I feel that today it is all about 2 things:
- productivity
- beautiful images with a look
And this is the main problem with MF overall. There are so few lenses options that you are pretty much stuck with a given look that will have to be overall pleasing, meaning quite neutral. Sharp of course with a pleasant bokeh, but this doesn't really matter that much any longer since all lenses are sharp. Strangely enough, you end up with the Lexus of lens rendering although you pay the Bentley price.
In terms of look, you end up having many more creative options in 35mm where I can use my 105mm f1.4 as close range if I want a super artistic bokeh, or my 70-200 f2.8 if I want just as much sharpness with a neutral rendering, or my [former] Otus 85mm f1.4, or the new Sigma 105mm f1.4, or... and the list is pretty much endless.
From that standpoint, mirrorless small sensors MF have a major value because you can adapt other lenses on it just like you can on the Sony. The fact that their sensor is hardly larger than 35mm becomes an asset here.
Cheers,
Bernard
This is well very articulated and mirrors my thoughts.
There is a mix of lenses I really like and even though I use an H system and Phase One out of necessity, there is no current medium format system that, by itself, gives me the look I want and am looking for. The problem being that a look is very difficult to create as its different for the individual - instead we get neutral lenses. I wish Zeiss was still in the medium format game - hopefully sometime in the future they will launch something for the mirrorless bodies. I would likely buy them.
Up to this point Phase One and Hasselblad have poured all their budget into pixels, to distance themselves from the competition. Lenses have been all but forgotten, except for a rare update. But now, especially Phase One, they have concentrated on something that has become somewhat irrelevant and put themselves out of the market I feel. Going from 100mp to 150MP is not enough, I have no interest.
One of the main reasons why I am so excited about the new mirrorless systems is the potential for a new set of lenses. Lenses that are interesting. It completely opens up the system to other possibilities and we can adapt a myriad of lenses, mix and match our own system that is unique to ourselves and combine it with a high quality sensor in a very versatile size.
To me, Phase one is the King that just can't hold court anymore. And unless it changes with the times it's going to become irrelevant.
