We have had a long term partnership with Mamiya America Corporation (MAC Group) for many years. Today they distribute products from Benro, Induro, Creative Light, Mamiya, Pocket Wizard, ProFoto, Sekonic, Tenba, Toyo, and X-Rite. MAC Group was the US-based distributor for Leaf products for many years and gradually began combining Leaf and Mamiya camera bundles, culminating in the DL series of products several years ago.
With Phase One’s investment into Mamiya Corporation and acquisition of Leaf in 2009, much had to be worked out globally in terms of marketing, branding, and distribution. While most of those arrangements have been settled, there still remains some confusion over who is who, what product is what product, etc.
At this year’s Photoplus Expo, we met with our long time partners MAC Group, with Phase One, and with Leaf, as well as Schneider, who has also emerged as a strong relational partner with Phase One, Leaf, and Mamiya.
First – it’s important to note that the Schneider relationship is a formalized, long term one. Schneider and Mamiya have had a relationship for some time, and according to Ulrich Eilsberger, Schneider Photo Product Manager, Schneider has tremendous respect for Mamiya products and capabilities. The Phase One investment into Mamiya then, along with the Leaf acquisition, has rounded this into a very impressive partnership of integrating technologies and solutions.
This brings us back to MAC Group, who sell Mamiya digital bundles like the DM Series of digital cameras, Leaf-based digital backs bundled with Mamiya AFD III and DF Cameras and Mamiya and Schneider lenses. Recently, MAC Group launched Digital RZ-based bundles like the RZ-33 and the RZ-22, essentially Mamiya-branded Leaf Aptus-II 7 and 5 series with Mamiya RZ-ProII D cameras.
Mamiya RZ-33 & RZ-22
During our meeting, I raised questions over identity and long term solution providership and support. These digital backs are Leaf backs with Mamiya branding and packaging. But the cameras are Mamiya. After a lot of discussion, our perspective is that we are as comfortable selling a Mamiya-branded solution as we are a Leaf-branded solution, as well as a Phase One-branded solution, for that matter.
Because the source of the partnership and investment is Phase One, and it is a long term arrangement, and considering Mamiya America Corporation’s standing and that they are as excellent a distributor as we have ever worked with – indeed they have done an amazing job with the Mamiya product in the USA that goes way, way back – Capture Integration is endorsing Mamiya digital solutions 100%.
We love the Leaf product, and we love where Mamiya is going with their camera technology, so whether a Leaf technology-based system, paired with a Mamiya camera comes through Phase One/Leaf USA or Mamiya America Group, we are bullish on either situation.
Further assurance comes from the fact that MAC Group has always provided the best support we have ever experienced from a distributor, and that continues today.
So – our takeaway from our meeting with MAC Group at PhotoPlus this year is this:
*The Mamiya/Schneider/Leaf/Phase One partnership is a stable and long term partnership.
*With Phase One as a significant investor in Mamiya Inc, a sale for Mamiya is ultimately a sale for Phase One, and so Phase One fully values and supports MAC Group.
*With these elements in place, MAC Group, being an excellent company in terms of sales and support, has Capture Integration’s full endorsement, and that goes especially for Mamiya digital products.