6 connections between lens and back for V lenses w(as highlighted by jotloob above) does seem rather excessive. But, the facility to shim back adapters (in two ways now) is because of lack of control over tolerances on the different digital backs. I think the concept here is that the tolerances of the Alpa 12 system are good enough that you can have 6 connections without any concern, no?
I've finally managed to get my head around this system. So basically...
Canon lenses can't be used if the FPS is used as a shutter module for another 12 camera.
There seems to me no reason why you would ever want to use the FPS as a shutter module with the 12TC - the TC doesn't add anything into the mix, and it simply restricts your lens choice.
In my view, you'd have to think long and hard about the merits of using it as a shutter module for another 12 series camera (presumably to get the benefits of shift), as opposed to having a Mirex-type tilt/shift adapter on the lens. I'm not going so far as to say that the lens-adapter route would always be preferable, but if you needed shift on a MF lens mounted to the FPS, you've basically got these options:
1. Buy the FPS, and another Alpa 12 camera that shifts (granted - you may already have this), and the MF mount or
2. Buy the FPS, the Canon mount, and mount your MF lens to the Canon mount with a Mirex-type adapter.
You're going to be talking several thousand dollars worth of difference there to use the same lens with the same back. And if you go the Alpa+Alpa route, you are limited to only tilting and swinging on the vertical and horizontal axes, whereas (I believe) with the Mirex-type adapters, you can rotate the plane of tilt.
I have to be honest and say that I was originally concerned about my recent HCam purchase when reading about the FPS. However, I'm not seeing many significant advantages that the FPS as a standalone camera has over the HCam.
Perhaps the biggest advantage it is that it is a more modular system - when you buy an HCam, you have to decide on which fixed lens mount to have on the camera. There's no way to mount an Alpa lens to the B1 that I have. I think I can see now what the B2 will have - a modular lens mount system similar to the Alpa (or maybe even using the exact same system). Hopefully upgrades will be possible
Finally, there's also the price question to consider.
This is an Alpa, and it will be built like pretty much nothing else on Earth, and it is clearly a GORGEOUS piece of kit. But it is going to cost an absolute fortune, surely? Unless I've missed it, I don't believe a price has been announced yet, but I would be impressed if it came in at under $8K.
Kind regards,
Gerald.