Re: choice of words

[YDegroot@xxxxxxx]

Now that the dust is almost settled over the poor choice of one word, "JAP,"
please allow me to inform you that the word "Jap" is indeed a very derogatory
one, on par with "nigger," etc. 
How can I be so sure?

Simple: my wife is Japanese, and she will get rather upset when someone uses
that word, inadvertently or not. 

I can understand some of the sentiment against the new Hasselblad X-pan: in
Japan, the camera will be sold as a Fuji, and everywhere else as a Hasselblad.

I do not think that Hasselblad is shooting itself in the foot with the notion
of a joint venture. After all, they never made their own lenses either. And
Zeiss, after all, was not the only one in the past making lenses for
Hasselblads. 

The issue will be: will the quality of the new camera be up to the quality
level we expect in and of a Hasselblad? What comes from Fuji is not always
bad. Personally, I have mixed feelings about Fuji. I once owned the Fuji 617
(non interchangeable model) with the 105 mm lens. Although I loved the 105
perspective, I found the lens too soft. When a friend of mine who owned a 2nd
model Linhof 617 and we went out shooting he same scenes on the same film
emulsion and used the same processing, and then compared the chromes (great
Fuji Velvia), the Fuji looked very disappointing: with the naked eye, the
chromes from the Linhof stood out!  I have heard, through the grapevine, many
complained about that lens. The word "Jap" would be far too weak a word, if I
may be frank.
Yet, I own the Fuji 6x9 wide (latest model), and the lens is super! No
comparison!

If the results from the new X-pan, as cited on this cite are true, then we
have to be careful before buying this camera.

I would love the have to Biogon Hasselblad camera, but it is simply too costly
(5000 bucks), through which you could run 35mm film with their special back
for another grand. But for 6000 dollars you can buy a Linhof 617 with center
filter and meter, and have money left for film. That's what I did, and I have
never been happier with that choice (yes, I sold the Fuji 617 and went out to
buy the Linhof 617). 

Anyway, let's wait and see how good this X-pan really is. Remember, the reason
for the joint venture is two-fold:
1) with Fuji as partner, the costs can be lwoer and more people can afford a
blad.
2) Fuji I'm sure designed the lenses, as Hasselblad is a camera maker, not a
lens maker. 

Meanwhile

Happy shooting, pan or regular.