[MW Forums]

Leica and Hasselblad used the Photokina imaging show in Cologne, Germany, to launch several digital cameras. more

[visiondr]

"At the top of the range is the Leica M8 digital single lens reflex camera (DSLR) with the Leica viewfinder system."
Actually, the Leica M8 is a Rangefinder camera, not an SLR (or DSLR). Rangefinders have more accurate focussing systems as well as smaller camera bodies and lenses than SLRs.
Ron

[jclphoto]

Whoa, Ron totally beat me. The M8 is indeed a rangefinder, not a DSLR; a world of difference.
Also, Hasselblad is from Sweden, not Denmark.

[ohlevg]

As for pricing, the M8 (body only) should be available for 4250 euros (~$5400). Rumor at Photokina has it that Leica already has orders for the whole 2007 production. Well, some people wait several years for a Ferrari, dont they?

[nelson92]

I hate to think how much the top end 'Blad will be but if anyone's wondering what I want for Christmas............... /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Nobody]

It seems that some "news" here could use a little careful read by someone who knows a little more than running the paragraphs through a spell checker. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[HumanJHawkins]

It's going to be a lot tougher to make a good profit for Hasselblad in this market... Whereas they used to charge several thousands of dollars for products that cost only 1 or 2 thousand to carefully craft, now they are going to have to charge a lot more ($20,000?) for products that probably cost almost that much to make.
That's the trouble with a giant 39 megapixel sensor... If you only have 1,000 customers to offset a 15 million dollar R&D cost, then you have to charge $15,000 more than the actual cost of production just to break even on the sensor.
They'll make it because the need for really good imaging products is strong. But it isn't going to be as profitable as it used to be for them.