Hasselblad stoops lower

[bill t.]

Bronica's were my brand of choice. They also cost a lot less, which helped.

And for the money you got a much louder sklümph!

[Justinr]

And for the money you got a much louder sklümph!

Perhaps that's the idea of HB lending their name to the phone, its not the optics but the shutter noise that will set it apart from the riff raff After all, Harley Davidson spend millions getting the sound of their bikes right in an acoustic chamber so why not HB!  

[Robert Roaldi]

It's still not clear to me why people (even Hasselblad owners or former owners) should be disturbed by their forays into other products, however bizarre they seem. The protests seem to come from a disdain for the new ventures, as if they were the equivalent of a grand dame passing wind or something. What do those products have to do with the MF cameras they build? Some Porsche-o-philes reacted badly when Porsche started building SUVs, but it seems as if sales of those new models provided some needed cash flow to the company, and now most people think it normal. Nobody seems to mind the occasional Leica bling-branded model very much.

[Iluvmycam]

There were hopes that under Hasselblad's new management, the Lunar/Solar rebadging embarassments were gone, but instead they have done one worse: partnering with bling-phone specialist Vertu:
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/129176-vertu-signature-touch-has-b-o-speakers-hasselblad-camera-6750-price-tag

Good thing they make a nice MF cam or it would look like another Kodak in the remaking.

[Justinr]

It's still not clear to me why people (even Hasselblad owners or former owners) should be disturbed by their forays into other products, however bizarre they seem. The protests seem to come from a disdain for the new ventures, as if they were the equivalent of a grand dame passing wind or something. What do those products have to do with the MF cameras they build? Some Porsche-o-philes reacted badly when Porsche started building SUVs, but it seems as if sales of those new models provided some needed cash flow to the company, and now most people think it normal. Nobody seems to mind the occasional Leica bling-branded model very much.

The elephant in the room here is that part of brand appeal that has so far gone unmentioned and it is exclusivity. An HB can be the ultimate gold medallion on a hairy chest (if that's your thing)which not only indicates wealth but also an appreciation of the finer things in life, the confirmation of intellect as well as income, membership of a refined and elegant cohort.  It's a basic marketing ploy used by all upmarket brands so should we really be surprised that HB are realising a little of the potential of their name. It could be argued that by doing so they are putting their reputation on the line and therefore need to ensure their standards are maintained. Let us hope so.

[fdisilvestro]

Some Porsche-o-philes reacted badly when Porsche started building SUVs

When Porsche builds a SUV it is a Porsche, they don't take a Toyota and put a Porsche badge on it and charge five times the price. If Hasselblad decided to build a digital movie camera to compete with RED or ARRI, then we would have a different discussion.

Have we forgotten that hasselblad was always an over priced toy for the elite? Sensible people used Mamiya and Bronica equipment.

Have you ever disassembled a Hasselblad and a Mamiya and compared the level of craftsmanship and quality of materials? If that additional cost does not translate to value to you (which is a valid and important consideration) it is another story. 

[amolitor]

I'm sure the 'blad has great materials and so on. It's like a Ferrari or something, perhaps. And what's a Ferrari? A toy and status symbol for the elite, no? It's also very fast, well made in some sense, but so what? None of those translate into any real value for most owners beyond status. But my word, what a great deal of status!

[Justinr]

When Porsche builds a SUV it is a Porsche, they don't take a Toyota and put a Porsche badge on it and charge five times the price. If Hasselblad decided to build a digital movie camera to compete with RED or ARRI, then we would have a different discussion.

Have you ever disassembled a Hasselblad and a Mamiya and compared the level of craftsmanship and quality of materials? If that additional cost does not translate to value to you (which is a valid and important consideration) it is another story.  

Just a small point but the Porsche SUV was based on the Volkswagen Touareg. Porsche also once made a range of utility tractors (the other half of Hitlers dream that every German family should have a car or tractor) but I can't see them doing that now.

[fdisilvestro]

Just a small point but the Porsche SUV was based on the Volkswagen Touareg. Porsche also once made a range of utility tractors (the other half of Hitlers dream that every German family should have a car or tractor) but I can't see them doing that now.

Yes, but completely different engine and dynamic chassis control. The sony-based series hasselblads don't have different sensors than sony's

[Justinr]

Yes, but completely different engine and dynamic chassis control. The sony-based series hasselblads don't have different sensors than sony's

VW offered engine options and tweaking the suspension is hardly the science of inter planetary travel. Having said that Wikipedia suggests that it was a joint venture from the off although one has to be careful about that source when commercial interests are involved.