Soon?
It would seem you know something we don't.
Guy is just referencing the public information already posted by Phase that they are working on a successor to the DF body. Which is sort of like saying Microsoft is working on a successor to the current version of Windows: Duh. Every company is always working on the successor to their main products.
But to the point of future investment, if you objectively analyze the market position of the major players I think there is a strong argument that Team Phase One (Phase/Mamiya/Schneider/Leaf/Profoto*) is in one of the best positions if you're looking for a system likely to be supported/developed/expanded in the future.
I'd also pipe in on the DF body to say that it has advantages/disadvantages just like any other body/platform. As one of several examples the DF with a V-Grip Air has a built-in, out of the box, 1/1600th of a second wireless flash sync (when using one of the LS lenses) with Profoto Air lighting - no transmitter sticking off the top of the camera requiring it's own battery.
The variety of glass easily adaptable to the DF is also hard to beat on any other camera. Everything from fisheye, to funhouse plastic lenses, to microscope lenses, to super telephotos, to shift and tilt-shit lenses, to modern Schneider Leaf Shutter lenses. Also the allowance to use inexpensive last generation bodies like the Phase One AF or Mamiya AFD1/2/3 as a backup (don't get on me about reliability - I keep a backup pair of my contact lenses in my laptop case even though I've never had to change my contacts on-the-go; I want a backup of anything important).
The availability of shutter speeds up to 1/4000th (along with flash sync up to 1/1600) is also very important to those who want to shoot outside in bright daylite with fast lenses. I love the Hassy HC 100/2.2 lens and the Phase 150/2.8D lens for fashion/portrait. But I can use the Phase 150/2.8D wide open outside where the 1/800th limit of the H2 keeps me from using the 100/2.2 outdoor wide open. For some kinds of shooters that couldn't matter less; for some it matters a LOT.
The ability to control shutter speed and aperture in C1 is a big deal for a small niche of shooters who would choose a DF over e.g. a H2 body just for this reason alone.
For the record, I think the focus trap and focus bracketing on the Hy6 AFi are fantastic ideas. I really wish that the DF or H system had those features.
Also the Mamiya RZ Pro IID is 100% compatible with all the P/P+/IQ/Aptus-II backs that are M mounts (the DF body is an M mount body). That system has a full range of (very inexpensive due to market forces but still good quality) leaf shutter lenses with a beautiful look and a removable viewfinder, WLF, rotating back. Someone buying a DF/IQ kit can add an RZ with a few lenses for maybe another 15-20% of their kit price. Just take your back off the DF and stick it on the RZ and keep shooting. Now of course that body (like every body) has advantages/disadvantages (e.g. no autofocus being a big one). But in open-platform and fully-supported systems the possibilities are very wide.
For all the forum chatter about removable viewfinders I have had exactly ZERO rentals of our waist level viewfinder on the H bodies we rent (which we rent frequently in Miami in conjunction with Phase backs). In three years. Zero. I'm not saying it doesn't have a use (it's not my cup of tea, but I absolutely understand there are shooting scenarios where it's very nice); I'm just saying it one of those things I see a dichotomy between online and real-world metrics. I hope the next Phase/Mamiya body has a waist level finder - but honestly mostly because I'm tired of hearing about it :-). [joking]
*I put Profoto on the list because of the Air in the
V-Grip Air and Profoto Air plug-in for Capture One.
Doug Peterson
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Head of Technical Services, Capture Integration
Phase One Partner of the Year
Leaf, Leica, Cambo, Arca Swiss, Canon, Apple, Profoto, Broncolor, Eizo & More
National: 877.217.9870 | Cell: 740.707.2183
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