New Phase One 645DF medium format camera

And we continue our medium-format mini-marathon with a new digital back from Phase One! Phase One is the one dating Mamiya, and Phase One recently broke up with Leica, because Leica wanted some space for itself.

The new camera body will come out in Q4-2009 with a starting price of $6000 (4300 euro). It has zero megapixels, because this is a camera that needs a digital back for digital capture. Which is why it only costs $6000 :)

Notable features include the ability to accept both focal-plane and leaf shutters, 1/4000 to 1-hour shutter speed, performance improvements for fashion photographers, pre-defined modes, and things like that. Remember, medium format continues to be a very niche format in the grand scheme of things, designed as tools for advanced photographers, and they don't typically have the "creature comforts" of a Digital Rebel :)

Three new lenses with Schneider-Kreuznach
And you don't have to look outside your window to realize Autumn is here, just look at the announcement and you will see three ...leaf-shutter lenses dropping ;-) These are 55mm, 80mm and 110mm f2.8 lenses.

On a more serious note, these lenses are provided in collaboration with Schneider-Kreuznach, in yet another twist in the world of medium format. It is interesting that the press release stresses "digital lenses", which are expected to come out by the end of this year. The prices will start at $2500 (1800 euro).

(We round the prices to the nearest round number. By now most consumers understand the silliness of $9.99, $9.95, etc. Wake up marketing people, the world has changed!)

Further Reading
+ Imaging Insider
+ PDN Pulse
+ dpreview
+ Photography Blog
+ Phase One