Hi
Back in April 2006 we did a promotion for the ZD camera. As we all know Mamiya was sold to another company in April 2006. Gay & I were at the PMA show in Sydney on May 1st/2006 & the word on the floor was Mamiya was going out of business. After wards when I talked to the agent for Mamiya he said that news basicly killed the sales for the ZD. Sure maybe the ZD wasn't the best but word on the street was not good.
This is now 2009 in not the best of economic times, hell the US car market dropped about 40% year to year. Now the MFD sector has not been strong for a few years...... Now we hear this news about the Hy6.......does this instill confidence in the market? I don't think so! When we shoot MFD our choice is Leaf. These are very interesting times!
Denis
A lot of people would have loved to see a low cost medium format camera succeed but the problem with the Mamiya wasn't only rumor. The issue was the product was out of date the moment it hit the shelves. Tiny lcd, low iso, small buffer, technical problems and half baked software just for 22mpx.
Yes the economy is tough right now, but it is just the market righting itself and even if we weren't in a global recession, there is only so many $30,000 to $50,000 camera systems a photographer (any photographer) is willing to absorb. Actually there is only so many $15,000 upgrades your willing to accept until you just say enough is enough.
At some point 20% more detail just doesn't justify the costs and honestly go through the archives of great photographs and tell me if any one of them would be improved if they had 20% more detail.
I always say perception is reality until times get tough, then logic takes over. We've all seen every digital device we own get passed every 11 to 18 months by a new model, which promises a lot, but only delivers incremental changes. It just stands to reason at some point you skip it model or two.
The upside to all of this is if you have the money, the slightly used and refurbished market is making some very strong deals.
I find all of the news lately to be sad mostly for the workers that are laid off. That's the heartbreaker and you have to wonder why it got that way.
Is the market really that small, could the cameras have been better, did management fail or is it that lower cost options are so close in quality that spending another $20,000 or so dollars just don't give that much return?
Even on this forum self proclaimed medium format brand junkies are not buying high end equipment, they're not even looking at a $8,000 nikon, but instead the Sony, because it's $5,000 less. That has to tell you something.
Regardless of the news of the HY6, the fact is it's difficult to get real unbiased information. I know today I can call 4 dealers, 4 camera reps and 4 people in management of all of the respective medium format companies and get a widely different opinion on who will be and who won't be in business in 12 months.
The medium format industry needs less rumor and more real clarity.
The thought that a successful photographer can't afford a $40,000 camera is wrong, but if your doing smart business you will allocate your funds where they have the most positive effect and in the professional world what we put in front of the lens usually has a lot more to do with gaining business than what kind or brand of camera we use.
Personally, I'd like to see all he camera makers prosper because it is a reflection on our industry as a whole.
