Did Hasselbld ever cut corners like Leica did?

[chip j]

Leica cut quality starting w/ the M42.

 

[NB23]

Leica cut quality starting w/ the M42.

Blad didn’t even produce their own lenses.

And what’s with the M4-2, besides the infamous myth? The M6’s zinc top plate is the true scandal. But back then, Leica wasn’t as mythical, it was a sound move.

 

[etn]

Over time Hasselblad removed some features for cost saving reasons (such as the body shutter indicator) and added others which improve usability (gliding mirror system etc.). As a matter of fact,when buying my 503CW, I found stupid that it did not feature a shutter indicator. Now after years of use I realize I don’t really need it - the shutter is cocked 100% of the time, period.

I don’t think a decrease in quality or manufacturing has ever been documented with Hasselblad, but i’ll let more knowledgeable persons comment on this.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

The story is that "hand fitting" and adjustment of parts ended with the M5; by the time of the the M4-2 the practice was to replace rather than adjust or repair. That's the story - it doesn't bother me a whole lot because the Leica M6 is still very nice.

As for Hasselblad - I thought the removal of the body-cocked indicator on the 501C in 1994 was a cost reduction that affected the "experience" of a Hasselblad. Likewise, the 501C's one-off C lens was a cost reduction: it had the style of a CF lens, but didn't have the aperture/shutter ring interlock of the CF, nor did it have the F setting of the CF. It didn't have the self-timer of the old-style C. I've done good work with that outfit, but I've always felt it's like owning an 8-cylinder Mondial instead of a flat-12 512BB.

 

[Richard Man]

"Did Joe stop beating his wife like Bob did?"

Casting stones at two companies in one sentence. Top notch shade.

 

[choiliefan]

A man after your own heart, eh?

 

[4season]

Even older Hasselblad lenses have markings which are painted on, not engraved, and it tends to wear away.

 

[guangong]

Keep in mind that after M5, Leitz lost E. Leitz, and since then Leica Camera has been owned by a merry go round of owners. At the same time other divisions of Leitz, such as microscopes, were separated and owned by others. My favorite post Leitz Camera is the Hermès Leica, $30,000 ( including peeling Hermès leather). But there are enough well heeled spenders allowing current ownership to sell everything they make.
As for taking shortcuts, that is the guiding principle of modern manufacturing, while selling for same or more than product before shortcuts.

 

[narsuitus]

Did Hasselbld ever cut corners like Leica did?

When did Leica stop cutting corners?

 

[BrianShaw]

"Did Joe stop beating his wife like Bob did?"

Casting stones at two companies in one sentence. Top notch shade.

Bobstopped? Bobbeat? That’s news to me... but which?

Re: Hasselblad... they simply shed useless features... while in some cases adding useful features. Maybe to reduce cost; maybe to increase reliability.... who cares... but it hardly seems like “cutting corners “ that impacts quality or usability.

But in general, this thread has a very trollish thesis...

 

[ic-racer]

Cut corners, like failing to provide a film transport system?

 

[choiliefan]

Is that one of the Fuji-blads?

 

[removed account4]

david hasselhof sold more records worldwide than slim whitman, boxcar willy,raffi and yanni combined. after babewatch his career was kind of slowed until the sponge bob squarepants movie.

 

[cramej]

903? Lens formula changed and some thought it was a teensie weensie bit less sharp than it's predecessor. Legend has it that those people are still photographing brick walls to this day.

I'm not sure how Leica/Hasselblad would compare but Leica sure cut some corners.....

 

[Dan Daniel]

Now this was a short-lived experiment where they tried to foist floppy disks on people. Maybe it was state of the art for the day? The sad part is that it encouraged Hasselblad to do another collaboration with Sony where they cut everything- taste, design, etc.- and threw it all out the window except the price.

 

[Huss]

I really like my Hassel H1 system, but am very disappointed that most (alll?) of the markings on the body and lenses are painted on, which wears off.
I don't see any of that nonsense on my Leica gear - vintage and current. So the question should be the other way around.

 

[mcfitz]

"Did Joe stop beating his wife like Bob did?"

Casting stones at two companies in one sentence. Top notch shade.

Seriously? Have you any idea how offensive that comparison is? In context or not.

And yeah, come at me in attack about not "getting it", or "not having a sense of humour" or whatever.

Or rather, don't bother. That comparison is just wrong on so many levels and I stand by my objection to it.

 

[BrianShaw]

Seriously? Have you any idea how offensive that comparison is? In context or not.

And yeah, come at me in attack about not "getting it", or "not having a sense of humour" or whatever.

Or rather, don't bother. That comparison is just wrong on so many levels and I stand by my objection to it.

Feel better?

 

[MattKing]

"Did Joe stop beating his wife like Bob did?"

Casting stones at two companies in one sentence. Top notch shade.

Seriously? Have you any idea how offensive that comparison is? In context or not.

And yeah, come at me in attack about not "getting it", or "not having a sense of humour" or whatever.

Or rather, don't bother. That comparison is just wrong on so many levels and I stand by my objection to it.

It is an interesting combination of hyperbole and irony.
I don't see any attempt at being humorous, but rather an attempt - using an outrageous example - to highlight the absurdity in the OP's question.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

There was a time when Leica seemed to be catering to the Wine & Cheese crowd - when they introduced a plethora of commemorative cameras ("Danish Royal Wedding M6", etc. - there's a list on Cameraquest). However, that doesn't mean they were reducing quality.

Both post-M5 Leicas and post-501C/M Hasselblads are extremely good cameras.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Over time Hasselblad removed some features for cost saving reasons (such as the body shutter indicator) and added others which improve usability (gliding mirror system etc.). As a matter of fact,when buying my 503CW, I found stupid that it did not feature a shutter indicator. Now after years of use I realize I don’t really need it - the shutter is cocked 100% of the time, period.

I don’t think a decrease in quality or manufacturing has ever been documented with Hasselblad, but i’ll let more knowledgeable persons comment on this.

I have two shutter indicators in my 503 CX, the indicator and the mirror. If I cannot see through the lens with the view finder I need to cock the lens.

Oh yes, the second 'a' in Hasselblad in the title.

 

[cowanw]

It is an interesting combination of hyperbole and irony.
I don't see any attempt at being humorous, but rather an attempt - using an outrageous example - to highlight the absurdity in the OP's question.

Don't absurdity and irony make you smile?

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Leica cut quality starting w/ the M42.

Bulshit. I'm using M4-2 more than any film camera I used before.

 

[MattKing]

Don't absurdity and irony make you smile?

They can.
They can also make you sad.

 

[Richard Man]

The OP is pretty absurd and trollish ~_o.