On 1 Jan 2003 at 15:19, P�l Jensen wrote: > Rob wrote: > > > This point combined with technical issues is the basis for my prediction that > > the 645 format will hit the dust far earlier than larger 120 film formats. > > > What technical issues are you thinking of?
Apart from the likelihood that the quality of then coming 14MP sensors should be comparable to scanned 645 film I was thinking mainly about the cost impracticalities of implementing sensors larger than 14Mpix that will provide coverage of the full frame. Lets face it there is nil advantage using a 36x24mm sensor in a 645 body when there are a wider range of 35mm lenses available. And secondly sensors aren't going to become much more dense than those in the new top end 35mm offerings so unless densities are maintained as the sensor size grows there is no advantage. Also I don't believe that it's practical (due to yield rates per silicon wafer) to produce really large sensors so I'd guess that most affordable MF digital systems would employ a matrix of sensors (which introduces its own problems) then there are the potential on camera storage system requirements and limitations to consider. > I would have agreed with you but for one thing only: some major manufacturers > have invested seriously into ultramodern auto focus 645 cameras at the moment > the MF film market is collapsing. It might be a case of bad timing but I'm > fairly conficent that neither, say, Contax or Hassleblad would have invested > incredible amount of money in brand new systems destined to die in couple of > years. You're kidding, look at the stupid things that Kyocera/Contax have just done? Introduced several new cameras with a new mount and only a handful of lenses, flopped big time with their (very expensive) 35mm digital camera. Sure these companies make mistakes. > I'm sure there must be viable digital solution in plans for these cameras > in the near future. I'm not then thinking of the $10 000 - 15 000 digital back > solution that never will achieve anything resembling volume particularly when > other digital solutions, like full frame 35mm based DSLR's, are getting more > affordable - something they certainly will. I'm sure that something will come along but it will have to be cost effective and an improvement over the top end 35mm digital cameras to make an impact IMHO. Cheers, Rob Studdert HURSTVILLE AUSTRALIA Tel +61-2-9554-4110 UTC(GMT) +10 Hours [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://members.ozemail.com.au/~distudio/publications.html
