Well, Steve, this is nothing personal you understand. It's just that in my innocence, I assumed that where you have an MF digital back system which is "open platform", it would mean that not only could you purchase the back to fit a wide range of cameras, but that if you decided later on to get a different camera system you would then simply be able to swap the mount on the back and use it on that camera instead. But at $3,000 that (in my case) might be more than the cost of the camera. Not only that, but I would expect to be able to keep my back (which I would have treated like the crown jewels), not have to swap it for someone else's with an unknown history.
To me, this just does not sound like a good deal at all.
John
John -
This is an open platform forum, anyone is free to respectfully posit any thoughts or opinions they have, and I treat it as such, there was nothing offensive in your post, personally or otherwise. So, please, no worries.
But, did you really mean to say that if you swapped a digital back mount, you would expect to keep your digital back? That threw me a bit - gosh anyone would take that. *Yes, I'd like to change my P45+ digital back mount to Mamiya, but I want to keep the one I have, and pay less than $3,000.* Umm hmmm....
I've never really appreciated the term "open platform" myself. It's a pretty vague term, but one that seems meant to convey I can put this on any platform (camera platform, in this case). But the vagueness means that there is nothing in the term that addresses any costs. So, no claim of being able to go on any platform at some low or high cost, just that it can go on any platform (that can accept it). And for the most part, this is true.
But I digress, so back to the issue -
Yes, $3,000 is a pricey chunk of change.
Yes, you can just buy a Hasselblad or Sinar digital back and purchase interchangeable adapters for less, typically $700 - $2,600, depending on the adapter. But consider this - actually, no you can't. Hasselblad no longer makes digital backs for other cameras, only for Hasselblad cameras. So, the only digital back you can buy new today that offers interchangeable adapters is a Sinar digital back.
So if you say the average price of an interchangeable adapter is say, $1,400, then compare that to changing mounts on a Phase One back. Yes, $3,000. But they take your unit back, which means it must go through an inspection and refurbishment process. And while your unit may be functional, there still may be components or issues with the unit that you're swapping that need attention. The unit they swap it for must also go through an inspection and refurbishment process. A loss of time and labor in a service division is a very tangible cost.
When you consider the comparative cost of the average adapter you could buy today, and the wide variety of digital back options that can go on any primary medium format camera that Phase One offers (7) compared to Hasselblad (none) and Sinar (3), then the cost difference is not that significant.
$3,000 does seem like a lot just to be able to put a digital back on a different camera, but pricing is a relative proposition. Relative to the other options - few that there are - IMO it is not as expensive as it appears. FYI - Leaf actually does swap the interface, and the cost is $2,500. But they also still do go through an inspection and service check process of your unit.
Steve Hendrix
