does anyone know the x-sync speed of the AFDIII?
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There is a lot of information that seems to be missing, or difficult to find.
Along with the X-sync, what is the complete lens lineup?, when will the new lenses be introduced, how fast will they be etc. etc.
In regards to mounting other lenses like the V and Mamiya manual focus, do you have to manually stop down when shooting (regardless of metering)?
With the V lenses will the shutters be operable, or just used in wide open mode?
Pentagon? Well I guess I can understand it for maybe that strange Harteblei (which I use for the contax) but what does pentagon offer that's really important and do you have to stop them down when shooting?
Where are the af points and how about a screen shot?
Why not a right angle grip, heck $1000 Nikons have one and most important, (very very important) will this be as strong as a tank (think Contax, Canon, RZ). The previous mamiya afd did not have a good reputation in rental houses in regards to reliability (actually the H series blad also has some issues in the lens department), but for this camera, or any new camera to make a dent in the professional market it better be a hammer that can put up with the abuse that rentals receive.
Medium format (and this goes for all the medium format companies, not just phase) needs to be more informative and less cryptic.
I want to see a price list of current lenses, dates on when new lenses will be introduced, reports about battery use/life, diagrams of focus, exact details of how 3rd party lenses work, if they focus to infinity.
And Lance and all the dealers, if your going to post sales information go further about how much product you have in stock, how much does it cost to change a different mount over to the Mamiya, how fast you can get lenses and accessories and the mount change done and how repairs are handled. No mumble mouth about cute little cases that hold one body and two lenses, or answering the three specific questions you "want" to answer and God please spare us responses of "due out in 3rd quarter 08".
Medium format needs to stop looking inward and look outside of their world. It seems Phase looks at Leaf, Leaf at Hasselblad, Sinar at Phase, but rather than just compete and compare with the direct competition, look at what the buyer needs today.
Put yourself in the position of if you wanted to buy a digital camera today, and start working in two days, what is really available.
I can walk into almost any camera store on the planet and buy everything Canon or Nikon offers, toss it in a bag and go to work.
I find it interesting and perplexing that I can lay out my Contax system of bodies, right angle grips, lenses and waist level finders and pretty much replace all of it in two days for less costs than the new Mamiya, much less costs than the Hasselblad, much, much, much less costs than the Hy6.
This doesn't mean the new Mamiya, Haselblad, or Rollei is not a good camera, or might turn out to be the best choice, but I think it should be assumed that anyone that puts down serious money for a medium format system has serious work to do, needs serious answers and needs availability today, not at some future date, tbd.
I think the dealers should be aware that most photographers that buy thier own equipment and follow this stuff are a little gun shy. The last few years have seen a ton of annoucements, usually the same annoucements with the same repeated promises, but not a lot of delivery and real time dates on hardware and software.
For me and others that make their living making photographs, the most important thing is you make this investment will everything that is promised actually make it's way to the shelf?
In fact I find this annoucement very un Phase One like. It's got a lot of sizzle, but not a lot of meat.
As the saying goes, just the facts man.
So Lance, the next time you want to make a banner ad on a forum, put in more information not just the current press release.
JR
