An interesting interview in the margins of PMA gives an insight on
the formats issues for digital backs
http://www.pma-show.com/2006/interviews/phaseone/001_kevin_raber.html
The Phase one representative ends saying that in his view 6x6 may
eventually disappear
Question: Most of the digital backs have a 4:3 ratio in stead of a
square one. One of the great advantages of the medium format cameras
was the 1:1 ratio, you didn't need to turn the camera and the ratio
gave that special medium format look and feel. Why are most digital
backs in the 4:3 ratio?
Answer: This is mainly a technical reason. The sensors are made out
of a wafer, which is a circle. To get most sensors out of this
circle, the 4:3 ratio is much more efficient. It is possible to make
square sensors, but it makes the sensor very expensive. In my
opinion, eventually, the square size will disappear
Rollei at present has develop all its recent media strategy for the
medium format celebrating the most advanced 6x6 camera on the market
- the sole one to have an AF. If a full frame 6x6 digital back is not
issued rapidly the brand may risk to find itself really marginalised
by lighter and better integrated digital 645 formats . Take the
upcoming pentax D645 (26 lenses), think of Contax 645 (in theory dead
in reality still guaranteed of extra 10 years of repairs), think of
mamiya (including the ZD)...
I personally think that after the launch of a full frame 24x36 with
the canon EOS5D and with the present full frame 645 sensors, it makes
a whole lot of sense to preserve the 1:1 ratio of all those 6x6
products in the market and propose a very expensive full frame 6x6 in
due course`
Maybe at the Kina ?
This is a request for information to you all
Who knows more about this subject ?
Andrea (still VERY doubtful to invest in a back which turns a 40mm
into a 60mm...)
