Hi Mat, I Love the XF, I have to say, it's probably the single best Phase One product I have owned. I had pretty much stopped using my DF then DF+ and moved to the tech camera, but over the last 5 years, I was getting lazy or tired of the workflow. I love movements especially the increase in perceived Dof I can get with tilt on the 32mm and or 40mm, but I was really worn down with the Copal shutter and the issue they add to the equation, (lack of 1/3 or 1/2 shutter speeds and inaccuracy of selected shutter, 1/90 shot when 1/60 selected), etc. It matters on CCD, less than CMOS as CCD is so very critical of having the right light.
I have to say, I love this forum also, just picking up the responses from Steve and Ed, and I have learned a lot more on the XF.
I am slowing moving back to the XF (non tech) route of shooting as for me it just works better. With the XF, the vibration reduction mode is a great feature, and you can use it hand held, you just have to get used to the mirror being up and not seeing the subject at the last second. I was showing another photographer who had a Df how this works just the other day. It fools you a bit for on a tripod, if you have your Vibration delay set to 4 seconds, most times (using the camera controls on the back), the camera will fire long before 4s, but for a test lightly tap a tripod leg for a sec or two, and the camera holds off firing until the movement has stopped. No OIS, or on sensor reduction, but it still seems to get the job done, so Kudo's to Phase One. For Pano work, being on a tripod, the camera controls on the LCD of the back are great to have, as you can fire the shutter with basically just a slight tap on the LCD, much less pressure than pushing on the actual shutter, (sure a remote release would be nice), The XF unlike any other MF or DSLR 35mm, has a vastly improved timer, in that you can use the camera to time longer exposures, past 30 seconds, I would like to see a bit more incremental stops there, and Phase might add this later on.
The 260 and XF work great also, I just added the latest firmware to the 260 6.08.1 and XF 1.08.1 and the combination is great. The single AF point does create problems if you are on a tripod and trying to do bracket focus, (with a CCD back), on CMOS this would not be an issue. But the AF is very accurate and hits on the first try, 99% of the time.
The top LCD of the XF also adds a lot of user controls, and being a touch screen is a vast improvement over any other similar type of camera.
I purchased the XF as an upgrade from my DF+, back when the XF was first announced. My only issue with the camera is the 1 year warranty which to me should be more like 2 years, when the overall price is considered. It seems you only get the 5 year warranty on the XF when you purchase a new Phase One back which comes with the 5 year value add, (does not apply to back upgrades, the back gets 5 years, not the XF). The XF has a lot of moving parts so it will be interesting to see how the reliability curve is set over time.
I would for sure try one on your 260, with an LS lens and see what you think. I think to really fully take advantage of all the features the LS lenses are key.
Paul C