Hasselblad Film cameras are history

[zuikologist]

Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere or if eveyone knows about it except me, but Karen Nakamura has posted this on her blog (and I know they are not RF's):

http://www.photoethnography.com/blog/

Hasselblad has apparently stopped fim camera production.

 

[dcsang]

Hmmmmmm
I missed this.

Was there an "official" announcement as it would appear that Karen hasn't linked to anything significant that confirms this report.

Just curious,
Dave

 

[JimG]

Hasselblad no longer produces 21/4 Sq cameras.

Hasselblad no longer produces 21/4 Sq cameras.

I got this from a Yahoo Group (emailed me this today) Zeiss is aware of this move and, with the loss of Contax, is searching for new markets. They, with Cosina, are introducing the new Zeiss Ikon rangefinder and are in the midst of introducing lenses for other cameras. Speculations are that they will produced lenses for the Nikon mount as a new ZF series. This has not been confirmed. They have included a teaser on their site and more may be known by Dec 28.

 

[Jason_K]

There is no mention of it on the Hasselblad site.

http://www.hasselblad.se/

In the FAQ section it states that they have no intention of discontinuing the V system.

 

[Socke]

Boom!

Thats tough.

 

[Jason_K]

Of course the fact that their site is labeled "Digital Camera Solutions" is probably not a sign that they plan to release any new film related products.

 

[zuikologist]

Daniel

Thank you for the link.

It seems sad but inevitable that this would happen. Good luck to them in the digital world.

 

[KoNickon]

Too bad. Here's hoping they'll continue to make and improve (and lower the price on) the digital backs for the V cameras.

 

[rover]

Interesting, they did formally annouce months ago that they had discontinued the 501cm but intended on continuing on with the 503cw.

Ironic I guess, today I ordered a 50mm CF lens.

These are still wonderful cameras, I am glad that I have mine.

 

[danielnorton]

Not just digital

Not just digital

I don't think it was just or even mostly digital that hurt the Hassy sales as much as competition from Mamiya. Maybe 10 years ago a 'Blad was the pro's choice, but now a days most pros I know in advertising, fashion and editorial either use the RZ or 645 (mostly fashion guys for this) While I love the square format, it's not really ideal for magazine and catalog work, more than once I've heard people call 6x7 the "ideal format"

So I would say Hasselblad's market share has been dropping for years, their digital camera on the other hand hit the ground running, so I'm sure they figured best to go with what is selling now, progress I suppose 🙄

Anyway, the used market is full of Blads and I plan on getting a 500c/m in the near future myself, not too worried about them not making anymore, the ones that are out there will be around for a long while.

 

[FrankS]

I won't be selling my 500cm, ever. It's like the M3 of MF cameras. I won't be selling my M3 ever, either.

Both are worthy of passing on to the next generation of sons and daughters.

 

[dcsang]

I won't be selling my 500cm, ever. It's like the M3 of MF cameras. I won't be selling my M3 ever, either.

Both are worthy of passing on to the next generation of sons and daughters.

I'd like to do the same... if I had sons or daughters mind you 😉 - there's still time for that though, I mean, after all, I aspire to be like Tony Randall 😀

Cheers
Dave

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

First they abandon their sacred square format, now film. Bottom-line is bottom-line.

The times, they's a changin'. Their film cameras won't. They'll live on.

 

[david b]

I emailed Hasselblad and asked if the film cameras were dead and this is the response from Mark Brady...

"Not true. Hasselblad continues to produce the 500 Series cameras, the
905SWC and the XPan system.

Sincerely,
Consumer Relations Department
Hasselblad USA Inc"

 

[waterlenz]

They should have integrated digital into the V system, this was their failure. A huge installed base of V users too. Here are some of the best MF optics too.
Tom

 

[rover]

I emailed Hasselblad and asked if the film cameras were dead and this is the response from Mark Brady...

"Not true. Hasselblad continues to produce the 500 Series cameras, the
905SWC and the XPan system.

Sincerely,
Consumer Relations Department
Hasselblad USA Inc"

This doesn't surprise me. It would have been big news if they stopped building 6x6 cameras. The 501cm is gone, perhaps that is what spawned this rumor.

 

[zuikologist]

IMHO Hasselblad should clearly state what they are doing, just to stop the rumours. Apologies if I have spread misinformation.

 

[Warren G]

I beleive that Hasselblad remain in a really strong position for a number of reasons:

1. The merger between Hasselblad and Imacon a couple of years ago have allowed them to expand their digital product range, with fantastic desktop scanners and digital backs ( that fit mostly all medium format cameras) and their intergrated camera solutions like the H1 D and the H2D.

2. The manufacturing of the R module for Leica.

3. Fantastic brand name and a huge customer base.

4. The overtaking of Phase 1 in the digital camera solotions market world wide.

I think we should value what Hasselblad have brought and continue to bring the world Photographic market.

Best,

W

 

[RubenBlaedel]

I won't be selling my 500cm, ever. It's like the M3 of MF cameras. I won't be selling my M3 ever, either.

Both are worthy of passing on to the next generation of sons and daughters.

just remember to work the shutter once or twice a month ore it will eventually get stuck

 

[Beniliam]

Both are worthy of passing on to the next generation of sons and daughters.

If my M6 dont finishs like the black M3 of Elliot Erwitt... I passing my camera when I dead to the next generation 🙂