An open letter from Hasselblad

david b

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I just got the following email from Hasselblad...

"An Open Letter to Hasselblad Photographers and Partners.
There have been several announcements from Hasselblad over the past several weeks, and I wanted to take a moment to write to our photographers and partners to make sure each of you are aware of all of them.

The New H3DII DSLR Family
In the past few weeks, we have been busy around the world launching our 4th generation medium format DSLR, the new H3DII family. Following in the footsteps of the H1D, the H2D, and the H3D; the H3DII is the continuation of a product line that is one of the most successful in Hasselblad history. In addition, we have this week announced our newest camera, the H3DII-39MS a multi-shot version of the H3DII-39.
The H3DII has been available for delivery since the day it was announced. New features in the H3DII include a larger display, a new, more efficient "fan free" cooling technology, an integrated GPS option, and many more features and benefits that can be found on our Web site at www.hasselblad.com.
All of our "H System" cameras, whether film or digital, continue to take advantage of our HC lens line, which independent testing has shown are the finest lenses Hasselblad has ever offered. This includes the new H3DII. This is important to us, since we recognize that many photographers have significant investments in HC lenses, and lenses are the most important and significant long-term investment a photographer makes.

Discontinuing the H2
We have made a decision to discontinue the H2 camera line. Starting with the H1 in 2002, both the H1 and H2 products have served us well, but demand simply no longer justifies the dedicated manufacturing line required for its production. The clear mandate we have received has been to continue to develop products and technologies to help create the best images possible, so we are transitioning resources and bandwidth from the H2 line to the H3DII. This will enable us to keep up with H3DII demand (which has been tremendous), and also help us respond to what the market is asking for – DSLR's.
By trimming our product portfolio of models that are no longer in significant demand, we can concentrate more of our resources on what photographers tell us they want – the ability to create great images. The best way to do this, as we have stated for years, is in an integrated system where all of the components, from the lens to the capture unit to the software, are designed as a system and are communicating and working together. In short, via an integrated DSLR. The great success of the H3D and H3DII families, as well as the huge success and product strategy of industry giants like Canon and Nikon (as well as products announced by Sinar, Leaf and Mamiya) all confirm that this is the way to go.

The launch of the H2F
The H2F is a greatly simplified "film only" version of the H2, and consequently does not require the same level of manufacturing, R&D, and support overhead the H2 does. It allows us to devote our resources to develop and support products that are in demand, while continuing to support film.
We have over half a century of history with film, and don't want to abandon film manufacturers or photographers. We feel an obligation to continue to offer a film camera as long as possible, and the H2F is a good compromise that allows us to continue to offer a film alternative, while directing most of our R&D, Manufacturing and Support efforts to the digital products that photographers tell us they want. "

To be fair, I included all of the important info, digital too.
 

rusty71

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Well, the company Hasselblad as we all knew it is dead. When Imacon bought them, they only wanted to make a fast buck off the name. QC went into the toilet, and they have no products that other companies do not offer already.
I think a quote from the press release sums up the new company's attitude:
"The H2F is a greatly simplified "film only" version of the H2, and consequently does not require the same level of manufacturing, R&D, and support overhead the H2 does."
In other words, They really don't give a damn about quality or craftsmanship. That's what the old Hasselblad was built on. I really wish they would've just retired the name and called their new system the Imacon SLR or something. But no one would buy that. Because, what does a scanner company know about cameras?
Viktor must be spinning in his grave.
 
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"Greatly simplified" in no way means they don't give a damn about quality or craftsmanship. The high-res digital backs require a much more sophisticated camera to make the most of their potential, and that includes a lot of technology that would be to no effect or overkill on a film-based camera. Strip away the excess and what you get is a camera that is greatly simplified as compared to the digital-platform version.
 

Matt5791

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I just dropped my 500C/M 30 feet off a wall onto hard ground and a brick. It broke the 250mm lens clean off and ripped the tripod out of the thread of the underside of the camera body. The WLF was totally destroyed.

I put a different lens on and different back - and it still worked! And although the mount is broken on the back of the 250mm lens, it still focuses smoothly and the shutter fires and it stops down. Probably a bot squew though.

Would an H series survive the same fall?

Maybe I will ask Hasselblad.
 
OP
OP

david b

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For the car folks here, I am viewing the H2F as a Porsche 911 RS, which was a 911 minus the a/c unit, electric window motors, and the radio. It was a lightweight, no frills car built for one thing....to go fast.

The H2F is built for one thing, to make pictures using film.
 

Sirius Glass

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I just dropped my 500C/M 30 feet off a wall onto hard ground and a brick. It broke the 250mm lens clean off and ripped the tripod out of the thread of the underside of the camera body. The WLF was totally destroyed. ...

And you did this because ...

Interested readers want to know!

Steve
 

copake_ham

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I think this is good news. I have a late-model Hassy C-series and it is just a well-built light tight box that holds some great lenses which focus on some well-make film backs.

While it's built like the proverbial brick sh*thouse - it's not a complicated piece of gear. After all, the only electronics are in the prism VF if you have one.

So I think it's good news that Hassey will continue to make a film camera body!
 

genecrumpler

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Hasselbald H vs V

Does all this mean that I should start to follow the urge to buy up as many of the gold plated 500cm's I can find? The V series is no more

For the first time in history, some one (me) was able to purchase a piece of V equipment (with the Hasselblad name on it) for $5.00!!!! I got a nice bellows hood with 2 adapter rings and the masks for 135, 150, and 180 for 5 cheap, badly deflated (realative to the Pound and the Euro) US $.

I think I just died and went to heaven!
 

Nokton48

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I got the message too (second time), and I carefully read it, then I deleted it.

I'm interested in the V cameras, primarily, that I couldn't once afford (Well, I did get the basic 500Cm package, but I couldn't afford anything else for it). Now, I have an entire original system, that is an absolute joy, and delight, to use.

Sure hope the complaining continues. It helps to drive the prices down.
 

WarEaglemtn

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More than 50 years of 'square is good' and then you guys introduce autofocus as a 645 format.

Nothing like pissing on your heritage and customers. You are almost as bad as The Yellow Peril.
 

Paul.

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Well I got the email and ignored it. I will never be able to afford new Hasselblad gear, my system goes back to 1975 and everything was baught second hand. As long as I can get my 500CM repaired it will last longer than me.

Regards Paul.
 

arigram

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Well, I got this message from Hasselblad:


Atleast there is a small mention of V cameras, seems more like a marketing afterthought than anything else, probably restricted to trading up your "old V camera" for a "shinning new H3D, H4D" or whatever.
The local Greek representative's words of glorifying digital and "pushing" me to "upgrade" still sting...
 

Shawn Rahman

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Please send Hassy a reply and ask them what they made their film backs with all these years that compelled them to charge over $800 for them.
 

Bandicoot

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I just got the following email from Hasselblad...

[SNIP] This will enable us to keep up with H3DII demand (which has been tremendous), and also help us respond to what the market is asking for – DSLR's.

Good grief, all those who said Hasselblad's quality control had collapsed with the Imacon purchase are right! The old Hasselblad would never have been so moronic as to think that the plural of "DSLR" would have an apostrophe in it...


Peter
 
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