Hasselblad stops X-Pan in Europe.

[John Robertson]

The Amateur Photographer this week has a bit from Hasselblad, stating that they are to stop selling the X-Pan in Europe due to an EEC ruling on lead solder.
The camera can not be altered to comply with the new regulations in force from July 2006.

How much lead solder is in an X-Pan,!! must be microscopic.!!
Usual EEC shit!!! :bang:

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

What's EEC?

 

[John Robertson]

EEC European Economic Community, i.e. Most European countries, a sort of United States of Europe, that they are trying to form.. Hopefully they will fail. run by faceless people in Brussels and Strassbourg.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Didn't EEC become EC and for ages now has been EU?

 

[EmilGil]

The Amateur Photographer this week has a bit from Hasselblad, stating that they are to stop selling the X-Pan in Europe due to an EEC ruling on lead solder.
The camera can not be altered to comply with the new regulations in force from July 2006.

How much lead solder is in an X-Pan,!! must be microscopic.!!
Usual EEC shit!!! :bang:

The limit is 0.1% by weight in homogenous material, i.e. every single little darn part has to comply, be it a nut, a motor, an IC or a solder joint...

Funny thing is that this legislation has been known for years, but not until last year (and even more now) affected companies started to care about it?!

 

[darkkavenger]

I was about to point out the same thing. I don't think any other manufacturer has stopped producing cameras after this rule, so that's solely the responsibility of Hasselblad to comply with EU standards.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Is the Fuji equivalent still on sale? Can it be imported in to EU?

 

[darkkavenger]

I heard that the Japanese are implementing a similar regulation, however, I've no infos on the Fuji equiv, what camera would that be?

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Fuji makes the TX-2 which is exactly the same camera as far as I know.

 

[John Robertson]

Didn't EEC become EC and for ages now has been EU?

Probably Jon, still the same bunch of faceless people. 😡

 

[EmilGil]

I heard that the Japanese are implementing a similar regulation, however, I've no infos on the Fuji equiv, what camera would that be?

Actually the Japs started the trend with lead-free electronics as a marketing trick with a portable cd-player using Pb-free solder about 10 years ago, but I don't know if they are putting it into legislation. As for import of the TX-2 you can always buy yourself a camera, but if you're planning to make a business out of it the camera needs to be leadfree. The responsibility is not on the manufacturer but on the importer/sales agent.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Probably Jon, still the same bunch of faceless people. 😡

Without the EU we would not have the Euro, relaxed border controls, freedom to live and work anywhere in Europe, working hours directive, the human rights legislation, and much more.

I'm sure that Hasselblad could redesign the circuit board if they wanted to. All circuit boards are made more or less the same and I can't imagine Sony stopping sending Tv's to Europe or Dell giving up PC production. This "it's an EU law thing" is just a useful excuse for getting out of a niche business. Shame though.

But if it's just European sales stopped then order one from US or JP or wherever.

 

[Abbazz]

The Hasselblad X-Pan has been developped in cooperation with Fuji and was manufactured by Fuji. Fuji has stopped making MF film cameras, so Hasselblad has no other choice than withdrawing the X-Pan from the market. This EU directive has nothing to do with it!

Abbazz

 

[OlymE1]

The Hasselblad X-Pan has been developped in cooperation with Fuji and was manufactured by Fuji. Fuji has stopped making MF film cameras, so Hasselblad has no other choice than withdrawing the X-Pan from the market. This EU directive has nothing to do with it!

Abbazz

The Fuji Tx-2 does not fall under the MF category. ???

 

[photogdave]

Bottom line to all this: No Demand!

 

[darkkavenger]

Without the EU we would not have the Euro, relaxed border controls, freedom to live and work anywhere in Europe, working hours directive, the human rights legislation, and much more.

I'm sure that Hasselblad could redesign the circuit board if they wanted to. All circuit boards are made more or less the same and I can't imagine Sony stopping sending Tv's to Europe or Dell giving up PC production. This "it's an EU law thing" is just a useful excuse for getting out of a niche business. Shame though.

But if it's just European sales stopped then order one from US or JP or wherever.

You spoke for me, and in a much more relaxed way that I'd put it. Thanks 🙂