Clive,
Congratulations on your purchase as well!
It is amazing how similar our experiences were. It took me six months of research to figure out my way through the maze of options, and it sounds like we came to exactly the same conclusions.
I looked closely at the Hasselblad H3D-39 and came close to buying it but ultimately decided on the Phase. I have no doubt the H3D-39 is a great camera, capable of producing stunning images. A major factor why I chose Phase over Hasselblad was the Hasselblad back (on the H3D-39) needs to be tethered when using a view camera.[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=121693\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
I am also in the same boat with the H3D--I plan to use it eventually on an Arca-Swiss F 6x9 view camera. (Even though it will work with a couple thousand dollar external battery powered hard disk, that's not very cost effective from my point of view.)
I also love the Contax line as well (as well as the Zeiss glass). If they were still in business, I have little doubt that that is what I would have as well. But I think you are absolutely correct--they are fantastic and will remain useable, fixable and available for many years to come.
--
Hi, Larry,
I was much more worried about the "closed-ness" of these systems a few months ago, but I think the opportunity available to the open system maker will lead to many choices for the forseeable future. Here's what I mean:
Hassy H3D: * Camera - Closed [Requires H3D back]
* Back - Open (with limitations) [Can be used on other cameras, but requires tethering/ImageBank for power]
F&H/Sinar/Jenoptik/Leaf Hy6/AFi: * Camera - Open? (stated, but as yet unproven)
* Back - Open
Given that this platform hasn't shipped yet, I'm willing to give these folks the benefit of the doubt. It will be interesting to look back in a year, I think.Mamiya ZD-22: * Camera - Open
* Back - Closed
Phase One: * Camera - n/a
* Back - Open
Hassy V/Contax: * Camera - Open
* Back - N/A
My point here is that "closed" to some manufacturers means to lock down the camera to a particular MFDB, yet to others it means lock a MFDB to a particular camera. There is still at least one player without a camera affiliation, but even if that changes, it's hard to see how closing their line of backs to just that camera would be in their best interests.
That being said, there are advantages to "kits"--even if they're closed kits--convenience, reliability (or at least the promise of it), etc., so I think closed systems of one form or another are here to stay. Nevertheless, in the end, I really do think we will retain quite a bit of choice in terms of open cameras and open backs going forward--I wouldn't jump ship to Canon just yet...
Kind regards,
Brad