The Aptus 22 recycles at about the same speed that my 555eld's motor drive advances. I have been shooting valeo and aptus for the last 3.5 years and am used to the 1.2 second delay. I am wondering if I would even notice a .2 second time difference between the H3D and Aptus. Although only a demo will tell and as you mention I might hate that. I wouldn't be in this dilemma if Leaf offered an upgrade path that was relative to it's competitors. Very disappointing, a $15,000 difference in pricing may be just too much to stomach for an upgrade. One manufacturer wants to give me 10 grand to upgrade to their system, and the company who I have purchased two backs from in 3.5 years wants me to pay them 10 grand to upgrade.
Hi Tom
The one thing to consider with both systems is speed. The new 54s (
http://www.leaf-photography.com/ShowDoc.asp?MenuID=325&ParentMenuID=316) will shoot at .87 f/s. The H3DII 22mp will shoot at 1.4 f/s. I currently rent the Aptus 22 and besides file quality both of us (M&C) need that extra speed for people. For some photographers this is not an issue. For example I was using an Aptus 65 a few weeks while the Aptus 22 was being shipped in. I found it too slow & was affecting my shoot & its frame rate (Aptus 65 ) is 1.5 f/s. When I shot with the Aptus 22 we were back to normal @ 1.2 f/s. For speed this is where Leaf/Sinar have it over Hasselblad/Phase. The reason being the Dalsa chip vrs the Kodax chip.
Denis
Well I am currently pondering an upgrade path myself. I currently own an aptus 22 (6 months old) a 555 eld with four lenses.
I keep getting editorial assignments where I require auto-focus plus on-camera-flash. I was considering getting a second camera (5d). But have decided to re-invest and a get a camera system that can manage all of my assignments.
My leaf dealer wants to charge me A$10,000.00 to upgrade my near new aptus 22 to an afi 54s. And then to purchase a leaf afi with a 50 and 80 lens, I am looking at an additional of A$20,000 to upgrade my system (A$30,000. total). This is also two lenses short of my current arsenal of lenses (40mm, 50mm, 80mm, 150mm).
On the other-hand instead of paying $10,000 to upgrade my near new digital back, I could receive A10,000.00 from Hasselblad on a trade in, and buy a camera with competitively priced lenses.
I am very happy with the files I get, but saving $15,000 by jumping ship is sounding attractive. I really wish leaf had more attractive upgrade paths, or I wouldn't have to even consider.
Hasselblad also offers A$20,000 trade-in for Hasselblad backs. Where Leaf charges users to upgrade their existing backs making future upgrades sounding much less painful.