Hasselblad to offer Raw file compatibility with Adobe Lightroom

UPDATED: Hasselblad has been working with Adobe to offer RAW file compatibility with Lightroom (and one must assume ACR). Beginning 12th March you can buy a new Hasselblad H4D, the company says, and receive Lightroom for free. Hasselblad will continue to offer the proprietary Phocus Raw file converter, software updates will be offered for the foreseeable future.

Press release:

Hasselblad and Adobe announce an agreement to make medium format photography easier and more accessible to the world’s photographers.


Hasselblad today announced an agreement with Adobe Systems Incorporated that, beginning on the 12th March 2012, all newly purchased medium format Hasselblad H4D cameras will include a fully functional copy of Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® software at no extra charge. Under this agreement, Hasselblad is creating new opportunities for all lovers of medium format photography as well as for aspirational 35mm professionals, advanced amateurs and enthusiasts to perfect, search, process and organize their images in a single solution regardless of their experience or skill level.

Chris Russell-Fish, Hasselblad Global Sales and Marketing Director said: "Integrating the Adobe platform with Hasselblad is a ground-breaking step. Changing platforms is always a challenge for time-starved photographers and digital operators but now all users can have the excellence of a Hasselblad image file married to the functionality and ease of use of Adobe Lightroom."

Hasselblad customers who buy new medium format H4D cameras will receive Lightroom software with their new camera equipment at no additional cost.

Adobe spokesperson Tom Hogarty, principal product manager for Lightroom said: "We are excited that photographers who purchase a new Hasselblad H4D camera will now easily be able to combine it with the power of Lightroom software. The world of imaging continues to evolve quickly, so it is increasingly important to offer customers innovative and practical software options to refine, showcase and manage their images."

The Hasselblad and Lightroom plan does not mean that Hasselblad's Phocus software is being phased out.

Said Russell-Fish: "We will continue to support our proprietary Phocus software. This new agreement is about providing choice for our customers. Lightroom has the advantage of familiarity with photographers, digital operators and enthusiasts worldwide. Phocus still offers high-end imagists some highly specialised tools and remains an integral element of our Multi-Shot cameras as well as our Phocus Mobile application, which enables wireless connectivity for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. We are also working on solutions to tethering and batch processing challenges, and integration of those solutions is not far off."

Hasselblad will run a worldwide programme of workshops and studio days based on medium format capture and Lightroom software.

Adobe, Lightroom, and Photoshop are either registered trademark or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.

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Hasselblad set to launch Hasseblad TV

 

Press Release

Copenhagen, February 2nd 2012

 

Hasselblad Launches State-of-the-art Online Video Platform

" Hasselblad is set to launch Hasselblad tv – an exclusive new multi-language online video platform that will ‘target and engage’ the company’s global audience of professional and aspirational photographers..."

After two years of planning HTV will launch on February 2 offering viewers a range of channel options, including education and training videos, product information, global news and events plus peer videos submitted by Hasselblad photographers worldwide.

Chris Russell-Fish, Hasselblad’s Global Sales and Marketing Director said: “This is a very exciting project for us, our customers and trade partners like broncolor, Epson and SanDisk”. “We are working with award-winning digital specialists Skylab to produce a comprehensive standalone platform – primarily an education and research tool of ‘all things Hasselblad’. It will be easy to use but with all the appropriate functionality, including options to download PDF information photographers may find useful after browsing a particular video.” He added: “We all know there are countless thousands of videos available on YouTube but we wanted to create one single place where Hasselblad enthusiasts can go to access fundamental training on our camera systems; how to attach a back, for example, or tips and tricks on software techniques. We have emulated the excellent BBC iPlayer model but we also wanted to provide our service across a number of languages, including French, German, Italian, Spanish and Chinese. So an Italian architectural photographer will be able to simply access our Italian channel and watch a playlist of videos in that genre, in his or her native language.”

Hasselblad is now looking for photographers to submit videos of interesting shoots, stories and events. Of course Hasselblad will retain the right to edit material but there will be no overarching censorship criteria - other than the obvious and universal constraints of common decency. These videos are frequently between three and seven minutes long but if photographers submit material that is of particular interest but longer, then Hasselblad would still provide the space.

Added Russell-Fish: “This initiative is very much a work in progress and it’s a ‘call to action’ to photographers worldwide. We want everyone, from students to leading professionals - from those who rent Hasselblad cameras and those who own them - to submit their videos.”

Launch channels will include Hasselblad: products, company history, news and events; education and training – cameras, software, and innovation. Hasselblad Masters’ videos encompassing various photo-genres including architectural, editorial, fashion/beauty; fine art, landscape/nature; portrait/social and wildlife. Hasselblad is setting up initial bespoke channels for France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, USA & Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe - with more global channels to follow. There will also be a Hasselblad Studio and a VICTOR Magazine/Bulletin channel. Hasselblad tv is easily accessible on PC or Mac computers and on iPhones and iPads.

Please check out htv.hasselblad.com

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Hasselblad announces H4x

Hasselblad has today announced the H4X, a trade-in product for the H2 and H2 series cameras. The new H4X has the same compatibility as the earlier H1/H2 film-based bodies and cannot be used with the maker's current range of H-series digital backs. However, any back that worked on the earlier cameras, such as a Phase One digital back, will work on the H4X.

A spokesperson for Hasselblad confirmed to the DJP that the "H4x is a refurbishment for all H1 and H2 camera bodies. Owners of H1 and H2 bodies can trade them in for a new H4x, which will not only give them the same functionality as before (compatibility with third-party and film backs), but extra functionality such as True Focus and compatibility with all the H-Series lenses."

The spokesperson also believes "H4D backs will still only work with their calibrated H4D bodies as an integrated camera. Note that the H4x is only available as a trade-in for H1/H2 owners - it is not available brand new as a non-trade-in product."

Press Release

Copenhagen, October 27th 2011

Hasselblad announces new H4X trade-up deal

After almost a decade of service in the front line many H1 and H2/H2F bodies are growing tired and are now in need of replacement. Customers still using the aging platform can now trade-up to the new H4X.

Said Chris Russell-Fish, Global Sales and Marketing Director: “The H1/H2 series has had a long and distinguished career but the time has come to announce its evolution. We know there are still a substantial number of photographers out there using H1/H2 bodies – and we are offering them an exclusive opportunity now to trade-in and upgrade to a very worthy successor – the H4X.”

The new model is available only to H1/H2/H2F users and will cost from just 3,995 Euro (plus tax). The H4X is a great camera body upgrade, which supports all H System lenses, most third party backs and even film. And of course it comes with our world-acclaimed True Focus technology and all the built-in ‘DNA pedigree’ our customers have come to expect from Hasselblad.

Former US President J. Carter once said ‘We must adjust to changing times and still hold to unchanging principles’. We agree. Our new H4X completely underpins this sound logic.'

For further information and for H1/H2/H2F owners who wish to trade-up to the new H4X, please go to:

www.hasselblad.com/H4X or contact your Hasselblad dealer.

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Food photographer Rene Riis to work with Michelin star Demon Chef on photo book

We were sent this interesting press release this morning from Hasselblad's distributor in Hong Kong (the parent company owns the camera maker), besides that, we'll use any excuse to feature food photographers, especially when it's Rene Riis.

Demon Chef and Danish Cameraman - Rene Riis to Collaborate for Book by using Hasselblad H4D-50

Alvin Leung to work with world class food photographer Rene Riis in December


For his first book, Hong Kong’s ‘Demon Chef’ Alvin Leung is set to collaborate with world-class Danish photographer Rene Riis. The owner and executive chef of the Michelin star restaurant Bo Innovation, Leung recently started writing what he describes as an “art/food book.” To enhance his creative vision, he has invited acclaimed artist Riis back to town to shoot the stylized pictures.

The Copenhagen-based lensman (www.reneriis.com) specializes in food photography and is known for his remarkable close-ups and detailed images. His work has been featured internationally in acclaimed art publications including Wallpaper, Elle Decoration, Living Architecture, Gastro and GQ Magazine.

The intensive photo shoot will take place the week of December 13 to 17, at the Miele Private Lounge show kitchen in Causeway Bay. Riis will be shooting Leung’s “X-treme Chinese” dishes using a high-powered digital Hasselblad H4D-50 medium-format camera. Its images are capable of a resolution power of 50 million pixels.

The two artists first met in 2009 at a food photography seminar in Hong Kong. They quickly developed a working report and friendship. When Leung decided to create his food book, Riis’ name immediately came up.

Leung explained, “I don’t want to do just another recipe book. This should be more like an art book showing my inspirations, methods and madness. We considered a few other photographers but ultimately I know Rene would best capture what I had in mind. Neither of us want just second best. We’re setting the standards very high.”

An acoustic engineer by trade with no formal culinary training, Leung and his restaurant Bo Innovation has been a Hong Kong sensation since it began as a private kitchen in 2003. His modern twist on Chinese cuisine was awarded two stars in the Michelin Guide’s first Hong Kong survey in 2009. It is number 65 in the S. Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurants awards. It was also voted one of Asia’s top 20 restaurants in the newest Miele Guide.

The Hasselblad name is synonymous with the very top end of the camera and related photographic equipment market and famous for reliability and image quality. The company’s success started with its first consumer single-lens mirror reflex 6x6 camera, unveiled in New York City in 1948, the system which NASA took to the moon in 1969. Hasselblad cameras’ legacy of innovation continues to this century with the H4D line marking a new chapter in medium format DSLR cameras. The H4D features the revolutionary True Focus technology with APL (Absolute Position Lock), making focusing substantially easier and more accurate. H4D cameras are available with 40Mpix, 50Mpix or 60Mpix sensors.

The photo location at the Miele Private Lounge is a state-of-the-art luxury kitchen space near Lee Gardens in Causeway Bay, engineered to enhance the Miele lifestyle with features carefully selected to match the timeless elegance and quality of the Miele brand. The use of the venue is strictly invitation only.

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Hasselblad roll out steel HD4-40

After repeated requests from photographers visiting the Hasselblad booth at Photokina, where a steel-variant was on display, the company has announced it will build a limited run of 100 bodies. The camera is available now for close to 14k Euros plus VAT, or $18,500.


Press release
26/11/2010 In response to photographer requests after seeing the solid steel body around which all H4Ds are built at photokina, Hasselblad is now producing a limited run of 100 H4D-40 Stainless Steel cameras.

Revealing the solid stainless steel body that's at the core of all H4D-40's generated excitement among photographers not only because it demonstrated the camera's core strength but also because of its unique look and appealing aesthetic. Now, for a limited time, photographers who want their camera to look as striking as their pictures, can purchase the H4D-40 Stainless Steel for 13,990 Euros (body only +tax) or 14,990 Euros (with HC 2.8/80mm lens +tax).

The award-winning H4D-40 features Hasselblad's groundbreaking True Focus and Absolute Position Lock technology as well as the latest in extended functionality, including an electronic spirit level, previews in tethered mode, and a new graphical information display. With these advanced features, Hasselblad continues to develop the ultimate camera system for discerning photographers.

For more information on the H4D-40 Stainless Steel, please, visit the Hasselblad website at:
www.hasselblad.de/promotions/h4d-40-stainless-steel

Hasselblad announce limited edition H4d Ferrari

Not to be out done by Leica's VAG designed M9 Titan, Hasselblad has introduced the limited edition H4D Ferrari. Just 499 units will be made in Ferrari red "rosso fuoco", bearing the the car maker's distinctive 'prancing horse' racing shield. Details on pricing and availability have yet to be released.

22/09/2010


Two worldwide renowned companies born from the passion of two men now collaborate in the creation of the H4D Ferrari, a limited edition of Hasselblad’s latest flagship camera. This brand new model is dedicated to the new generation of photographers looking for the ultimate image quality, and will be produced in 499 units. A winning combination, the Hasselblad H4D Ferrari Limited Edition camera will have appeal to Ferrari and Hasselblad fans who appreciate the innovation, quality and design that symbolize both brands.

Hasselblad's V-System Cameras Get 50 Megapixel Digital Back Option

Following the releases of the CFV-16 and the CFV-39 digital backs, Hasselblad is now offering another option for photographers looking to transition from film to digital. The new back offers a maximum resolution of 50 megapixels – twice the size of the best 35mm full-frame DSLRs on the market today.

Peter Stig-Nielsen of Hasselblad issued a statement at a press conference at Photokina and explained that the launch of the CFV-50 was sparked by the huge success of its 39 megapixels predecessor. “It took us by surprise when we received tons of positive response from customers around the world,” he explains. “This success was not just because it was a new digital back, but also because it offered compatibility with the Carl Zeiss lenses, which took the platform to another level.”

The CFV-50 has been custom built to match the design and functionality of the V-cameras, says the firm. It is compatible with most V-Cameras such as the 202FA, 203FE, 205FCC, and all members of the 500 and 900 series.

It also offers Hasselblad’s DAC lens correction technology for the majority of V-System Carl Zeiss lenses. The technology corrects for distortion, lateral chromatic aberration and vignetting in the same way as it does for the H-System lenses, claims Hasselblad.

The CFV-50 has a sensitivity range of ISO 50 to ISO 800, has an exposure time of up to 64s and offers both normal capture at full resolution or classic square capture at 38 megapixels. It also features a 2.5-inch LCD screen and take CF memory cards.

The CFV-50 is available now retailing at $15,750/€11,990.

Hasselblad take steps to reassure UK market

Hasselblad has taken the unusual step to reassure UK photographers and retailers after issuing a recent press release (see below) that appears to imply the newly appointed Global Marketing Director, Chris Russell-Fish, will have less presence in his UK role as MD. The company has issued the following statement assuring its customers that's not the case.

Dear Photographer,

You may in the past week have seen details of the following press release in the photographic news. Whilst this is a very positive move for the global Hasselblad brand, it could possibly be interpreted as a negative with regards to Hasselblad UK.

However, please be assured that this is not the case. Chris Russell-Fish will still have a very active involvement at Hasselblad UK in his existing role as Managing Director, and will continue to role out exciting initiatives such as the H4D Studiodays and the new Hasselblad Studio, etc.

It will therefore be business as usual at Hasselblad UK, with Chris looking to increase the presense of Hasselblad both in the UK and worldwide.

If you have any questions, concerns or queries regarding the details in the press release, please contact info@hasselblad.co.uk and we'll do our best to answer them.


Press release 07/06/2010

In a move that sends a message of intent about its future direction, Hasselblad has appointed its UK Managing Director Chris Russell-Fish with immediate effect as its new Global Marketing Director, in addition to his current UK role.

Russell-Fish (45) is seen by many in the industry as an agent for change - and in just over a year as UK Managing Director has created a raft of new customer service and training led-initiatives. Announcing the new appointment Hasselblad Chairman and CEO Dr Larry Hansen said: "Hasselblad and the entire imaging industry are facing change. Through his work in the UK Chris Russell-Fish has demonstrated that he can identify and take advantage of the subsequent opportunities that change creates."

Russell-Fish, a sales and marketing expert and former senior manager at Kodak, will continue to manage operations in the UK, alongside his new global brief. "I am thrilled with this appointment and the new additional challenge" he said. "I will be reporting directly to the Chairman and CEO and my new worldwide responsibilities will cover corporate marketing, branding, PR, photography relationships and the coordination of marketing in all our subsidiaries around the world."

He added "When I took the job as UK MD I wanted to take a fresh approach to the way we looked at our customers and our business. I believe that every photographer should aim to have a Hasselblad in his/her armoury - and that creating an environment in which photographers at all levels can get their hands on one of our cameras is one of the most important things we can do. We have a superb product in the new H4 series and the company has a great future as long as we continue to listen to our customers' needs and develop our solutions accordingly."
END OF PRESS RELEASE

Shriro announce Masters of Photography

Shriro HK, the Hasselblad importer for the Far East, has announced the Masters of Photography Exhibition Series in Hong Kong will be held over 22nd-30th August 2009. See here for more details.

Sponsored by HP, SanDisk, Broncolor and Hahnemühle, the exhibition will also be shown in Copenhagen, New York and London. The dates and venues have yet to be confirmed.

Hasselblad intros 39MP back for V-series

Hasselblad announced, on 26 June, the CFV-39, a new 39-megapixel back for the V-system cameras. Not only is it designed to match the appearance of the classic V- system, it has a rectangular 36.7 x 49.0 mm sensor (100-per-cent larger than a 35mm full-frame DSLR), with a lens factor of 1.1x. A second shooting option using a square format produces a 5412 x 5412 pixel (29-megapixel) image with a lens factor of 1.5x.

Also of note for users of the V-system (Carl Zeiss) lenses is the inclusion of automatic fringing (lateral chromatic aberration), distortion and vignetting correction, using the bundled Phocus software. The software also allows tethered shooting.

Further details, including the full technical specification, stockists and to order a demo can be found here.

Hasselblad owner Shriro announce Photomania 2009

Shriro, the photo-imaging company, East Asia distributor and shareholder of medium format camera maker, Hasselblad, has announced dates for Photomania 2009:

Beijing 30/06/09

Shanghai 02/07/09

Hong Kong 04/07/09

See here for further details, including registration.

Vote for Hasselblad Masters

Partnered by Hahnemuelle, Broncolor, and HP, the top 100 finalists for this years Hasselblad Masters Awards competition is online now. And this year, for the first time, the competition is open to voting from members of the public. Click here to register and vote for the 10 finalists.