Originally posted by credos4u or maybe they are the second company after HASSELBLAD to just revamp a sony camera and put their own mount onto it.
I know that sounds ridiculous but if you would have told me 5 years ago that HASSELBLAD will revamp a mere A99 and will say: e voila, now its a bit more tough, we will need to charge you 10000-12000 Bucks for that polished A99,
pal.... i would have loughed at you for about half an hour...
nonetheless...
I am sure most of us know that the HASSELBLAD HV exists:
Hasselblad HV is restyled Sony SLT-A99 with 'tough as nails' construction: Digital Photography Review
so let me tell you, there is nothing i would appreciate more than an A99II with Pentax K-Mount.
I certainly know that the Hasselblad HV exists, as I own and shoot with one... though I didn't pay 10000 - 12000 bucks for it. I actually paid slightly less than it would have cost to buy a brand new Sony A99 with the same Sony Zeiss 24-70 f/2.8 SSM lens and a waterproof case (which was included) here in the UK. B&H was selling off final stock of the camera at a massive discount a couple of years ago, since it was an abject failure in terms of marketing, sales and brand reputation. Hasselblad washed its hands of the entire Sony re-styling and re-badging exercise as a result of the backlash.
So, I really don't think it would do Ricoh any good to re-badge the A99II (or, since we're talking about an APS-C K-3II replacement in this thread, the A77II?). With respect, there's very little I'd appreciate less.
I've collated a
lot of information on how the Hasselblad / Sony camera tie-in came about, the differences in the cameras, the marketing mistakes, market and press response, the subsequent failure of the overall exercise, damage to the brand and the impact on senior management appointments. It would make worthwhile reading for any camera manufacturer considering such an approach, and serves as a cautionary tale.
The HV is a
fantastic camera, but it's really just a Sony A99 in better clothing, with a Hasselblad badge on the front and a different model name in EXIF. Oh, and an
allegedly hand-picked copy of the Sony Zeiss 24-70 f/2.8... plus a very nice waterproof case, extra battery, 8GB memory card and a copy of Lightroom 5