It appears that photographers are now starting to use medium format digital, primarily because of its convenience for their pre-planned projects. John Kiery's work at Llyn Trawsfynydd is one example that I have come across. He uses a Hasselblad 503cwd with a CFV16 digital back and Zeiss glass, and he produces an image that is close to the film look.

Hasselblad haven't completely abandoned the V-system owners in the way Leica abandoned the R-system owners. This backward compatibility is one way to incorporate digital technology into Hasselblad's system or modular 500 series or V cameras. Backward compatibility is what lacking with my Rolleiflexes--eg., SL66 and 6006. I'm stranded in the film world.

Gary Sauer-Thompson, McCafe, from waste series, 2010

For those photographers who already own V-system gear getting any CFV-digital back is the cheapest way into the medium format digital world. The Hasselblad 503CW is still being made, and the digital backs for it are becoming ever more sophisticated.

The only way out for me is buying a Rolleiflex HY6---for film or digital back--- and that is a major investment. It's around $8,000 for the camera body, $4000 for the 50mm f/4 Zeiss and $12,000---$16,000 for a digital back. With accessories that is around $30,000. Hasselblad's backward compatibility looks so very attractive.

Digital was a compelling innovation for commercial photography because film increasingly became too expensive ... not for the shooter, for the clients who had to pay for scans on top of film and the processing costs when all commercial printing shifted to digital. Plus, with digital there are less reshoots ... clients can see the results immediately.

If the desire is for a big, square full frame sensor (56mm square chip), then affordability is the key. The truth of the matter is that there is not enough 6X6 potential to fuel development of a 56 X 56 sensor for medium format cameras. There's not enough of a market to make it economic.