The Economist's "World in 2002" describes Hasselblad's new Dfinity camera as "the ultimate in digital photography." With 16.8 mega-pixels, Firewire coupling, and an electronic shutter capable of 1/8000th of second, the product amounts to a great leap forward by a tradition-bound company into the brave new world. Hasselblad is sharing the (ad)venture with Foveon, a Silicon Valley imaging visionary. Curiously, the camera accepts only Canon L-series lenses. No price is given, which I assume means the system is unafforable. To say the image quality is pin-sharp is an understatement.

While time will tell if the investment will pay off, I do hope Leica is paying close attention to the Hasselblad effort. Developing a professional digital system is essential if the company is to remain viable and competitive. Yes, film will be around for the forseeable future, but I'd hate for Leica to end up a niche player -- or worse. Any thoughts?

-- Eve Hessler (evehessler@hotmail.com), December 29, 2001

Answers

Leica already only is a niche player-and a small one at that. They do not have the resourses to be out in front of the cutting edge, cut throat electronics market.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), December 29, 2001.

If Leica aligns with anyone for digital they would be best advised to approach Hammatsu of Japan. Leica already bundles their high end stereo-scopes with Hammatsu digital CCD's. Maybe Leica Microsystems can negotiate something with theses guys for their camera division.

-- John Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), December 29, 2001.

"but I'd hate for Leica to end up a niche player "

They already are, and have been, for the last 30-35 years.

". Developing a professional digital system is essential if the company is to remain viable and competitive. "

But you could have said the same about their need to develop an AF professional SLR system in 1990. Leica is far from competitive. M6s have no serious competition because they have become a niche tool over the years with no close substitutes, in the minds of users.

If this niche stays alive, it will have nothing to do with what Digital has to offer, rather it will have to do with people maintaining their interest in that particular kind of rangefinder photography. Leica does not survive because of competitive reasons...

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), December 29, 2001.

Jim Brick on another of the Leica groups explained some of this, plus pointed out the this camera was announced last year (2000). First, the 16.8 m pixels are the result of using 3 (count them), 3 sensors and a very sophisticated (read "very expensive")splitter. This is not a camera that the retired dentist is going to spring for. The price will take your breath away. Second, The Economist writeup did not mention dimensions, but my guess is that this will not be the size of an M6 (nor would the technology fit in that size package), but more Hassy size (or Pentax 67 size).

I agree with your observation that at some point Leica is going to have to make a decision whether or not to continue in the camera industry, become a "label" like Contax, or be absorbed into some larger entity.

-- RP Johnson (rpjohnson2@mindspring.com), December 30, 2001.

A link to the Dfinity...

http://www.hasselbladusa.com/about/pr092000d.htm

Note that it REQUIRES A COMPUTER to operate - the viewfinder is your computer screen. Not exactly something your could take out for street photography!

It probably makes sense as an extension of Hasselblad's role as a primo studio camera. Since studio work is not the raison d'etre of the Leica line (OK, OK, Mike and Peter, cool your jets!), Leica will need to wait for something a little more portable.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), December 30, 2001.

"Since studio work is not the raison d'etre of the Leica line (OK, OK, Mike and Peter, cool your jets!)"

You'll get no argument from me about that--I got the things for documentary-style work. Most of my more formal, studio stuff is done with medium format (though the Leicas work pretty well in that environment, too). Of course, it's surprising what you can find lying around at the neighborhood cafe:

A digital M would be cool, but I don't expect to see one that fits my needs and budget any time in the near future (if ever).

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), December 30, 2001.

Very, very nice photo again, Mike. Thanks for sharing! For these old LEICA- fellows out here (me included) this is better than the ordinary x-mas gifts.

Best wishes and a GOOD LEICA- YEAR TO YOU

-- K. G. Wolf (k.g.wolf@web.de), December 30, 2001.

The new Hasselblad digital is aimed at the studio photographer and is meant, via it's firewire cable to be tethered to a computer. Also it does not, from my understanding (or our local reps), have a LCD screen - editing is meant to be done on the computer screen that the camera is hooked up to. Gee this all sounds exactly like the Leica S1 pro camera that has been availbable for about 4 or 5 years. Kind of nice that Hasselblad has taken Leicas lead.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), December 30, 2001.