O
Optechs Digital
Guest
Dear Friends,
My thoughts and opinions:
Leica S2.. I am pretty interested in this camera as a potential dealer. I hope it is successful regardless of what I decide to do with it. I have no doubt the lenses will be stellar. I wonder if they take the software side of things seriously enough? I wonder if they take their competitions proven products seriously enough? I wonder if the companies and studios that purchase multiple digital backs at a time will find benefit and value in this system? I wonder if after the initial burst of sales for this product will future sales sustain? I am still very gun shy to jump in on this after taking a significant loss on my Leaf AFI inventory. Will this product fare better in this economy? Of course a dozen or so pre-orders would put all these concerns at ease!:toocool:
Leica has provided me a few painful lessons in my youth as a used camera dealer. How is it that a 50mm summinoctiluxicon f/ 0.83 with a serial number between 20034 and 20676 is worth $5,000.00 but any other serial # range is only worth $50.00. AND, if you dont have the mathching serialized front and back lens caps, well now that lens is worthless. So thank you Leica for teaching me to pay attention to the details. ( Perhaps a slight bit of exaggeration here for effect.)
Phase One/Leaf I think this was a brilliant move for Phase One. It seems that many are confused as to why and what Phase would gain with this deal. As I see it, Phase One just purchased a huge and loyal Leaf user base . All Phase One has to do is treat them respectfully and deliver and innovate new leaf product and i think it is pretty obvious where the value in this purchase is.
Hasselblad CFV 39 Great move Hasselblad! I am sure this product will do great. I don’t sell it but am happy to see it come to market. Like many others I think it needs to be able to be positioned in Vertical or Horizontal mode, but I also understand the cost issues associated with this feature. An orthopedic neck brace is much cheaper.
I hope this back works well with an Alpa without any timing issues.
Sinar I don’t think anybody needs to worry about them. I am confident they will continue to do well. They have a long history of great successes and often times change is just what a company needs. Does anyone remember the Sinarback 23 on a Sinarcam 2 body. This was an amazing piece of equipment and sales were huge. I hope they hit another home run soon. I hope they put Lorenz Koch in charge, he is young, fun and smart. A few years back he and i solved all the worlds problems during a night of Scotch and Cigars.
Alpa Some exciting new products coming. Stay tuned!!
Leaf AFI petition Is this for real? The people have already spoken with there wallets. Where were you guys when I and other dealers were out showing this system. However, I am quite certain that all the people on that petition list can secure a camera system immediately, there are plenty of dealers sitting on gear that would love to hear from you.
Photographic impact. Yesterday, while visiting some of my clients in Portland I spent some time with a photographer looking at his portfolio. I love doing this as it always opens up discussions on equipment and technique and I always learn a lot. As i was looking at this particular body of work I was struck by two particular images. One was a plastic cup on a plastic saucer the other was an image of some old beat up headphones sitting on a dirty floor. The images were simple, sincere and beautiful. it was the simplicity of the subject, the lighting and mood that made it so powerful. These two images were personal portfolio pieces but as i looked through the commercial advertising part of the portfolio the same feeling, mood and intensity were evident. As I was driving home last night I realized that we never discussed what camera gear or lighting gear were used to make these images. Those details were completely insignificant as it was only the impact of the images that mattered. It has been a while since some images have had that kind of effect on me.
Global Warming Its for real! record breaking heat and almost zero rain in Seattle all summer long. Soon we will be the new Southern Cal.
Best Wishes to all for a safe and fun Labor Day Weekend.
Paul
My thoughts and opinions:
Leica S2.. I am pretty interested in this camera as a potential dealer. I hope it is successful regardless of what I decide to do with it. I have no doubt the lenses will be stellar. I wonder if they take the software side of things seriously enough? I wonder if they take their competitions proven products seriously enough? I wonder if the companies and studios that purchase multiple digital backs at a time will find benefit and value in this system? I wonder if after the initial burst of sales for this product will future sales sustain? I am still very gun shy to jump in on this after taking a significant loss on my Leaf AFI inventory. Will this product fare better in this economy? Of course a dozen or so pre-orders would put all these concerns at ease!:toocool:
Leica has provided me a few painful lessons in my youth as a used camera dealer. How is it that a 50mm summinoctiluxicon f/ 0.83 with a serial number between 20034 and 20676 is worth $5,000.00 but any other serial # range is only worth $50.00. AND, if you dont have the mathching serialized front and back lens caps, well now that lens is worthless. So thank you Leica for teaching me to pay attention to the details. ( Perhaps a slight bit of exaggeration here for effect.)
Phase One/Leaf I think this was a brilliant move for Phase One. It seems that many are confused as to why and what Phase would gain with this deal. As I see it, Phase One just purchased a huge and loyal Leaf user base . All Phase One has to do is treat them respectfully and deliver and innovate new leaf product and i think it is pretty obvious where the value in this purchase is.
Hasselblad CFV 39 Great move Hasselblad! I am sure this product will do great. I don’t sell it but am happy to see it come to market. Like many others I think it needs to be able to be positioned in Vertical or Horizontal mode, but I also understand the cost issues associated with this feature. An orthopedic neck brace is much cheaper.
I hope this back works well with an Alpa without any timing issues.Sinar I don’t think anybody needs to worry about them. I am confident they will continue to do well. They have a long history of great successes and often times change is just what a company needs. Does anyone remember the Sinarback 23 on a Sinarcam 2 body. This was an amazing piece of equipment and sales were huge. I hope they hit another home run soon. I hope they put Lorenz Koch in charge, he is young, fun and smart. A few years back he and i solved all the worlds problems during a night of Scotch and Cigars.
Alpa Some exciting new products coming. Stay tuned!!
Leaf AFI petition Is this for real? The people have already spoken with there wallets. Where were you guys when I and other dealers were out showing this system. However, I am quite certain that all the people on that petition list can secure a camera system immediately, there are plenty of dealers sitting on gear that would love to hear from you.
Photographic impact. Yesterday, while visiting some of my clients in Portland I spent some time with a photographer looking at his portfolio. I love doing this as it always opens up discussions on equipment and technique and I always learn a lot. As i was looking at this particular body of work I was struck by two particular images. One was a plastic cup on a plastic saucer the other was an image of some old beat up headphones sitting on a dirty floor. The images were simple, sincere and beautiful. it was the simplicity of the subject, the lighting and mood that made it so powerful. These two images were personal portfolio pieces but as i looked through the commercial advertising part of the portfolio the same feeling, mood and intensity were evident. As I was driving home last night I realized that we never discussed what camera gear or lighting gear were used to make these images. Those details were completely insignificant as it was only the impact of the images that mattered. It has been a while since some images have had that kind of effect on me.
Global Warming Its for real! record breaking heat and almost zero rain in Seattle all summer long. Soon we will be the new Southern Cal.
Best Wishes to all for a safe and fun Labor Day Weekend.
Paul
