Since we have dealers, reps and people that have deep brand interrest, let me ask a question.

If someone was coming fresh into medium format and wanted to buy a back, camera and lenses, how much?

Let's do it this way.

Leaf P30+, Phamiya body, 35mm, 45 or 50mm, 80mm, 150mm how much?
1 year warranty_______________
3 years warranty______________

Aptus 65, AFI body, 40mm, 50mm, 80mm, 150mm (all the latest lenses), How much?
1 year warranty________________
3 years warranty________________


Sinar has to be 22mpx as there is no 31mpx, hy6 body, 40mm, 50mm, 80mm, 150mm (all the latest lenses), How much?
3 year warranty_________________

Hasselblad Hd3- 1mpx (I think that's right), 35mm, 50mm, 80mm 150 How much?
1 year warranty______________
3 year warranty______________

All U.S. prices.

________________________________________________________________________

Now one other question.

Phase V4 pro , when will it be released in full and will it run on the latest 24" I-mac effectively.

LC11, will it run on the latest 24" I-mac effectively.

Sinar Capture Shop (I think that's what it's called) is it released in full and will it run on the latest 24" I-mac effectively.

Phocus, when will it be released in full and it run on the latest 24" I-mac effectively.

This would give everybody a very good idea of what the price difference is between the systems and the effective use with their current computers.

_________________________________________________________________________

Now one more question, how long for delivery for all the above.



JR

Sorry, but you're really way off the mark here eronald. Mamiya is in no way a "volkswagen", they have a reputation among pros for making high quality rock solid gear that just works and works, and this is my own experience too. As for the glass almost all are tack sharp and have a great color and contrast rendition, my 80mm is no exception there. No offense but you seem to have a lot of "unique" problems with a whole lot of your gear, and like to make blanket statements based on it.

Guy,

Please don't distort what I have written: I did say nowhere that we don't calculate the costs of warranty and integrated them in a way or another. Of course we do.

What I was saying is that it makes absolutely no financial sense (for us and the customer) to offer a 1-year warranty instead of our standard 3-year and reduce the price consequently. Consequently meaning here US 3'000.-
The "saved" money by doing so is FAR LESS and would be of no benefit for the enduser.

it happens that this was exactly a proposal I made myself a few years back. Very precise calculations have then been made and the conclusion was the one you have read in my previous post, that it makes absolutely no sense.
This concerns Sinar and I don't pretend to speak for others.

Best regards,
Thierry

This would be very interesting to see stright up.. good idea..
The problem, I think, is you never really get the final price with a lot of the dealers..
They can drop quite a bit from the "retail" price... but that should not vary more than a couple thousand here or there.
Some one please post all these options , would be great to see.
Snook

Is this worth $ 3000?

Permit my comments on the "Value Added Warranty Kit".

* 3-Year Replacement Loaner International Warranty. Nice but free with Sinar
* 3-Year Free Platform Swap Guarantee. Great because after buying my brand new PhaseOne camera I could change my mind and switch to... ?
* Metallic Case. The pelican case is more than good.
* Capture One Pro. Just for 35mm compatibility?
* Dual-Bay battery charger (Included with standard warranty)
* Two 2500 mAh batteries (Included with standard warranty)
* Viewfinder masks (5 pcs) (Included with standard warranty)
* 4.5m Firewire Cable (Included with standard warranty)
* DigiClean kit (Included with standard warranty)
* SanDisk 2-gig Extreme IV CF card (Inexpensive)
* SanDisk Firewire 800 card reader (Inexpensive)
* Multiconnector sync cable.
* Multiconnector > Minijack adapter cable
* Manual hard-copy
* LCC calibration kit.
* 5 pcs QP greycard.
* Microfiber cloth.


...

I agree. I've owned Hassy and Rollei 6008 glass and the new Mamiya lenses need take a back seat to no-one. The 75-150 and the 12O "'D" are razors. I can't wait for my 45-90 due, I'm told, in August.
Bill

Hi
I don't see the big deal about what Phase One is offering. For an extra two years you pay $3000.00 & its your choice. I would rather put that money into a 2nd body or buy an AFDII + a lens on eBay for that price. You can get an AFDII body on eBay for $2100.00 USD. To me a 2nd body is the best backup you can have on a shoot.
Denis

I agree it is a choice , I did not buy it and put the money elsewhere. I like choices and options to fill my needs. The savings pretty much bought all my lenses used and honestly I am a lens whore , these do not take a back seat to anything I have seen in MF so far and if there is a difference it is pretty slight.

Re the extended warranty, I agree it's nice to have the option. I did not buy it either for the simple reason I will likely upgrade within the year and would rather put the money toward the upgrade

I third this request, please post price/details here

I've lurked here a long time - as I someday hope to own a medium format system - for now I make do with what I have and learn what I can. With a little internet searching you can find list pricing info.

Phaseone System USA List Pricing
Source: http://www.calumetphoto.com/
Mamiya 645 35mm Lens - $1379
Mamiya 645 45mm Lens - $1099
Mamiya 645 55mm Lens - $989
Mamiya 645 80mm Lens (included w/ camera) n/a
Mamiya 645 150mm Lens - $1189
Total for Lenses - $4656
Phase P30+, Phaseone 645 body - 1 year warranty - $22490
Phase P30+, Phaseone 645 body - 3 year warranty - $26990
Total for Phase P30+, Phaseone 645 body - 1 year warranty - with lenses - $27146
Total for Phase P30+, Phaseone 645 body - 3 year warranty - with lenses - $31646

Leaf System USA List Pricing
Source: http://www.calumetphoto.com/ and http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4433...er_Angulon.html
40mm - $5549
50mm - $5150
80mm - $3100
180mm - $6920
Total for Lenses - $20719
Leaf AFi 6 Camera Kit with Waist Level Finder and Aptus 65S Digital Back (doesn't spec warrenty length) - $25995
Leaf AFi 6 Camera Kit with lenses - $46714

Sinar System USA List Pricing
Sources: http://www.calumetphoto.com/ , http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/prodtech/news...t_id=1003584386 and http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4433...er_Angulon.html
40mm - $5549
50mm - $5150
80mm - $3100
180mm - $6920
Total for Lenses - $20719
Sinar Hy6/Sinarback emotion 54LV - 3 year warrenty - $30500
Sinar Hy6/Sinarback emotion 54LV - 3 year warrenty - with lenses - $51219

Hasselblad Sysyem USA List Pricing
Source: http://www.calumetphoto.com/
35mm - $3440
50mm - $3155
80mm (included with camera) n/a
150mm - $3100
Total for Lenses - $9695
Hasselblad Hasselblad H3DII-31 with 80mm Lens (doesn't spec warrenty length) - (pricing reflects a current promotional discount of $9000) - $17995
Hasselblad Hasselblad H3DII-31 with lenses - $27690

Edited to add Sinar/Leaf 40mm pricing (thanks to Paul Jones' reply)

Those Mamiya Lens are going to be the same if not a lot more than the other guys lens for sure..
Too some it may not matter but the price package will go up when the new lens will be out.
That is the Total package price with the newer "D" lens and "Leafshutter"lens that they have mentioned.
Maybe be better to put the new 28mm lens from mamiya which is quite spendy instead of the older style Lens 35mm?
Snook

I also enjoyed the review, just as I have enjoyed much of what Michael has had to say for the last several years. However, the last few years he has become much less technical in his reviews. This certainly is easier for him and it still gives his readers a sense of his experience, but at times I find it frustrating.

For example, in this particular review of the Phase One 645 Camera in the third from the last paragraph he writes a provocative statement:
"...large studio centers who switched from medium format to DSLRs a while back are now switching to MF digital again, simply because of the superior image quality which it can produce. It's not just about megapixels, because in many cases these studios are producing images that will never end up being larger than a catalog or magazine page in size. It's about image quality, pure and simple."

If the image quality is better, it should be measurably better. But no measurements are mentioned. I really question if this is (as he says) "pure and simple."

In fact, it seems from reading these forums that the issue is anything but simple and there are many who have different opinions about the merits of MF digital backs compared to 35 DSLRs.

Maybe instead of calling this a "Review" he should call it an "Impression"

Neil,

Thank you for doing this.

If this was a standalone thread or blog titled all medium format price comparisions, it probably would be linked to 400 blogs, because this is the first time I've seen any of these prices compared almost apples-to-apples.

Yes with the new Mamiya lenses the prices probably will go up, and/or I sure some people will have issue that the Mamiya doesn't have a range of leaf shutter lenses compared to the Hy6 and the Hasselblad, but neither of those go to 4000th of a second shutter so what might be a deal breaker for some, is a positive for another photographer.

Same with the ability to put on different lenses of different makes, or even used legacy lenses.

Still, I was just thinking of the guy/girl that walks into a store and says I need a wide angle, a semi wide, a normal and a medium telephoto. How much?

What most surprises me is how quiet the dealers and reps have been on this. I would have thought they'd been all over this , especially about the software.

I get e-mails all the time about what camera to buy and usually it's from people coming from a Canon that want to improve their image quality, (wahtever that means) and so much of the conversation really comes down to price dependent, and for professionals workflow, reliability and speed of repairs.

I would really love to see this expanded to software, release dates, processing times, compatibility with other 3rd part software and which I think is very important what computers these softwares run best on, or even require to run at all.

Anyway, thank you.

JR

here is the rollei 40mm you are missing (i think- im not a rollei expert)-
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4433...er_Angulon.html

$5549 usd

paul

Well, I am not really ready for prime time, but I have been working on a PPR Digital website for a while now (in my spare time, which gives you an idea of how much time I have), and it is still unfinished in terms of design elements, etc, but the rough sketch is mostly agreed upon. It will be accessible through PPR's main site when it is completed.

While I have always provided a website link, I've never been happy about the link I was leaving, and so that is why I have taken matters into my own hands. My hope is to have many aspects of medium/large format digital presented in an informational manner. There will be a technical support page, software download page, up to date read-me's, etc.

For now, the pricing content is mostly complete. The links at the top are active for Leaf, Hasselblad and Sinar, but none of the other links are active. And please remember, this is a very rough sketch of an incomplete product.

http://web.mac.com/hendrixppr/PPR_Digital_...ad_Pricing.html

Steve Hendrix/PPR
Dealer

Recommended list price for the Sinar Hy6-eMotion 54 LV is US$ 28'130.-

Total recommended prices with new Schneider AFD lenses (50/80/180) and Schneider super-Angulon 3.5/40mm HFT-PQ is US$ 49'825.-, as per June 01st '08.

And as per July 01st '08, the new recommended list price of this same Sinar Hy6 - eMotion 54LV is US$ 22'550.-

The package with the same above lenses being thus US$ 44'245.- (3-Year Warranty).

Remark: the Dalsa 22 MPx sensor can't be compared with a 31 MPx or 28 MPx sensor, neither from the price nor from the limitations.

Best regards,
Thierry

Thierry:

US dealers have not received any type of pricing information yet that reflect the changes you've detailed. Is the $22,550 price for the 54LV, not the LVr? In other words is this price for the non-revolving kit or the revolving package?

Thanks,
Steve Hendrix/PPR Dealer
www.ppratlanta.com/digital.php

hi Steve,

Yes, I can imagine that you did not yet receive these new prices: the information has been given to our distributors 3 days ago.

The price indicated is for the Sinar Hy6 - eMotion 54LV ---> non-revolving

The Sinar Hy6 - eMotion 54LVr recommended price has been dropped as well, as per July 01st = US$ 23,900.-

Best regards,
Thierry

Thierry,

When I made that list I just wanted to see a comparision of the middle of the range backs and cameras, not the very top end.

I thought a comparision with the top end backs pricing would be too scary.

From a sinar standpoint it's almost impossible to compare exactly with the other makes, because you guys offer less variety in sensor sizes than the rest of the makers.

Your right about the 22mp dalsa chip, it's different than the 31mpx kodak and I've owned both.

For the nice look of the dalsa, which can be very nice under certain conditions, and the size which helps with certain lenses, it also has it's limitations, iso being one of them.

JR

A really nice idea would be a chip with the same pixel density as the Dalsa, but with the ISO the current tech allows. Should be much better than the P30+.

Edmund

James: I believe that there is another extremely important "feature" of these packages that should be included in any comparison, and that is the actual terms oft he warranties. What is included in the "basic" one year warranty? In particular, is it a "hot swap" warranty that provides for a 24 hour guaranteed loaner if your back goes down? How about the extended three year warranty?
I personally would not buy a back without an extended hot swap warranty. I was also favorably disposed to an H3D because both the camera and the back are Hasselblad. If there is a problem, nobody points a finger and says it's the other guy's problem. You call your Hasselblad dealer and, at least if its Steve Hendrix, you get a loaner from Hasselblad with next day delivery. For you, as a professional, a second back and body can be justified, and may be a necessity. Very difficult for most of us to afford it or be able to justify.

Here is the difference for Phase backs


Classic 1-Year Warranty or Value-Added 3-Year Warranty?
Phase One offers two types of warranties on its digital backs. The Classic 1-Year Warranty provides parts/service coverage for 1 year. The Value-Added 3-Year Warranty extends this warranty an additional two years, and adds extra accessories, and a replacement-unit program.

Classic Warranty Kit
1-Year Repair Only International Warranty
Black Pelican Case
Capture One DB
Single-Bay battery charger
One 2500 mAh battery
Viewfinder masks (5 pcs)
4.5m Firewire Cable
DigiClean kit
Value Added Warranty Kit
3-Year Replacement Loaner International Warranty
3-Year Free Platform Swap Guarantee
Metallic Case
Capture One Pro
Dual-Bay battery charger
Two 2500 mAh batteries
Viewfinder masks (5 pcs)
4.5m Firewire Cable
DigiClean kit
SanDisk 2-gig Extreme IV CF card
SanDisk Firewire 800 card reader
Multiconnector sync cable
Multiconnector > Minijack adapter cable
Manual hard-copy
LCC calibration kit
5 pcs QP greycard
Microfiber cloth

Some of this has changed slightly like the case for instance with the New Phase One body is a lot nicer. So please double check with your dealers just to make sure you have all the right updates

Seems strange to choose the 28MP sensor for this comparison, when Sinar doesn't have one. The larger 22MP is more expensive. As all of the manufacturers offer a 22MP back, why not compare this?

I guess this depends on where you are and what you do.

For me, 24 hours might as well be 24 years.

For some, maybe it comes in handy, though I wonder if those loaners are available in all mounts.

Do they have a contax, bronica, mamiya, H, V, HY6 (oops sorry, nobody has that), or every other mount available?

For Hasselblad brand H3 series cameras, lenses and accessories the loaner should be easy because as far as they are concerned I guess there really is only one camera mount to worry about.

JR

No it doesn't.

I listed out the newest in relationship to the lowest price that 3 of the 4 db makers have, mainly because as mentioned by a lot of the dealers, given the choice of a 400 iso 22mpx sensor or a 800 iso 31/28 mpx sensor the larger pixel count sensor is the choice.

Also the 22 mpx sensors from Kodak and Dalsa are some of the older technology, I was thinking that the person that is coming from a 1ds3 probably wouldn't drop another 24k to 45k on a new medium format system for just a 1 mpx increase.

There was no plan to penalize Sinar, but if you wish, modify that list and put in 22mpx sensors with all the lenses and bodies from the 4 db makers and see where they fall.

Neil took the time, now it's your turn. All your going to see is another 2 to 3 thousand dollar increase across the board.

___________________________

From Neil's research;

Phaseone System USA List Pricing
Source: http://www.calumetphoto.com/
Mamiya 645 35mm Lens - $1379
Mamiya 645 45mm Lens - $1099
Mamiya 645 55mm Lens - $989
Mamiya 645 80mm Lens (included w/ camera) n/a
Mamiya 645 150mm Lens - $1189
Total for Lenses - $4656
Phase P30+, Phaseone 645 body - 1 year warranty - $22490
Phase P30+, Phaseone 645 body - 3 year warranty - $26990
Total for Phase P30+, Phaseone 645 body - 1 year warranty - with lenses - $27146
Total for Phase P30+, Phaseone 645 body - 3 year warranty - with lenses - $31646

Leaf System USA List Pricing
Source: http://www.calumetphoto.com/
40mm (couldn't find pricing)
50mm - $5150
80mm - $3100
180mm - $6920
Total for Lenses - $15170
Leaf AFi 6 Camera Kit with Waist Level Finder and Aptus 65S Digital Back (doesn't spec warrenty length) - $25995
Leaf AFi 6 Camera Kit with lenses - $41165

Sinar System USA List Pricing
Sources: http://www.calumetphoto.com/ and http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/prodtech/news...t_id=1003584386
40mm (couldn't find pricing)
50mm - $5150
80mm - $3100
180mm - $6920
Total for Lenses - $15170
Sinar Hy6/Sinarback emotion 54LV - 3 year warrenty - $30500
Sinar Hy6/Sinarback emotion 54LV - 3 year warrenty - with lenses - $45670

Hasselblad Sysyem USA List Pricing
Source: http://www.calumetphoto.com/
35mm - $3440
50mm - $3155
80mm (included with camera) n/a
150mm - $3100
Total for Lenses - $9695
Hasselblad Hasselblad H3DII-31 with 80mm Lens (doesn't spec warrenty length) - (pricing reflects a current promotional discount of $9000) - $17995
Hasselblad Hasselblad H3DII-31 with lenses - $27690

JR

We agree, James.

Thanks,
Thierry

Are you that sure, James, nobody?

That's simply not true.

Best regards,
Thierry

That was a joke, but on the web, it's hard to have humor.

I guess I should have said as customer we have three grades of open platforms, open, semi open, closed.

Kind of sounds like a cable package.

(that is also a joke).

As far as the iso of a 22mpx dalsa compared to the 31mpx Kodak chips there is a full stop differnce at least in the thousands of images I have shot at those iso's with those backs.

JR

P.S. Theirry, I have a question you can probably answer. How has the open, semi open, closed thing worked out for medium format? Is Hasselblad selling like crazy, have Sinar sales improved dramatically, is Leaf busting out HY6's all over the world. Really, I'm curious if this has pushed sales up, or kept people away. Are all the makers selling more backs for their proprietary cameras or are they still selling for the V's , Contax's and older H's? Does anyone publish sales numbers?

James,

that may certainly be the case for some (may be a lot), but also certainly not for all. There are many others working in different fields and not needing/wishing the advantages of a 28/30 MPx sensor but rather the advantages of a 22 MPx sensor.


I am pretty sure you didn't. But a fair (by means of the same type of sensor/pixel count) comparison would be nice to have, for the record. I have given the new prices (as per July 01st '08), with lenses, for our eMotion 54 LV 22 MPx and the standard 3-year Sinar warranty.


As mentioned in my earlier post above, as per July 01st '08, the new recommended list price of this same Sinar Hy6 - eMotion 54LV with standard 3-Year warranty is US$ 22'550.- (not US$ 30'500.-)

The package with the same above lenses being thus US$ 44'245.- with 3-Year Warranty, and DOES INCLUDE the below mentioned 40mm lens (not US$ 45'670.- and without the 40mm).

Thanks and best regards,
Thierry

Alright, got it. I simply can't let it stand, kind of my duty to correct what could be misunderstood. Hope you understand me as well.


Yes, sure enough, but then, and as said, you are in a field which is different than some others, or let's put it this way, some others are in a different field than yours, and don't need this extra stop. Not all have the same priorities. At least that is what I can hear when speaking with users.


I certainly can answer following: I believe that the volume of sales for each manufacturer has changed from 2006 to 2007, respectively the market share of each one has changed. Understand that some have increased their market share and consequently some have decreased it. I am pretty sure of that.
As such, the open/semi-open/closed situation has certainly changed something in the market. And it has certainly not affected the total sales volume for MF, at least until now (understand 2007, since the 2008 figures are not given or estimated).

Best regards,
Thierry

Theirry,

Yes as I've said before, I am positive that anytime the word Sinar pops up on the internet, the ESA http://www.esa.int/esaTE/index.html tasks three satellites to your Dick Tracy watch, or Sinar branded phone so you can "Set the record straight and be clearly understood".

(This is also meant as internet humor).

JR

I've got it, this one, James.

Which brand are you using for your own? I found my Sinar branded one to be rather a bit over-sensitive most of the time, but I can't adjust it.



Thierry

Does anybody in here even have Sinar.. Just wondering b/c you never hear anything about them unless it is a Sells pitch from in here.
I have never seen or heard of anybody using Sinar...
The market must be really small and will get even smaller I imagine in the future.
I personally hear Sinar and I relate it with Broncolor and $$$$ expensive...:+}

Not trying to be funny but I really only hear arguments between... Hassie/Phase/Leaf
in here..
Never even seen a post about Sinar..
Snook
PS. The post is for Phase/Mamiya AFDIII review...

HY6 (Rollei Version)+Sinar-M+eMotion54LV+SInarback 54H
Yevgeny

Open your eyes, Snook, and you shall find some, by looking well.

BTW: I would be interested to know where you read some "Sells pitch"? Could you link me to it?

Thanks and best regards,
Thierry

Thierry in no way was I trying to offend anybody..
Just an observation, of mine...
I am sure your product is awesome.. just never really see it mentioned that much in the forums.. Usually people asking Leaf or Phase, and the Hassleblad guys are a breed of their own.
Hassleblad has come down a lot in pricing, b/c when I was first looking into MFDB's which was not that long ago.. I always ruled out Hassleblad b/c it was always out of the ball park in pricing, for me, and I was not sure how rugged they were/are and where I live it is a pain to send stuff back and there is 0 option to rent... That is why I eventually went with phase as they were supposed to be pretty rugged.
Whether you can park a car on them or not I really could care o less!!!
Phase and Leafs were pretty easy to find relatively cheap used or reconditioned..
Now hassle blad seems to have come down a lot or there are more used older tech on the market today...

Sorry again getting off the topic...

Again just my experience in here..
Snook

There are Sinars around but including me

it was the changable back that swung it for me and the inbuilt memory

generally an intelligent and quality product

But in the UK Phase and Blad appear to be the thing

it seems to me that there are a couple of UK dealers who are Phase and are rental too that really push thier products some are even located in the or really near some of the big rental (of space) studios

You are talking a replacement in 2 minutes if there is a problem when you are shooting


These dealers really turn thier product over renting them for a couple of months then flogging them to the users who are getting pissed with the rental fees and who already know the product


Sinar have failed to create that vibe in the UK at least by their esoteric choice of dealers and failure to penetrate the rental network

I tell you that I have two mates who have gone to Phase which pretty much works out of the box

There was laughter when I demontrated the Brum workflow to my Phase mate

Really Phase won by getting thier P25 distributed fast

Sinar need to chuck 50 HY6/75LVs into the london rental houses for free for six months to turn it around


S

Thierry,

You caught me.

I gotta admit I've been working day and night to get Contax to improve their line of cameras.

We're building in faster autofocus, variable crops in cameras, wireless to the i-phone (and my mom's HP laptop), F 1.0 leaf shutter lenses and a focal plane shutter in the body.

Right now we've got the the Contex (named after my original Texas origins) coming out soon.

It will be open platform (for Contex branded backs only), have a universal mount, (as long as it is a Contex branded back) and the good news is be available to everyone (with a Contex branded back) as soon as I get somebody from Contax to answer a phone.

BTW: Since your an industry insider, would you have their phone number?

Thanks in advance.


JR

PRICELESS James!!!

Nope, not any longer, had erased it since I handed it over to you, during our last secret conspiration meeting in Davos, CH. Don't remember?

Thierry

No more opinions on this new camera?
I a thinking of upgrading as my P30 just croaked. Been offered the P30+ and the new Phamiya.
Thanks
Snook

PS. Does anybody know if my "L" bracket for the AFDII will work on the New AFDIII?
Hope so
Thanks again!!

I've heard the P30+ price will drop to match the H3DII-31 at $18000 soon.

Also there may be some major announcements (maybe a next generation P30+) it might be worth waiting until Photokina before dropping money on what might become a second generation product.

New Dalsa Chip, Variable resolution, faster capture rates (1-2fps) improved ISO, better noise ???

Just a thought

Snook



Sorry to hear about your misfortune. I’ve got a AFD II and a L bracket and in looking over the spec’s of the new III it appears that the dimensions the same – so only guessing here but I’d say the chances are better that 90% that the bracket will fit.

don

Snook and Don,

Kirk's L-bracket fits AFDIII. I just got the AFDIII this weekend, upgrading from a used AFD. I have the Kirk bracket and have a www.Camdapter.com leather hand strap laying waiting for it, plan to use together with my Optech strap.

My very limited use of the AFDIII is that it has pleasant AF speed, less mirror bounce and much improved grip. It is still slower AF than my F100 was, but feels as clear improved useability over AFD.

Indeed Mamiya appear to have some quality issues glueing the rubber on the AFDIII body, the fourth AFDIII that I looked at was more acceptable than the other three, yet... I will not be surpriced if rubber will start come off eventually... poor Mamiya ... I think will add some super glue to my camera bag to improve if corners start come off!

Regards
Anders

BTW I have the new Phase body had it since last Friday , Jack also got his. Had limited time with it been a little sick but I really like the feel of it so far. It seems faster in all respects , AF is much quicker and more DSLR like and it handles and feels faster to me. So far very nice improvements for the shooter. I leave this week for NY and have to shoot runway and I am determined to shoot MF for this show. The Phase body will get a nice workout , me also. LOL

Sure does! I just swapped my Kirk over from my AFD2 and it fits identically

PS: A FWIW for posterity of this thread. I normally am a fan of RRS brackets, but for the AFD series body the Kirk bracket fits closer and appears more "integrated" to the body...

Cheers,

Well, in my experience shopping for backs in Spain, that the phase people have always made me a priority, getting whatever I need in my hands (the new camera for example) right away. I wanted to try the hy6, got a couple of calls, and then the rep kinda dropped off the face of the planet. I mean, I´ve given up going into a camera store and being able to see this stuff in person, but if that´s the reality at least take the time to make sure I can make an informed decision without having to make ten phone calls, send out 5 emails and rub my tummy and tap my head at the same time...

That for me is a big part of why phase succeeds. They know how to get cameras in the right rental houses, in the hands of the future buyers. Oh and the software. I mean, I´m spending thousands. Make my life easier.

The New York and LA market is very similar in my experience. I sent quite some time managing the EQ department for a busy digital capture company and for MFDB we did 70% Phase jobs and nearly 30% Leaf. In my 2 years there we never did a Hasselblad/imacon job, and only had 2 clients wanting to shoot Sinar. This was with doing 1-5 different MFDB jobs a day. I believe they have done 1 or two Hassy jobs since I left, but still not much in terms of percentage.