Jeff Turner
Member
Paul:
Jack makes many good points always offers and a lot of experience and well thought out discourses that I think we all draw upon. I would add a couple of minor points based on my own beginning evaluations of changing systems.
Some perspective first. I am primarily a landscape shooter, occasionally also doing interior and portrait shoots. I currently use a Mamiya AFD2 with a Leaf 75s back (also a Dalsa sensor). I would agree with Jack and that the Dalsa sensors do render differently than Kodak sensors. There is something more "natural" looking to the images. Smoother, but not less detailed. Skin tones, maybe better, in general, compared to Kodak sensor based backs...but then software can generally remedy any issues there.
I briefly played with the new Phase One 645DF and I must say, first gut impressions...lighter, more modern looking, just as solid feeling, natural to hold in the hands. I was amazed at the difference in AF speed compared to the AFD2. It felt as satisfying as a pro dslr (Nikon, Canon)....fast, and absolutely no hunting around in dimly lit corners of rooms. Shutter release felt nearly instantaneous, as fast as my Nikon D3. I now feel that I can dump my Nikon gear if replaced with the new Phase body. The other thing is that the shutter in the DF is so much better damped compared to the AFD2. My AFD2 feels like it actually jumps a little while hand holding, thus explaining why I can't get clean shots on a tripod with a 300mm lens at shutter speeds under 1/30 sec. The DF does not jump at all in my hands, and I believe Guy has posted images taken with his DF and 300mm lens at slow shutter speeds showing much less blurring compared to his previous AFD3.
I have not ever used a Hasselblad so I can't comment nor compare. I have owned and used Nikon and Canon pro dslrs, and with the DF, I do not feel like I would be missing anything except high frame rates for those rare times I need that.
You didn't state your preferred photographic genre. So one other thought. If you are shooting landscapes and plan on ever stitching with a technical camera, consider getting the widest possible sensor in a medium format back you can afford. Performing single row stitches with a 54 or 56 mm wide sensor in portrait orientation vs. 48 or 49 mm wide sensors can actually yield a true 6x7 frame. This can be accomplished with many of the newer Rodenstock and Schneider digital lenses available now for tech cameras. Very large files, YES, but that yields the capability to print really large too without interpolation, if you should so desire.
Those are some of my thoughts as I am going through, somewhat the same evaluation you are. Hope that is of some help.
Cheers, Jeff
Jack makes many good points always offers and a lot of experience and well thought out discourses that I think we all draw upon. I would add a couple of minor points based on my own beginning evaluations of changing systems.
Some perspective first. I am primarily a landscape shooter, occasionally also doing interior and portrait shoots. I currently use a Mamiya AFD2 with a Leaf 75s back (also a Dalsa sensor). I would agree with Jack and that the Dalsa sensors do render differently than Kodak sensors. There is something more "natural" looking to the images. Smoother, but not less detailed. Skin tones, maybe better, in general, compared to Kodak sensor based backs...but then software can generally remedy any issues there.
I briefly played with the new Phase One 645DF and I must say, first gut impressions...lighter, more modern looking, just as solid feeling, natural to hold in the hands. I was amazed at the difference in AF speed compared to the AFD2. It felt as satisfying as a pro dslr (Nikon, Canon)....fast, and absolutely no hunting around in dimly lit corners of rooms. Shutter release felt nearly instantaneous, as fast as my Nikon D3. I now feel that I can dump my Nikon gear if replaced with the new Phase body. The other thing is that the shutter in the DF is so much better damped compared to the AFD2. My AFD2 feels like it actually jumps a little while hand holding, thus explaining why I can't get clean shots on a tripod with a 300mm lens at shutter speeds under 1/30 sec. The DF does not jump at all in my hands, and I believe Guy has posted images taken with his DF and 300mm lens at slow shutter speeds showing much less blurring compared to his previous AFD3.
I have not ever used a Hasselblad so I can't comment nor compare. I have owned and used Nikon and Canon pro dslrs, and with the DF, I do not feel like I would be missing anything except high frame rates for those rare times I need that.
You didn't state your preferred photographic genre. So one other thought. If you are shooting landscapes and plan on ever stitching with a technical camera, consider getting the widest possible sensor in a medium format back you can afford. Performing single row stitches with a 54 or 56 mm wide sensor in portrait orientation vs. 48 or 49 mm wide sensors can actually yield a true 6x7 frame. This can be accomplished with many of the newer Rodenstock and Schneider digital lenses available now for tech cameras. Very large files, YES, but that yields the capability to print really large too without interpolation, if you should so desire.
Those are some of my thoughts as I am going through, somewhat the same evaluation you are. Hope that is of some help.
Cheers, Jeff