...
"A basic 503CW with 80/2.8 T* lens and 2 film backs coupled with a high-end flat bed won't suck your bank account dry, and provide a true introduction to MF with some digital ability ... then you can expand from there. Nothing will be a loss ... even the flatbed"
seems to answer your needs.
Steve
Steve, yes.
Here is what I'm debating between:
1. 503CW, 80/2.8 T* with A12 and A16 backs (I like rectangular as well plus they fit nice on a 8x10) and a prism (preferably metered) for those cases of vertical shots
2. RZ67 ProIID, 110/2.8, 6x7 and 6x6 back. What I like about this system, is that you can rotate the back for vertical shots.
3. Mamiya 645 (I can't find what the difference is between a DF and AFD; I think DF can't take film backs but not sure), 80/2.8 and backs.
1 and
2 gives me flexibility in formats (aspect ratio).
1 is smaller and lighter and uses Zeiss lenses.
2 can shoot vertically by rotating the back (so it doesn't require a prism) but I never held one so I don't know how the focusing with the knobs is.
3 is the cheapest out of the three.
That's where I am right now after days of reading (I feel like my eyes will start to bleed).
It would have been nice to have somebody to go and play with but nobody that I know have MF let alone the exact ones I'm interested in. I'll have to wait until the Photoplus expo
Thanks again to everybody for your participation. If you have any other suggestions or opinions, please share.