NEW Mamiya AFD III

[Jost von Allmen]

I visited my dealer in Switzerland, GraphicArt, today, and to my surprise, after asking about any new future Mamyia products and the deal with PhaseOne, I got the following answers:

Mamyia will introduce the AFD III in Q1 2008, with
Improved AF ("faster, more precise")
Faster continuous mode
New shutter ("extremely robust")
New mirror- and shutter mechanism ("less noise and vibrations")
MSCE interface with extended communication (so everything should becompatible with current backs and lenses)
OPEN interface, so any MFDB maker should be able to adapt his backs.

Plus new "D"-lenses, following the constructions of the 28mm and the 75-150mm, which include a built in processor.
Announced are a new 120mm Macro (still manual focus though), a wide angle zoom AF 45-90mm and a AF 2,8/150mm

Find all the info in the attached pdf (in german) and also posted (in German) on the website http://www.graphicart.ch

The whole info makes sense to me!
However I don't have any more details.

Maybe someone has more inside informations?

[eronald]

Yet another camera to debug. I wonder whether the new Phase camera will simply be a rebadged Mamiya ?

Edmund

[mcfoto]

Hi
So it is an improvement on the current AFDII body. That 45-90 zoom sounds really nice. That means there will be 4 zooms now for this system. I hope they make the view finder brighter to.
Thanks Denis

[amsp]

Great news, the future is looking bright for Mamiya and P1 I think.

[paul_jones]

Great news, the future is looking bright for Mamiya and P1 I think.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=156786\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

i have no idea if the afd3 will have anything in common with the phase offering, but  hope the phase camera is offering more than this. thisa amount of improvements wont make me move from hasselblad, although i would really like to.

paul

[amsp]

I'm not sure why you think there will be a "phase camera", I think the AFDIII is the camera in question, developed in cooperation by both companies, and I'm sure it will have more goodies than the ones on that list (even though a fast AF alone will make me buy the new camera). We'll just have to wait and see, in the meantime I'm quite happy with my AFD  

[Mort54]

I'm not sure why you think there will be a "phase camera" .....

In Michael's interview of the Phase One CEO, it was stated that the new camera was designed by Phase One, with Mamiya's help, and that it would be sold alongside Mamiya's existing line.

If the new camera was more of a joint effort, I think they would have stated it was jointly designed by Phase and Mamiya. I'm assuming that the Phase CEO chose his words deliberately.

This certainly isn't proof that the new camera and the AFD III aren't one and the same, but the interview does suggest the new camera was more Phase's conception than Mamiya's. At least to me.

We'll find out soon enough.

[BernardLanguillier]

This certainly isn't proof that the new camera and the AFD III aren't one and the same, but the interview does suggest the new camera was more Phase's conception than Mamiya's. At least to me.

We'll find out soon enough.
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I read that too, but interpreted it as the new Mamiya (probably the AFD III) being sold under the Phaseone brand bundled with a back, a bit like the new Leaf on Sinar.

Frankly speaking, I don't think that phaseone has the resources and skills it takes to design a camera.

Cheers,
Bernard

[Mort54]

Frankly speaking, I don't think that phaseone has the resources and skills it takes to design a camera.

Perhaps my interpretation is more wishful thinking than anything. Financially, having Mamiya and Phase share a common body would seem to make the most sense, since there would be less duplication of effort.

As for whether Phase has the resources and skills, I'd say they certainly have the electronics knowhow to do their own camera. I could easily believe they'd be better off getting their autofocus and autoexposure chips from someone else, however. And certainly relying on others to provide the lenses makes sense. I'd say they have the skills to do a body, but I'd agree that they might not have the resources, or deep enough pockets, to do it right.

[Frank Doorhof]

If they add a accu instead of those dreadfull penlites I'm in

[amsp]

I really don't see why they would each make their own camera if they are in it together. And Frank, I'd be surprised if they don't use a rechargeable battery this time around, maybe the same battery as phase backs use? That would be pretty convenient. Anyway, I'm really excited, I think it will be a seriously nice system when the new body and lenses are out.

[Graham Mitchell]

I read that too, but interpreted it as the new Mamiya (probably the AFD III) being sold under the Phaseone brand bundled with a back, a bit like the new Leaf on Sinar.
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I had the same thought.

[Anders_HK]

Based on my experience from the ZD camera... and holding the AFDII with much interest.... things they can improve:

1. Grip for holding the camera with your right hand. Comparing to my old F100... the F100 was possible to hold with one arm slack hanging down... and with only a few finger tips at grip, it was so well contoured and balanced... same with the ZD camera is no chance. The AFDII is better than ZD camera but still very pale to F100 in this regards. This is something really simple to do, but at same time really important with use of a camera, serious. Mamiya, please listen!

2. Custom functions on AFDII are coded... while ZD camere is very self explanatory... but I assume they will improve that for AFDIII.

3. Ah yah... if viewfinder got even brighter  

Regards
  Anders

[John_Black]

I'd love to see a common battery for camera + back like the H2, but if the AFD III is open to other backs then that could imply other back makers would have to develop their backs to run off of the power supply feeds.  It's possible Mamiya could create some separate contacts and only their backs (and presumably phase's too) would utilize those contacts.  Then the other 3rd party backs would use their own power system.  It's a tricky balancing act between making the best product optimized for your own equipment (ie - Mamiya) vs keeping the system open.  In this case the desire to be open may mean things like a common power system source go by the way side.

The AFD II has a 1/2000 max shutter speed vs Hass 1/800.  If Mamiya improved (reduced) vibrations, then with their higher shutter speed + less vibration, they may make a nice niche for themselves as the best handheld platform for outdoor shooting.  And if the could get the X-sync up to 1/160 or 1/200 then outdoor fill would be easier too.  

If there's an AFD III, then wouldn't a corresponding ZD II back make sense too?  I hope so - the current ZD with faster throughputs and a modern LCD would be good enough for me.  

I hope we see more information soon.

[Ed Jack]

I'd love to see a common battery for camera + back like the H2, but if the AFD III is open to other backs then that could imply other back makers would have to develop their backs to run off of the power supply feeds.  It's possible Mamiya could create some separate contacts and only their backs (and presumably phase's too) would utilize those contacts.  Then the other 3rd party backs would use their own power system.  It's a tricky balancing act between making the best product optimized for your own equipment (ie - Mamiya) vs keeping the system open.  In this case the desire to be open may mean things like a common power system source go by the way side.

The AFD II has a 1/2000 max shutter speed vs Hass 1/800.  If Mamiya improved (reduced) vibrations, then with their higher shutter speed + less vibration, they may make a nice niche for themselves as the best handheld platform for outdoor shooting.  And if the could get the X-sync up to 1/160 or 1/200 then outdoor fill would be easier too. 

If there's an AFD III, then wouldn't a corresponding ZD II back make sense too?  I hope so - the current ZD with faster throughputs and a modern LCD would be good enough for me. 

I hope we see more information soon.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=157271\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

 Is this annoucement official yet ?

[Bill Caulfeild-Browne]

The AFD II has a 1/4000th shutter speed. (At least, mine does!)
Bill

I'd love to see a common battery for camera + back like the H2, but if the AFD III is open to other backs then that could imply other back makers would have to develop their backs to run off of the power supply feeds.  It's possible Mamiya could create some separate contacts and only their backs (and presumably phase's too) would utilize those contacts.  Then the other 3rd party backs would use their own power system.  It's a tricky balancing act between making the best product optimized for your own equipment (ie - Mamiya) vs keeping the system open.  In this case the desire to be open may mean things like a common power system source go by the way side.

The AFD II has a 1/2000 max shutter speed vs Hass 1/800.  If Mamiya improved (reduced) vibrations, then with their higher shutter speed + less vibration, they may make a nice niche for themselves as the best handheld platform for outdoor shooting.  And if the could get the X-sync up to 1/160 or 1/200 then outdoor fill would be easier too. 

If there's an AFD III, then wouldn't a corresponding ZD II back make sense too?  I hope so - the current ZD with faster throughputs and a modern LCD would be good enough for me. 

I hope we see more information soon.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=157271\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

[david o]

mine is also 1/4000 and 1/125 sync. (not even sure but I think)

[John_Black]

Sold mine about a year ago and for some reason had it my head that it was 1/2000.  My bad.