[Leica] Hasselblads newest.... Really not OT.....

[red735i at earthlink.net (Frank Filippone)]

A sorry event..... but you have to go back to why we ( me and a bunch of 
others) still shoot 6x6.....

I shoot 6x6 for the bigger negative.  Dust is less prominent, requires less 
blowing up to reach a certain size, and basically it is
a studio camera best suited for a tripod mount.  None of this is true for 
35mm SLR or RF.  Yes, it all can be done, but not best
suited.  It is just easier in the darkroom.

Now comes in these digital pixels thingies......   With the realization that 
MOST images are never blown up past 8x10, the need to
larger image capture than ( whatever this turns out to be in capture pixels 
)  XYZ MP, is gone.  Once you have enough pixels, more
is not required.  Yes, for us traditionalists shooting film, the 6x6 or 6x7 
or  6x9 format is more "ideal" than 35mm.  But if the
pixel count is enough to do what you want, then you do not need a bigger 
sensor.  The fact that film has needs of ABC and digital
has needs of XYZ.  They are different.

The other side of the coin... IC products yield goes down by the square of 
the chip size.... a 1/2 x 1/2 inch sensor has 4 times the
yield and 4 times the number of chips as a 1x1 sensor... 16 times the number 
of good chips per wafer.  Cost is less.

Also, lens design is less stringent and easier to fabricate for a smaller 
sensor...... smaller sensor = smaller elements = smaller
cost.

Lastly, what Mark said.... Imacon is Hasselblad.  They could care less about 
us film folk.  Obviously from a business standpoint,
maybe they are right... but it does not mean that us film guys deserve the 
royal Danish bum's rush.  They are not interested in
making a large format digital back for us 6x6 guys.. cost, fit for purpose, 
market acceptance are all against us.  Heaven forbid,
they should make a 6x6 back for us 500 Family members.  Even though the 
potential market is absolutely huge.

However, if you are willing to use film, the Hasselblad deals are absolutely 
great.....The last lens or 2 to keep its value high is
the 40mm Distagon and the 30mm Distagon.  They have yet to fall.  The rest 
are in the tank ( lucky us film folks....)

Anyone got a 30mm Distagon Fisheye they want to sell cheap?

Frank Filippone
red735i@earthlink.net