection was required to a stand-alone product, and an NP-F battery is attached to a device with a built-in HDD called an image bank, which supplies power and records data on the HDD.
The sensor size is a large 48 x 36 mm. It uses a Kodak CCD sensor with 22 million pixels and 16-bit recording, and is larger than the currently mainstream medium format digital camera. It was a business machine that cost over 4 million yen when it was released in 2003.
Models with a “C” in the model name, such as the 132C, have a color LCD on the back. Although it is natural considering the release date, it is difficult to accurately check exposure and focus on the LCD, and it is even harder to see outdoors.
Still, it’s very reassuring to be able to see photos in color. It’s better than nothing. Although there is the annoyance of always having to connect to an image bank, the fact that you can take pictures just like a normal camera greatly increases its practicality.
Image Bank
As mentioned earlier, everything from power supply to data storage is done through a dedicated HDD built-in device called an image bank. The connection to the back is just one cable with one-touch connection. It’s really simple.
FireWire connection is required for importing shooting data and tethered shooting. However, you need to be careful because if you just connect the image bank, it will not be recognized as an HDD on the computer side.
FlexColor import screen
The software used is “FlexColor” (which can be downloaded from the Hasselblad website, but be sure to check the compatible OS). When you connect an image bank, the data is automatically loaded on FlexColor, and tethered shooting is also possible. However, since it is originally software for scanners, it is not suitable for processing continuous photos. After importing the image, it is best to develop it using other software such as Hasselblad’s genuine Phocus.
I’ve heard that it is possible to import data using older versions of Phocus, but it didn’t work in my environment. On the contrary, it may be said that the barrier to entry is high, as modern computers cannot even import data, including FireWire issues.
Mamiya 645 PRO
The camera is the famous Mamiya 645 PRO. I mightn’t find any information on the web regarding the digitization of this model. Mamiya had released the digital compatible “645AF D System”, but with the shift to AF, the automatic aperture of the Mamiya 645 lens, which had a good reputation, stopped working, and many users continued to use the 645PRO.
Imacon’s digital back has a replaceable mount, so you can use it as long as you have an adapter plate for Mamiya (and the PRONEWS editorial department is formidable for being able to prepare something like this!). Shutter synchronization is achieved by inserting the connector extending from the adapter plate into the electromagnetic release socket.
I apologize for the amount of information, but the 645 PRO I will be using this time is the Mamiya 645 SV PACK (Super Value Pack), the 20th anniversary model of the Mamiya 645 series. This is a cost-cutting model that combines a lightweight finder and a compact winder grip.
It’s not particularly rare, but I think it’s rare to find a user with an Imacon digital back attached to this 645 SV body.
Shooting sample
I put an image bank with a built-in HDD in my camera bag and enjoyed previewing it by taking casual snaps. After a long time, I used a split screen to focus and release the shutter. The electric winding sound that resonates at the same time as the shutter is released has a somewhat refreshing feel, even though it is digital.
For this preview, I used an old Mamiya 645 lens that I had on hand. I will omit camera settings such as aperture and SS, as they are not recorded in the shooting data (I also do not remember them), but the aperture is around F5.6 to F9. Photographed at ISO sensitivity of 50 or 100.
imacon ixpress 132c / MAMIYA SEKOR C 110mm F2.8
*Click on the image to enlarge
imacon ixpress 132c / MAMIYA SEKOR C 110mm F2.8
*Click on the image to enlarge
imacon ixpress 132c / MAMIYA SEKOR C 110mm F2.8
*Click on the image to enlarge
imacon ixpress 132c / MAMIYA SEKOR C 110mm F2.8
*Click on the image to enlarge
imacon ixpress 132c / MAMIYA SEKOR C 110mm F2.8
*Click on the image to enlarge
If you look at a photo of the sky, you can see small black whelks all over the sky. This seems to be due to damage to the IR cut filter coating on the front of the CCD sensor. This struck me as I had experienced the same symptoms when using a Leica M9.
imacon ixpress 132c / MAMIYA SEKOR C MACRO 80mm F4 N
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imacon ixpress 132c / MAMIYA SEKOR C MACRO 80mm F4 N
80mm macro provides crisp and sharp images.
*Click on the image to enlarge
summary
imacon ixpress 132c / NMAMIYA SEKOR C 80mm F1.9 N / ISO 100 1/60 s f/1.9
Just the other day, Chacha-dono escaped from the third floor window and caused a commotion.
*Click on the image to enlarge
When you work in photography, you tend to forget that “taking pictures itself is fun.” In some ways, it is more inconvenient than a film camera, such as the thought of having an old HDD spinning around in your camera bag and the fact that you can only vaguely tell what kind of photos are being taken on the LCD screen. It was refreshing that I found it enjoyable.
When I got home, I read the data using FlexColor. Although the data may be blurred or have a magenta cast due to the deterioration of the IR filter, with some simple adjustments, it becomes more like a “photo” than image data.
When viewed at 1:1 magnification, it looks sharp, and even the out-of-focus areas have a nice quality to them. It’s not jerky like modern cameras, and it doesn’t take too many pictures. Perhaps because of the inconvenience when shooting, it brings back the feeling I had when using medium format film for the first time.
Mamiya bodies also tend to have less camera shake, and this 645 PRO was no exception. I used a 110mm lens a lot at around 1/60s, and although I produced a lot of out-of-focus shots, there were no blurred photos within the preview range.
It may seem like I’m praising it, but of course it’s not something I can easily recommend to others. There were times when the shutter suddenly stopped working, and I had no choice but to leave (I know what to do now, but if I can’t take a photo, it’s just a weight).
I’m the type of person who just needs a few tools that I like, so even if I miraculously got my hands on an adapter for the Mamiya 645 PRO, I would hesitate if asked if I would buy it myself. But all in all, it’s a fun camera. If I were to purchase one, I would probably look for a 48x36mm imagecon that can be used as a standalone camera to take pictures on a CF card.
bonus
The digital back I used this time had small bumps in bright areas due to deterioration of the coating on the IR cut filter.hasselbladrepair.comRepairs and replacements are still possible at “. It doesn’t seem to be official from Hassell, but it seems to be a company connected to Imacon. I’m surprised that it’s still possible to repair it 20 years following it was released, and the price is so reasonable that I can’t help but feel encouraged.
Hidekazu Tominaga | Profile
Born in Fukuoka in 1983. A photographer by profession who turned from a graphic designer. He bought a used medium format digital camera in 2013 and fell in love with his expressive power. He gained experience at a shared studio in Fukuoka and moved to Tokyo in 2022.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) fan.
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#Immacon #ixpress #132c #Mamiya #PRO中判カメラANTHOLOGY #Vol.15
