Hasselblad H2 anyone?

André E.C. · Aug 25, 2005

It`s sad to see Hasselblad (Fuji?) going down this road also, the H1 take film and digital backs, the H2 it`s all digital(.
Until when the V system?
Sad but true!

Dead Link Removed

Cheers

André

Fintan · Aug 25, 2005

Juba said:
the H2 it`s all digital(.
André

Hey André,
the H2 is dual platform, film and digital, its the H2D thats digital only.

its not sad, your v series will run for decades yet

André E.C. · Aug 25, 2005

Fintan said:
Hey André,
the H2 is dual platform, film and digital, its the H2D thats digital only.

its not sad, your v series will run for decades yet

Thanks for the correction, Fintan.
I`m still nervous with all this Hasselblad/Fuji H system thing.

Cheers

André

arigram · Aug 26, 2005

Hasselblad H?
Blaaah!
It's got nothing to do with what made Hasselblad what it is... I am never giving up my 50x system for that thing. Even if its own company is pushing current owners to "upgrade" (yes, Hasselblad considers the move from V to H an upgrade as written in the latest Forum and ads).
H was designed for digital, that's why the 6x4.5 format, autofocus, displays, Fuji lenses, 35mm SLR design, etc. Film is a "stop gap" to get a slightly wider audience.

NikoSperi · Aug 26, 2005

Actually, I think it's a very good system. The catch is... depends what you need. I've assisted some fashion shoots and for editorial stuff, 645 is fantastic. The ability to mix'n'match digital and film is by now a requisite, and I wouldn't spit on the glass, frankly. A Fuji lens, be it on an Xpan or H1, is by faaaaaaar not the weakest link in my image making abilities.
That said, I don't live by shooting fashion editorials... and will (try to) keep my 501 and SWC until someone has to pry them out of my cold dead hands.

c6h6o3 · Aug 26, 2005

At least the V system lenses can be used with it (through an adapter).

c6h6o3 · Aug 26, 2005

NikoSperi said:
... and will (try to) keep my 501 and SWC until someone has to pry them out of my cold dead hands.

...or until you can no longer pry film out of your cold dead freezer, whichever comes first.

NikoSperi · Aug 26, 2005

c6h6o3 said:
...or until you can no longer pry film out of your cold dead freezer, whichever comes first.

Damn! Hadn't thought about that... time to defrost that darn box, maybe I still have some more TechPan hidden under the ice?

George Papantoniou · Aug 27, 2005

I tested the H1 when it was first presented. It didn't impress me, really. A bit too heavy for a 6x4,5 camera, and much too expensive. I also used it for a seminar I gave with a digi back (Hass. was a sponsor, the camera was hardwired and a guy from the company manipulated the software, so the images showed directly on a screen)...

Anyway, with that kind of money, I could buy a Rollei 6008 with 6x6 ability AND a 6x4,5 revolving, reducing back THAT CAN DO LANDSCAPE AND PORTRAIT shots WITHOUT HAVING TO HOLD THE CAMERA ON ITS SIDE !!!!!!!!! And great Scneider and Zeiss lenses, too...

Holding the camera in the "wrong way" is very annoying in middle format, since the cameras are bulky and heavy. So, a 6x4,5 camera has to have a revolving back in order to gain my sympathy... Of course the Rollei is heavy and bulky too, but if you don't have to hold it in an awkyard position, then it handles just fine....

On the other hand, if I wanted a 6x4,5 simple camera I would opt for the Pentax or the Contax (then in production). Nowadays someone can go for the Mamiya. Much, much cheaper stuff.

I don't see what the H2 has to offer to me more that the H1 had (after a quick visit to the website)...

arigram · Aug 27, 2005

I agree with my fellow country mate mr. Papantoniou, here. What's so special about the H system for one to buy into the Hasselblad system? The targetted market works just fine with a 35mm digital. The H system has nothing special apart from being bigger, heavier, bulkier, more expensive and its higher resolution is wasted because those who use digital commercially do it for matters of economy and convenience, not quallity. "Quallity is good enough for my clients" they will say when they defend their 6MP DSLR.

The V system has (had?) Zeiss lenses, square format, total mechanical operation, etc, all the things that Hasselblad has been defending all those decades. Then the merge happens, the H appears and that changed completely everything about Hasselblad. The H even has a completely new design that looks no different than other DSLRs apart from being bigger. Atleast my 501CM stands out and gets people's attention.

All I am saying is that the H system might not be bad at all, but what seperates it from Mamiya, or Fuji, or Canon, or Nikon in the end?

Nicole · Aug 27, 2005

I have a 501c/m. I hope that lots of people start dropping their film blads to go with the latest digital. To generously help remove their clutter, I'll offer my home as a free dumping ground for peoples superseded film blad gear.

sanking · Aug 27, 2005

Nicole Boenig-McGrade said:
I have a 501c/m. I hope that lots of people start dropping their film blads to go with the latest digital. To generously help remove their clutter, I'll offer my home as a free dumping ground for peoples superseded film blad gear.

People may drop their film blads for a while, but I think there is a good chance they will eventually go up again because many of them also accept the digital backs.

Sandy

André E.C. · Oct 23, 2005

I have reasons to be nervous...!
Read on and see why.

http://digitalphotography.weblogsinc.com/entry/1234000957064522/

One short resume,

"He showed some staggering sales graphs where film sales and digital sales made an almost perfect X, with a 1-year 30% drop in V-System sales and the H-series digital and hybrid sales replacing V-series medium format sales almost entirely."

"The big news is that they intend to go all digital at some point in the not-too-distant future."

"Hasselblad wants more megapixels, about 45."

This is the Hasselblad of the future, goodbye film based products!

Cheers

André

arigram · Oct 24, 2005

I hope I will manage to buy my Hasselblad V system lenses and stuff before that happens!

Fotohuis · Oct 24, 2005

I think Hasselblad will drop the V-system in not to long time.

I tested the H1 (some years ago) and was very disappointed about the results on film for that amount of money. Harry (HKA) on the Dutch forum, also did. His point of view was not disappointed but .... well ask it himself. It would damage the reputation of Hasselblad.

Hasselblad at that time gave some feedback that the H1 was also developed for the future (Kodak digital back) and those results were OK.
But I stopped the whole investment and stay with my Mamiya 645 Pro which had in my opinion with some APO lenses (e.g. 2,8/200mm) better quality than that H1 on the 50X70 cm prints.

Best regards,

Robert

jd callow · Oct 24, 2005

As I see it (and I haven't tried the H or own the V system)...
I think they made a grave mistake by not keeping the 6x6 format and by not offering a mix of euro and asian glass.

The first because the square is part of what defines Hassy and has advantages in handling etc. The second because the glass is a larger part of what defines the company (even if the fuji glass is better or equal it would be an up hill battle to convince most trad. hassy owners). The other aspect that gives hassy its reputation is the the quality of their cameras' mechanical functions. It would be hard to replicate, in an AF camera, the feel of a mechanical one. For this reason I think they could be forgiven if the H1,2,2d, etc lacked the feel of the 50x's.

Instead they made a camera that is, albeit at a high level, essentially a generic 645 AF. It appears, if only on the surface, that the H does not justify the price when compared to the Mamiya, Bronica or Contax 645 AFs.

The omission of the 6x6 and the initial omission of legacy glass were two hard strikes against them. The comment that in the future the H will have a 'look' strikes me as a cynical marketing ploy. As if to say: "If we can't make it special we'll make it look special."

In any event, I have no dog in this race. I love the feel of the mechanical cameras, but would rather use a RF for hand held shots and a LF for tripod work. The glass is the one thing I find unique and compelling about Hassy's, but not compelling enough to make the plunge. The one exception is the SWC, which I plan to own one day.

David A. Goldfarb · Oct 24, 2005

If you hunt around on photo.net, somewhere Kornelius Fleischer from Zeiss made a post stating something to the effect that they couldn't produce Zeiss lenses to Hassy's price point for the H1, and as it turned out, neither could Fuji, but by then it was already too late, and the commitment to Fuji was already in place.

Fintan · Oct 24, 2005

I was in my hasselblad dealer today, bought a nice view magnifier and had a problem sorted for me.

Seems the H series have been selling more than the V this year by a factor of 4 or 5 for them, you cant blame hasselblad for putting their money on the best seller when their survival is on the line.

Keeping the prestige of the brand up takes second place to survival IMHO. The used market is very stong, every make and model in mint condition is available. These cameras if serviced and looked after will last a lifetime. Just enjoy your camera and forget the new ones.

I'm actually glad they are 645 because I dont want one, and you know at their price, its just as well I dont like 'em.

BTW I'm more upset at hearing their new calendar doesnt feature any square images

EmilGil · Oct 24, 2005

Fintan said:
BTW I'm more upset at hearing their new calendar doesnt feature any square images

WHAT??? Thats horrendous!!!

Fintan · Oct 24, 2005

EmilGil said:
WHAT??? Thats horrendous!!!

I know, info posted on the Hasselblad Users Mailing list on sunday, but I'm not certain myself yet.

Hasselblad H2 anyone?

André E.C.

Fintan

André E.C.

arigram

NikoSperi

c6h6o3

c6h6o3

NikoSperi

George Papantoniou

arigram

Nicole

sanking

André E.C.

arigram

Fotohuis

jd callow

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David A. Goldfarb

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Fintan

EmilGil

Fintan

Hasselblad H2 anyone?

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