I am no scientist, but considering the scientists have no qualms offering advise to artists here, maybe the reverse is also welcome!
Here are a few questions I have regarding this whole project:
1) It's not impossible to get a lab prototype. But is that the extent of this project? Are you looking at manufacturing, certification and everything? Who's gonna take charge of that?
2) No matter how cheap the test kits are (If it was actually as cheap as an MF lens cap, I'd wire USD 20 right now to Sony and get one. Why not?), there's still a significant investment involved. You're looking at 5 figures for sure (The sensor is only one part of the equation). There are enough complaints on this forum about spending that sorts of amount on MF vs spending a lot less on 35mm. What exactly is different about this that will make people donate significant amounts of money into a backyard project; sums they are reluctant to invest in functional, off the rack camera gear?
3) How exactly will the responsibilities be delegated? Members here reside in various geographic locations. Would all the hardware be at one person's residence and the rest provide their contributions via the internet? I can't imagine some fragile electronics being sent across the world a few times during the course of development.
4) Marketing question: Who exactly is the target audience for this product?
- Is it only academia?
- Is it a 35mm format shooter who can spend maybe 20% more than his current top of the line body?
- Is it a current day MF shooter who will find it justifiable to discard his existing MF kit for this?
- For any of the above, would the project team provide a level of support that is at least on par with the user's existing platforms to make this switch justifiable?
5) Continued from the above, here's a question from an MF shooter.
What will this project offer me, a Credo 40 shooter who mostly does portraits to switch over and buy one of these? Is the promise "Everything my current camera does, only better and at a cheaper price"?