Hi Darr,
It is an interesting article.
I must say that I am very happy for both the X1D and the DJI investment. I would also say it was a great move from Hasselblad to engage Ming Tein as director for strategy.
Rumors were not very positive about Hasselblad's financial state before the DJI investment and a second DJI investment was necessary so that Hasselblad could enlarge production facilities.
I can just mention a funny thing. There is a site on Facebook called "objektivtest.se". Story behind is that a Swedish periodical called "Foto" used to do their testing at Hasselblad, in cooperation with Per Nordlund who is in charge of lens design at Hasselblad.
They had a question about MFD users, and I asked if my old 555/ELD and P45+ still counts? Per Nordlund answered like: "Yes, it definitively counts. You are lucky to have a very fine camera that will last for ever!" Such things are heart warming.
My blad has seen very little use since I have the Sony A7rII, partly because I was doing most of my travel by air and moving one kit is easier than moving two. But I still enjoy shooting with the old "Blad". I guess I will keep it.
This year I will do most of my travel with a camper and I am pretty sure I will have the "Blad" making the Sony company.
My Sony gear is heavier than my Hasselblad gear, although my Hasselblad gear includes 5 lenses and an extender. The Sony may be small, but the Canon lenses I mostly use it with are quite large. Also, the Sony stuff covers much more ground, from 10 mm fisheye to 400 mm and including tilt and shift options.
I would think that Hasselblad will make some backs for the V-system in the future. There where something like half a million V-system cameras made. But Hasselblad probably focuses on the X1D and the H-system.
I have noticed that the H6D50c is now reasonably priced, same cost as an X1D plus an H5X. I guess that manufacturing cost for the X1D and the 50MP cmos back is quite similar.
Nice to see Hasselblad being back in action!
Best regards
Erik
I knew from the start I would be acquiring either the Hasselblad mirrorless or the Fuji, but I did not know which. I have shot Hasselblad since a teenage photographer and still do (I will be 60 this year
), but I also enjoy my Fuji mirrorless cameras and lenses. My CFV50c back coupled with my ALPA gear works very well for what I shoot. I have made up my mind and it will be the Hassy, but waiting for the next generation. Thank you for posting this article as it helped me decide.
Kind regards,
Darr