Since you have used both the Leaf 12 and the IQ180, have you tried to compare the image-quality?
I have never seen these backs compered.
Henrik
I have been shooting MFDB's since 1995 and these backs are, from an image quality perspective, so far ahead of anything else out there, it brings a tear to my eye.
Comparing them to each other is akin to comparing two especially fine wines from different vineyards in the same district. Ultimately, it's a subjective matter of taste.
Rather than doing a hardcore side by side objective test, I'll share my impressions of them.
The files off the Aptus 12 (using Leaf Product 5 profile) are beautifull in their silky tonality. The highlight transitions are noticeably gentler than the IQ180 and the 3/4 tones to shadows are appreciably more open. This back suits a more conventional style of photography and is very forgiving of less than perfectly controlled lighting. If you are into portraiture and cherish velvety skin textures, then this back rocks. It's also great for landscapes where you have lots of subtle detail in lighter tones such as in soft clouds. It delivers the soft, rich tonality that Leaf is rightfully known for.
The IQ180 is a very different beast. The midtone contrast is noticeably higher, the shadows are deeper, the highlights crisper. Somehow the images look to have a bit more shape or dimension. This lends itself to photography that is about emphasizing texture and shape. It is more demanding of your lighting skills - that shadow you didn't put just the right amount of fill into is going to look meaner, that highlight you weren't paying attention to is going to look too hot. It's somehow less subtle than the Aptus, but for me a lot more exciting.
It's kinda like driving a Bently and a Ferrari - both are fine, but one is all class and refinement and the other is brash and twitchy. If you've seen any of my work, you'll understand why brash and twitchy suits me just fine.:thumbup:
Keep in mind though, these comments above refer to how the backs deliver files without you manhandling the data. One of the things about both of them is that IF you have paid attention in school and also done all your homework, then the files from them both are so incredibly pliable that your ability to make all kinds of massive adjustments to tone and colour without showing obvious artefacting has very few limits. I only process in C1 but I do things to my files that are simply impossible to achieve with DSLR files.
Operationally of course, they are chalk and cheese. The details of these differences have been covered ad infinitum elsewhere so I'll not recap. Suffice to say that the IQ interface is just pure pleasure to work with.
If you are a tech camera user, then it is IQ180 all the way (unless you have heaps of Schneider tech glass, sadly). I run mine on an Alpa STC and find the workflow pure pleasure. I have my fingers crossed that the work I know Phase are doing on the tech cam LCC solution will allow me to put my 35mm SKXL back into service (BTW both backs suffer the same problems).
The Aptus 12 is limited to 30sec long exposures whilst the IQ will run to 120secs. In practice this is a massive advantage to the IQ back if you shoot a lot of twilight stuff. The shadow noise in the IQ is the best in the business in my view.
To sum up, whilst the approach is slightly different, these backs both lead the image quality margin from the rest of the pack by a considerable margin.
Which one is suitable for you is up to you but you should do yourself the favour of doing your own hands on testing. I think they're both awesome.
Cheers,