"So many haters of aerial mode... Sure, I just set the IQ3 100MP at normal mode with the XF+ body, and set the IQ250 at aerial mode with the Alpa body.
Phase One's specifications? Of course the IQ3 100MP is now "within Phase One's specs". What about the IQ250? It's now running "out of Phase One's specs".
Let's do the long exposure! Shouldn't we expect better shadow noise from the IQ3 100MP? Why is it pink again?"
Who has said they are a hater of aerial mode, certainly not me, it does what it is intended to do really well, it allows reusing of a dark frame in situations where you want rapid, short duration shots in aerial situations which can transfer to handheld and other situations when you need that ability, the key here is that it's reusing a dark frame that is adequate for the shot duration. You are using it way beyond what it was designed for and then complaining it doesn't work as you want it to, well that's just the way it is surely?!
I personally don't think that expecting excellent shadow performance on 30 min shots pushed 4 stops and with +100 shadows is reasonable, bearing in mind that even with that massive boost, the sections of the image you are showing are still really dark, it's just not reasonable to expect perfection in those situations from a camera pushing around so much data. The issue is your expectations rather than the back's performance in my opinion. As you state, the 100 is running within Phase One specs so surely common sense dictates that what you are doing is outside those specs.
It's not unreasonable to want a piece of equipment that is as expensive as the 3100 to perform better than anything else out there but it's unreasonable to complain about it when you are asking way more than is possible. I can justify the expense of a 3100 and after reading your posts, I would not hesitate to buy one if it benefitted my work but I have not yet hit situations where the 260 is lacking so I am not buying.
I'm off to do as tjv has excellently suggested and shoot my 260 as it was intended to be used and wait for the public tar and feathering, haha!
Have a nice weekend all.
Mat