Hi Doug,
Let's review your list.
I don't expect many will be buying a body by itself.
Well, if you want to get into medium format like I did 2 years ago, you have nothing to upgrade from. So you won't be eligible for upgrade pricing. As a company, it seems to me you want to expand your market, not just roll over your current customers. If I'm new to the market, I'm faced with a $30K+ investment vs. an $8000 investment for essentially the exact same imaging capability. At the end of the day, regardless of tethering capabilities and other listed advantages, you end up with an image. When the production of that image is driven by the same engine, well, a $20K+ difference is a tough one to comprehend.
Also, you can't list the price of the IQ150, but then list advantages that only manifest with the IQ2 or IQ3. If you're going to list those, them you have to throw the prices of those in the ring as well.
It is significantly less when bundled with a back, or when upgrading from a DF/DF+. Also you're significantly off on your pricing for a CMOS version.
I have a 645DF, please contact me with what my price on the XF would be. I'm VERY interested in what "significantly less" means.
Either way a P1 kit provides several major advantages over the 645Z:
- a line of 10 modern-design autofocus Schneider leaf shutter lenses with flash sync of 1/1600th*
I hope things are SIGNIFICANTLY better in the AF department because those lenses are practically useless to me when shooting shallow DOF as you have NO idea what the camera to grabbing as a focus point. AT such shallow DOFs it only takes a little bit to be off and have a useless image. My studio photographs people, fashion, models, etc. When I need to shallow DOF image I resort back to me 5D3. I simply cannot trust the 645DF. I PRAY the XF fixes this.
- very fast, robust, and professional tethering
This is super cool. But I have a question about this. Is this just have the IQ3 or will Credo 60 users experience this increased speed as well?
- support in Capture One including their world-class color profiles
You guys can keep saying this, but I've been making my money photographing people for going on 20 years. While C1 is certainly great, so is Lightroom. My Leaf Credo is a Phase One product, but I still use Lightroom to process as "I" see zero image quality advantages that C1 has and I prefer the Lightroom workflow. My point is I don't consider being able to use C1 a tangible advantage. Pentax users can use LR and not skip a beat.
- retina touch screen interface with the best set of image review tools on the market including focus mask, exposure warning, raw-file clipping indicator, zone exposure heat map, draggable guides, and toggle-able black and white review mode
- automatic perspective and keystone correction
- advanced body features such as the seismograph mode
- waist level viewfinder (including spot metering and autofocus)
- built-in wireless control, review, and editing (IQ2 and IQ3 only) with fast speed and native integration
- professional support with knowledgable dealers and options to purchase with a 5-year warranty that includes free loaner during any repairs/service.
- wide network of rental house, digital tech, and assistant availability and knowledge
- compatibility with view cameras and tech cameras
All of those are awesome. But we have to keep the price difference in mind. Are those advantages worth $500? DEFINITELY! Are they worth $1000? YES! Are they worth $5000? Hmm.... OK, maybe. Are they worth $10000? Now you're smoking something. Are they worth $20,000+ Now that's just crazy talk. Everything is worth something. The issue the the amount. Is Phase One gear worth a premium? I'd say yes. But again, how much of a premium is the question.
The robust rental market is a creation of the fact that MFD gear was so expensive. But with the 645z competing with the likes of the Nikon D4 and Canon 1DX in price, I know MANY are opting to own their own MFD gear via Pentax than to continue to rent. So is the ability to rent Phase One gear REALLY an advantage in today's landscape?
I think Phase One's premiums are insane. But that's just me talking. If you can get it, you'd be insane NOT to do so. My question is for how long can they continue their pricing model? Pentax is the current "problem" for their pricing model as I see it. But the bigger issue, the looming giant IMO is not, Nikon. Not Canon. But Sony. Time will tell.