I would have an Aptus 22 right now instead of my P30+ if the prices at the time were more reasonable. Dealers were quoting $16k for refurbs and used, which is not right. $10k - $12k is, in my opinion, right.
I'm happy with my P30+, but I do mis the larger chip. If I can find a used 22 megapixel Dalsa sensored back for under $8k I'll buy one. It would be a nice compliment to the P30+.
LC11 is actually a great and powerful piece of software. Its moire tool is fast and effective. Defaults produce a beautiful file.
Congratulations and welcome.
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TMARK:
Dealers who are pricing Aptus 22 refurbs are in point of fact, as you put it, right, rather than "not right".
Last fall, Leaf released a batch of Aptus 22 units to their dealers that were very lightly used and factory refurbished. Some dealers incorrectly sold these as "new", but that's another matter. This was a special deal (and the details of why don't really matter, but they was priced by Leaf at a dramatically reduced price, well below normal refurb pricing). This pricing enabled dealers to offer tham at prices which ranged from $10,000 - $12,000 on average.
After these units were sold, that was it. Since that time, Aptus 22 refurbs have continued to become available from Leaf and the price that Leaf has offered to dealers enables dealers to sell them in the $15k - $17k range. So, when a dealer prices a refurb at $16k, they are not pricing it $6,000 higher than "where it should be" (wherever that is).
Leaf also did this the year before with Aptus 17's, which were sold for $7,600. These were trade-in units from the Hallmark school - which was upgrading at the time - and about 70 of these units were available at that price.
Currently, Leaf still sells the Aptus 17 and lists it at $15,995.
So, the problem is that Leaf on occasion releases a significant quantity of refurbished units at a great price - well below the normal refurb price. While this is great for the buyers of these units, it frustrates future purchasers who expect the same type of deal. The problem with one time only great deals is that whether it is accurate or not, it at least perceptively adjusts the market value of the product well below where it actually is.
Regarding the fan issue - I've stated it before and I will state it again. I have not had one customer going back over 5 years who has had a malfunction with a fan or who has had a breached internal environment in terms of dust, etc. These units are extremely well filtered and sealed. Not saying it cannot happen or has never happened, but I am saying it is extremely rare. There are digital backs from other manufacturers that grow fungus and have dust breaches that have no fan cooling. There is no reason to not consider a Leaf back because it employs a fan for cooling.
Even if there was an issue, Leaf is the only manufacturer who routinely turns around a digital back repair in one day - in the United States anyway. I consider it a non-issue with regard to maintenance.
Steve Hendrix
www.ppratlanta.com/digital.php