Sorry Leica Users, but this comment is related to Leica, a little.

Hey You Hasselblad Users in the Leica threads: have you been to the Hasselblad section of photo.net? Dr. Kornelius J. Fleishcher from Zeiss is a frequent contributor and responds to many Hasselblad user's questions.

Please tell me why, if your reading, Leica remains silent. Maybe because we Leica users have too high expectations compared to Hassy users. We all should ask realistic questions/wants and not:

Zoom eyepieces

50, 1:0.95

21:35:90, 1:2.8 Tri-Elmars

Swing open backs

Titanium, vertical travel shutters

BTW how come Hassy seems financially fit and Leica not? They're range of accessories seems to be a lot fewer than Leica's, although priced as high. Hassy's R&D seems to be more active too:

C T* CF T* CFI CFE 205FE (?) Focal Plane AND leaf shutter lines "Entry" level and Pro bodies AND lenses

I don't think they sell more new equipment than Leica. And, the used market is just as active.

It must be something to do with Leica management since the separation from Leitz.

Wadadya think?

-- Chris Chen (chrischen@msn.com), January 18, 2002

Answers

I hate when that spooling happens; I need to hit enter twice! For the uninitated (like me) lenses and bodies in Hassy series:

Lenses:

C T*

CF T*

CFI (?)

CFE

Bodies:

205 TCC

ELM (motor)

Dr. Fleishcher is from Zeiss, NOT Hasselblad.

-- Chris Chen (chrischen@msn.com), January 18, 2002.

Sorry, I got some of the models wrong, and left out quite a few as well. It just tends to prove that Hasselblad's product lines change far faster than I can keep up. I've been shopping for and using Hasselblad equipment as long as Leicas, 13 years.

At first blush, in the Hassy threads there seems to be less flaming; and I thought this was a civilized site.

-- Chris Chen (chrischen@msn.com), January 18, 2002.

Maybe Kornelius is active on the threads about his company's products because he's just that kind of a guy. Maybe Leica doesn't have anyone like him right now.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), January 18, 2002.

"Zoom eyepieces

50, 1:0.95

21:35:90, 1:2.8 Tri-Elmars

Swing open backs

Titanium, vertical travel shutters "

Please sir, I don't want any of these things.

As far as 'civilised' is concerned - who said? I think that people are wary of persons of dubious motive hijacking the forum - maybe it makes people a little nervy.

-- steve (stephenjjones@btopenworld.com), January 18, 2002.

Maybe Leica is MORE concerned how much more gold it has to put on its next " Bhumiphol" special edition M7. Since of course, these limited edition Ms ARE much HIGHER MARGIN products than the regular production.

Maybe previous King of Thailand owners were a little peeved about the matte finish of the gold and are now demanding polished gold... and Leica is working very hard to address these marketing forces.

Oh boy, another day.... another disappointment with the microarray.

-- John (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), January 18, 2002.

Why do you assume all leica users want any of the "features" you listed?

-- Richard Le (rvle@yahoo.com), January 18, 2002.

Nice guy that Jones 8^|,

I'm relatively new to the forum and after 13 years with the system, I'm asking/commenting on issues that I always wanted to know or know why. I'll stop asking/commenting soon. But, will not stop contributing.

-- Chris Chen (chrischen@msn.com), January 18, 2002.

Link to a post on Hasselblad's financial situation:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=001tU S

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), January 18, 2002.

Chris - my comment was categorically NOT aimed at you. Wow, I didn't get what you meant at first... See what I mean about nervy?

-- steve (stephenjjones@btopenworld.com), January 18, 2002.

I'm a long-time Hasselblad user, to put this in perspective: Hasselblad's latest innovation are 3 new models of the 503CW with leatherette coverings in day-glo red, yellow, blue or green...you can now choose whichever you feel would best improve your photography.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), January 18, 2002.

The post Jay refers to absolutely says it all. The grass is always greener on the other side! I have a old CM Hasselblad kit and I find no reason to update as so little has really changed in their line. Most Zeiss lenses are quite ancient formulations -- nothing wrong with that, but they have precious little that compares in terms of cutting edge optical quality to the 35mm ASPHs, 90 APO and 180 APOs let alone the 70-180 APO.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), January 18, 2002.

Until fairly recently, Hasselblad had no competition from cheaper MF Japanese cameras with first rate optics and more modern features, whereas Leica has had to compete with SLRs with all the latest bells and whistles, usually at much lower prices. If Leica could get away with charging what Hasselblad does they'd be in good shape too.

-- (bmitch@home.com), January 18, 2002.

Swing open backs? I don't think so.

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@mail.com), January 18, 2002.

Sory chris, but I don't like any of your ideas. I keep hoping they will ditch the TTL flash circuit and find a passive light meter that requires no battery.

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), January 18, 2002.

Oh, and as far as Hasselblad's responsiveness, last time I talked to the guys selling a lot if MF gear, they said 'blad users are trading in their gear in droves to buy Mamiya and Contax AF rigs. They just get the job done better for the professionals, I suppose.

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), January 18, 2002.

The link to Hasselblads financial status was wrong take out the space between "U" and "S" on the end or follow this link. http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=001tUS

-- Rob Schopke (schopke@attbi.com), January 18, 2002.