Last week I went to a Phase One training day for Capture One version 5. They had the new 645DF camera there plus an 80mm leaf shutter lens, and the discussion turned to the driving philosophy behind Phase One cameras and future developments. There were some interesting comments,

1. The main design objectives for the 645DF were reducing shutter lag and faster/more positive auto focus. It was clear, handling the replacement camera alongside the current version, they've delivered substantial progress against both objectives. I also thought manual focus precision had taken a step up. The new camera offers 1/1600 flash synch with the P65+ and P40+, and 1/800s with other backs.

2. A vertical grip for the 645DF is planned by April 2010. It will take the same batteries as the Phase One back, have a USB port for firmware updates, and feature a Pro-Photo style flash connection.

3. More and longer leaf shutter lenses are in the pipeline, as is the much awaited short zoom.

4. I had a moan about the dreadful 45mm T&S and was told there are discussions with Schneider for an alternative T&S, but they emphasised no firm plans as yet.

5. There's no plans for any further camera body launches in the next twelve months, but there is something scheduled thereafter, and I got the impression it will feature a removable finder. No one from Phase One would comment further, but given that a removable finder has only limited utility on a 645 camera, I wonder if a 6x6 or revolving back camera is in the pipeline?

6. I asked why there was no support in C1 for the Mamiya 120mm macro, and the answer was that there's no support for the Phase One 120mm macro either...because the lens is so competent there's nothing to correct! Fits with my experiences of this lens, the 45mm T&S may disappoint but the 120mm macro delivers in trumps, Phase One suggested it's the best lens in their line up and there's no better 120mm macro lens in the medium format world.

7. The L bracket and angle finder from the current camera will fit the 645DF, incidentally the new eye cup feels much better with vertical/portrait format shots. I liked the new MLU too, plus the fact that you don't have to depress a button to change metering modes. Shame to see the option of a film back go, if only for that bit of extra security it provides (I've had a Phase One back fail when one of the menu buttons stopped working), but apparently some of the other improvements couldn't have been made if film backs were retained.

8. Asked if the 645DF meant studio shooters were the key audience they replied that with the medium format back market at only about 7,000 units annually, and struggling to even hold level with last year, they couldn't afford to exclude anyone, so it's about delivering products that are as versatile as possible.

Could you possibly recall what made you get that impression? What did they say?

How about offering VFs that correctly match the various sensor formats (44x33, 48x36, 56x36, 52x40, 56x42), including metering only the light that the sensor will see?

He means a built-in PocketWizard flash transmitter.

Doug Peterson (e-mail Me)
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that will probably be the Schneider Super Angulon 55mm f4.5 PQ lens which was designed and released for 645 and 6x6 series cameras in the 90's.
Originally made for Bronica and then Rollei (6000 series to Hy-6) and Pentacon 6 mounts.

a great lens. lots of movement, and what's more it had shifts in two directions (eg both vertical and horizontal) as well as tilt. great for stitching too. built in leaf shutter, or use your FP one.
most shift lenses only move in one direction. doing two is a real step up.
it was incredibly expensive when new - something like $8,000.

Schneider releasing this in a Mamiya mount would be minimal work for them, and make a lot of sense for Phase as they would have a growing Schneider range.

last one I saw was on eBay: 130334303303

They were pretty clear that the next Phase One camera will have removable viewfinders. After that I'm just conjecturing about what a removable might imply, there's certainly an argument that it could mean a 6x6 or rotating sensor, but in fairness there's also explanations with existing sensors. Contax had a removable viewfinder with their 645 (limited usefulness), and I think Bronica had a swiveling 645 viewfinder, Hasselblad offered V system reflex viewfinders at both 45 and 90 degrees, or it could (as has been pointed out) be a way of matching sensor sizes precisely with different viewfinders that have different magnification levels.

That's exactly what I mean. Doug, do you happen to know if this will work with the Quantum radio units?

I hope it means a new 6x6 along with a digital back for it Obviously with no crop factor. Or am I daydreaming here..


Regarding the lens, there is one available if someone is interested.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rollei-Wide-Angle-55mm...=item45eef10bdf

Nice lens, I missed that one earlier, it would be perfect for my 6008 AF if I still had the system, sigh.

I'm glad that Phase is, well, maybe, probably, might could, come out with new stuff for their camera, but what happened to the Phase policy of not mentioning anything before it's out?

Maybe all policies have changed since Leica announced a camera and a bunch of lenses, but so far is selling nothing, so I guess that's the new rule. PDF it first, then see what happens.

I don't know if this stuff is to jazz people up, or just keep them holding onto their money hoping another 645afd camera, or any medium format camera for that matter.

I'll bet everytime the Hasselblad people read this stuff they want to go out to the alley and hit their heads on a wall, because of all the "new" medium format cameras on the market (cameras not backs) they are the only ones with everything in place and on the shelves.

Probably 99.9% of all medium format images for commerce are shot with an H camera but I'll bet the number of those images shot with a Hasselblad back is much lower which kind of makes you wonder why?

Anyway, I have no dog in this fight, in fact I'm not sure if medium format is fighting each other anymore cause Phase has bought most of the competition, but if I was Hasselblad, I'd build on those great websites and marketing and find someway to get their backs stuck on all those Hasselblad cameras that are in use right now.

If I was Phase, I'd get all of this promised product on the shelves and into rental, yesterday.

If I was Canon, that 32mpx camera would be out by Christmas.

If I was all of these makers the ending tag on every file format would be .dng out of the camera and compatable back to photoshop 7.

BC

A 6x6 back for a 645 system with lenses, lens mount and reflex mirror all designed for 645 format and so incompatible with the deeper mirror, deeper mirror box, and greater lens mount to sensor distance needed for 6x6, so that all 645 lenses would at least be unable to focus on distant objects, and with no sign at all of any interest in making 6x6 sensors (not even back when the Hy6 was in production), and all this from a company that has never shown any interest in 6x6 format even in the film era? Yes, you are daydreaming.

I already imagine the reply: go mirrorless, changing to a new sensor type than can provide the Live View needed by a mirrorless system.
But for the next few years at least, a mirrorless transition of the Mamiya or Hassleblad 645 system is also a daydream.

Taking into account that Schneider started producing lenses for Mamiya 645DF, I guess providing lenses for a 6x6 wouldn't pose a significant problem. However I can't argue with the rest of pointed out issues.. and I'd say the condition of MF market doesn't necessarily encourage to design new cameras from scratch. Mirrorless + live view is an even more bold dream But it's still nice to have dreams from time to time. This way I don't have to think about my AFDII which I dislike for all it's disadvantages.

couldn't agree more.
its strange how often this appears on these forums - its plainly not going to happen.

RZ III, perhaps?

That would be my 2nd dream, right after 6x6

You missed the most contemporary example: the Hasselblad H system has a choice of two prism finders: one for 54x42mm "645" format, the other for 48x36mm format (and of higher magnification so as to give the same image size of the smaller frame, so it is not just the former with a built-in mask as some people keep claiming.)