I am the owner of a Phase One 645DF, the 80 f2.8 D lens, a 120 f4 D Macro, and a P40+ back. I have the 45 f2.8 D on order. I thought it might be of use to someone out in the getdpi community if I briefly summarized my thoughts and experiences on this kit for the month or so that I’ve now had it.
Previously, I had the P30+ on a Contax 645 with the 45, 80, 120 makro, and the 140. As my P30+ was nearing the end of its value-added warranty period, I decided to take a look at my needs and give some thought about whether to stay with what I had “till the wheels came off” or move to another system.
While I really liked my Contax and P30+ kit and its many “creature comforts” (it really is a wonderful photographer’s camera that manages to do so many things really well), I ultimately decided to move to the new Phase 645DF and P40+ kit. After an obsessive degree of deliberation, it just seemed to me to make the most sense to move to the new system. The recent pricing structure of the new kit was the final factor in making the move.
I am especially grateful for Guy’s help and encouragement through the helpful and insightful questions and perspective he provided me throughout this process. I am also happy about being able to work with Steve Hendrix at Capture Integration. He has been a terrific and accessible resource throughout this move. I know that this community has made the point many times about how important it is to work with someone who is trustworthy and reliable and who is willing to be way more than a “vendor.” Steve is that kind of person, and I would recommend him to anyone who wants a first-class experience in a process like this. He is a very trustworthy person. I have also traded many emails with Jack who continues to be extremely generous and patient about sharing his tremendous knowledge.
Let’s put it this way: I am completely satisfied with my decision to move to this new system.
DF Body: I am learning to appreciate the DF body and it’s layout of controls. I liked very much how many settings a person can make on the Contax body without having to enter a menu structure to find it; I learned I could use it without looking away from the viewfinder. In my experience, the DF body feels more like a Canon 1 series body, just bulkier. It’ll take some time to get used to, but I’m sure I will. For example, I didn’t know how I’d like the exposure compensation button, but I’m starting to like it, because it has a little tactile click when you press it down which means that I can start turning the little wheel to change compensation. I also feel like I’m no longer missing anything in how quickly and accurately the camera focuses. I’ve learned very quickly that I can trust this new auto-focus, it’s fast enough for me and what I shoot. I also feel like it has better mirror-related camera shake. Happily, I’m already getting more keepers. It sounds to me like the camera is louder than the Contax, but not by much. It sounds to me a little like nearly the same volume as a Hasselblad 503 series camera. I also like the accuracy of the light meter in the DF body. For me, it’s more accurate than the Contax, this is a pleasant surprise to me. Also, battery usage is also superior to what I had. I wish the buttons on the DF camera were just a tad bigger, but maybe that will come in time with newer bodies. No, the body doesn’t look or feel quite as much like an impervious tank like the Contax, but I also don’t plan on beating up the camera either.
Lenses: I am pleased to be able to report that I am missing nothing about moving away from my Contax lenses, something about which I was really rather worried. It turned out to be needless worry. While I haven’t had much time yet to test for the background out-of-focus look of the new lenses, I have had some time to just be knocked out by how sharp these lenses are. I am also very happy with the uniform sharpness in the corners. I didn’t realize how much better the corners could be until I started working with my new 80 D and 120 D. I am very hopeful that the 45 D turns out to be as good. I’ve had some CA with the 80 D when used wide open or nearly-wide open, but I’m learning how to deal with that too. I had CA with my Contax 80 and 140, too. The 120 D has been the greatest surprise for me, just an all around super lens. Again, I’m not sure yet about the background out of focus areas because the Contax lenses are so great with this aspect, but how knows, I’m ready to be surprised on this too. I use macro lenses for a lot of the work I do, and I was most worried about moving away from the Contax 120, which was one of my primary reasons to get into the Contax system, but, as I’ve said, my worry is gone. Completely.
P40+: I thought the P30+ was just great. And, frankly, I expected the P40+ to be better. And it has not disappointed me in the least: it has more accurate color, gives more detail, shows less noise, and the files it produces when used with C1 are beautiful. There is a slightly different look to the overall file as compared to the P30+, and to my eyes, the color and shadow gradation just looks more natural and “real.”
I know as soon as I post this, I'm sure I’ll think of other things I should have added, but for now this is it. I really like this kit, I can’t wait to use it when Winter is finally over. I am not necessarily a guy who has to have the newest and greatest, and I want to know how something is really genuinely better than the former models, but I must say, I’m really very happy I made this choice. This new kit has been a terrific and welcome surprise.
Previously, I had the P30+ on a Contax 645 with the 45, 80, 120 makro, and the 140. As my P30+ was nearing the end of its value-added warranty period, I decided to take a look at my needs and give some thought about whether to stay with what I had “till the wheels came off” or move to another system.
While I really liked my Contax and P30+ kit and its many “creature comforts” (it really is a wonderful photographer’s camera that manages to do so many things really well), I ultimately decided to move to the new Phase 645DF and P40+ kit. After an obsessive degree of deliberation, it just seemed to me to make the most sense to move to the new system. The recent pricing structure of the new kit was the final factor in making the move.
I am especially grateful for Guy’s help and encouragement through the helpful and insightful questions and perspective he provided me throughout this process. I am also happy about being able to work with Steve Hendrix at Capture Integration. He has been a terrific and accessible resource throughout this move. I know that this community has made the point many times about how important it is to work with someone who is trustworthy and reliable and who is willing to be way more than a “vendor.” Steve is that kind of person, and I would recommend him to anyone who wants a first-class experience in a process like this. He is a very trustworthy person. I have also traded many emails with Jack who continues to be extremely generous and patient about sharing his tremendous knowledge.
Let’s put it this way: I am completely satisfied with my decision to move to this new system.
DF Body: I am learning to appreciate the DF body and it’s layout of controls. I liked very much how many settings a person can make on the Contax body without having to enter a menu structure to find it; I learned I could use it without looking away from the viewfinder. In my experience, the DF body feels more like a Canon 1 series body, just bulkier. It’ll take some time to get used to, but I’m sure I will. For example, I didn’t know how I’d like the exposure compensation button, but I’m starting to like it, because it has a little tactile click when you press it down which means that I can start turning the little wheel to change compensation. I also feel like I’m no longer missing anything in how quickly and accurately the camera focuses. I’ve learned very quickly that I can trust this new auto-focus, it’s fast enough for me and what I shoot. I also feel like it has better mirror-related camera shake. Happily, I’m already getting more keepers. It sounds to me like the camera is louder than the Contax, but not by much. It sounds to me a little like nearly the same volume as a Hasselblad 503 series camera. I also like the accuracy of the light meter in the DF body. For me, it’s more accurate than the Contax, this is a pleasant surprise to me. Also, battery usage is also superior to what I had. I wish the buttons on the DF camera were just a tad bigger, but maybe that will come in time with newer bodies. No, the body doesn’t look or feel quite as much like an impervious tank like the Contax, but I also don’t plan on beating up the camera either.
Lenses: I am pleased to be able to report that I am missing nothing about moving away from my Contax lenses, something about which I was really rather worried. It turned out to be needless worry. While I haven’t had much time yet to test for the background out-of-focus look of the new lenses, I have had some time to just be knocked out by how sharp these lenses are. I am also very happy with the uniform sharpness in the corners. I didn’t realize how much better the corners could be until I started working with my new 80 D and 120 D. I am very hopeful that the 45 D turns out to be as good. I’ve had some CA with the 80 D when used wide open or nearly-wide open, but I’m learning how to deal with that too. I had CA with my Contax 80 and 140, too. The 120 D has been the greatest surprise for me, just an all around super lens. Again, I’m not sure yet about the background out of focus areas because the Contax lenses are so great with this aspect, but how knows, I’m ready to be surprised on this too. I use macro lenses for a lot of the work I do, and I was most worried about moving away from the Contax 120, which was one of my primary reasons to get into the Contax system, but, as I’ve said, my worry is gone. Completely.
P40+: I thought the P30+ was just great. And, frankly, I expected the P40+ to be better. And it has not disappointed me in the least: it has more accurate color, gives more detail, shows less noise, and the files it produces when used with C1 are beautiful. There is a slightly different look to the overall file as compared to the P30+, and to my eyes, the color and shadow gradation just looks more natural and “real.”
I know as soon as I post this, I'm sure I’ll think of other things I should have added, but for now this is it. I really like this kit, I can’t wait to use it when Winter is finally over. I am not necessarily a guy who has to have the newest and greatest, and I want to know how something is really genuinely better than the former models, but I must say, I’m really very happy I made this choice. This new kit has been a terrific and welcome surprise.
