I don't have any information yet about that.
Steve Hendrix
Phase One
I'd hate to be in the medium format camera buying mood right now, because honestly I wouldn't know what to invest in. Now buying cameras isn't something I would have previously called an investment, but today with medium format used prices dropping like 2 year old Hummer's and deals being announced every 5 days, I would want some kind of assurance that whatever brand I bought into would be viable in the next few years (or further).
The press releases we read lately about medium format, from calumet's link to Hasselblad, F+H's insolvency issues and Leaf's determination to keep the brand running, Phase's takeover, uh investment, uh majority share, uh close cooperation with Mamiya, have the directness of a PR release written by Citibank.
With all respect to Mr. Hendrix, since he is with Phase One, I guess he knows the real story about who owns what though I would think the "real" story would be when the LS lenses will appear, do they require the new body, when will the new body appear, oh yea, and for how much?
For the reps that seem to take exception to questions about the wording of these press releases, understand that we as "buyers" didn't write them, we just read what is available and try to make an educated guess about what they mean and let's be real honest about this, medium format information is somewhat clouded in mystery (at best).
It wasn't but a few months ago at Photokina, that Leica and Phase were slow dancing with each other talking about another form of shared alliances with software and lenses though now we're told uh-uh, nope, never happened, Leica is going their own way and will dance solo.
It was also during the same Photokina that Sinar and Leaf we're going to sell Sinar branded Apti but that's gone silent, so who knows what any of this means?
Now the one press release that got my attention was Calumet saying they're going Hasselblad only. Actually, even that was not direct, as they mentioned they are going Hasselblad instead of Leaf, though up till a few hours I thought they also sold Phase, Leaf, Mamiya, Sinar. Even the Calumet website shows a megazvision, so what does that mean and what's the point of a retailer announcing they are going to sell "less" product?
I'm somewhat amazed by Calumet's announcement because what's to be gained by limiting options to the buyer. It's not like Calumet stocks that much in a store anyway, because everytime I go in there they say they have to order it. How much investment do they have in stock because it seems the only investment is updating their website with a .png file of a phase or Leaf back mounted on a Hasselblad H series with a high retail price point.
Even with all this electronic paper, the real world truth is most medium format professional images are shot with a Hasselblad H1 or H2 with all sorts of digital backs, and though Phase and Hasselblad seem to be both trying to rid the world these older cameras through promotions, they still exist and are still being used daily.
Maybe all of this stuff is good news but it smacks of turf wars between the bloods and the crips (medium format), fighting over three blocks of Vermont St. while 6 blocks away Turner Construction (Canon/Nikon) is building a 45 story complex.
Now the funny thing is yesterday I'm in an office waiting to go into a meeting and I pick up some magazine like House Wonderful and there is an Ad showing Nadav Kander endorsing a Samsung Point and Shoot.
I thought, now that's cool, all I need is $500 and a google map to Sam's club and Nadav and I will be blood brothers.