I never believed this would happen
February 8, 2010 | Steve
By Steve Hendrix, Capture Integration Sales Manager Atlanta
I can’t believe I have to say this. But I like the Phase One DF camera. I would use the Phase One DF camera. This is no small feat. For years, I have sold the Hasselblad H camera system as the best and most usable medium format digital camera system available. I tried – really hard – to like the Phase One AF camera, an updated version of the Mamiya AFD III, which was an update from the Mamiya AFD II, which was an update from the Mamiya AFD, which….well, you get the point.
Front view AF (on left) vs DF (on right)
The problem was that these upgrades put the their stamp on incremental. There was no “Ah, yes” moment. Instead, there was “Well, it’s a little better”. I am very happy and frankly quite surprised that when I first used the Phase One DF camera, I had an “Ah, yes” moment. I never thought this would happen.
That it took this long to happen is a bummer. But it is here and it’s an important product for those who prefer Phase One or Leaf digital backs (or even Hasselblad digital back users as it remains an open digital platform, accepting of all). Most of the rental houses in the world stock Phase One or Leaf digital backs with Hasselblad H1 or H2 cameras and that combination is what gets rented the most. But sticking with Phase One or Leaf has its penalties on the Hasselblad H platform, as compatibility does not exist for non-Hasselblad digital product users with the HC28mm and HC35-90mm lenses.
No matter, now there is a camera that matches (or even exceeds) the responsiveness of the Hasselblad H series and it is the Phase One DF. The auto focus performance is accurate and quick, the shutter response without delay. Further, for those who have experienced the first Phase One AF camera, the fit and finish on the DF feels much, much nicer. In particular the exterior grip material now doesn’t appear as if it was glued on.
Side view DF (on left) vs AF (on right)
For me, it’s a camera that I can now comfortably shoot digitally, and I have access to 28mm lenses and Leaf Shutter lenses and all kinds of good stuff. There is even an announced vertical grip, which will use either AA batteries or the same battery as the Phase One digital backs scheduled for release 2nd quarter, 2010.
Many others have caught on to the good vibes from this camera. As a high volume Phase One dealer, we have a large backlog of orders, and Phase One is slowly fulfilling them. Hang in there. It will be worth the wait….as long as it’s not too much longer….
_
I got your Mini View Cameras!
Today we opened some fabulous packages which included an Arca Swiss M2 MF and a Linhof Techno (the first in the country). I was amazed at the size and weight of these new products. Mini View Cameras have been around for a while, but these 2 new products take the category into an even more compact direction.
Just for fun, I put together several generations of view cameras: Sinar P 4×5, Arca Swiss M2 Monolith, Arca Swiss M2 MF, Linhof Techno. For perspective, I weighed all 4 cameras:
- 10.3 lbs – Sinar P
- 9.85 lbs - Arca Swiss M2 Monolith
- 5.35 lbs – Arca Swiss M2 MF the Linhof Techno
- 4.15 lbs – Linhof Techno
The Arca Swiss M2 MF has shift, rise/fall on the rear standard, orbix tilt and swing on the front. The Linhof has rise/fall on the rear standard, shift, swing and tilt on the front. By limiting proprietary movements to specific standards rather than the same movement options on both front and back standards, weight and bulk is dramatically decreased. Gearing is precise and ideal for digital. The M2 MF provides a turn lock next to the focus gear while the Techno has a friction adjuster lever for the focus gear underneath camera.
The machining and fit/finish on both cameras live up to the reputations that Linhof and Arca Swiss have carved out for themselves. Both cameras for the most part are able to accept accessories like legacy lens boards and behave very modularly. An intersting aspect of the Techno is that it can accept 6008 series Rollei lenses with the use of the Rollei Electronic Shutter (similar to how the Rollei Xact 2 does the same).
For those who have been considering products like the Cambo Wide RS or Arca Swiss RM3D, the Linhof Techno and Arca Swiss M2 MF offer a compelling alternative for those who want a little more flexibility (sliding back, longer lenses) without sacrificing bulk and weight.
_
LaCie 4Big Quadras
November 20, 2009 | News, Steve
Capture Integration sells LaCie
Capture Integration is now an authorized Value Add dealer for LaCie products. Included in the LaCie product line are the 4Big Quadra RAID boxes. These are very sophisticated yet user friendly 4 drive enclosures that come in standard 2TB, 4TB, 6TB and 8TB configurations and can be scaled to 32TB’s.
The 4Big Quadras utilize a quiet, fanless cooling system, offer 7 configurable RAID modes at the flick of a switch, and burst transfer rates up to 230MB/s.The drives are hot swappable and are capable of rebuilding without interrupting operation, meaning they can rebuild while you continue to use the drives.
Why LaCie?
There are numerous hard drive manufacturers and many hard drive solution providers. At Capture Integration our primary objective is providing the best performing solutions to our customers that also provide the best response to customer issues. As a Value Add Dealer for LaCie, Capture Integration has direct line access to advanced (upper tier) technical support, and issues and turnaround are handled expediently as a result.
Also, LaCie is not a fly‐by‐night company. Their primary target markets are users of high end storage and high end displays. They are a well‐established, successful company that will be here tomorrow. And the products have become increasingly reliable and sophisticated.
Your Storage Strategy
Capture Integration specializes in assisting photographers with clear, executable storage and backup strategies. RAID plays a very important part in that. One of the primary benefits to RAID is improved reliability. RAID 6 is capable of withstanding simultaneous 2 drive failures. And RAID technology allows higher capacity than individual drives. This means an easier workflow for backing up. With fewer drives, a better workflow is easier to manage.
Larger drive solutions with more available capacity read/write faster than a smaller drive which has less remaining room on the drive. The LaCie RAID solutions offer premium read/write performance, and many photographers use them as primary working drives. In short, more capacity means more free space, fewer drives to manage, and better performance and easier backup as a result.
Find Out More
Contact Capture Integration to discuss your current storage/backup strategy and let us help you in improving efficiency, reliability, performance, and ease of use.
_
Steve’s 1st Blog at Capture Integration
September 10, 2009 | Steve
So I decided to eat at Bobby & Junes Country Cooking in Atlanta on 14th street today for lunch despite the fact they pull together the BBQ sandwiches with bare fingers – does that make me a wussie? Anyway, it’s always delicious as long as you don’t peer into the kitchen prep area.
I’m very happy to be at Capture Integration, we’ve been friendly competitors over the years and it’s natural to join forces. Capture Integration values superlative service to customers, and I wouldn’t work anywhere that didn’t. Known for specializing on the Phase One product line, we actually sell and specialize on many products, ProFoto and Elinchrom lighting, Eizo & LaCie monitors, Arca Swiss and Cambo technical cameras, LaCie RAID storage systems and more.
What is especially gratifying is that we are now Leaf authorized dealers. My preference has always been to offer my customers a choice and together arrive at the best fit for them. By offering Phase One digital backs as well as Leaf digital backs, I can continue in this mode. I have years of experience selling Leaf solutions. I have immense respect for Leaf, having traveled to Tel Aviv in 2007 and visited with the principals of the company at their headquarters. I saw lots of talent and integrity. The product itself has always been outstanding.
Leaf products offer many attributes:
*Outstanding image quality
*Range of resolutions from 22MP – 56MP
*Bluetooth option for handheld devices
*In camera cropping (Aptus II 10)
*Fast, continuous capture
*The widest CCD sensor available, 56mm x 36mm (Aptus II 10)
*Raw format compatibility: Leaf Capture, Adobe Camera Raw, Adobe Lightroom, Apple Aperture, Raw Developer, Silky Pix
If interested in Leaf, call us.
I intend to maintain regular posts, including updates on new and useful products to our customers. Part of the fun of working at Capture Integration is being able to evaluate and recommend products which are not well known, but turn out to be valuable little finds.
_
Steve Hendrix Joins the Team
Capture Integration is proud to announce that it has hired medium format veteran Steve Hendrix.
Steve has devoted over 10 years to helping photographers get the best results possible through his frank and knowledgeable grasp of the industry and the products that help photographers achieve their goals and objectives. Steve has worked for Sinar, Imacon and Phase One, and spent time at the dealer level selling all of the top products available to photographers. While he specializes in high end digital capture, he also has an advanced background in color management as well as storage and archival workflows. He most enjoys the feeling that comes from exceeding clients expectations.
Steve has a wonderful family that includes his lovely wife Rachel, beautiful daughter Catherine and her son Chandler. He also owns 7 cats and a dog. The dog gets along fine with the cats – they love him. Do the cats get along with each other? Not so much. Steve spends much of his spare time on photography and he has no lack of subjects.
_