Tariq Gibran wrote:
Idiots! That should have been their starting point for actually designing and making a fresh new camera. If it had been, there would not be a silly Lunar. Victor must be turning in his grave!
Probably spinning fast enough that he can power half of Gothenburg at this point.
Hasselblad unveiled Lunar yesterday, an interchangeable lens camera that is strongly reminiscent of the Sony NEX 7 and uses the Japanese firm's technology – from its sensor, to its image processor and lens mount. The launch, which coincided with Hasselblad's announcement of its strategic partnership with Sony, has since been heavily denigrated, with critics condemning Lunar's retail price of €5000, forcing Hasselblad to go on the defensive.
I feel ok about the camera body, if someone prefer their design and handling, and have lots of money, they can get a unique camera.
But I am rather disappointed that they put the brand name to the low quality kit lens (16 and 18-55 seems to be the weakest in among the NEX lens lineup). They didn't even tried to improve the build quality of the lens.
ytwong wrote:
I feel ok about the camera body, if someone prefer their design and handling, and have lots of money, they can get a unique camera.
But I am rather disappointed that they put the brand name to the low quality kit lens (16 and 18-55 seems to be the weakest in among the NEX lens lineup). They didn't even tried to improve the build quality of the lens.
How much of a mark-up to we have the privilege of paying for getting the Hassy name on those lenses? And why does Hassy think that anyone would anyone pay it when they can get the exact same lens for less with the Sony name on it?
pingflood wrote:
"I think the Sony brand and the Lunar product is going to help spread the message about what Hasselblad is." -- that one I can certainly agree with...
It's not an NEX-7 camera. It's, well, every NEX-7 component except the shell, with our shell...but it's not an NEX-7!!! Honest!!! We just liked the NEX-7 so much that we put all the controls in the exact same place with the same functions, the same EVF, same sensor, same hotshoe, same logic board and image processor, and the same shutter mechanism...but look...the handles are WOOD! And finely crafted! (and I'm sure they are). That's got to be worth at least $4000.
In breaking news, Hasselblad's target market implodes as it turns out that Huggy Bear was fictitious, Kim Jong-Un is too poor, and Lil' Jon wouldn't be seen "with that gaudy piece of sh*t if it was the last f*cking camera on earth! WHAAAAAAAAAT!"
Taking what was a truly epic camera (the moon-landing 500c) and leeching off of its reputation for this tasteless pos. They don't share so much as a nucleotide in their DNA.
Its so hideous its really grown on me, in 5 years I'm going to try and score one off Ebay cheap.
Hassleblad's big mistake is releasing a price. They should have announced the partnership with Sony and shown prototypes under glass - with a statement that pricing has yet to be determined. Then a press release when the camera starts shipping could announce the fact its charging 5x more than Sony for a Nex7 with a funky housing, with much less negative publicity. If the people in charge of this camera - whether that one person or a team of 8 I don't know - couldn't see the backlash coming from this, they're a little out of touch with reality. Judging by that interview posted they don't have a clue.
But there's clearly a market for overpriced camera jewelry that Hassleblad wants to get in on - after all Leica can't be the only ones that slap a different cover on a camera - either titanium and charge a $20,000 premium or white and charge a $25,000 premium. If people are willing to pay, I would cash in too. Smart move, poorly executed.
It is an interesting case study in crisis communications and what an organization shouldn't do in the wake of negative publicity.
You know...if they had developed their own camera, and simply used the E-Mount and NEX sensor, but designed the camera to be their own, it would be one thing...but it's so obviously an NEX-7 in a new shell that it's almost comical.
I'm still waiting on seeing the Lunar RX-1 that's bound to come.