Rainer - whats the point of anyone talking about the artec - since Sinar has stopped talking to customers about whether they will be there to service the equipment. I don't need another Hy6 episode. I cant believe they are still saying NOTHING - after months of F&H and now Leaf - which Must have been the NATURAL partner for Sinar...I cant believe we are going to lose Sinar - but judging by their silence - they are either arrogant and therefore stupid - or just ignorant and broke.
and btw - i do not like saying the obvious - but enough is enough - some news please Sinar!!!
Pete
i understand your point although, as Thomas wrote, i am writing about the artec because it grew up from my initiative but i am not selling or making it. the prices are a steal now ( in germany ) and i am not very scared that my artec/33mp system will not serve me for many years from now on, but of course the situation is everything than inviting to buy in the system at this moment and ( without knowing any actual numbers ), it should be reflected in their selling as well. so lets see what will bring the nearer future.
i dont have also any idea what leads sinar to the idea to stop communication here, but at least they are still alive and working there in switzerland. after thierry had to leave, it became very quiet here about sinar. but remember that he always was in LL out of his personal engagement, as far i know it never was requested by sinar itself and so its a bit logic that its very quiet now after thierry is away from them, sinar didnt care much about internet forums. we can discuss if this is very clever, but now this is the situation and its result.
i will write my very personal thoughts about the artec and its future, if the things run bad:
the artec is a mechanical system, so the worst case ( manufactor`s dead ) is i.m.o. not so dramatic as it is with an electronic system as the HY. ( although i worked since years with the dead system called contax and still its great, but it is also a completed system in terms of the lens range and accessories. )
for me a system is in that moment usable in which i can get it complete to 100% and this is the point where i can buy into, not a second before . i dont base decisions in mf anymore on what will happen in the future - after all what we saw in the last years.
the artec is an item which has a complete lens lineup ( no idea about the 40HR, but there is the 35hr and the 45 ), it has a great 33mp back together with a very good working lens batch correction and dng writing software.
in case a 75lv back brakes in the future it will be very easy and probably cheap to replace it with or without warranty.
if i would need in the longer future another back adapter to buy a higher res. back ( or there will break something in the artec body ) i would search s.o. ( a small mechanical firm ) to make it ,- this looks very possible for me and will not be too expensive.
but as i wrote above, i understand your point.