Why is Hasselblad so expensive!?

David J · Mar 29, 2006

I shoot a Hasselblad 503cw and have a few film backs and a couple of lenses, (all purchased used, 'cept the polaroid back) but I don't think I can afford this system anymore. Prices for new equipment are insane. $425 for a proshade and $780 for a simple film back. How do they justify these prices? The technology is over forty years old. Heck, I can buy a Nikon D200 cutting edge digital camera for the price of two Hasselblad film backs.

Dave Parker · Mar 29, 2006

I think the simplest answer is, because people will pay it! Hassy has always been considered the industry standard, time will tell if they are able to continue the high prices, of course in the 35mm rhelm Leica enjoys the same market status..

Dave

mark · Mar 29, 2006

They are expensive because people are willing to pay for the name on the extras.

Yeah you can buy a D200 but why would you want one?

Michel Hardy-Vallée · Mar 29, 2006

Well maybe Hasselblad is also good quality equipment. Depends also how you define "expensive." Compared to a D200, it sure is more expensive and doesn't do white balance for you. Compared to a RB67 or a Mamiya 6, a lot of people will relativize this differently. Also, used Hasselblad equipment has dropped significantly over the recent years, from what I've heard. There was recently a 4000$ classified here on APUG that had pretty much EVERY single possibly imaginalbe Hasselblad piece of equipment, incl. lenses, backs, bodies, cranks, name it. When I realised I paid about 2/3 of that just for my laptop, my head was spinning.

BTW are you sure you're not trolling, even accidentally?

David J · Mar 29, 2006

Well, I agree the camera is great and fun to use, but the prices are beyond reason. I'm worried this system is no longer seriously used and these stupidly high prices are pushing people away from the 500 series cameras. $60 for a metal ring to attach a shade to a lens is too much. And I haven't even griped yet about the weight. I feel like a LF guy when I'm lugging all my Hassy equipment around. Although when its time to shoot the family "studio style", I really love it!

Dave Parker · Mar 29, 2006

I guess it comes down to perspective, I have not ever seen indications that pricing of a particular system is driving people away from the business, what is beyond your reason, perhaps is right in line with someone elses reason, as said, the Hassy is a camera system that set the standards in 6x6 photography, I don't know a lot of people who use it for other than studio type situations. But I hear about people who use it in the field all the time and don't complain about the weight, I enjoyed my hassy's when I had them, but have found other systems that fit my style better over the years, and I like heavy cameras, but that is just me...

Dave

David A. Goldfarb · Mar 29, 2006

David J said:
I feel like a LF guy when I'm lugging all my Hassy equipment around.

Become an LF guy, and your Hassy will feel like your handy, lightweight versatile snapshot camera. Really.

David J · Mar 29, 2006

I think they set the standard in 6x6 cameras, but that was a long time ago. It doesn't seem that there has been much innovation with the 500 series since.... well the 80's? Don't get me wrong, I do love this camera, but it is a real challenge to use (that's both good and bad), its not forgiving at all of mistakes (I make plenty), and if my wife really knew how much money I had in this system, she'd throw me out of the house.
PS: I take my film in to a commercial developer who, I found out, develops the film, then scans it into a computer, and then prints it on paper. Doesn't that defeat most of the reason for shooting film? Should I find someone who actually does it the old fashioned way? Would it matter?

Dave Parker · Mar 29, 2006

In commercial labs, I think now a days your going to be hard pressed to find labs that only do it the old fashion way, many of the labs are now using digital LED systems for exposure on traditional papers...I am one that does not think that inovation is always a good thing, the hassy's are good hard working cameras and have always been, they are a workhorse that works day in and day out, durability is very important if your a working professional, you have to depend on your equipment everyday...that being said, and as I said above, I guess it comes down to perspective, I never considered the hassleblad systems to be unduly expensive for what they do and how long they last, yes, they are expensive, but if broke down over the years they can be used, the pricing becomes quite reasonable in my opinion..

Dave

david b · Mar 29, 2006

I've been using a Hasselblad for about 6 years. I will never sell my 503cw.

What kind of work do you do? Why are you so worried about what other people use? Does the camera system work for you? Would the D200 work for you? And what do you do when Nikon stops supporting it in 3 years? Do you buy another digital camera?

All of my gear has been purchased used from ebay. I've done very well. As a rule of thumb, I never pay more than 50% of B&H's price.

David J · Mar 29, 2006

Hi David,
The 503cw does work for me when I have the time to devote to it. I use my Nikon F100 when I need speed, portability, and ease of use. I'm not really concerned about what other people are shooting, but I sometimes feel like buying something for my Hasselblad outfit is investing in a system that's gone the way of the mechanical watch and fountain pen; beautifully made, but expensive and not exactly relevent anymore. I use my 503cw both for shooting landscapes, some outdoor action (family mostly) in bright light, and for family portrait work either outside in bright light or inside with rented studio lighting.

rbarker · Mar 29, 2006

"Why is Hasselblad so expensive!?"

As others have expressed in various ways, Hasselblad has always been considered the "Rolls Royce" of medium format. Their cameras are well-engineered, manufactured to high standards, and everyone was willing to pay the premium price (well, mostly willing ). Those who couldn't afford Hassy gear went to other brands, but often still longed for a Hassy.

Plus, everything in Sweden is expensive.

david b · Mar 29, 2006

I am not going to spend anymore time on this thread as I am not sure what the purpose or direction is, so I will just add this and be done with it.

Ebay is a great place to buy Hasselblad gear if you know the value before you buy it. There are now CF 150mm lenses for $600 on a daily basis. Backs can be had for less than $200. 500cm bodies for $300. Entire kits for $750.

Since you are digitally inclined, every 500 series Hasselblad can accept digital backs. How is that for innovation and product longevity? Take a 1960 500c camera and put on a current digital back (which won't be current next week).

As I started to say, I am not sure what you are doing here or why you started this thread, but if you are here to discuss film processes and traditional photography, welcome to APUG. Pay the membership fee and enjoy a wonderful community. This is a great place to be.

But if you are here to discuss the merits of digital photography, you are going to be a bit disappointed.

Dave Parker · Mar 29, 2006

David, the F100 he mentioned is a film camera, I only saw him actually mention digital in the context of pricing and didn't get the indication he was digitally inclined..but that being said, I would agree if he is here to try and discuss digital, then it is going to be a long day

Just my take.

Dave

arigram · Mar 29, 2006

Oh, they are indeed expensive.
I sold my soul for Hasselblad gear.
Are they worth the price? Maybe not, but then I don't think most digital gear is also
worth it even though they might be the very latest technology.
With that respect, the Hassy -IS- the very latest technology. Maybe not digital or electronic, but they use the latest mechanical and optical technologies available. From the bright viewing screen, the dampening mirror system to the great Carl Zeiss lenses and the sci-fi spring they use for shutter.
Maybe you judge technology by how many buttons a camera has, but I chose the Hasselblad V system because of their mechanical perfection and reliabillity. Otherwise I would have gotten an H camera, which maybe because of its many buttons and automations justifies the high price for you.

Plus, I have always been treated as a king by Hasselblad support so that's an importand reason to pay something extra. And I haven't been in the professional field much but I am sure that the respect the name of the camera maker gets from clients is quite importand.

I like its mechanics, its shape, its weight, its functions and its quallity.
If you don't find your Hasselblad comfortable, ease to use and worth of its money, maybe you should look for another camera.
Cameras are tools and like all tools they have to fit the hand of the creator well, otherwise they work against him.

Bob F. · Mar 29, 2006

The simple answer of course is: don't buy new....

New Hassys are (were) bought by pros who amortize the cost over many years and offset it against tax etc.... Amateurs like me buy used Bronicas and Mamiyas...

Enjoy! Bob.

bobfowler · Mar 29, 2006

David J said:
I shoot a Hasselblad 503cw and have a few film backs and a couple of lenses, (all purchased used, 'cept the polaroid back) but I don't think I can afford this system anymore. Prices for new equipment are insane. $425 for a proshade and $780 for a simple film back. How do they justify these prices? The technology is over forty years old. Heck, I can buy a Nikon D200 cutting edge digital camera for the price of two Hasselblad film backs.

One reason is the quality. That Hassey will be shooting 'chromes 20 years after that D200 will be in a landfill.

David A. Goldfarb · Mar 29, 2006

One attraction of these cameras being status symbols, is that there are a lot of Hassies out there purchased more for their status value than for their practical value that have been lightly used and that appear on the second-hand market.

antielectrons · Mar 29, 2006

Of course Hasselblad is expensive! Much too expensive. Perhaps if they had been cheaper they would have sold more units and not be in the mess there are in now.... It seems to me that far too many companies have been far too greedy for far too long as far as the photography industry goes. No wonder people are flocking to digital - it cuts out most of the middle men once you have got yourself a system. Personally I find the SL66 to be a much more reasonably priced system second hand that delivery results that are comparable to the Hassy system, but like others have pointed out there really is no excuse for not buying second hand nowadys given the bargain basement prices now available.

p.s. ditch your lab for a proper lab that does analogue prints.

Dave Parker · Mar 29, 2006

I think one thing that is getting overlooked, is the Hassleblads were never marketed to the amature market, they have always been marketed as a professional system designed to withstand the rigors of that market and have done so very well over the many years they have been around, but again, they never were designed with the amature in mind..

Dave

david b · Mar 29, 2006

I do not consider Hasselblad to be expensive considering how long they last. A good friend of mine bought her first Hasselblad in 1972 for about $1400. She is still using it 34 years later and it is worth today almost what it cost then.

How much will that D200 be worth in 34 years? Better yet, how much will it be worth in 3.4 years?

david b · Mar 29, 2006

I want to apologize to David J. Sorry if I got a little crazy on this thread but I still do not understand the purpose of this thread.

André E.C. · Mar 29, 2006

Hasselblad has gone to the moon, how many camera brands can say "yeah, we have a couple of bodies spread on the lunar surface" !?
Bodies and prices stayed, only the magazines came back , as mentioned before, the prices are more on the Earth orbit nowadays!
NASA was a good partnership for the Swedish cube!

Cheers

André

David J · Mar 29, 2006

David,
Sorry, I'm new to APUG and have never been in a chatroom before. My thread was really not a serious issue, I just wanted to air a frustration among people who would understand me. I sometimes feel like the only medium format shooter in my area; no one to talk to. Anyway.... I appreciate everyone's comments and I really do love my camera. I agree that the key to the system is quality, long life, and excellent resale value. Oh, and a feeling of brotherhood and community among other Hasselblad owners. Something you just don't find with people using $300 digital point-and-shoot cameras.

david b · Mar 29, 2006

Well you will find more than a few Hasselblad users here. I have several and all of them were purchased on ebay.

I live in a photo-friendly town and still get lots of funny looks when I'm out with my 503. It's even funnier when I take out my Hasselblad flexbody and still my proshade on the end of the lens. Lots of curious looks.

Why is Hasselblad so expensive!?

David J

Dave Parker

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