Hasselblad recently announced that you can buy the new H6D body with the 50-megapixel CMOS 50c back and decide later to trade up to the newer 100c (100-megapixel) back for the original difference in price. This promotion works for anyone who buys the H6D-50c at the full $25,995 price between May 1 and May 27, 2016. To partake in the offer, you must also trade up to your new 100c no later than September 30, 2016.
The price difference of $7,000 (the H6D-100c costs $32,995) would be due upon trading up to the 100-megapixel back, but this is undoubtedly an interesting way for those who aren't sure if they need the full 100-megapixel resolution to own and use the H6D-50c for a few months before pulling the trigger on an upgrade.
Meanwhile, Phase One offers their 50-megapixel and 100-megapixel IQ3-series backs with the same sensors for $29,990 and $43,990, respectively. Additionally, Pentax is rumored to have struck a deal with Sony for the same 100-megapixel sensor, which would undoubtedly be in the successor to the 50-megapixel medium format Pentax 645z that has competed directly with the Hasselblad H5D/H6D-50c and Phase One IQ3-250 since its introduction at a much lower price, but with some additional tradeoffs.
High end professionals. I can guarantee you every halfway decent product and commercial photography studio will buy at least one. Once you get into that realm, you can make a business case for just about any piece of equipment that will make your work better. Hell, I'm just on an average small-crew cable TV show right now and I have between $300,000 and $400,000 in gear that I'm taking care of as the AC.
I think the quality (and price) of the 35mm format sensors, as well as their lens quality, is hurting them. The incremental increase in quality of the MF sensor (and lenses) over the newer 35mm format ones comes at a steep price. How much better is it, and at what price? What is the depreciation on that asset investment?
Believe this or not. I have a couple clients that want minimal megapixel files. On the quote requirement they would state "40 + mp files". A couple years ago, I would rent a Pentax system. Last year, I shot with a 5ds and they were happy. Now a Sony A7rii with no complaints from those client. Now, I'm not certain if the client is aware of what they are asking or just using a number that they perceive to be an acceptable quality standard. The general consumer thinks more megapixels equals better
$33k isn't that much in the grand scheme when compared to other professional fields. Construction comes to mind. Even a small, family-owned earth moving company likely has nearly a million dollars in equipment. I realize that sounds like a weird comparison, but it actually makes sense. They are freelance and are paid per job like photographers. Their equipment is their life-blood, without it they wouldn't be effective. They make the business case to buy that equipment and only buy what makes sense for them. A photographer that has gotten to the point that they see value in a Hasselblad won't really care what the cost is as long as it makes them more effective.
The market dictates a products success, not the price, and not your opinions. Professional Commercial photographers that work on shoots budgeted in the 10's and 100's of thousand dollars have the elite equipment that the manufacturers can supply. They don't try and save a few thousand dollars for any reason when the photograph they want to make can be made better with another system.
Sounds like a bargain.
I've been shooting the Pentax 645Z for over a year now. The image quality is tons better than the Canon 5dmk3 & 1D X. It will be interesting to see if they put together a 100mp version or not. The only problem I have with Pentax is they do not make a full lens line for the 645Z. No primes under 35mm, no tilt shift lenses, no extension tubes. It makes it impossible to get rid of Canon for some of my work so you either pay up for Hassy or others or work with two systems. Pentax needs to work on their lens selection before they worry about a 100mp camera. Rant over.
Agree 100%, the lack of a TS lens for my 645Z is what keeps me from all but ditching Canon forever. For a camera thats legendary for landscape you'd think Ricoh would have made TS lens a priority.
I think that's a smart move by Hasselblad. I wonder how many people who would buy the 50 would opt for the 100 however. I hope they can regain some traction and offer some good competition to Phase One. Between Hasselblad, Phase One, and Pentax, we may start to see more realistic pricing on digital medium format cameras from real competition, as the medium is horribly overpriced at this time.
Red has been doing exactly this for years. You can either trade a lower-end camera in for a new one or get your old one upgraded to like new for just the difference in cost.