2 additional facts:
- they never adopted the 150mp 54x40mm sensor that PhaseOne has, and now we know they never will
The most recent 54x40mm DSLR cameras were both introduced
in 2018. Phase one brought out a 150 megapixel camera and Hasselblad launched the
H6D-400C multi-shot version of the 100 megapixel sensor that same year, with each company targeting different markets.
‘the 400C? Talk about a niche in a niche.
Very much so. For art repro and product work, it is a great tool — the best I've ever used. It is not the best camera for everyone or every application. It underscores what I've said consistently; there is no best camera, there's only the one which is
best for you.
in that case I will note that P1 has also released a trichromatic and a monochromatic version of their 150 backs.
There is no IQ4 150 Trichromatic. The IQ4 100 Trichromatic was introduced in 2018 along with the IQ4 150 and IQ4 150 Achromatic. All three models were
announced in 2018 at the same time.
There's been a huge shift in customer demand away from big expensive DSLR cameras to mirrorless models. Minuscule demand which continues to wither away is generally not a great recipe for future return on investment or success in the marketplace.
Unfortunately, Phase One has ignored that shift until now and has painted itself into a corner with very expensive products that few want to buy. Additionally, they're saddled with the expense of maintaining a
factory in Japan to make them. They've also introduced the Phase One XT which consists of a camera made by Cambo and lenses from Rodenstock combined with their own shutter and digital back. But, again it's a system for which there's a very tiny market.
What isn't tiny are the enormous financial losses relative to their revenue which have been piling up year after year. It's not a role model many would want to emulate. They have for several years been looking to industrial products for survival which primarily come from what was formerly Leaf in Israel.
What the private equity company bearing the burden of these losses will do is anyone's guess.
you seem to be campaigning for P1’s demise
When comparisons are raised between Hasselblad and Phase One, regarding their current status and past strategies, there are differences in product directions taken and the resulting consequences which make for fairly clear distinctions. If anyone finds what I've said inaccurate or has a different view, I'm happy to hear it and discuss it.
With regard to what Phase One sees as the direction for their hardware division and its camera business, I'll just quote verbatim what has become the standard language under Outlook in their annual financial reports for some years:
"The demand for commercial drones/robotics are expected to drive the revenue growth going forward." The most recent new camera models from Phase One, which were not aerial/industrial cameras, were the XF IQ4 150 in 2018 and the XT in 2019.
Private equity companies, like Axcel, buy companies with the intent to increase their value and sell them within a given time frame at a profit. The
announcement, made by Axcel when they acquired Phase One in 2019, stated upfront:
"Today, the majority of growth and profitability comes from sales of software solutions, where the company has managed to grow by ～40% p.a. in revenue in the last four years and also expects significant growth in 2019."
Axcel and its investment partners paid
$230 million to acquire Phase One. They were acquired as part of an investment fund called
Axcel V comprised of investments in nine companies, four of which they exited last year.
At some point they will want to exit their investment by selling either Phase One Group ApS as a whole or its two divisions, Phase One and Capture One, separately. It was Axcel that divided Capture One from Phase One, making it a separate corporate division, shortly after completing acquisition. As I said, it's anyone's guess what Axcel will do.
I want Phase One to continue offering cameras outside of the aerial/industrial sector because I like having choices. The more unique varieties we have to choose from the better I like it.
- it took them 3 years to catch up to Fuji for the 100mp 44x33mm sensor
Hasselblad wasn't playing a game of catch-up as their strategy. They're a small company who has been evolving and expanding an entirely new system of cameras, lenses, and accessories.
I don’t know what their strategy is, but they have certainly lost some clients in those 3 years.
...and likely gained others as well. Nothing is static.
Their strategy, to my eyes, appears to be offering a system with unique differences which appeal to a market segment looking for those differences. They do not appear to be looking to compete on speed to market, speed of capturing images, a features race, or any other competition based on speed.
But, that's just how I see the evolution. Others are free to form their own opinions.
indeed we can agree to disagree
Absolutely and I wish you health and happiness.
Again, I pray and hope that they continue to thrive (better than they are now)... but should I win the lottery and decided to stay in the 54x40mm sensor field, at this point I would see only one option, which would be PhaseOne XF.
It's good to have options and choices. Given the pace at which DSLR cameras are disappearing, I wish you financial good fortune soon to get what you'd like to use for your photography.
And with a lot of disposable income left after getting a XF set sure, I'd give the X2D a go.
I wish you nothing but enjoyment with whatever camera you choose to use.
Thank you. My winning the lottery notwithstanding, I fear that recent history has caused an erosion of H’s already small client base, especially among pros.
as someone who has invested a lot of money in H, this makes me unhappy and sad, but I can’t see a rosy future for them. I hope I am wrong
Time will tell. In the mean time, shoot with whatever brings you happiness. I would suggest to anyone with concerns as to Hasselblad's future viability, who is looking for a new system, that they buy something else to avoid the worry. Whether someone who owns H-system equipment now, and is harboring those kind of concerns, should switch to something else; only they can decide when or if to do so based on their individual needs and preferences.
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