Not sure how you can say that it is actually the third version of this body AFD, AFDII and now AFDIII exactly he same as the Phase brand. If you want to point it out like that is not the Hassy H version 2 being HD and HDII. Not really seeing your point here Mamiya has been around for 35 years as a system and Hassy even longer . Now 35 years is a long time to not call it established. Now how many Pro's have one lens, come on lets get real here at the end of the day you one would consider there system complete it would be about 4 lenses even the hobbyist with very little means would have more than 1 or 2 lenses. Bottom line it is what is in the bag that counts be it you bought a lens today and/or another one next year it is still a system you buy into. Now if you want a Hassy from B&H than buy it for that price , no one said things are equal pricing in life and if Phase feels there system is worth more than that is there strategy. Hassy is obviously giving it away to get people in the door it's called loss leader and every grocery store in America does this. Hassy wants you to get in and buy lenses and into the system. Good for them that is there marketing strategy but you can't fault Sinar, Leaf or Phase for having a different marketing strategy. You may not like it but trust me do the math on Hassy and Phase with 4 lenses the same focal length. It becomes a very close call on the money side but they are different systems and for some a leaf shutter system is not in the cards and others it is. I don't want a leaf system so there is no other choice except Phase or Contax in focal plane system. At that point how do you compare Contax is not made anymore. Now for leaf shutter you have Sinar and Hassy systems. Sorry but this is how you compare systems at least something that resembles the same Apple. Honestly your argument here makes no sense but believe what you will but I find these type of comments you make as being very biased. Myself i would buy either system depending on my need and I choice Phase because of my needs. Price is completely a secondary purchase decision. Makes no sense to buy a Hassy because it is cheaper if I need a focal plane system and makes zero sense to buy a Phase system if you need a leaf system unless you mixed and matched and that is a option some folks have done Phase back , Hassy H2 body. Now if you think you would pay 16995 to any dealer you want I am sure they would be glad to take full price for a Phase but it is a listing price and the way there strategy is call a dealer and get a quote. Different strategies on how they do business pick your poison but something you completely failed to point out is will B&H send you a loaner overnight, Not going to happen and even a customer for 35 years they would laugh at me. What you failed also to bring up is the service and support and that counts for something. You want to buy on price alone be my guest but for myself there is a lot more at stake than just price. I'm sorry but this is how you decide on what your needs are and price is very secondary but in the end does count. But certainly not the primary factor of what you need as a shooter.
Hey Guy I just saw your post and was wondering something. Why would you "want" a focal plane shutter?
I am a mamiya guy for about 20 years now and was happy back in the days when they had Leaf shutter lens. Actually they were the only lens that went on my camera except for the 120 Macro and 110 2.8
Even on my Pentax 6x7 system I had all the leaf shutter lens.
I have been totally dissapointed with mamiya not coming up with atleast 1 leafshutter lens that they have been promising for years now!!!
Or even an adaptor for the old lens would be great!!!
Also I have been tempted to go with Hassleblad but do not want to hassle with selling off everything specially when the prices have dropped so much that alot of people seem to be dumping their MF stuff at the moment....
Also I never had the AFD just the ProTL , but I find the AFDII to III was a MINOR update and not worth beans if you ask me. What were they thinking?
They are kind of like Phase becasue the upgrades seem to be hardly anything???
Let's face it, Phase need a facelift whether they like it or not.
Also if they are going to be stubborn and NOT drop their prices, they might go down with the ship in flames.
Well not to get off subject here but I feel PhaseOne/Mamiya are making a BIG marketing mistake at the moment.
Hasslblad's are looking pretty good at the moment if you ask me. Although with a phaseOne back..:+}
Just my opinion.
Snook