Hasselblad presents the 503CWD!

[André E.C.]

The sad future of the V system!

Dead Link Removed

Cheers

André

 

[arigram]

Yeah, I got that email too.
Atleast they made the digi back fit the aesthetics of the V system, unlike the ones before that stood out as afterthoughts.

I just hope this is not a sign that they discontinuing their classical cameras...

 

[André E.C.]

I just hope this is not a sign that they discontinuing their classical cameras...

IMO Ari, they might stay with one classic analogue product on the line-up, because of prestige and tradition related issues, all the rest, will be around the digital platform.
With this model, they are testing the market receptivity to the Digital V!

Cheers

André

 

[antielectrons]

Hasselblad already stopped making V series cameras. The 503CWD is a limited edition. Only 500 copies made.

 

[Soeren]

Hmm a camrea with a TV. Will it take Discovery ?
Cheers Søren

 

[wfe]

No worries, I believe that there are enough V series cameras and accessories around to last a long long time.

 

[df cardwell]

Hassie also intoduced a d*g*t#l back for the V series.

( solving a pretty big problem for the system ! )

Good news really.

NOW, back to the film....

 

[Ed Sukach]

Hasselblad is essentially introducing a 503 with a digital back (magazine?). Their information states the the new digital back can be used with existing Hasselblad equipment. I wonder if they'll make FILM magazines ("backs") available for the "new" bodies?

 

[Gibran]

Hasselblad already stopped making V series cameras. The 503CWD is a limited edition. Only 500 copies made.

They stopped making the focal plane F series, NOT the classic V series.

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

I like that chrome-tipped crank.. The back is nice too but I really want that winding/cocking crank.

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

They don't make the focal-plane cameras any longer?! like the 204fcc?!

 

[arigram]

The digital back is still only 16mp which is another way of saying "you want high digital resolutions get the H2D, this one is more of a tribute before we discontinue them".

 

[Gibran]

Hassie also intoduced a d*g*t#l back for the V series.

( solving a pretty big problem for the system ! )

Good news really.

NOW, back to the film....

Actually, it does not solve the problem very well as this back results in a 1.5 crop factor meaning there is no way to shoot digitally with the V system any wider than the equivilent of a 60mm. Your 40mm becomes a 60 and your 50mm becomes just a normal 75. Pretty major issue. This is the same square chip which has been around for over 2 years and available for the V system as the V96C. The "new" back does away with the seperate corded imagebank hard drive - power supply and takes CF cards and uses an attached sony lithium battery. Also, no additional sync cable is needed. So the advance is one of convienence only. Hasselblad will never allow the V system to compete with their New H system digitally, which is where they make all their new sales from. There is just too much great used V equipment available and Hasselblad sees no money there. The money is in selling the bodies and lenses, not really in the digital backs. But then, thats a great situation for us Analog guys - Great, cheap Zeiss Glass.

 

[Gibran]

They don't make the focal-plane cameras any longer?! like the 204fcc?!

Correct, they discontinued that series about a year ago.

 

[André E.C.]

Hasselblad is essentially introducing a 503 with a digital back (magazine?). Their information states the the new digital back can be used with existing Hasselblad equipment. I wonder if they'll make FILM magazines ("backs") available for the "new" bodies?

Since the new CFV back can be purchased separately, I would assume the special edition camera would take the old film backs also.

Cheers

André

 

[Ara Ghajanian]

Actually, it does not solve the problem very well as this back results in a 1.5 crop factor meaning there is no way to shoot digitally with the V system any wider than the equivilent of a 60mm. Your 40mm becomes a 60 and your 50mm becomes just a normal 75. Pretty major issue.

This is exactly what I was thinking when I read the specs. I'm not at all impressed. This is for the rich doctor who wants to show off to his other rich friends. I can't see a real photographer or visual artist wasting a dime on this. If they wanted to make a real advancement, they would make a digital back that fits V series cameras that has a full 6x6 frame sensor and costs less than $2000. Then they'd make some real sales. Until then, load up the 120 Velvia.
Ara

 

[kunihiko]

:confused: Where should I put a piece of paper which indicats what film loaded ?

 

[Fintan]

I'm not with the posse on this one, I think its a lovely camera.

 

[gr82bart]

I like that chrome-tipped crank.. The back is nice too but I really want that winding/cocking crank.

Same here. I think it's a sweet machine.

Art.