Hasselblad has discontinued its H-system cameras , the medium format SLRs that have been the standard among high-end studio photographers for years .
This news comes from Capture Integration, one of the leading providers of medium format equipment. The company also regularly sponsors educational courses that help aspiring photographers understand how to work in the field of high-quality photography.
Capture Integration says they have “felt it” over the last 18 months, citing very small shipments. This all came to a head late last week when the company received an official announcement from Hasselblad that production of the entire H line was being discontinued. This means that Hasselblad H DSLRs are officially out of stock and the company will not be accepting new orders for equipment in this line.
Optics Hasselblad HC/HCD
“Today we can’t even order new battery grips. All products are discontinued. Most “H” products are still repaired in Sweden after Hasselblad moved its headquarters from New Jersey to California last year. While the H series is still well used today, repairs will take longer and become more complex.”
Hasselblad H6D-400C
Hasselblad last updated the “H” series in 2016 with the H6D, a camera the company billed as “a new chapter in medium format photography” that offered a choice between a 50-megapixel or 100-megapixel CMOS back, an all-new processor, Wi -Fi, dual card slots (SD and CFast), new high-resolution touch display, USB 3.0, shutter speed from 60 minutes to 1/2000 second, ISO sensitivity up to 12800 and the ability to shoot video at up to 4K resolution.
In June 2016, the first X1D medium format mirrorless camera was released :
Hasselblad X1D
Hasselblad was acquired by DJI in 2017.
“Before this acquisition, Hasselblad made poor decisions with OEMs. They invested heavily in third-party products, adding their logo to existing products, adding a wooden handle, and exponentially raising their nameplate fees,” says Capture Integration. “These new products were widely criticized and sold poorly. Management was fired and the company was on the verge of bankruptcy. DJI saved the legendary brand.”
Hasselblad has put a lot of effort into its “X” series of mirrorless cameras, including the release of the X2D 100C late last year.
Hasselblad X2D 100C
“The ‘X series’ mirrorless cameras are a great success. With great features, a unique set of benefits and the quality of Hasselblad, they breathed new life into the brand. DJI used this brand to produce more expensive lenses for their professional drones. Today, we see Hasselblad being used new generation of imaging professionals,” adds Capture Integration.
Hasselblad X1D II 50C
The Hasselblad brand seems to be still going strong, but like every other camera manufacturer other than Pentax/Ricoh, it is making DSLRs history.
