Re. Hasselblad V System. Anyone Else Notice This?

Mark Feldstein · Jun 30, 2013

Bad news kids. The British Journal of Photography recently reported"
The last 503CW camera has rolled off Hasselblad's production line, the Swedish firm has announced, putting an end to an iconic series of medium format cameras popular for its square format

Read more: http://www.bjp-online.com/british-j...an-end-to-its-v-line-of-cameras#ixzz2XjcBeH3h

My guess is that prices on parts and accessories is going to skyrocket. I'm seriously bummed out.
Mark

BrianShaw · Jun 30, 2013

That news was on the various forums a few weeks ago. Yes, it's a bummer. IDK about either parts or values going up though.

batwister · Jun 30, 2013

I really hope people start making good use of 3D printers for this reason.

Mark Feldstein · Jun 30, 2013

Sure, decline will continue if people stop supporting analog equipment and supplies. OTOH, while a lot of people chose to let manufacturers dictate what THEY want consumers to buy, those of us who say "we don't want what they're selling". That includes all the equipment that soon after release becomes outdated because of built-in obsolescence with a replacement on the assembly line soon after the first one was distributed. And all that before anyone can even prove the longevity of a digital image over one stored on film.

Just more reasons why I prefer my old and reliable Hasselblad gear and the images i create with them.
Everything doesn't HAVE to be a corporate cost-benefit analysis and we don't have to keep buying the crap consumers are offered. Imagine what the world would be like if consumers stop buying digital equipment. <sigh>
M

summicron1 · Jul 1, 2013

so they are quitting making hassy film cameras? Oh well -- there are only a few hundreds of thousand around the world, if not millions ... loss of the manufacturer does not mean loss of the camera. Witness the venerable Speed Graphic, the Kodak Medalist, every film stereo camera on the planet, and on and on -- none has a current manufacturer, all are still easily acquired, repaired, used.

I'm a huge fan of Leica, including SLR. Leica no longer makes, or even much supports, its SLR system of film cameras. Anyone out there having trouble finding cameras to buy? Repair Facilities?

And this is hassy's problem -- their cameras aren't wearing out fast enough to generate enough demand for new replacements. But that is only THEIR problem.

But it is not the users' problem. Your, my, our problem is simply how to resist the temptation to buy all the thousands of Hassys on the used market, at steadily declining prices.

So go buy a pro-pack of 120, go shoot it, and quit worrying.

Poisson Du Jour · Jul 1, 2013

Mark Feldstein said:
Sure, decline will continue if people stop supporting analog equipment and supplies. OTOH, while a lot of people chose to let manufacturers dictate what THEY want consumers to buy, those of us who say "we don't want what they're selling". That includes all the equipment that soon after release becomes outdated because of built-in obsolescence with a replacement on the assembly line soon after the first one was distributed. And all that before anyone can even prove the longevity of a digital image over one stored on film.

Just more reasons why I prefer my old and reliable Hasselblad gear and the images i create with them.
Everything doesn't HAVE to be a corporate cost-benefit analysis and we don't have to keep buying the crap consumers are offered. Imagine what the world would be like if consumers stop buying digital equipment. <sigh>
M

The inconvenient truth is that you can support retailers, suppliers...the lot, but film's decline will continue in the years to come and they will all move to where the money is.

You don't have to do photography when there is no film. If you wan to continue, skill up on digital, everything from the photograph to hybridised print flow, while continuing to indulge your passion (and hopefully, a quality approach) to analogue photography.

Nothing like having the best of both worlds and a lot of experience to boot.

Mark Feldstein · Jul 1, 2013

Poisson Du Jour said:
The inconvenient truth is that you can support retailers, suppliers...the lot, but film's decline will continue in the years to come and they will all move to where the money is.

You don't have to do photography when there is no film. If you wan to continue, skill up on digital, everything from the photograph to hybridised print flow, while continuing to indulge your passion (and hopefully, a quality approach) to analogue photography.

Nothing like having the best of both worlds and a lot of experience to boot.

My point, hopefully unbelabored, is to support analog photography, stop buying a line of B.S. from sales people that the newest digital accessory will last for years to come, and refuse to be persuaded cause it just ain't so.

Most of the publications, corporations, their ad agencies and art directors that hire me to shoot for them, do so primarily because they like my work, my ability to solve their photographic problems on location AND the fact that I still shoot film and don't care to manipulate pixels.

Poisson Du Jour · Jul 1, 2013

Mark Feldstein said:
My point, hopefully unbelabored, is to support analog photography, stop buying a line of B.S. from sales people that the newest digital accessory will last for years to come, and refuse to be persuaded cause it just ain't so.

Most of the publications, corporations, their ad agencies and art directors that hire me to shoot for them, do so primarily because they like my work, my ability to solve their photographic problems on location AND the fact that I still shoot film and don't care to manipulate pixels.

Sounds good.
But I'm not talking about "manipulating pixels". I'm talking about future shock.

removed account4 · Jul 1, 2013

the sky IS falling and it tastes like vanilla

Mark Feldstein · Jul 1, 2013

I think Toffler would agree that it's hardly futuristic since digital was introduced . . .how many years ago? And manufacturers have been running this digital game on consumers since day one.
M.

removed account4 · Jul 1, 2013

i don't think they have been running a game at all.
its like anything as soon as it is released a better version comes out
and with electronics that happens as soon as it is released .....
its always been like that, with analog cameras/lenses, stereophonic equipment
and home-goods ( washer dryer, dishwasher &c )
if someone is dumb enough to upgrade all the time ... let'em

these AvD debates are a bore ...

:munch:

Poisson Du Jour · Jul 1, 2013

jnanian said:
i don't think they have been running a game at all.
its like anything as soon as it is released a better version comes out
and with electronics that happens as soon as it is released .....
its always been like that, with analog cameras/lenses, stereophonic equipment
and home-goods ( washer dryer, dishwasher &c )
if someone is dumb enough to upgrade all the time ... let'em

these AvD debates are a bore ...

:munch:

Very good observations!
Same with cars, too. Computers, just about anything you can think of. Except my coffee cup....

Pumalite · Jul 2, 2013

Maybe this explains why I've been able to buy 3 Hasselblads with 3 Fiders, 6 Backs and 6 lenses ( including 100mm) in the last week for peanuts.

John Wiegerink · Jul 2, 2013

Pumalite said:
Maybe this explains why I've been able to buy 3 Hasselblads with 3 Fiders, 6 Backs and 6 lenses ( including 100mm) in the last week for peanuts.

Does make you wonder doesn't it? I just bought a very nice chrome ELM with HC4 90 finder and a user 12 back for $149.00. Nor a steal, but not a bad price either. The body is very nice. The finder has some paint chips, but the prism and glass are near perfect. The 12 back works, but is in rough shape cosmetically. The motor driven 'blads never seem to command much, but a good one is still a great camera. I actually bought it as a spare for my black ELM and back-up for my 500C since it's cheaper than having either one repaired. JohnW

film_man · Jul 2, 2013

Considering that you can make a gun on a 3D printer, I think it is fair to say in the next few years they'll be able to print anything for anything.

E. von Hoegh · Jul 2, 2013

jnanian said:
i don't think they have been running a game at all.
its like anything as soon as it is released a better version comes out
and with electronics that happens as soon as it is released .....
its always been like that, with analog cameras/lenses, stereophonic equipment
and home-goods ( washer dryer, dishwasher &c )
if someone is dumb enough to upgrade all the time ... let'em

these AvD debates are a bore ...

:munch:

I was tempted by the first, or one of the first, audio CD players to hit the market - a Phillips(?). About 1500 1983 dollars. Five years later I bought one at Montgomery-Ward's going out of business sale for $119, I threw it away in 2009.

BrianShaw · Jul 2, 2013

My 1983-era Sony CD player is working (most of the time); I still can't find a good reason to replace it. I can't recall what I paid but it wasn't cheap. My Rogers Sound Lab 3800 speakers still working good too. The woofer foam had to be replaced once, but other than that...

E. von Hoegh · Jul 2, 2013

BrianShaw said:
My 1983-era Sony CD player is working (most of the time); I still can't find a good reason to replace it. I can't recall what I paid but it wasn't cheap. My Rogers Sound Lab 3800 speakers still working good too. The woofer foam had to be replaced once, but other than that...

I got one of these from a yardsale about 1996, $2. Been using it ever since. Dead Link Removed

Sirius Glass · Jul 2, 2013

Yes, on another thread.

Re. Hasselblad V System. Anyone Else Notice This?

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