So Tech, does hasselblad have a forum? . . . is it open to the public? and if it's not their forum then their name is on it so I assume they have some say in how what is presented, at least I would if my name brand was on the masthead.
It doesn't matter to me, other than I find it strange how Hasselblad markets their product and through the years they have sent out a mixed message over close open platforms and now even closed or open information.
You mentioned earlier that the other back makers were getting a free ride from the Hasselblad camera but I understand that one back maker was instrumental is writing a lot of the firmware information that went into the h-1 and remember, the H series was originally sold and advertised as an open system which I believe went a long way into making the camera popular.
You can't blame some photographer's for feeling duped because if you bought, lets say a Leaf back and an H-1 waiting for the 28mm to come available, it probably was somewhat of a shock to find it it only is offered with a hasselblad back.
Personally I have no stake in any of this, but the moment Blad and Imacon came together you could just tell this was coming and even if the H-1-F or whatever it's called (BTW, what does F stand for ?, it's still a step back for a 3rd party back user from the original h1-2.
If people don't like Blad, well they do it to themselves.
JR
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So Tech, does hasselblad have a forum? No. if it's not their forum then their name is on it so I assume they have some say in how what is presented No. They don't. It is a user group effort. But you can make all the assumptions you like. If you make enough assumptions, you'll eventually hit on one where you assume correctly. This isn't one of them.
It doesn't matter to me Really? I find it strange how Hasselblad markets their product and through the years they have sent out a mixed message over close open platforms The marketing (advertising, brochures, events to promote current products) seems pretty conventional. Since you weren't specific, I'm forced to assume (I hate to assume, so please correct me if I'm wrong) that what you find strange are the choices they've made regarding what products to sell and which to discontinue. Hasselblad could have chosen to continue to shoot themselves in the foot financially by making money losing products to support other companies profitable products or they could have done what Kyocera did with Contax and simply withdraw from the medium-format camera market completely. They chose a path that made long-term business sense and continued to make a camera system to strengthen and support products on which they could make a profit and survive. The benefit of continuing to produce a camera system to Hasselblad back owners is that the integrated system has provided a wider range of features (auto lens corrections, GPS, more camera control abilities from the capture software, enhanced focusing accuracy, integrated power from body to back, ability to control back functions and menu from camera controls, a revolutionary optical design in the 28mm that incorporates auto digital lens correction into the optical design). The benefit to 3rd party back owners of their decision not to follow Contax, Bronica and Fuji to the graveyard of completely dead medium-format SLR systems is the continued availability of new lenses and accessories for their discontinued camera models. The H1 and H2 were offered until they became too much of a drain on finances and resources and were discontinued. That's how product life cycles tend to work. they have sent out a mixed message over... closed or open information I've never seen any message of any kind from Hasselblad regarding internet message board forums. They have no involvement in any forum and don't appear to have any past or current interest in them. What mixed message is it that you're referring to?
I understand that one back maker was instrumental is writing a lot of the firmware information that went into the h-1 A myth. Teleca Systems in Sweden supplied the electronics, camera software and communications interface for the H1. In the early stages of development Hasselblad invited Kodak, Phase One and other digital back makers to provide input as to what they would like to see in the way of interface design, contracted with Teleca to design and implement the interface and protocols and back makers wrote firmware for their own products that allowed interfacing with Hasselblad/Teleca's design. That individuals and companies develop an exaggerated sense of their own self-importance and contributions to a project is pretty common. Fish always seem to grow bigger the more time that passes after they're caught and consumed. and remember, the H series was originally sold and advertised as an open system which I believe went a long way into making the camera popular I remember the H1 system attracting attention and buyers due to having the most modern design available in medium-format with noticeable improvement in autofocus, electronics and integration. The new leaf shutter system designed and made by Hasselblad also helped draw buyers that didn't want focal plane shutter Contax and Mamiya 645 cameras. The quality and variety of the lenses including the 35mm, zoom and after a long wait the 120mm macro with autofocus from infinity to 1:1 were major considerations in buyer decisions. I don't recall that it was any more "open" than other cameras that it competed with at the time, so I'm not sure how that contributed to whatever popularity it enjoyed. Were other brands and models less "open" making them less attractive and less popular?
You can't blame some photographer's for feeling duped because if you bought, lets say a Leaf back and an H-1 waiting for the 28mm to come available Who buys a camera based on speculation of a future lens that doesn't exist from any maker, has never been attempted by any maker because it is extraordinarily complex, difficult and expensive to design and make (especially for a very limited market) and wasn't leaked or even hinted at by the maker prior to debut? I can certainly recall people wishing that
someone would make a lens that wide for a medium-format SLR, but I don't recall any suggestion by Hasselblad they were going to do so prior to the announcement at Photokina. I congratulate Mamiya and Hasselblad for the effort required to create such a difficult focal length lens for a medium-format SLR. Mamiya chose a traditional optical design approach and though the lens is bigger, heavier, slower, lacks a filter mount, and is more expensive compared to Hasselblad's design--they did pull it off, giving competition to Hasselblad and that's a good thing. The Hasselblad design was unconventional, being the first consumer lens designed with some optical aberrations being corrected through automatic digital operations in image processing, rather than by the centuries-old tradition of using optical methods. Such a radical departure was bound to create discussion, but the discussion has revolved around what capture devices the lens is compatible with, rather than the unique new path in lens design that has now been opened. As for anyone feeling "duped", making a purchase based on something that doesn't exist, but
perhaps-maybe-could be available in the future, could leave one being "duped" by their own speculations. Did you buy your Contax with the speculation that they would continue making camera bodies, and lenses and accessories and maybe someday a 28mm lens? If so, do you feel duped? I don't know, maybe you purchased after it became a dead camera system. That would be one sure way
not to be disappointed by end-of-life product decisions and speculation of future products.
the moment Blad and Imacon came together you could just tell this was coming Actually, if you were following what was happening in the medium-format camera business (it is a real business, by the way, requiring tough financial decisions) you could see what was coming well before Hasselblad and Imacon merged. With manufacturers going belly-up and Hasselblad, Mamiya and Rollei facing severe financial losses--potential bankruptcy, sale, or reorganization--due to severe decline in demand and market for all medium-format cameras resulting in continual and growing debt loads. Either medium-format cameras would cease to exist or be partnered with revenue streams from profitable partners or products. Such is life in the world of business investment. Investors invest to get a return and will only tolerate losing money for a limited (though variable) period of time. BTW, what does F stand for ? Your smile is nice, but you may have jaundice... or perhaps just a jaundiced view. it's still a step back for a 3rd party back user from the original h1-2 Yes. It is. And a step forward for Hasselblad back users.
If people don't like Blad, well they do it to themselves. That
could be read as people cause themselves not to like Hasselblad--but I don't think that's what you meant to imply. Of course there
are people in the world that are so focused on their own desires that they are unable to see beyond them and though these folks are often rather vocal when their desires are not met, they are not the majority. However, some very reasonable people are upset with Hasselblad because they don't understand why they would discontinue products they own or may wish to buy--or because there is a product they want to buy which is not compatible. I understand this and Hasselblad would be wiser, in my opinion, if they simply had a more straightforward dialogue with customers. I would have preferred to have them tell the simple truth, that medium-format cameras are money losers and they can't afford to keep making them to support revenue streams for other companies. But it seems that few manufacturers are that open or specific about what is profitable and what's not in their product offerings--Hasselblad is no exception, but I wish they were. It would save me a great deal of time and typing. Anyway, as you see... I've given my last few words on this post to lend weight to whatever low opinions you have formed of Hasselblad. I think they are a bright group of people that love photography and try hard to produce great products. Often they succeed in their many and varied efforts and sometimes fall short--as do I.
Best wishes to you and yours.