New hasselblad H1

Who is making the lenses for that camera?

Kevin

The lenses are made by Fuji.

Gustave, if you're reading this, where is that revolution we were promised?

Wonder if there'll be a Fuji clone for the Japanese home market at much lower price, like with the X-Pan. Wonder also how it will (or won't) sell against the Zeiss-lensed Contax 645.

When are they going to get their act together and market a 69?

Hmmm, flash sync at 1/800 th. That's nice. But I couldn't find the cameras' top shutter speed...which makes me think it's 1/800th. I/800th verses 1/4000th of the Mamiya and Contax. I don't know folks. Plus, I'll bet this hummer will break the bank at Monte Carlo.

Since you already have Zeiss autofocus for Contax, I would've thought that the new Hassy and Zeiss were a perfect fit? Anybody know why they went the direction they went with Fuji?

Today is a sad day for me.

Many of my friends who have gone full digital have told me that I was foolish holding on to my Hassy 500 series system. They said sell it before the value goes down too much. My reply was that I was going to hold on to it. Except for the original model in the late forties every camera built since 1957 can be used with every modular piece. Just hold on and Hasselblad will come through with a balance upgrade path to digital. With that path we would get to keep our great Zeiss lenses.

I have been using my Hassy less and less while going digital. Still I thought I would win in the end though my friends said Hasselblad was in trouble.

Today I read about the H1. No interchangablity with the 500 series; no Zeiss lenses, no square image.

Hasselblad has introduced a product out of disperation.

Today I only use the 500 series for the occasional professional shoot that demands a medium format negative. The rest I do with a Nikon D1x. Within two years, the Hassy will collect dust with my grandfather's old Speed Graphic and Hasselblad will slowly fade away.

Sad day indeed.

Philip

One more thought as I was reading Hasselblad's press release on the H1.

"The new Hasselblad H1, designed to combine maximum features and maximum ease of use, is the centerpiece of the company's first new medium format system in 45 years."

I was born in 1957 and am 45 years old. Lately, I have been feeling a bit old. Boy does this add to that feeling.

Sad day indeed!

Of course the joyous news is that I will be able to cut to cord completely with the past and forget about digital backs and such. I will join my friends at e-bay and sell. I just hope I don't loose too much but anything is better than nothing!

Well, Phillip, what will you be selling... ;-)

Dear Q. G.

I was exagerating about selling. I traded my duplicate lenses last spring for Nikkor lenses. For now I am keeping the rest. I worked to long to buy my system.

I am like a friend of mine who bought the Mamiya AF system. He had to switch due to eye problems from diabetes. He also kept the Hassy as it has too many memories.

Luckly, I am in the financial position to do so.

Still, I am not exagerating my feelings about what Hasselblad did today. I feel that it is the beginning of the end for them.

Philip,

Sentimental value, 'ey? I know how that feels. ;-)

But the end of Hasselblad? Depends on how they put this thing in the market, price-wise. It could be a moneymaker, providing funds enabling them to sink more money into "Victor's System" (Let's decide here and now that we won't use the "V-System" name), making it even better (now when can we expect to see that 204?) and perhaps... lower prices... Now that would increase sales, extending Hasselblad's life, wouldn't it? ;-)

Hasselblad is moving with the times-like it or not,the world is turning digital and people want automation and a non square image.Let's just hope they keep backwards compatability starting with this camera,otherwise their future will indeed look bleak.

Dispare not Philip. I have come full circle right back to Hasselblad. I am almost completely digital with a Kodak Proback that fits my 555 ELD, and I employ another kodak 645C Proback that fits on my Contax 645 AF. I use all the Hasselblad lenses on both cameras to excellent effect. Basically, with it's focal plane shutter, the Contax takes the place of a Hassy f camera, and the 555 ELD gives me those 1/500th sync speeds. And I simply swap backs and work with film when I wish. Manual, AF, Ziess lenses of all sorts...still can't be beat IMO. And because the Kodak back switches formats at a touch of a button, I shoot square, or 645 via horizonal or vertical on command. And if you think a 35mm style digital can equal the Kodak back in any way, you just haven't seen a 94 meg Kodak file from a Hasselblad 100/Cfi lens blown up to 30"X30". WOW!!!! Keep your stuff man! It's all stellar performance material with film or digital.

fuji makes great, affordable lenses,

that's why. sucks that yer old ones don't fit though, truly. and the sissified whining in this forum is a bit much methinks. for all you folks who are depressed by this, take heart. i know a few guys who could show you the light. try the LF forum for inspiration in dark times like these. you'll find a vibrant bunch of boys(and a few ladies),practicing with ancient and huge cameras and lenses and still shooting tri-x in plates no less!!! and buying then rat-holing films and papers in deep freezers like the end of the world was nigh. sure you'll hear a moan or two when a film maker ceases manufacture of their favorite stock of one or the other... but then you'll hear them come together and shout indignantly, "screw them, we'll make our own film if we have to, no one will stop us!"...

so buck up you teutonic camera bigots... and realize, you got it good,

me

p.s. 30x30? wow, that is something now idn't it? <insert rolly eye graphic here>

triblett Lungre-Thurd ,

"Teutonic"?

Not worry. I doubt that the value of your V system (500) will much be affected by the H1. Digital will probally have a greater effect on value.

As to it gathering dust, that will only happen if you allow it too. It will demand that clients demand digital up front. As long as you can get digital output from film, there will always be a demand for film shoots. Also there is the possibility of using a digital back on your current gear.

I am not sure of the market for the H1; but I think that the V system is safe for a long time ahead. The H1 is an answer to the "graying" of the medium format market. These individuals are looking for the AF. Most of the other features are icing on the cake. Owning the Xpan I can say that the lenses are every bit as sharp as the Ziess lenses too. you wrote: Today is a sad day for me. Many of my friends who have gone full digital have told me that I was foolish holding on to my Hassy 500 series system. They said sell it before the value goes down too much. My reply was that I was going to hold on to it. Except for the original model in the late forties every camera built since 1957 can be used with every modular piece. Just hold on and Hasselblad will come through with a balance upgrade path to digital. With that path we would get to keep our great Zeiss lenses. Making compatible with the current line would have been a very expensive situation I sure.

A desperate move? No, just answering the demands of the market place.

I just bought a couple of M6TTL's becuase I find that I am bucking the trend of digital. Testing a CS4000 scanner, and the more I do, the more I am happy that I will be staying with film. The jury is out as to whether I will move to digital printing though.

Happy shooting

Chip

I have been using my Hassy less and less while going digital. Still I thought I would win in the end though my friends said Hasselblad was in trouble.

Today I read about the H1. No interchangablity with the 500 series; no Zeiss lenses, no square image.

Hasselblad has introduced a product out of disperation.

Today I only use the 500 series for the occasional professional shoot that demands a medium format negative. The rest I do with a Nikon D1x. Within two years, the Hassy will collect dust with my grandfather's old Speed Graphic and Hasselblad will slowly fade away.

Sad day indeed.

Philip

Sheesh. What droll melodrama.

The H1 is a camera. Hopefully, it will a successful one for Hasselblad. Sounds like it has a good mix of features and the design looks good. I hope the lenses test out well. The film and digital integration is a big plus.

I own a 500CM and a 903SWC. I wanted these cameras for most of the past 35 years and am happy to have them. They are classic, vintage technology and great workhorses, they make beautiful photos. Would I trade them for an H1? Sure, if the H1 allowed me to see photographs, make photographs better, and if I can afford one. They're just cameras after all.

Photography has much more to do with seeing and vision than it does with cameras or film or whatever equipment you care to name. Keep that in mind and forget the melodrama...

Godfrey

I think it is a good idea, and a good direction for Hasselblad. As much as I would have liked to see an autofocus 6x6 from Hassy as an extension of the 200 series, the sales of Mamiya, Contax and Pentax AF 645s shows that this is an important market that shouldn't be ignored. Mamiya USA should worry. The venerable 500 series V-system probably won't be affected for better or worse any more than it has been by the xpan. My guess is that the 200 series will be the one to suffer most, particularly the 205FCC; there are now too many cheaper and better-equipped choices, the new Rollei AF included.

Chip- My point about values dropping wasn't just about the H1 introduction. It is about the effect of digital. I believe that it is digital that is forcing Hasselblad to introduce the H1 more than AF.

Godfrey- You are right that photography is about vision. Still when you use a camera system professionally, it becomes part of you and there is an extra attachment.

Marc- I hope you are right about the makers of digital backs continuing to support the V system. It gives me hope. Still, I think about all of my friends (pros) who have dumped their medium format systems. I did say to them that I march to the beat of a different drummer.

To all- I have calmed down from the shock of earlier today. Let's see what happens.

Phillip, unless you're 12 years old it ain't gonna happen in your lifetime. A vast majority of digital backs are first made to fit a Hasselblad. If they don't work with it, the digital back company will be out of business in a heartbeat. The unteathered Kodak Proback Plus now even works on a 503CW! I don't get why you're worried in the least. Besides, I've learned that with digital equipment you better damned well be able to switch to film immediately. I NEVER go on a digital job without a ton of film and a couple or three A24 backs in my back pocket. It's also why I never shoot a wedding without a Leica M6 and a couple of lenses to back up my Nikon D1-X (which, by the way, saved my bacon more than once).

This product is a brilliant move for Hassy. First and foremost, Hasselblad is a business. To bastardize Samuel Johnson, no one but a blockhead ever made cameras except for money.

Hasselblad knows exactly how many P645, M645, and C645 cameras are being sold every year, and they made a sound business decision to get a piece of that market. It isn't some tumultuous paradigm shift, as some Chicken Littles would like us to think.

Smart move, Hassy. Kudos.

Hasselblad can say, along with Mark Twain, that the reports of its death are greatly exaggerated.

Does Contax have an exclusive with Zeiss for 645 lenses?

I am very disapointed that HAsselblad did not expand the 6x6 format. They have been selling it for 45+ years and now they abandoned the format. How many HAsselblad REps swore of the absolute need for a 6x6 negative.

They have opened the idea for Hasselblad owners and potential buyerrs to REALLY consider 6x6 Rollie AF and Contax 645. BOth German lenses with "modern day" features.

MAybe HAsselblad will offer something new for the 6x6 in NEw york in October.

Interesting they do not showcase a new catalog on there web page with the H1 camsra. I would have assumed that it would be downloadable immediately after introduction. Are they holding back something???????????

I am very disapointed that HAsselblad did not expand the 6x6 format. They have been selling it for 45+ years and now they abandoned the format....

Now, where in the world did you see a statement that Hasselblad was abandoning the 6x6 format line? Be sensible.

Godfrey

Some thoughts:

With film there is/was clear boundaries between the different formats, ie small, medium and large. The digital era challenge this dividing, specially the one between small and medium format. Therefore I think we can not just see H1 as a competitor to similar cameras in the old niche, but also as a competitor to the digital cameras moving up from the small format niche (Nikon, Canon, Kodak etc).

I perceive H1 as a multi-functional photographic platform that you don’t have to change once the digital chip has become too old. It is not small and flexible enough to challenge DSLRs in every situation, but for quite many.

Fuji has proven to be very competent manufactures of lenses. I don’t think Hasselblad by choosing Fuji as the lens supplier jeopardize the technical quality, the risk lays among those who for many reasons (status, pride, stubbornness etc) can and will not accept other solutions than Zeiss lenses. If Hasselblad won’t be accepted for their choice the H1 saga can come to a quick end. But I really hope not. Hasselblad users are indeed users and not collectors, and H1 should be judged from a user perspective and as a tool that gives prerequisites for customer value.

Hopefully, and presumably, cheaper digital backs will be developed from other vendors.

But I surely would like to see some sort of adaptor between the V and H system. The image circle from both systems should be equal in size, so why not?

Has anyone seen a market prize yet?

Forget me mentioning the two formats sharing the same image circle, It is too early in the morning...

>Sad day indeed. > -- Philip Kecher

Sorry to hear you're so disapointed. I got my first Hassy 2 months ago, I was saving for nearly a year to buy the Nikon D100 digital and spent my money on a mint second hand 500cm+80CF+150cf instead. Its the best thing I've ever bought. When you get really good at Photoshop you'll abandon digital, its too easy, especially with version 7. But if you're selling out, you'll find plenty of good homes for your gear.

Garvey P.- " It isn't some tumultuous paradigm shift, as some Chicken Littles would like us to think"

I believe that this is a tumultuous paradigm shift. In the last 45 years Hasselblad has been a constant. Other MF manufactors have made very good products and some have even equaled Hassy. However, none has had Hassys staying power. Think of how many other systems have come and gone over the last many years.

Erik - "Therefore I think we can not just see H1 as a competitor to similar cameras in the old niche, but also as a competitor to the digital cameras moving up from the small format niche (Nikon, Canon, Kodak etc)."

Exactly my point!

To most of you this is a brillant idea that will save medium format as a major player. To me this proves the "digital side" right as there is no need for MF in digital for 90% of current MF film users. Nikon, Canon, Kodak, etc. based digital does 90% of the job. When Hasselblad is going head to head with small format they are scared.

Will medium format fade away? I hope not as I still love using film. But film will be a niche market within the decade.

Will medium format be a major player with professional digital? I now doubt it. It will be a niche player. The paradigm has shifted. With (professional use) film large format is a niche, medium format is the main player, 35mm is for PJ. With digital MF is a niche, 35mm based system is the main player. For personal use film, 35mm is king and MF is high end. For personal use digital, small chip cameras are king and 35mm based systems are high end.

The people on the digital forums have said this for the last few years. I never believed it until yesterday.

In an interview with a guy from Hasselblad in a local Swedish newspaper one can read that there will be an adaptor that enables the use of V-series lenses on the H1. That’s good news. The article also mention that the cost for the whole development project was 35 million Euro… and that American wedding photographers is one of the prime target groups. The auto focus mechanism is supplied from Minolta and the lenses from Fuji, as already mentioned in the thread. Two thirds of the camera is supplied from external suppliers and the manufacturing of the camera house, finder and all assembling is done by Hblad in Gothenburg. The price will be about 55.000 SEK, that’s about $5900, but I can’t read from the article if the cost is just for the camera house or a package with other stuff.

Source (in Swedish): http://www2.gp.se/gp/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=118&a=102687

A few hours ago i had the H1 in my hands at the Photokina: it`s a good feeling not too big and heavy and loud, but rather expnsive with 6800$ for the kit with a 80 lens. Peter

The main market is wedding photographers in the US?

Let’s look at three possible wedding markets.

1. Experienced 500 series photographers who are graying and need auto focus. This group may be interested. Most of them want to stick with film. Still the few I know it this category have gone with the much less expensive Mamaya and have been pleased with the results.

2. Experienced 500 series photographers who are in the thirties to early forties. This group knows that they will need to digital before retiring. They are use to medium format cameras and like how the systems work. During the transition, they can use the current equipment as backup. Still given the prices mentioned above and estimating conservatively, it would take a $25,000 investment for the camera, digital back, and three lens system. For half the money, they could buy two complete three lens, Nikon D1X systems. Of course there would be addition support costs but it would be equal for either set-up. Please note that some of the biggest names in wedding photography such as Hanson Fong, Joe Photo, and Becker have taken the latter approach. This would be the H1 system’s biggest market.

3. Young photographers just starting in business. This group has no allegiance to medium format. The have learned with 35mm equipment. They want digital and they are very impressed and influenced by the styles of Hanson Fong, Joe Photo, Becker, and others. They will want to use the same equipment that their mentors do. Budget is a concern so they will start a bit more basic. This group can buy a D100/N80 or D60/Elan 7 three lens setup for under $5,000. Later, they will buy whatever the future upgrade of the D1X or 1D.

Please tell me where Hasselblad will find a large market to sell the H1.

BTW If this system were released five years ago, it would have sold like hot cakes to group one and two. Group three would have dreamed of such a system but couldn’t afford one.

Fintion;

I agree about digital. Too easy. I've been working with digital for about a year and 1/2 using scanned 35mm images. I'm getting tired of sitting at the computer and all of the synthetic effects. Hope the H will lower prices for the V gear. I got a recharge earlier this year at a John Sexton workshop!

You can talk hi tech all day long, but (analogy) Rolex makes over a million watches a year and the vast majority are old mechanical technology. Used rolex's still bring big bucks. All of the most desirable swiss watches such as Patek Phillipe, Varcheon(sp?), Rolex, ICW(French), etc are mostly old technology. Patek has very reluctantly started building quartz watches in the last few years.

Philip,

You forgot to mention one very important group of potential buyers. Those that want a film based system now and switch to digital in a year or 2 when the prices for MF digital backs have come down. Or that group that wants to use digital/film together like Marc Williams. Or how about that group that wants 645 but with sync at all speeds?

I really don't care. I think the camera looks great and I'm very curious for the results of the first lens reviews. That will make or break this product. Hasselblad have a great name to uphold. I'll give them the benifit of the doubt that these new fuji lenses will match the Zeiss lenses until I see proof otherwise.

Best of luck to Blad on what looks to be a very promising camera.

What I mean't Hasselblad has abandoned the 6x6 to 645. They have made there bet.. the future is in 645 and no 6x6. If they would have gone to 6x6 AF [ like Rollie] then they would be confirming there belief in the 6x6 as the gold standard.

I am sure that they support 6x6 for many years but the future is 645. IS there a contract issue with HAsselblad and Zeiss and the 645 format. We all know about thte 6x6 contract.

Even if they wanted to have duel 6x6 and 645 they should have come with the 6x6 AF first an then the little sister of 645.

Question.. If they announce the H1 why have not listed a new catalog on there web page. Is there something else that has not been annouced.

Philip - just a small observation about your observations regarding the younger generation of photographers just entering the market. I think there's more of an interest in medium format in that age group than you think. I'm 20 and will be starting to work professionally in the next 2 years. Among my contemporaries in the photo-illustration/commercial phot vein, and myself for that matter, medium format is often the format of choice. Yes, for the most part we learned on 35mm, but we still love the superior results of the bigger negs we get from our MF cameras. Will the young photographers who will be in my position in, say, 5 years have as much of an interest in MF? I honestly can't say. I wouldn't be surprised if there was more of a leaning towards wholly digital shooting and 35-based systems, but there's really no way to tell how things will go. As far as I'm concerned, though, MF is where it's at.

I bought my first Hasselblad in the middle 1960's. One of my favorite "user" cameras today is the Contax 645. I'm more than happy with the Contax, but my response to the H1 announcement is "Good for Hasselblad!" Fuji lenses can be great, one of my favorite view camera lenses is a 180mm A. Let's see the camera, feel it in our hands, test the lenses. More choice is good. The Contax felt completely natural to me the first time I picked it up; your hands may like the H1. This will spur Contax and Mamiya and Pentax to add lenses and accessories. Maybe someone will come out with a decent scanner optimized for 645. This will be good for all of us who use 645 as one of our formats. Well, I hope...

Don

Hi, I have been at the Photokina and had a look at the new Hasselblad H1. This is a very advanced camera with all features one might hope for. It fits perfectly in my hands, AF is very fast, the Highpoint-Viewfinder is perfect for wearers of glasses.

Why did they make it 6x4,5? Because this way they could design a camera that is not too big and heavy for handholding and action shots. And because this is the format that will benefit from digital backs more than 6x6 in the near term.

What about compatibility? You can't use older magazines. They plan to provide an adaptor for older lenses. Keep in mind that this is not an easy task. BTW, adapting F- and FE-lenses makes no sense as the camera has no internal shutter. Adapting central shutter lenses requires some work as the Haselblad V-lenses require a mechanical linkage for release and shutter cocking while the H1 only has electrical contacts. But they said that there will be an adapter in the future, but do not expect it to be cheap.

You can't use older viewfinders. The viewfinder of the H1 is exchangable. As yet no other finders are available. One problem comes to my mind: the metering is incorporated in the prism.

The camera has Fujinon lenses. Overriding the AF manually is no problem (but also not necessary?).

Some parts of the cameras are made in Sweden, I expect at least the camera shell and the internal structure will be made by Hasselblad.

The shutter release will need some practice. It's easy to fire a shot when you only wanted to focus.

The price of the kit (body, viewfinder, magazine, standard lens) is about 5900 Euro/US$

The camera made a very good impression, if somebody is looking for a perfect and fast 6x4,5 SLR (I am not), that's the camera.

Ulrik

As a recent Mamiya 645 AFD/ Kodak Pro Back adopter, I moved to this platform for its portability (no tethers - PLEASE!), film AND digital flexibility. I am a bit underwhlemed by the quality of the Mamiya but so far it has taken some outstanding exposures. While I have dreamed of owning a beautifulHassy, I do think there is market for people who are moving up to medium format but maybe torn between digital and the traditional film - the funds are limited and so they can adopt either a high end 35mm system or one of the recent AF 645 products. That said, the 645 digital format is a totally different animal than D1x. Getting "the shot" is a different experience all together. Maybe Hasselblad can preserve this uniqueness. With a Kodak back it will end up being a square image - I wonder if Hasselblad makes a square focus screen to mask the image size? IReading about Fuji lenses, however, I don’t feel as bad about my 645 Mamiya lenses. It sure doesn't have the brand halo of Zeiss but neither does Fuji. Even though It doesn't feel to me like Hasselblad is remaining true to their core brand, who knows how the market will respond.

http://www.fujifilm.co.jp/news_r/nrj972.html fuji's end of it no i can't read it but maybe someone here can translate a bit of it

FWIW, just back from ProPhoto in DC where they already have nice color H1 broschures which are quite extensive.

The owner's only comment was "too little, too late"

There are couple of major and unique differences Hasselblad have with the V series; 6x6 format and Zeiss lenses, which myself and many of you out there loves it! Now they are gone with the new H-1 series! They were very distinguish than the others, not any more! Now they follow the flock! It is like buying a Jaguar with Japaneese design! Do you like it? I don't!

Does anyone know the price of the new Hasselblad H1? And what about the lenses? Can I expect to pay $4000 for a lens?

i heard the H1 "kit" w/ the 80/2.8 was about $6,800

That $6,800 has to be a "MSRP" price; with the Contax 645 street price at $3600 and the Mamiya at $3500, I can't believe Hasselblad would want to cripple its new product on launch by overpricing. They will simply have to make themselves price competetive with Contax/Zeiss.

Jerald,

You wrote: "Interesting they do not showcase a new catalog on there web page with the H1 camsra. I would have assumed that it would be downloadable immediately after introduction. Are they holding back something???????????"

No. There is a new V SYSTEM catalogue. Very nice book it is too with lots of excellent photos. The only apparant changes are the disappearance of the FE 150 and 250 mm lenses, the change to CFE version of the 120, 180 and 250 SA lenses. And the re-emergence of the CB 160 mm Tessar. Nothing we have not heard of, no product we havne't seen before.

There is a separate H SYSTEM catalogue too.

Wondering why the H1 sports Fuji optics instead of Zeiss? Hasselblad went to Zeiss first and asked them to design the lenses for the H1. Zeiss' response was lukewarm because this was a 7 year project (that's right - the H1 project began in 1995). So then Hasselblad went to Fuji which was very excited to accept the challenge. When the camera was released, Zeiss actually asked Hasselblad if they could put their name on the lenses. Hasselbad said no, and reminded Zeiss that they had a chance to do the H1 project but declined. This was related to me by a Hasselblad rep at Photo Plus East in NYC. I held, AF'd, metered, and fired the H1 at that show, and I fell in love. I have been waiting for a long time for this camera. I love 35mm for it's speed and handling, but wanted the bigger negative. At first I thought the Contax 645 was the ticket until I realized its shortcomings; slow flash sync, slow AF, voracious appetite for batteries. Now I am selling all my Nikon gear for the H1. There were comparison chromes at the show: Zeiss vs Fuji. The same scene was photographed using each. The Zeiss had a wee bit more contrast, and the Fuji was a wee bit warmer. For those of you who worship Zeiss, get over it. Others make great glass also. The camera isn't perfect (multiple AF sensors would be nice), but for me it's as close as a camera can get.

Cheers. Tom

Well I've got my hands on an H1 along with a Phase One H101 back. I had a series of meetings and tests with the reps of all major manufacturers over the past month and I can say without fear of contradiction that Phase One is the best digital product. Well worth the inconvenience of being on a wire. I used my Mamiya RZ with the H10 for 5 jobs in the past week. We (my retoucher and I) are absolutely floored with the results. Film is now a backup for us. More on the H1. It's a great mate and I recommend autofocus, since digital does have a narrower lattitude for focus. Glass is contrasty, yet has flattering softness like the Zeiss optics in the Contax.

As reluctant as I was to leave film because of it's "quality", forget it. The dynamic range across the whole spectrum is amazing. And I like the option of making a 40 foot noiseless and grainless print for use on billboards for advertising campaigns. My retoucher says is all. It's the difference between painting on asphalt and painting on glass. If we want film grain, we use our library of clear grain from various stocks and make a layer at the end. I can't say enough. As for the H1, they didn't have a manual for me and It's very intuitive and the prism is very bright. Very well thought out. I'll keep you posted. Too expensive? The back is $400 a day. My average film and processing budget was $2500-$3000- Efficiency, profit center and most of all quality. Let the past go. Be nostalgiac about it, but it's a new world. Get excited.