Well, if you memorize (or write) the frame number, and then readvance with one (or two) safety margin frames, you can do that with any camera. It isn't practical, though. You have to be careful not to rewind the leader into the cartridge, you have to be "consistent" in the way to load the film, you risk some more veiling of the film (you must load and unload in subdued light). APS was hassle-free.
You just need to memorise that one number. Since this camera is almost a DSLR, just with film, it should work in a very consistent manner. The variation would be the few milimeters when you pull the film out to the red mark.
It will not retract the leader in the canister. I have already tried that feature and it is very nice and consistent. Looks like the film was never used (can be a bad idea, I know...) and is less prone to screw ups than when doing it with my manual cameras. Ok, I really only did that wrong once before.
Of course I agree that APS had it thought out all the way and was probably almost never used. My first and only film camera in my consumer shooter life was an APS point and shoot back in 1999 or 2000. I only started using film again a few years after making photography a real hobby.
Which brings me back to Ferrania. Unlike others here I think E6 film could be a potential film booster. We live in a digital world and slide film is the closest to digital that film can offer. Digital is what people are used to and it takes time to adjust. C41 will look bad to most people, unless they shell out for a pro lab and pro film and pro prints/scans (and many will not want to have prints, you have to learn to appreciate them) or learn to develop and print/digitise themselves. Of course Lomo is all the rage at the moment. But in the long term you need to draw in people with something that gives the average person something that will stimulate the same nerves as digital, but in its very own way. If they bite they may explore and learn to like what other film has to offer.
Sure, there is a hype currently. People looking for something different. But I find it scary, because I'm afraid it is a fashion. Fashions go.
I hated what I got back from the drugstore when I tried film before I could afford my digital setup. Then after almost three years I started film again, developing myself. My first roll of tri-x was ok. But it was a learning experience and I was already committed. If we want normal shooter to add film to digital it will be safer to land a a direct hit first. And that would be E6. It remains to be seen if the Ferrania product will have what it takes. It's hard to imagine they can get close to Fuji.
I'd still use a grainly Ferrania with interesting colour, basically a Rollei CN200 that is not broken would be a nice character film. But to really draw in the average Joe you'd need to get out lots of Provia100F at a good price, light plates and good scan service. That could convice people to add film to the mix and explore the delicate possibilities that it offers.
Oh, and never tell them film is better or that they shouldn't get/get rid of their digital gear. Film will almost always loose that tactic.
