I asked Sal just to stand model for me - testing the Vertex rotating adapter together with studio flashes, using the Pentax SMC Takumar 150mm ƒ2.8 lens on the Fujifilm GFX 50s II camera.

The background looks worse in the photo below, than in reality. I tried to fill in more areas with a tiny spray blottle, so the paper became uneven for some time.

The Photo Background is now ready !

Sal really stood still !

I had no problems afterwards stitching the four parts together, with exact fit. Of course you'll have overlappings which are required for stitching purposes - and you get around 150 MP equivalent like using a true 150 MP 70x70mm sensor. You use the entire image circle of a Pentax 6x7 lens !

The sharpness was excellent down to the very fine blood vessels in Sal's eyes !

100% screen size

Unnecessary... Mamiya RZ67 adapter

This session also reminded me of something else. Something i seemed to have obsessed with in the past 3-4 weeks. To use Mamiya RZ67 lenses via some kind of adapter. I erased several bla-bla-blan entries about my "back-and-forth" thought. Anyway - I have decided NOT to purchase any Mamiya RZ67 adapter. [My final choice was the German Novoflex BALPRO-1 solution, by the way].

Ukrainian Farce

Now, the Ukranian "Hartblei" Mamiya RBZ adapter solution was a farce.

Turning out to be far more expensive than the listed 590 euro. I would have paid a whopping 8300 SEK and felt that is just nuts The Germany located eBay seller guy never informed me about that the adapter would be shipped from Ukraine !

I politely declined stating, that i got cold feet.

The Pentax 6x7 lenses are superb

whether i use them with the Vertex 150 MP method - or in single-shot 51 MP mode in particularly for Black & White portraits - these lenses very good! The resolution of 51 MP and 150 MP - is way more than I'll ever need in private. Even for high resolution printing on 32x48 cm paper, one doesn't need that resolution.

So, why would I try to use Mamiya RZ67 lenses, on top of the Pentax 6x7 lenses - where the latter are easier to handle anyway ? Duplicating them, by spending another 7700 SEK on a "Mamiya RZ67" solution ? seems a bit random and unnecessary, i realize.

I guess I was just so fascinated by the idea, to use those RZ67 lenses digitally. That was what drove me into a franzy. But in reality, when workig in the studio - i realized - I don't need them. Sure, it would be very fun to be able to use Mamiya RZ67 lenses on a digital camera - which is extremly rare that anyone even does that...

But it just doesn't make sense for now.

Money I use on the VALOI 120

The money for the Mamiya RZ67 adapter i use now on the new VALOI Easy120 scanning solution from Finland, which I have ordered already.

This way, I can scan mediumformat film negatives in the living room independent of the surrounding lighting situation. [Stray light degrades the quality of images made from negatives, especially in color]

With the VALOI 120 - I don't need the darkroom - which is also our bedroom - where Sal is sleeping during night while I am when off work, awake. I can't just go in there and scan negatives at night - even if Sal says it is Ok. I do not feel comfortable at all, scanning and making noises while he is asleep.

The VALOI 35 and 120 eliminate stray light - giving very high quality scans using a digital camera + macro lens.

I aim to use the Fujifilm GFX 50s II [51 MP] together with the extremely sharp Sigma ART 70mm f2.8 lens. With 35mm negatives, i use the Canon EOS R [30 MP] camera instead. I already scanned several thousands (a year ago).

Still a couple ten thousands to go...

Studio Portraits with Fujifilm GFX 50s II

When it comes to studio photography, and here i have primarily portraita in mind - I think i have more than plenty of lens options. I will of course use those who work best / have character, with the aim of giving special "6x6 mediumformat look", if possible. Which often also depends on how i use it, how I set the light, and where i put the sharpness, as well what aperture I use. (I'll have to exercise a lot more on all that).

Naturally, for whole body portraits - i would use wider lenses - but didn't listed them below

FOR STUDIO PORTRAITS
Vertex Method: Emulating 150 MP 7x7 cm sensor || or directy mounted lenses, 51 MP

• Pentax 67 SMC 90 mm ƒ2.8 • [150 MP Vertex capable]
• Pentax 6x7 Super-Takumar 105 mm ƒ2.4 • [150 MP Vertex capable]
• Pentax 67 SMC 135 mm ƒ4 Macro • [150 MP Vertex capable]
• Pentax 6x7 SMC Takumar 150 mm ƒ2.8 • [150 MP Vertex capable]
• Pentax 67 SMC 200 mm ƒ4 • [150 MP Vertex capable]


FOR STUDIO PORTRAITS
- direct mounted lenses on Fujifilm GFX with 51 MP

• Mitakon Speedmaster 65 mm ƒ1.4 (native for GFX)
• Fujinon GF 35-70 mm ƒ4.5-5.6 WR (native for GFX)

• Canon FD 85 mm ƒ1.2 L
• Sigma 105 mm ƒ1.4 DG HSM ART
• Canon EF 135 mm ƒ2 L
• Canon EF 200 mm ƒ2 L

Mamiya RZ67 lenses for portraits ?

I don't see that happen.

As i mentioned, other "potential" lenses require new (often costly) adapters, yet there is no point with even more options. I think it was a mind-trap. Once working in the studio for real - suddenly all fell into place, and i realized there was nothing more to add to it.

More ain't merrier.