Isn't it ironic that nothing provokes vitriol and criticism against a company like the release of an excellent new product?
Frankly, it's something of a miracle that any of these small, boutique manufacturers have survived in the industry, and we should all be glad for it, whether we buy their products or not.
These backs have been years in the works (really, since the second after the last backs came out), and address, or attempt to address, virtually every major criticism and user demand, within the limitations of the existing platform.
I myself have been pretty harshly critical of the Mamiya camera that Phase is struggling with as its principle camera host platform since Hasselblad (in an unfortunate, predatory, but probably commercially wise move) closed the "H" system. But to be fair, the people in Denmark who design and make the backs - which are clearly industry leading within the MFDB world - don't make cameras. Mamiya is a separate company on the other side of the world. It's Phase's Achilles heal, and make not mistake that I'm sure they are working day and night to bring a better camera to fruition, but it's a long and arduous path, and one unrelated to their back development track. For this reason, the OP is off-base. Phase did not prioritize the IQ series backs over a new body. The two are distinct streams.
Everyday I am glad that I am not in the MF camera business. It's a tough, competitive, overcrowded market with a limited audience and astronomical R&D costs, with the giant Imperial Death Stars of Canon and Sony (and to a lesser extent Nikon) orbiting all too close to them.
But everyday it makes me kind of glad that there are scientists and entrepreneurs out there brave enough to make these amazing devices.
Koombya.
- N.