Equipment & Techniques > Medium Format / Film / Digital Backs – and Large Sensor Photography
Franke & Heidecke closes
Graham Mitchell:
--- Quote from: paratom ---Maybe they were to early - bringing the Hy6 before there was a square large sensor available.
--- End quote ---
A 6x6 sensor isn't necessary (and might never be competitive with 645 prices). Even a 645 sensor on the Hy6 would be amazing (especially with the upcoming 35mm lens - thereby silencing the 'lack of wide angle' critics), and this is very close to being achievable now. I hope the Hy6 players recognize that the design is close to paying off, after so much was invested in it. Abandoning it now would be equivalent to selling all your stocks at the bottom of the market. Despite Phase One's posturing, I think they recognize this and I still hope for an interesting deal to be made.
Rune Werner Molnes:
--- Quote from: foto-z ---A 6x6 sensor isn't necessary (and might never be competitive with 645 prices). Even a 645 sensor on the Hy6 would be amazing (especially with the upcoming 35mm lens - thereby silencing the 'lack of wide angle' critics), and this is very close to being achievable now.
--- End quote ---
Do you really expect that the AFD 35mm lens will be released after the discontinuation of the AFi?
Graham Mitchell:
--- Quote from: Rune Werner Molnes ---Do you really expect that the AFD 35mm lens will be released after the discontinuation of the AFi?
--- End quote ---
Probably not, if the Hy6 IS actually discontinued. The point is, that lens is ready for production, and 645 sensors are a reality now. The Hy6 is so close to plugging that wide angle gap, which seems to be the only real criticism of the platform.
(A 35mm lens on that sensor would give same FOV as a 30mm lens on a 48x36mm sensor, more or less catching up with the Hasselblad 28mm).
mcfoto:
Latest from British Journal Of Photography
Title: Franke & Heidecke to close
Feature: Daily News
Date: 4 July 2009
The German manufacturer responsible for 6x6 format camera bodies for both Leaf and Sinar is to close, BJP can confirm. The firm broke the news to its 131 employees earlier this week. The closure could dramatically affect the medium format camera market, days after Phase One announced it would buy Leaf's assets
Franke & Heidecke owns and develops new products for the legendary Rolleiflex twin-lens camera system, but it also produces a 6x6 format camera body for both Leaf and Sinar, named the AFi and the Hy6 respectively. Last March, it announced that it was going into insolvency, saying it couldn't pay its bills.
BJP can now confirm that Franke & Heidecke will close its operations before September 2009. In the meantime, servicing and back orders will continue to be fulfilled, according to press reports in Germany.
Leaf and Sinar didn't return call and email queries as this article was published, however it is understood that Sinar still has significant stocks of its Hy6 system and shouldn't be affected, in the short term, by the closure.
As for Leaf, last week Phase One announced it was to form a new company, Leaf Imaging Ltd, which would purchase Leaf's assets and enter into an intellectual property licence with Eastman Kodak Company.
However, in an exclusive interview with BJP, Henrik O Hakonsson, president and CEO at Phase One said that the new partnership could spell the end of the AFi system. 'The Leaf AFi is a camera system that is currently on hold,' he tells BJP. 'We have to determine if it is commercially viable and we are still not convinced by it. The new company - Leaf Imaging Ltd - has the rights for the Leaf AFi but we are not going to produce it.'
Franke & Heideke's closure could quicken Leaf's AFi death, unless Phase One decides to produce and support the system on its own.
The full effect of Franke & Heidecke's demise has yet to be felt as it could force another wave of consolidation in the medium format camera market. Check back on bjp-online.com/news for regular updates.
Source:
© Incisive Media Ltd. 2009
Incisive Media Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, is a company registered in the United Kingdom with company registration number 04038503
uaiomex:
I'd guess that P1 decision to adopt or not the Hy6/Afi depends on how deep they are involved with Mamiya.
--- Quote from: mcfoto ---Latest from British Journal Of Photography
Title: Franke & Heidecke to close
Feature: Daily News
Date: 4 July 2009
The German manufacturer responsible for 6x6 format camera bodies for both Leaf and Sinar is to close, BJP can confirm. The firm broke the news to its 131 employees earlier this week. The closure could dramatically affect the medium format camera market, days after Phase One announced it would buy Leaf's assets
Franke & Heidecke owns and develops new products for the legendary Rolleiflex twin-lens camera system, but it also produces a 6x6 format camera body for both Leaf and Sinar, named the AFi and the Hy6 respectively. Last March, it announced that it was going into insolvency, saying it couldn't pay its bills.
BJP can now confirm that Franke & Heidecke will close its operations before September 2009. In the meantime, servicing and back orders will continue to be fulfilled, according to press reports in Germany.
Leaf and Sinar didn't return call and email queries as this article was published, however it is understood that Sinar still has significant stocks of its Hy6 system and shouldn't be affected, in the short term, by the closure.
As for Leaf, last week Phase One announced it was to form a new company, Leaf Imaging Ltd, which would purchase Leaf's assets and enter into an intellectual property licence with Eastman Kodak Company.
However, in an exclusive interview with BJP, Henrik O Hakonsson, president and CEO at Phase One said that the new partnership could spell the end of the AFi system. 'The Leaf AFi is a camera system that is currently on hold,' he tells BJP. 'We have to determine if it is commercially viable and we are still not convinced by it. The new company - Leaf Imaging Ltd - has the rights for the Leaf AFi but we are not going to produce it.'
Franke & Heideke's closure could quicken Leaf's AFi death, unless Phase One decides to produce and support the system on its own.
The full effect of Franke & Heidecke's demise has yet to be felt as it could force another wave of consolidation in the medium format camera market. Check back on bjp-online.com/news for regular updates.
Source:
© Incisive Media Ltd. 2009
Incisive Media Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, is a company registered in the United Kingdom with company registration number 04038503
--- End quote ---
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