x3 FFF- one other problem ...

Mr Giggles wrote:

Seems that a FF a few years from now will have to go against Fuji aggressive pricing of their 100 mp medium format cameras

I don't think that the FFF will be considered to be in the same class as the big, heavy, medium format cameras from Fuji. The latest L mount lenses are FAR FAR LIGHTER than any of Fuji's medium format lenses, and I think it will stay that way in the future. Instead, I think Fuji has to worry about someone finally deciding to make a full-frame L mount camera with a 100 MP sensor. If Sigma were to make a full-frame Quattro, it would come close to the Fuji in total image resolution (i.e. the amount of detail visible in a huge print). Why would someone lug around twice as much weight, spend twice as much for their lenses and cameras, and not have the same range of lens options, when they can get almost the same image quality from a little Sigma full-frame camera? What about Panasonic and Leica? Either one of them could make a camera with a 100 MP full-frame sensor too. I mean it would be a sensor that would be less dense than what we see in the 20 MP sensors of the 1" cameras, right? At f4, there would not be a big problem with diffraction, and the latest 35mm lens from Sigma is not only small, but it's an f2 lens. Many of Sigma's L mount lenses are f2.8. A 100 MP full-frame sensor would make sense, if you ask me . . . and even the cheapest and lightest new medium format Fuji would look very expensive and heavy aganst L mount cameras with a 100 MP sensor.

with the 100s now 6 grand one of of 3 things could happen

1) Sigma would have to price the FF FOVEON at about 3 grand after 6 years of $$$$$$ development to attract potential Fuji MF customers

2) Fuj could counter with a 150 mp sensor

I think most people will think 100 MP is enough. In fact, it appears that most people seem to think 50 MP (or something in that range . . . i.e. 45 MP or 42 MP) is about enough. I don't think Fuji will pull a lot of customers from L mount or Sony E mount or any of the others, just because they are offering 150 MP instead of 100 MP.

3) Fuji could create a dedicated Monochrome to steal the hi rez landscape hobbyists

It would work on some dedicated monochrome enthusiasts, just as the Leica Monochrom cameras do get buyers . . . but I don't think it's very significant in the World of photography. How many photographers do you know that shoot B&W all the time or even most of the? One?

4) advancements in AI software such as DXO " DEEP PRIME" are allowing the high iso images to reach astounding quality in even small micro 4/3 sensor cameras - this software wont work with foveon putting Sigma at an enormous disadvantage if the new sensor is a daytime only type camera in the same vein as the SD15

I don't see anything that special about "Deep Prime" from DXO. I think Neat Image noise reduction is almost as good, and can be applied to ANY image - not just raw files. The fact is, we could end up seeing Sigma make advancements in noise processing, which make Sigma Photo Pro into a really great high-ISO image making program. It already does a decent job with some raw files from the Quattro cameras. Take this one for example:

That was a pretty bad image, with lots of noise, but SPP cleaned it up nicely.

Here are some high-ISO examples:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/64360161

I don't use a lot of noise suppression software. I have no doubt that I could improve all my high-ISO images with Neat Image noise reduction, or even just using some of the noise reduction tools I already have. I prefer to just shoot 100 ISO though, because nothing will ever make a 1600 ISO image look better than a 100 ISO image from the same camera. That said, there are situations where it does make sense to shoot at 1600 ISO. That's one reason why I bought my Nikon D810.