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Yes, this is rather sad! I had the Hy6, and while I was not impressed with the Sinarback that I had with it, the camera itself was excellent, as were the lenses. It was a fantastic camera to shoot film with, but I eventually sold it because they took years to come out with a 6x6 film back for it. Of course, they came out with it not long after I sold it! Seeing the factory itself, it makes a bit of sense. Clearly they were doing their best to keep it running, but must not have had enough sales to keep it going. A bit of a downward spiral...
I visited the Leica factory back in September, and the contrast could not be starker. Both companies were producing high end, incredibly capable cameras, but Leica is clearly doing spectacularly well. It is an interesting contrast of how differently two companies at the pinnacle of film camera production transitioned to digital. Leica clearly cracked the code, and Rollei unfortunately did not manage.
In comparison to the images above, this is what the factory floor at Leica now looks like:
My condolences to the DHW team and the owners of their products...it's too bad that it had to end this way!
I wouldn't be surprised if the Hong Kong retailers have bought and paid for all finished products already. Hong Kong was an important market for Rollei the last years and the retailers there seem to have cash enough to buy any lot of products they want and keep them until a buyer walks in through the door.What strikes me as a little unusual about those pictures is the distinct lack of built, finished product? There are some machined bodies but nothing more advanced in the production stage than some historical display pieces.
Yep. A platform designed to be open, ends up with Leaf, Sinar and DHW all marketing on their own (kiss of death). Phase having pulled out. Then Leica buys Sinar, not this (ugh). And its probably the best extension of the Hassy V way of working…. different than the H.With tounge in cheek, I blame "team" Phase One. Could have adopted and adapted the body long ago when they aquired Leaf. Instead, they stuck with their dog with fleas Mamiya 645. How does that even begin to make sense?
Which is exactly why Leica wants Sinar. You usually buy a company to diversify.Why in the world did Leica choose to buy SINAR and not DHW? They know how to sell niche products, the Rolleiflex has a ton in common with a Leica. The S system would be a great platform for AF Rollei glass and they are clearly interested in expanding that system of lenses even at the cost of driving with a Planar over a Summarit. ...
I've seen a lot of praise of the Hy6 on the forums, but obviously that didn't result in sales :-/. Seems like it was the best camera that noone buyed.
There is still some hope:Hopefully this isn't truly the end of the Hy6 adventure where DHW are concerned but I guess time will only tell.