Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/09/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 03:27 AM 02/09/98 +0100, you wrote: >> > Has anyone seen or heard of the new Hasselblad rangefinder camera?? >EI can think of quite a few reasons I might want one, mostly >shooting travel photos and stock, but it is certainly not for everyone. Hasselblad's marketing philosophy has taken a sour turn over the last few years, IMO. They introduced a CB range of lenses in 60, 80 and 160 mm focal lengths, which cost less, and which have slightly lower optical quality and physical design than their CF and FE lenses, hoping to attract new customers. They have mainly concentrated on high-end, high quality equipment in the past. Then they went against their longstanding policy of system compatibility by introducing the ArcBody, admittedly with outstanding Rodenstock Apo-Grandagon lenses (the 75mm lens is not an Apo). By doing so, it looks as if they are trying to take on a chunk of the 4x5 view camera format market share. Now, they have done something which amounts to heresy - moving away from the medium format system that has been their lifeblood for half a century, and going after a chunk of the 35mm rangefinder market, with a camera looking for definable applications. I hope that some day someone in their board room will question their marketing strategy if it flops. That remains to be seen. I would suggest that when many photo enthusiasts look at a new product on the market and ask who it is aimed at, then it is quite likely that the manufacturer is taking a considerable risk by releasing it. - -GH