MegaVision is a pioneer in digital cameras

The new MegaVision 22-megapixel e-series with OQO computer on the back, as seen at PMA trade show 2005.

MegaVision has a reputation for excellent service. Indeed when we encountered a glitch in the MegaVision back on a Hasselblad camera we were testing at the University of Malta in Europe, their tech support diagnosed the problem immediately as a potentially incompatible driver. They kindly sent a replacement computer card to resolve the situation.

We have noticed that MegaVision has three distinct assets:

• They have been doing medium format digital photography longer than most competitors.

• MegaVision still has its original digital visionary, Ken Boydston

• Megavision has a long-time sales and marketing manager, Richard Chang, who also knows the technical aspects inside out.

For several years MegaVision was going the OEM route, for aerial, medical, and industrial applications. At trade shows in those years they exhibited primarily together with other companies. But at PMA 2005 MegaVision had their own booth and showed their impressive 22-megapixel E-Series portable camera with an OQO computer. This provides both computing power, a good-sized monitor, and a 20 GB hard drive.

Portability with the MegaVision E-Series medium format backs

I discuss the MegaVision BatPac in the FLAAR course on digital photography. We specialize in shooting in remote locations so we can judge whether a camera system is truly portable, or not. The new MegaVision E-Series is a major advance in portability (we hope to try it out in mid-August).

If you wish to see which portability solutions pass our strict requirements, you can sign up for learning about digital photography directly from Nicholas Hellmuth. He has spent most of his life in foreign countries photographing on location.

Continue on our FLAAR digital-photography.org website for comparative comments on all the other medium format digital backs: Imacon , Kodak , Jenoptik , Leaf , PhaseOne , Sinar .

For conclusions, summary, and practical tips on which medium format would be recommended, again, this is what is covered in the reports by Nicholas Hellmuth which serve as the textbook for the course on digital photography.

• Digital course Unit 1
• Digital course Unit 2
• Digital course Unit 3
• Digital course Unit 4
• Digital course Unit 5, lighting.
• Digital course Unit 6, medium format

Dr Nicholas Hellmuth finds this the absolutely ideal monitor for photographing. He says: I prefer a large monitor so I can compose the scene. Both for architectural photography, nature photography, or fine art photography, a large monitor is an asset. This is the largest monitor of any 22-megapixel medium format digital camera back in the world. We have experience with the Leaf Valeo and with the Hasselblad Imacon Ixpress, so when we try out the MegaVision e-series in the future, we will be able to tell how it compares with these two leading international brands of professional digital camera backs.

Here is Richard Chang, who helped us with tech support from California while we were training the Malta Centre for Restoration staff at the University of Malta, north of Tunisia. This is Richard at a PMA trade show a few years ago.

Most recently updated August 1, 2005.
Previously updated March 2003, during and after PMA photography trade show. Updated November 15, 2004, after Photokina and PhotoPlus 2004 trade shows.

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Medium Format Digital Camera Initiative For over 30 years Nicholas Hellmuth has used Rolleiflex and Hasselblad cameras to record the flora, fauna, and Maya archaeology of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Now, for the last six years, he is extending his medium format experience to digital photography. Since FLAAR works both in a studio as well as out on location, we are an ideal focus for judging portability. We have experience with large format digital scan backs (the excellent BetterLight) and we also use Nikon (D300) and Canon (EOS 5D) digital cameras. A full-service digital pro should have at least one medium format digital system and should consider large format digital options as well. FLAAR also has an 80-megapixel large format camera (yes, they do exist, we have a Cruse). Although we started with a Leaf Valeo 22 coupled with a Mamiya 645 AFD body and lenses, we are open to showcasing all bodies as well as other digital backs. Indeed we tested an Imacon 4-shot back on a Hasselblad H1 body. For a month (February 2006) it was possible to evaluate a MegaVision black-and-white dedicated back for fine art photography. We are also considering the Rolleiflex 6008 AF, one of the outstanding medium format cameras that still offers European precision. However in the last 40 years we have not received any Rollei (or Franke & Heidecke) equipment for evaluation, so we can comment only on the Hasselblad and Mamiya (loaned briefly two years ago by Mamiya America). Camera resellers or manufacturers who wish to have their cameras, lenses, and backs included in the digital photography evaluation initiative are welcome to send their equipment for evaluation. Curently all the medium format backs are coming from Global Imaging Inc, Greg Lamb, CEO (contact 800 787-9802, press 4, fax 212 722-0988). This is one of the few camera stores in the entire US or Canada that offers ALL major brands of medium format (so they have no incentive to push one brand over the other). However we are also open to receiving medium format backs directly from the manufacturer. Over 381,154 visitors came to this www.digital-photography.org web site to learn which cameras, lighting, tripods, and accessories have proven themselves during evaluation by FLAAR. Since we deliberately do not review low-end cameras, our reviews attract a sophisticated audience. The total "visit" count is 791.562 during 2007, but we prefer to use the visitor count, 381.154 as being more realistic. FLAAR is the de facto source of information on medium format digital cameras because we are university based, independent, blunt, and we are one of the few review sources that dares to review advertising specs, advertising claims, and advertising hype. We can afford to reveal all the pros and cons because FLAAR is a research institute. Photographers feel they can trust a university research professor who has devoted years to understanding the pros and cons of each aspect of a digital camera system and workflow. You can download our colorful FLAAR Reports on our medium format digital camera initiative.