Everyone is thinking Sony or Fuji while the company that really maybe the one is Phase. They have the resources they already have the sensor and they own all the rights to Mamiya and Leaf. They have maybe the best shot at this and who knows it already maybe in the works. Here is the kicker in all this and hold the real royal flush is Sony imaging. They control both companies sensors. It would also not be that hard to turn there current new body with some integration of course and make it into a mirror less body. Surely They can pop three lenses out for release too. Not sure but they probably own the patent on the Mamiya 7 glass. Would it be that hard to startup the production on them and update them for digital. Point being no matter how you slice the cheese they are in the best position to make a move on something like this. They can also do a adapter for all there current Phase One lenses just like Hassy. I know one thing for sure they love to go after each other. Lol
Question is what's lurking behind those doors. LOL
They are not going to sit there and watch revenue hit the floor boards
I've said this before. Phase has great products but their pricing leaves me gasping. When the Pentax 645z came out, it was a better sensor/body package than the Phase IQ250 with an identical sensor and yet the latter was priced at more than four times. One would have thought then that Phase would lower their prices but they did not.
To my mind, a successful business strategy would be to sell more at a lower profit margin than to sell a few at a higher markup. At least this is what I've heard from those in my extended family who own multi-million dollar retail businesses. But I doubt Phase will follow this model, since their philosophy is to cater to a select group of people through a dealership network that adds its own costs. It is a 'club' model and the exclusivity of this club is what maybe attractive to many, 'value for money' being such a subjective phenomenon.
However, there is nothing inherently wrong with this strategy if it generates revenues that satisfy the shareholders/owners. But somehow I doubt if we will see Phase coming up with something as interesting as the X1D or better, especially at this price point. They will have to break a lot of their own barriers to do so and it will mean jeopardizing the sales of existing systems.
My own feeling is that Pentax may well come up with a surprise this year. They were really the game-changers in the MF world, releasing a truly revolutionary sensor/body combination at a very attractive price - at the time, just a tad more than what I paid for my 1DX or M9/M240.
I wait eagerly for Photokina. May quite possibly get the X1D or equivalent at that time.