REPORT FROM JAPAN

WILL 24x36MM DIGITAL SENSOR CAMERAS REPLACE MEDIUM FORMAT?

That's the thinking among some industry experts, but Mamiya is hoping to disclose a digital-only medium format camera for Photokina (September-October 2004) using present and future Mamiya 645 lenses, while Pentax is not far behind investigating the possibility for their own 645 lens line. Mamiya expects its largish sensor (CMOS or CCD not specified) to have at least 10 megapixels. An anti-shake system is possible, but only in future lenses since any in-camera sensor would be too large to move mechanically. Pentax is not ruling out using a 24X36mm sensor. Medium format sales in Japan are poor. Mamiya credits drop in professional commercial advertising photography (due to economic slump). In Japan, major customers for medium format are pros-unlike the U.S., where amateurs account for the highest percentage.

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