Graham, thanks for the update. Could you clarify something, when I use a Phase One back on a Hasselblad V camera I could describe the process for switching from landscape to portrait format in exactly the same terms that you've used.
.. Firstly the sensor is exposed to atmospheric dust. Secondly the back's at risk of being dropped (in thirty years I've never dropped a film back, but then again I never spent £20,000 on a film back). ...>[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=81139\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Adding to the above, in my mind there are two compelling reasons for a rotating back.
I seem to end up working in positions like; up a ladder, hanging over a parapete, from a moving vehicle/boat/plane, in dirty environments; where dropping something can be nasty. If I drop a film back there are always a few more to finish the job. Luckily 'I' have never dropped a back but had plenty of fumbles and seen the occasional back go in the drink/dirt.
The other factor is speed. It's pretty normal to shoot horizontals and vertical versions of a shot, even if the layout calls for just one (!). Rotating the whole camera is possible but with a waist level or 45 degree finder, not practical. I don't have to rotate a 6X6 back to shoot vertical.
Have we seen the specs. for:
Mirror lock up: Ideally settings for one-off mirror pre-release, shutter fire, then auto mirror return; and mirror prerelease; multi shot bracketed (or come to think of it, 4 shot DB and stitching) exposures, manual mirror down.
Bracketing: I'm thinking of wide bracketing for high dynamic range post processing; five to 7 shots a stop or so apart.
Remote release: a simple, non-propietary connector for electronic release. (Think, we used to be able to buy a cable release for every camera in any camera store)
I see the hot shoe is on the side. I guess there will be a right angle adapter to correctly orient Pocket Wizards or the like? Or better, a built-in Pocket Wizard. (for flash triggering and remote release)
This kind of turned into a wish list...?
Peter