For the record, my comments are well-intentioned. My intention too is to flush out some more cold truth about the past performance of the companies involved in this venture, so I can know whether to completely write them off or not. My initial gut feeling is not good at all.
From afar, when I read about the three companies who are cutting up the Hype6 pie, I get this mental image of a very well-dressed, three-headed technician, with his white lab coat, and his engineering degree. Like some mythological character from a Greek tragedy, (except he's much better dressed). This giant figure is lumbering towards the marketplace, but as he approaches, one of the three heads begin to make snide comments to the other heads. Before long, all three heads are in full battle with each other, and they haven't even reached the Town Square yet. Just before it enters Main Street, the three heads are spewing arrows at the other heads, and the giant figure falls head-first into the Hardware Store window and dies a quick death. It killed itself, before it ever got to the party.
As a guy who's had a MF camera go down on him, in the middle of an advertising job, Fear is my middle name sometimes, with these cameras and backs. It's not a happy thing to admit, but when there's money on the table, and your neck is on the line, you need something you can count on. I keep two bodies and two Phase backs, and multiple lenses in my kit at all times. The thought of a "24 hour loaner" is a total joke. What happens when the thing goes down at 9:15am on Day One of a two day shoot? Do I eat the expenses for that Day One? No, I pull out my second body/back, and keep working.
The "24 hour loaner" is fine for the Dentist, because his goes down on a Saturday morning, and tomorrow's sunrise also calls for sunshine, so he's fine with the 24 hour loaner.
Many people have made good points in this thread. You think I'm being alarmist/libelous? Read the other comments. I stand by every word, (except the Arca craziness).
Read this: NO ONE WANTS CONFUSION. This Hype6 came out of the gate way too early, hoping that everyone would keep their money in their pockets. Now, they are paying the price. Months of contradictions; no real information or reliable pricing anywhere. They should have kept their mouths shut, just like Canon does. Do you see confusion in the Canon camp? Or, for that matter, even Phase?
When there's a fifty to sixty thousand dollar investment to make, and your reputation's on the line, Confusion should not be the Appetizer. That's all I'm saying. Not when there's a 1ds3 right around the corner, and Hasselblad is kicking ass. These are very expensive, competitive times, and no one wants to write a check for the wrong system. (Trust me, I've done it). It's way too much trouble, and way too expensive, to switch, later on, especially at the price of the Rollei lenses alone.
That's all I'm saying. Don't blame the messenger.
