In Medium Format with AF, there are now the following cameras left in play after Hasselblad announced the cancellation of the H2:
- Contax (inactive, all backs)
- Hasselblad (closed, Hasselblad backs only)
- Mamiya (active, all backs and their own)
- Sinar/Leaf/Rollei (launch stage, own backs only at this point)

The digital back companies are Hasselblad, Phase One, Leaf, and Sinar and Mamiya.

My predictions (not fact, not rumor, just personal analysis):

- Hasselblad revenues are going to continue to grow, and their system will improve markedly as they re-invest into software and firmware. Hasselblad can now afford to be commercially aggressive and have added resources for software R&D.

- Leaf have a new system, which can generate an upgrade revenue stream, but sales are going to be under pressure from Hasselblad

- Sinar remain a boutique contender but are in a good position to merge with one of the other players due to the Hy6 card. As a preliminary, they could choose to save some money by merging the R&D for their backs with Leaf.

- Mamiya will continue to act as an open platform for the time being, on the strength of the Phase and their own back sales which will be decent due to the price point. Note the accessible pricing of their lenses. It is clear that Mamiya has the ability to develop good products, while manufacturing and distributing at the lowest cost point in the market.

- Phase One are in a tough spot. They may have been a lead contender technically, but the other players now have them in a platform squeeze. A merger with some existing player or entrant seems increasingly likely.

In summary, I'd say the only "sure things" in the MF market are the inevitable growth of an increasingly aggressive Hasselblad, and the survival of Mamiya as the cheapest solution. Sinar, Phase and Leaf are playing musical chairs.

Indeed SPL have been outwitted by Blad buying imacon IMO

Sinar/jeoptic have the tools in place but I dont understand them

I think it is because I come from a journalism/street background and them from a studio only background

for me it is a luxury to have more than 2mins setup and 30s with the subject

nowadays clients have D80s and 18-200s and really cant understand why all the bagage - so that ramps up the time pressure

Sinar have been trying to peddle studio products for use outside in fast moving locations with little apparent sucess for years

First error was the 60th of the M (and two lens sets!) , next error, HY6, would appear to be lack of wide and lack of transparent integration (and three lens sets!)

Fundamentally they failed to comprehend that while you can have different film stocks in your fridge and caouple of differnt $5000 camera systems you are unlikely to have more than one $30000 back or one $25000 system - so it has to do EVERYTHING

S

Be interesting if Phase do produce their own (adapted?) camera system, as mentioned elsewhere on LL.

I'm not sure what the purpose of this thread is, other than to repeat mere conjecture.



It seems you forgot the Rollei 6008 which is not discontinued yet and which takes Sinar and Hasselblad backs as well as the Rollei P20.



Sinar and Leaf both have sizeable parent companies. Mamiya looks weakest of all financially and will be the first to take a hit from the upcoming Canons by offering the least number of advantages. Phase looks most vulnerable.

Transparent integration? Three lens sets??

As regards the purpose of this thread, nobody compels you to waste time on it.

I don't think the Rollei is significant in the future equation.

Fuji is clearly backing Hasselblad and Hassy is making money.

Mamiya *now* has a positive cash flow, clearly. For the moment they seem to be ticking along nicely. Of course surprises can arise.

Does Kodak really care about Leaf ? Is Kodak still alive indeed ? The fate of a parent company can impact its offspring too ...

Edmund

It's very useful to me and probably anyone else who is teetering on the brink of investing heavily in a MFDB/system for the immediate future. Out of such discussions often comes useful info which in turn aids better decision making. I read every thread and post I can on the subject. Can we ever be too well informed? Even if some of it is conjecture...

'Rollei' lenses, sinar CAB lenses, and another set I cant remember the name of

for the P3, the M and the HY6

Transparent integration.

I would ideally be after lenses that could move between a view camera and mirror camera (especially at those prices)

the rolleis fit the Xact but I think it is discontinued

the rolleis dont fit sinars own view camera system

and sinars (view camera) lenses dont fit the Hy6

So there is either no integration or it is planned and not communicated properly - a lack of transparency

IMO this would be a reason to think sinar rather than hassy - smooth integration to view camera solutions

SMM

In what way does this make the Hy6 an 'error'? I don't see your point at all.



Why should they?? This argument is ridiculous.

Maybe it is ridiculous maybe not - we are all free to our own opinions

My thinking goes like this

Hasselblad offer a great integrated systsem

the system however is limited - particularly in terms of movements and stitching for amazing big files

Sinar is a company that has a background in view camera solutions

Now if they could come to me with a system that smoothly and cost effectively moved my expesive digital back investment and my lens investment between a walk around mirrored solution and a studio view camera based solution then they would have a big selling point to move me into being a customer of thiers

I would have a reason to bin my H system

They would have a clear sales route - 'Hasselblad is a simple walkaround solution but with Sinar we take photography a level further - movement and perspective control'

At the moment they present a simple walkaround solution that is less developed than blad AND a totally seperate view solution

Look at the inegration they were trying to achieve with thier M system and the way it could be used as a rear standard on the P3 - they were on the right track

All they needed was an M2 with leaf lenses that work for both view and mirrored

Simply the last thing I want to do is buy a $4000 rodenstock 28mm for movements AND a mam or blad or rollei 28mm for another $4000 for mirrored use

Right now I own a rodenstock 47 ($2000ish) and a blad 50 ($2500) I have bought virtually the same glass tiwce -how dumb is that ?

I also own a sinar P camera and a sinar back, both being H mount I can swap between the H and the P fast - no screws or dinged chips - if I changed to sinars own walkaround camera i would need a $1000 adapter and screw changes - how dumb is that ?

SMM

I think the state of the MF market is one of the factors why I have not jumped in. I can justify the expense, only if it's a system I think will be relevant to me in five years time. I can see H3 users being locked out of something that only H4 users will get, I'm not confident other makers will not follow a similar path. That and the lack of raw support in many programs for MFB files. I don't want to spend £30k + to end up in some deadend, either camera or software. The Phaseone upgrade path looks like a bit of a treadmill to me, the constant need to throw large amounts of money at it to keep in touch.
I'm not confident any system will still be around in five years time, wether it's feasable or not I can't say, but if MFB's are to survive I think they must get cheaper, or some commitment from the makers to the existing customers not to make their equipment next years paper weight.
I still fancy a Leaf though!

Kevin.

Some things make sense to move around, like the digital back, and Sinar has done what it can by providing an adapter system.

Lenses don't make so much sense. Everyone seems to be crying for fast apertures, autofocus and leaf shutters for medium format cameras. For view cameras people tend to want large image circles, and they are used to fairly small, simple and light lenses. To make a lens which does it all would price it out of the market for nearly everyone. Better to have specialised lenses.

At least with the larger image circle of Rollei lenses you can use them on a view camera using the right lens mount and a lens controller.

The potential for making a shifting back for the Hy6 is very intriguing, but that's far from reality so we can only speculate.



Less developed in what way? There are more lenses, more viewfinder options, faster flash sync, white balance meter, focus trapping, etc.



I can certainly understand this, but understand that the Blad 28mm has a small image circle with no potential for shift. To make these lenses with a larger image circle would only make them more expensive and heavier. Would you rather buy one $8K lens which does it all but is heavier than either of the others? For the same price I would rather have two lenses which are better suited to their particular usage. Separate lenses will sell much better too, because most people don't need a lens which can do everything.

As people keep saying, no one camera does it all, and trying to create one which does would price it well out of the marketplace. It makes no sense commercially.



So it was ok to spend the money on a Hass H mount for your Sinar P but it's not ok to do the same for a Hy6 mount?? Hy6 mounts for view cameras are on the way.

Morgan, won't that system you're describing be the ALPA ?

all you need is an Alpa XY and the Alpa TC......... and live view, or it's future incarnation where is can work without a computer.

All fair points.

It would be interesting to see the economics of 2 lenses verses one - you may be right

Rollie obvisouly thought thier lenses universal enough to produce both the Xact and the 6008

Personally I think the 6008/Xact system is currently the best thought out especially with the wash of used lenses - but discontinued or will be soon - maybe just bad comms from sinar


As for the HY6 to sinar view camera mount - Ive not seen a press release for that - maybe just bad comms from sinar

have a good day

S

It would be if you could focus an alpa - they just missed the mirror and the AF or D3 standard live view and chip driven AF - maybe in the future it could indeed be very exiting to have a mirrorles walkabout camera - small ,cheap, light, low vibration, movements, no retrofucus aberations - fantastic - put me on the list

Its almost tempting to saw up a D3 to make such a thing - why did they bother with the C20 mirror

S

Morgan_Moore,

At least you can use the Rollei lenses on a view camera if you want, which you can't with the Hass H lenses. This is already possible, and is probably a great solution for an occasional tilt/shift user like me (and perhaps you?). It all comes down to the cost of the lens adapter and controller.

I didn't know about the Alpa solution until rueyloon's post.



http://www.alpa.ch/index.php?path=products...s/lens_adapters

I actually think the MFDB market will grow. DSLR's are reaching a point where innovations are getting smaller and smaller with each new generation. Look at the new 1Ds mk3. The next wave of innovation (image-quality-wise) will be in MFDB's. If they can start to come down in price (Hassy? Mamiya?), I think the many advantages of MFDB's will start to appeal to all the 1Ds mk 2 and 3 owners out there looking for something better (which is what photographers seem to do nowadays). I agree that there has to be more longevity with these systems though and only Hasselblad and Mamiya look like they're heading in that direction. Phase One has the software/ camera back set-up going for it but for how long (Lightroom)? I'm actually considering investing in a MFDB for the first time at some point in the next year and while I'm no fan of the H-series cameras, I do think they'll be around for a very long time.

I know. pretty cool esp for you as a 6008 man if I am not mistaken

This thread probably just cost you $5000 odd and more if you get a roden 28 too which will SMOOTHLY integrate with this setup - and sort your wide problems if you have them - no screws, no mount changes the gear just all drops together - one set of lenses

IMO this combo is currently the best solution ANY WHERE IN THE MF WORLD esp with the Xact too for big bellows stuff

I almost want to put a 'swap H1 and lenses for 6008 and lenses' on the the FS board right now

I knew none of this three years ago

But in terms of sinar becoming a hassy beating company the tagline

'buy our mirror camera that we are discontinuing, our view camera that we are discontinuing and somone elses compact rise/fall camera'

is hardly a snappy sales slogan

hopefully we begin to agree that sinar got the crown jewels and dropped them in the river

S

- "contender" = "a competitor, especially somebody who has a good chance of winning", this is the definition of this word.

So thanks Edmund, even if I'm sure that you din't mean it that way!

- merging of our R&D: well, I guess that is not something for tomorrow!

- musical chairs: I guess that's the game in which you have to pay attention to the moment when the music stops, isn't it?



Thierry

well, we are here to speak. Ask you questions and I'll try to answer them. May be they won't satisfy you, but let's try.

[quote=Morgan_Moore,Oct 20 2007, 05:53 PM]
Sinar/jeoptic have the tools in place but I dont understand them

[/quote]

Understood, we are well aware of this.

[quote=Morgan_Moore,Oct 20 2007, 05:53 PM]
for me it is a luxury to have more than 2mins setup and 30s with the subject

[/quote]

Not really tried intensively yet, but it shall come

[quote=Morgan_Moore,Oct 20 2007, 05:53 PM]
Sinar have been trying to peddle studio products for use outside in fast moving locations with little apparent sucess for years

[/quote]

Sinar m syncs at 1/100, but I agree that it has no meaning for location. I said it already, this camera was and still is a workhorse in many studio place, where precise, remote and slave-mode from the computer are necessary (museums, archives, libraries, car studio photography, ...). It might not sell by the tausends, but it does its job.

You present an advantage of the possibility to use 2 different sets of lenses (actually 3, with the Nikon lenses) as a disadvantage, when it is an advantage and allows the use of existing Hasselblad lenses

[quote=Morgan_Moore,Oct 20 2007, 05:53 PM]
First error was the 60th of the M (and two lens sets!)

[/quote]

We are still working on this one, admitted. Is there any camera system out doing it all and as much as Sinar is doing it?

[quote=Morgan_Moore,Oct 20 2007, 05:53 PM]
so it has to do EVERYTHING

[/quote]

S

[/quote]

Best regards,
Thierry

in which way is Fuji backing Hasselblad?

TH

It has become clear to me in this thread what I would like to see in a hassy beating super luxury camera system

It exists right now

Sinar Back in Rollie mount
Rolie 6008,
Alpa TC12 and rollie lens mount (do they do a rolei back mount?)
Rolie Xact

wide lens 28mm roden in ALpa mount
rollei lenses 40 and beyond

maybe a couple of big image circle lenses 47 and 120 ?

Sinar owns all of these bits exept the ALPA bit and is discontiuing them all with no clear message about better replacements and similarly smooth intergration

Have you dropped the crown jewels in the river?

S

no I cant spell rollie

Sam,

The Hy6 is not in any way limiting the adaption of a Sinarback: ANY Sinarback which can be mounted on a Hy6 can ALSO be mounted on a view camera (being it a Sinar one, or another), simply with the respective adapter plate.

I may be don't get your point, but it seems that there is confusion

Best regards,
Thierry

Sam,

I know we disagree on this, for having argued quite a few time on this subject with you. But you say it yourself, that nobody is going to have a second set of MFDB. So if you have this configuration, Sinar p/p2/x + H, and then you wish another camera platform, is that not the optimal way by simply changing the adapter plate? Is 2 minutes (at the maximum) "unscrewing/screwing" really such a hassle and struggle?

Best regards,
Thierry

IF YOU USE THIRD PARTY AND SOON TO BE DISCONTUINUED PRODUCTS..

If I am correct using a 6008 and suddenly needing wide you just drop the back off and plonk it on the the alpa with a 28 or 24 - no screws - click

Should you need rise on your R lenses with you just stick your 6008 lens on the alpa - click

Should you need movements you just drop you back into a Xact - no screw - same lenses - click click

Subject to image circle limitations this is the most flexible and economic system possible.

ON THE OTHER HAND

If you are loyal to sinars current and announced future products..

You are using a HY6 and suddenly need wide you

unscrew the mount and replace with a P3 mount, you have to use a P3 becuse sinar dont make a handy little camera like the Alpa

should you need movements you then go out and buy a SECOND set of LENSES for your view camera because you Hy6 /rollei lenses DONT fit on the view camera

we know those lenses have a coverage beyond 645 but there is no way to access it

Maybe I am confused.

---

I challenge you to a race - time is of course money to my clients.

We both photograph a hotel, detail shots and some wide shots with rise and fall and a few details with some rise too

I use a rollie 6008 and a 28 on an ALPA

You use a P3 and and HY6

Anyway I won for the first 10 hotels because you were still saving up for your second set of lenses

S

Sam,

are you by chance an "Aussie"? My friend from Australia spells it "Rolie" as well!


Seriously, we are discontinuing nothing, so far, and I don't think you have read something like that from Sinar. Then, Sinar does not owe Rollei, respectively F&H and their Rolleiflex system. It should be up to them to communicate about their system, not Sinar.

But you are right, your dream camera system looks interesting.

Best,
Thierry

Well I am confused - and it is your companies fault - I am just a dumb punter - it is your companies job to outline a smooth to operate, economic, sensibly integrated system, secure serviced future and exciting development path

the 6008 is on your site, the Xact is not, (I think it was?) the HY6 is yours - It says sinar on the top even though we all know it is 70% rollie

you are 'developing the 35 for the Rollei/hy6 mount' or pipe up about that enough

you will distribute rollei fit lenses ?

I think Roolie = sinar

I am not confused in the fact that I cant build a super system like I outlined from the products on your site

Which is actually all I want to do - walk into a shop and buy the stuff

Just like you can with Hs crummy little system

In fact on your site I cant find any lenses that fit the Hy6 at all - get it sorted mate

S

The Fujinon lenses for one, but surely you know that the so called "Hasselblad" H system is more a product of Fuji than of the Hasselblad division of Danish based company Hasselblad-Imacon. The body designs are largely or entirely by Fuji, as well as the lenses being all Fujinons. Hasselblad has not really designed a new product since the 500 series, since the Xpan was essentially a rebranded Fuji product.

In fact, I would roughly describe the H system as a partnership between
- Imacon for the digital parts
- Fuji for the optical parts
- Hasselblad for its prestigious image and its customer support network.

On using the Hasselblad image for marketing non-Hasselblad designs, note that even purely Imacon products like film scanners are now branded as Hasselblad.

One thing I wish to clear out: Sinar is not Rollei, nor F&H nor does Sinar owe them, nor do we have any influence on the continuation or discontinuation of their line of products. Therefore I cannot speak about any discontinuation, as I am not at all aware of it. Sinar itself has discontinued none of its products, yet, and am not aware of any of it being soon.

Yes, for the time being Sinar (through its existing distribution channels) is distributing the whole range of Rolleiflex 600x cameras, lenses and accessories, as well as the Xact2 and its complete line of accessories.

I agree that there are no AFD lenses for the Sinar Hy6 "visually" displayed yet on our webpage: this is going to be done soon. However, you can download all the Rolleiflex 6000 - System Catalog, the Rolleiflex 6008 AF - Brochure, the Rollei X-Act-2 - Brochure and the Rollei Electronic Shutter - Brochure from our "Downloads" part.

Best regards,
Thierry

Since Sinar is the distributor of Rolleiflex systems in most parts of the world it would be expected that Sinar takes care of the communication to customers about the availability of the products they are representing, no? By the way, some Sinar distributors do and they will tell you that the X-act is still available as it has been now for years. Nobody said it was discontinued, so why pronounce it dead?

As a more general problem I have with Sinar is that their communication of unique selling points is extremely bad. Why doesn't everybody know about their adapter system for DB's, for example? It should be the most obvious discerning factor for those thinking of buying into such an expensive thing. If you go to one of their websites it is just impossible to find the really important information. Try to learn about the Hy6, for example. You might expect that to be one of their current spearheads in markting communication. But all you can find is some taglines with selling points and a PDF file with a body design in it that has not made it to line production. This camera seems to be selling right now and you can't find any up-to-date information about it. Are we all supposed to find a dealer first and talk to them? A dealer who generally doesn't know shit about the Hy6 and how it relates to other components that it can work with (the Rolleiflex options, that is). Look at all the confusion we see on this board and the answers that have to be given by me (an independant person, not related to any of the companies involved), because they are not in the general Sinar communication.

Obviously, Thierry, you are doing your best to be here and to provide good answers, but it is ridiculous that you have to sit at the end of the river to catch fish that otherwise would end up in the sea. What about all those potential customers that do not make it to this place? Where do they find out what they should know before they decide to go with which MFDB system? That is the very ONE thing that Hassy has understood a lot better: find your potential customers before they find a better product. And there you are (together with F&H): knowing that you have the better product and still wondering why customers do not pick you for selling it to them. It's a bloody shame!

So they could discontinue the Hy6 and you would have no influence

S

Yes, BJL, this is clear and I know it.

I was understanding Edmund's "Fuji is clearly backing Hasselblad ..." as with a clear connotation of backing "financially", since he was answering to Graham who was saying that Leaf and Sinar both had sizeable parent companies.

Therefore my question "in which way", since it is somehow misleading.

Best regards,
Thierry

Not really, Sam!

Jenoptik is the owner of this camera, not F&H. I was thinking that this was clear, for having explained a few times already, in numerous different treads.

Best regards,
Thierry

My impression was the Rolle and Sinar where somehow merged what with rolle priduct on sinar website and all (I dont see a link to canon on the nikon site)

It would be my guess that in sensible rationisation one view camera system would be dropped

That would most likely be the Xact not the Sinar

It would also be my guess that rationisation would kill the M and the 6008 in favour of the all singing Hy6 over time

For me to be in any of these systems with a deep investment I would want to be very sure of contiuned development and service esp after get my Hassy hands burnt

I think it is most bizzare the whole tangle and worrying to those thinking of dropping $50k that way


S

So F+H could go bust and Jenoptic would have the rights to a camera that was not being made

It doesnt really matter to me where you get the bits from - like nikon get their chips from who knows where and their PCBs from somewhere else - who knows or cares

But I am confident in thier sales and service

I would just want to be presented with an integrated system that will have spares for 5 years plus if I were dropping that cash

we havent even mentioned leaf or phase yet




S

EPd,

I think that Sinar and our distributors DO communicate about the availability of the products we are distributing, speaking about the Rolleiflex and X-act 2 systems. At least all of our distributors have the information and know about it. We can now argue for long if this is done efficiently or if it should be done differently, or the lack of information about this on our webpage (to which I agree to a certain extend and which we are well aware) but somehow I find this a bit exagerated, even if things can be improved.

As for little information about the Sinar Hy6 currently on our homepage: yes, true. But expect to see some soon.

I happened to go the Hasselblad webpage and did not yet find any information about the H2F, though I understood it was shiping already. So please bear with us, our communication might not be perfect, yet, but customers or potential customers can get it.

Anyway, thanks for the remarks, which will be forwarded as usual, with my comments.

Best regards,
Thierry

I think I can reassure you about this with a fair certainty.

Thierry

Understood: in that case my comment is that Fuji is paying most or all of the R&D costs for the non-digital side of the H system, a significant financial contribution even if not money directly into Hasselblad-Imacon's pockets. One possible effect of Fuji's financial resources is the far faster development and release so far of auto-focus lenses than for the Rollei-based systems. Hopefully the broader support of the new Hy6 "team" will help to expand the AF lens selection.


P. S. In case anyone has still missed it,
there is no longer such a company as Hasselblad
and Hasselblad did not take over Imacon, but closer to the reverse. A holding company bought both of them and then merged them into a new company, run by the former Imacon management from the former Imacon offices in Denmark, not the former Hasselblad offices in Sweden.

"Imacon-Hasselblad" would be a more accurate name for this new company.

None of us is privy to the contract between the parties. If it was done properly, Jenoptik will have the right to resume manufacture or buy out the company etc.

I don't see photography as a race, even though I understand and know the necessity to be fast in some situations and the limited time available.

But yes, you might win this race, by having the shots faster on your HD. However, I would certainly not take a Sinar p3, but a f3 fitted with its sliding adapter and the 28mm. And I guess I won't be that much slower or even heavier than you.

Thierry

Sure but to me the HY6 is only half of the story - what about the lenses - who makes them

What about the mount license - if rollei went T*ts up maybe even shnieder wholud have to stop or ziess or whoever actually makes them

Anyway - lets all be trusting we wont understand the contracts and anyone could go pop tomorrow

My main interest is a fast to use system with more flexibility than the H system which doesnt present itself through sinars current product range

So they are failing to get that USP even though it is there for those who search

S

Where did you come up with all of this nonsense? Why do you want to associate yourself with posting misinformation?

Understood too, concerning the R&D costs.

Hasselblad and Imacon: the holding company which has taken over both is named Shriro Group of Companies, with headquarters in Hong Kong.

Thierry

You have no idea what the truth is about this subject.

Dear Thierry,

Please don't see this as an attack. I think Sinar's communication could (and should) be improved a lot and all I am trying to do is pointing out where you could start looking. Me too would like to see the Hy6 be an overnight success, because I honestly believe it would be well deserved. Not because of the communication about it, but because of the product that it is. The way things are going now is not how it should be. I am frustrated about that. Soft and friendly words would not describe this frustration adequately, so that is why my wording is as strong as I chose. Please do not give your superiors a chance to push my remarks aside by adding comforting words. I may have a lot of patience, but the modern market place does not. Since the Hy6 was delayed for months there has been plenty of time to update the website before the actual launch. There is no excuse for this at all, even though it may have its reasons. (BTW, I think the entire webdesign of Sinar's website sucks. It is not visually attractive, nor is it informative.) Sometimes things need to be said. I hope my words will actually make a difference, because I wish Sinar all the best of the world. Try to keep that intention in mind.

As for Hassy and the H2F: the H2F is a bandaid for those who feel fucked by Hassy. It should be mentioned under the label "damage control". But since Hassy does not have a place for that in their communication they will not hurry much to bring this news forward. On the other hand you will find everything about the H3DII on their website. I think it is smart communication: push forward what you want to sell and keep an alternative for the unhappy clients at hand. Just in case champagne and kaviar can no longer keep them quiet.

Best wishes,
EPd

Well, feel free to enlighten us all with your apparently better information.

No, I don't take it as an attack. We are well aware of our "weakness" in this for the moment. I said that things can be improved, and they will.

You don't know me! My superiors will certainly hear me loud and clear, even if in Bangkok! Be sure of that and for this particular issue, as much as for any issue/suggestion raised here.

This being said, you might know that Bangkok is 5 hours ahead of you: it is not that this discussion does bother or annoy me, or that I want to escape it, but am simply feeling tired and am living it for now.

Good night,
Thierry

The name of the company is Viktor Hasselblad Aktiebolag , swedish AB. I could point you to the site with the entire information about the company but i think you don't need it as you wouldn't believe it anyway.

One thing I'd like to add to this amazing thread is that the fact is that the Hy6 is a reality now, and that is no mistake.


Still amazed with the kind of misinformation and specutalion some members of this forum can produce.

The press release about the merger of Imacon with Hasselblad under the common ownership of the Hong Kong based Shriro group is available here:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0408/04081701...lbladimacon.asp




Never mind the inaccurate talk in the paragraph before the press release suggesting that Hasselblad acquired Imacon, (a claim made in numerous other press reports too): the actual press release makes it clear that
- Shriro acquired Imacon, having already acquired Hasselblad
- The Executive Team of the merged Hasselblad-Imacon company is
-- Christian Poulsen, CEO of Hasselblad-Imacon, formerly CEO and founder of Imacon
-- Tom Olesen, the former managing director (2nd in command?) of Imacon
-- Lars Pappila, formerly president and CEO of Hasselblad.

OK, Hassleblad management got one out of three places on the new Executive Team, but Imacon got two including the top spot.

If that was pointed at me and I dont mind if it was

My confusion seems to be over the Xact range of cameras future.

and that of the 6008

googling rollie leads to http://www.rollei.com/

click on medium format and you go to

http://www.franke-heidecke.net/

click on products and there is no mention of the Xact

download the 6008 PDF and it is on page 18 of 20 in a diagram

BUT BASICALLY THE CAMERA IS NOT THERE

go to www.sinar.ch click on cameras

AND IS NOT THERE

click on INFOS

download the rollei datasheet and it is there in the same graphic on page 16 of 16

Nothing says it is still current.

Visit robertwhite a uk rollie dealer - IT IS NOT LISTED

Lastra a uk sinar dealer - IT IS NOT LISTED

That seems pretty vacant for a current produced serviced and promoted product

Hence my confusion.

In terms of the 6008 I just assumed that would fade away in the same way as I assume a 1dsMK2s have faded away with the 1dsMk3 coming along

obviously wrong !

SMM