P20 - and now?

[Rainer]

I´ve collected some offers for backs.
What do you think about these - compared to the Phase prices mentioned above:

Leaf Aptus 17 refurb - 7000 EUR
Leaf Aptus 65 new - 9500 EUR

The Aptus 17 looks tempting. And the APtus 65 looks cheap to me ...?
What do you say?

[amsp]

You can get a P25 for the same price as that Aptus 17. I wouldn't go for less than 22Mp if I was you. And if you want to use it for tilt/shift on a large format camera the P25 is ideal since it doesn't have a microlenses.

[shutay]

As far as I know, none of the Leaf Aptus digital backs have microlenses, something that is specifically pointed out in their datasheets.

[Dustbak]

The A65 can be used with movements. It does not have microlenses nor does the A17. The A65 is a cropped sensor as is the A17.

[EricWHiss]

If you like the square format and shoot mostly in studio or with tripod then why not get the P20.  The files are really great from this back at ISO 50 and up through 200.  I just posted some images to the recent work thread taken with the p20.   Should be same file quality as the p25 only just a square crop.

[patrickfransdesmet]

I´ve collected some offers for backs.
What do you think about these - compared to the Phase prices mentioned above:

Leaf Aptus 17 refurb - 7000 EUR
Leaf Aptus 65 new - 9500 EUR

The Aptus 17 looks tempting. And the APtus 65 looks cheap to me ...?
What do you say?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=184441\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Leaf aptus 65 is very good, nice price too
where do you buy ?

[Dustbak]

For the 2500euros price difference this is a no-brainer. Take the A65!

[sjstremb]

Hi all,

As some of you successfully talked me out of purchasing a H10 back, i decided to rob the piggy bank and spend some more.

I predominantly shoot stock (lots of studio work - children, family, lifestyle) and occasionally architecture and landscape and already own Nikon DSLR´s (D3, D200) and 4x5 (Arca F-Line 4x5 and an Ebony SW45).

I feel that i want some more than the D3 can give me (yes, it IS fantastic at high ISO settings, but at lower ISO it´s not that much better than a D200, D80, ...). As i´m familiar with 4x5 i want digital files with a similar look and feel - a DSLR can´t do this, so i hope a MFDB will help out.

My budget is limited at about 10k-12k Euro / 15k-18k USD for a
MFDB, MF camera, 2 lenses for MF camera, Adapter for adapting MFDB to 4x5 and a wide angel lens for using it on the 4x5 to shoot architecture and a longer lens (~100-120mm) for table top, macro, ...

I have a chance to get a mint Phase P20 back (Hasselblad V) for about 5k Euros, eventually together with a 503 CW, Winder, CF50mm, CF120Macro for about 8k Euro all together.
Do you think the price is ok or would you get something else?

Then i´ll need an adapter for the P20 to 4x5 Arca or Ebony and at least one WA lens (i thougt about a 35mm).
I really would like to keep the option of shooting 4x5 sheet film or do you think i´ll have problems shooting the P20 on a 4x5 camera?
I saw the Kapture Group slinding backs, Arcas Rotaslide (both very expensive) and cheap China sliding backs on ebay as well. And i have no idea what to get...

What do you think?

Sorry for the long post - it´s a difficult decision.
Thanks a lot!
Rainer
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=183565\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

As someone with a D3 and daily access to Hasselblad SWC and a P20 back, I can tell you I have not used the P20 in months, the added MP does not make up for the lower noise of the D3. The P 20 is frankly, IMHO, a little dated and I would recommend you save up for a newer back, but I question the value of sub 20 mb medium format backs in this new age of DSLR's

[Rainer]

Thanks for all your replies so far!

I´ve made a decision on the back and will get a used but obviously excellent working Phase P25 for a quite reasonable price - at least i think it is (~7k Euro).
Compared to the dealers offers i got with >10k Euros that seems to be ok.

I´ll also get a 503CW and most likely a CF 50 and a CF 120 Makro to start.
I still want to adapt the back on some sort of view camera with a 35mm digital lens and a 100 or 120mm macro lens. Options:

My Arca 4x5 with a sliding back (which one?)
My Ebony SW45 with a sliding back (again- which one?)
A Silvestri Flexicam with integrated sliding back (better for wideangle and shift than a 4x5?)
or a (used) Linhof 679cc with slinding back (i´ve got an offer for this recently)

What do you think?

Regards, Rainer

[sid_v]

hi rainer,

congrats on your decision. This is exactly what forums do to a guy looking for an h10.....make him shell out for a p25. I was in ur exact same shoes wanting to test MFD with a humble back just to use my beloved RB67SD. Settled for an H20 after almost buying an h25. Its the best of both worlds price/performance. Think about it, you'll save good money with an h20/25 with same quality of p backs, and looks much cooler on analog cameras  

sid.

[amsp]

Good choice Rainer, and the price is VERY good. The P25 is a great and versatile back, and the files are incredibly crisp. You'll be thankful too you got a P-back instead of an H-back. Being forced to always carry around and shoot to a laptop is just crazy.