Phase One XF/IQ3 CF Achilles Heel ?

[Balafre]

When Phase One launched the XF and IQ3 series much was made of it's future adaptability. This promise helped overcome the hurdle of its cost. The XF only had but one card reader, a CF, the IQ had none. As CF cards are now redundant, does Phase One intend to leave its XF/IQ3 owners (who helped build their business) hamstrung with increasingly no media to shoot on or reduced to shooting tethered only, or can the reader be upgraded (in line with its launch service promise) to remain current and able to use XD or CF Express cards?

[Doug Peterson]

The IQ3 was released in 2015. You're asking if Phase One is going to release a modular hardware upgrade to a ten year old system to accept new types of cards?

If that's your question then the answer is no.


But I don't see what problem you are looking to solve. There are dozens of CompactFlash card models on BHPhoto/Amazon/etc. You'll be able to buy compatible CF cards, new in box, for another decade at least (in new old stock at least) and easily buy them used for another thirty years.

[Balafre]

Yes Doug I am asking that and it's not unreasonable to do so. These were not Kodak Instamatics and we don't live in a world where resources are inexhaustible.
When I bought a system that P1 promised was designed to evolve, I had faith in them and invested heavily in a $100,000 ecosystem of Blue Ring lenses and accessories. At least trying to avoid built-in obsolesence is the basis of smart design, and responsible corporate citizenship. So if from its inception P1 had bothered to put in SD cards too (like Canon), or at least planned to be able to retro-engineer the adaptation we'd not be looking down a gun barrel.
But silly silly me, I did it to earn money for me, and my family, not for Phase One. They are a means unto an end, not an end in itself.
Yet your point about cards is partly relevant - B&H have some SanDisk Extreme Pro. Lexar, as endorsed by P1 upon XF release and accompanying XF with purchase, have vanished. Others, and 2nd hand ? ..hmmm.... perhaps the Kamakuza Jolly Fortune brand is OK for you but ... I wouldn't trust it.

[Doug Peterson]

Yes Doug I am asking that and it's not unreasonable to do so. These were not Kodak Instamatics and we don't live in a world where resources are inexhaustible.
When I bought a system that P1 promised was designed to evolve, I had faith in them and invested heavily in a $100,000 ecosystem of Blue Ring lenses and accessories. At least trying to avoid built-in obsolesence is the basis of smart design, and responsible corporate citizenship. So if from its inception P1 had bothered to put in SD cards too (like Canon), or at least planned to be able to retro-engineer the adaptation we'd not be looking down a gun barrel.
But silly silly me, I did it to earn money for me, and my family, not for Phase One. They are a means unto an end, not an end in itself.
Yet your point about cards is partly relevant - B&H have some SanDisk Extreme Pro. Lexar, as endorsed by P1 upon XF release and accompanying XF with purchase, have vanished. Others, and 2nd hand ? ..hmmm.... perhaps the Kamakuza Jolly Fortune brand is OK for you but ... I wouldn't trust it.

I'm sorry. I'm really trying to be sympathetic. These are expensive systems – I absolutely get that. But:
1) I'm not aware of any camera make/model that has ever had a customer option to replace the card reader, let alone 10 years after release.
2) The cards you already have will last a *very* long time.
3) There will not be a time in the next decade where you can't source a compatible Compact Flash card in less than 10 minutes of searching. You can still source 3.5" floppy disks with next-day delivery and Apple dropped those in 1998.

If you're really somehow worried about this, then either upgrade to an IQ4 or buy a few Extreme Pros and put them in a cool, dry, dark place and you can expect your grandchildren to be able to use them when, in 2100, Phase One medium format is a cool retro/antique item .

[MN]

CompactFlash to SD adapter, and then you should be able to use a SD card. That's what I have in my IQ3, and what I use.

(Advantage here is that my Macbook has a built-in SD card slot.)

A CompactFlash with WIFI would be great, but apparently there never was a WIFI CompactFlash. 


Addendum: Tried WIFI SD card (Eye-Fi?) with adapter perhaps six years ago but had no success getting it to work.

[Balafre]

Oh Bravo! Thank you - I had since ordered a swag of 128 Gb cards ex B&H, but it's great to know there's options. Will investigate. Most appreciated.