The interesting thing about this project is that while the base camera is generally the same, the AFi and Hy6 may evolve to contain differences, some hardware, but mostly firmware. Firmware updates will come separately - my Sinar 2.09 updater does not update our Leaf AFi unit. There are already some functional differences between the "solutions" and it appears that will continue.
Steve Hendrix
www.ppratlanta.com/digital.php
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To me this is is where this all falls down where the back is proprietary to the camera.
Let's say I decide to sell time shares on my Gulfstream and purchase an HY6 with a Sinar back.
Then lease the top floor of my Malibu home to Cher to afford 5 or 6 lenses and for some reason I just don't like the way the Sinar works.
Does that mean I have to sell the Sinar back and the body and switch to a leaf branded back and body?
The thought of this almost makes me want to go back to a Canon 1ds.
Personally I think it's overcomplicated that any back has any specific mount, but at least if I decided tomorrow that I wanted to put my Phase backs on a Mamiya or an H series, it would just be a few grand to replace the mount and would keep Cher happy because I wouldn't have to double her rent.
That may not be best case scenario but at least it's doable without firmware upgrades and I assume the functionality I have now with the Contax and the back would not change if I go to another camera platform.
Consequently if I wanted to put a Sinar or Leaf back on my Contax I assume the only thing I need to do is write a check and wait for delivery.
Like it or not Leaf and Sinar are with this camera joined at the hip and not that I expect them to offer joint press releases, I do think that at least F+H should keep a running chart of what works with what, if only for rental and backup information.
I'm all for innovatin and moving forward, but I also know that this needs to get less complicated, not more and there is something to be said about picking the camera and lenses first, the back second, or better still buying a back and putting it on any camera I chose.
JR
P.S. don't take these comments as a condemnation of the HY6. I think it's a great idea though I also think as a new system it should come out of the box ready to rumble with full lenses, finders, and not a lot of firmware updates to fix this or that.
In fact the only thing that would move me from the contax's is a camera that had a rotatable back and fast lenses, but not if the camera (or back for that matter) is only specific to one system.
I've gone through the learning curve of Kodak, Fuji, Canon, Nikon, Leaf and Phase and some of it has been more than rewarding, some of it has been hell, but overall digital capture has to settle down to the point we pick up a camera, turn it on and take a picture, without worrying about james, firmware updates and file compatibility.
Regardless of price, it has to be a buy it, use it, painless process.