Mamiya, Leaf make it official

Japanese camera maker Mamiya has officially 'tied the knot' with Leaf, the digital back makers once owned by Kodak. Leaf is already a Phase One company and is believed to have shares in Mamiya. It looks likely that Mamiya branded cameras will use Leaf backs, while the Phase One branded (Mamiya-made) 645D will continue to use P1 backs. I'd expect to see a new Phase camera this year, but I can't see Mamiya adopting the same body, strictly due to differentiation.

Press release:

Mamiya Digital Imaging, a trusted manufacturer and developer of medium-format cameras and optics, and Leaf Imaging Ltd., a leading manufacturer and developer of digital backs for the medium and large-format photography markets, today announced that they have created a new, worldwide Mamiya Leaf brand that integrates both companies’ product lines into one complete medium-format digital camera system offering, streamlines new product development and establishes more efficient customer sales and support.

The new Mamiya Leaf brand represents a synergy of the best that these two companies can offer as highly competent suppliers of comprehensive, fully-integrated high-end digital photography systems comprising digital camera backs, bodies and lenses. Together, the companies are focusing on delivering new Mamiya Leaf camera systems. Unified support from worldwide Mamiya Leaf partners/distributors is also expected to be a major advantage for photographers; they will now be able to enjoy one-stop expert service for all of the various components of a Mamiya Leaf medium format digital camera system.

“Creating a new Mamiya Leaf brand represents a win-win situation for photographers” said Dov Kalinksi, Leaf General Manager. “Not only will photographers be able to immediately benefit from a highly advanced, fully-integrated medium format system from the industry’s leading suppliers, but they will also be able to enjoy powerful new products emerging from a unified R&D effort.”

“We are aligning our resources to ensure that customers will benefit from the extensive expertise residing in both Tokyo and Tel Aviv,” said Mamiya Digital Imaging President Toshio Midorikawa. “We are confident that the synergy created and the efficiency gained by simplifying our operations will enable us to serve our customers faster and better.”

Mamiya Leaf medium format digital systems comprise a broad range of equipment -- from 22 to 80 megapixels. Camera bodies are manufactured by Mamiya; digital backs are manufactured by Leaf. Also available are Mamiya focal plane shutter lenses and Schneider Kreuznach-designed leaf shutter lenses. Cameras, lenses and backs will retain their respective Mamiya and Leaf labels and they will still be sold as individual components.

Included with all Mamiya Leaf systems are two native software options: the award winning Phase One Capture One and Leaf Capture.

Contact

For more information, please visit www.mamiyaleaf.com

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Leaf announce Raw Converter 1.2.6

Leaf Imaging has announced an update to their Raw Converter software, which allows the conversion of Leaf .mos files in Adobe Camera Raw (and although not quoted Lightroom too). The latest update adds support for Leaf Aptus-II 12, Leaf Aptus-II 12R, Leaf Aptus-II 12 for AFI/HY6 in addition to earlier backs and those from Mamiya including the DM56, DM40, DM33, DM28, DM22. The download is free and available now.

Leaf Raw Converter 1.2.6
Leaf is happy to announce the release of Leaf Raw Converter 1.2.6.

The Leaf Raw Converter enables you to convert the non-standard files created when shooting images to Compact Flash card on Leaf back to a standard Leaf format which can be read by other applications such as the Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw plug-in.

This latest version of LRC adds support for Leaf Aptus-II 12, Leaf Aptus-II 12R, Leaf Aptus-II 12 for AFI/HY6 and continues to support files from all of Leaf’s older models.

The Leaf Raw Converter supports both Macintosh® and Windows® operating systems, including Windows 7 32 and 64 bit.

Download:

Leaf RAW Converter 1.2.6 for Windows
Leaf RAW Converter 1.2.6 for Mac
Leaf RAW Converter 1.2.6 Release Notes

Camera Back Compatibility

Leaf Aptus-II 12R, 12, 10R, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5
Leaf Aptus 75, 65, 22, 17
Leaf Aptus 75S, 65S, 54S
Leaf AFi-II 12, 10, 7, 6
Leaf AFi 7, 6, 5
Mamiya DM56, DM40, DM33, DM28, DM22 f Raw Converter 1.2.6

Cambo UK becomes official Leaf dealer

Leaf Welcomes Cambo UK as its Newest UK Dealer
New Dealer to Provide Sales and Support to Leaf UK Customers
 
TEL AVIV, February 10, 2011 – Leaf Imaging today announced that Cambo UK has joined the Leaf family of partners and will now be an official Leaf dealer in the UK.

Cambo specializes in high-end digital photography equipment and accessories. With a strong focus on Studio, Architecture and Archival shooting, Cambo also produces video rigs for DSLRs and has a new copy camera which creates stunning captures with Leaf Aptus-II backs – especially with their latest 80MP back, the Leaf Aptus-II 12.  Cambo offers high quality products produced with care and attention based upon over 60 years of accumulated expertise and experience.  Next to this broad range of standardized products, Cambo offers to their customers many possibilities to modify products for specific use, where possible.

More about Cambo is available at www.cambo.com.

Leaf adds Capture Remote App for iPhone

High-end camera back maker, Leaf, has added a free app for their users allowing Leaf RAW images to be viewed remotely on their Apple iPhone or iPod Touch in real time. For more information please see the press release below.

Leaf releases Leaf Capture Remote App

Workflow tool for previewing Leaf RAW images on iPhone/iPod Touch

TEL AVIV, December 8, 2009 – Leaf Imaging announced today the immediate availability of Leaf Capture Remote – an application that extends Leaf Capture 11 workflow software, enabling remote image viewing on an Apple iPhone(TM), or iPod(R) Touch. The Leaf Capture Remote application allows photographers and digital operators using Leaf digital backs and camera systems to view, zoom and pan high resolution Leaf RAW images on an Apple iPhone and iPod Touch. It is the first application to permit real-time, on-set remote viewing of medium format images, enabling instant feedback on any shot.

Now, while a photographer is shooting tethered using Leaf Capture software, a client or creative director can view the images over a standard Wi-Fi network on an Apple mobile device.

“Leaf Capture Remote lets me quickly check my files when I can't see my laptop on location,” says Dutch-based professional photographer Frank Doorhof of Studio FD, “or I can just give my visitors an iPhone to browse and check it themselves without interrupting our workflow. Simply put -- it rocks.”

Leaf Capture Remote application version 1.0 is free and available now for download from Apple’s iPhone App Store. It supports all Leaf products that connect to Leaf Capture. (To find it, search for “Leaf Capture” in the Apple iTunes App Store.)

Additional information on installation and setup is available here.

Leaf Imaging enter new phase

Phase One, makers of medium-format digital backs, announced today the intention to purchase specific assets of rival back maker, Leaf , while forming a new company: Leaf Imaging Ltd.

Leaf Systems Inc of Massachusetts USA, was formed in 1984, but was subsequently acquired by Scitex in 1997 while operations moved to Tel Aviv. Shortly after, in 2000, Leaf changed ownership again when Creo Inc acquired Scitex. However that wasn't to last when Eastman Kodak acquired Creo Inc during 2005.

In the same week that Kodak announced the end of Kodachrome, the latest announcement sees the imaging giant shedding certain assets of Leaf, while entering into a intellectual property license with Phase One.

However as Kodak are the main, if not sole, manufacturer of image sensors for Phase One as well as Leaf, this acquisition was not entirely unexpected. As the number of rival digital camera back makers contract, Phase One are emerging as the dominant player in the medium format market.

Press release:

Leaf Imaging -- a new Phase One company

COPENHAGEN and TEL AVIV, June 25, 2009 -- Phase One A/S, in
conjunction with senior management employees of Leaf, today announced that they have created a new entity, Leaf Imaging Ltd., to purchase certain assets of the Leaf camera business. The assets include the “Leaf” brand product names, engineering design and production tools. The new entity will also enter into an intellectual property license with Eastman Kodak Company
that is royalty-bearing to Kodak. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

In collaboration with Phase One, high end Leaf digital camera equipment will continue to be developed in Israel and marketed under the “Leaf” brand through a global network of specialized and dedicated value added resellers.

Leaf high quality digital camera backs with up to 56 Mega pixels and superior resolution and image quality can interface to all leading medium and large format cameras.

“We are committed to exciting future developments for the Leaf brand of products through innovative engineering, worldwide marketing and customer service, said Henrik O. Håkonsson President and CEO, Phase One. “Leaf customers will benefit from the many synergies with Phase One.”

“Since introducing the world’s first digital camera back in 1992, Leaf has been recognized as a worldwide leader in the professional photography market. Our extensive digital imaging and color management knowledge, combined with Phase One’s software and hardware capabilities creates a unique opportunity for the world’s leading photographers,” said Dov Kalinski, General Manager, Leaf.