Gordon Moat wrote:

I suspect this is why Hasselblad's new Hong-Kong based owners (and
former
Hasselblad distributor) bought control of the corporation, yes? Just
as
Hasselblads sell well in Japan (with Zeiss glass, anyway), so it is
likely
that they will sell well in China under the new reduced WTO tariff
regime.

So, this might save the future of Hasselblad and Zeiss in medium
format. I
wonder if it will work well, and if any other companies will succeed
in
that
emerging market.

This all is assuming that Chinese consumers will not want to go the same
way
consumers in the "west" are going today.

Now on what ground is that assumption built?

Your assumption implies that differences in culture might indicate a
difference
in buying habits in China.

Not at all!
Telling, though, that you might think that... ;-)

You're displaying something very common: the believe that people / countries
who are (perceived to be) just beginning something will go the same route
other people / countries that already are well on their way in that
particular something have taken.

Now why would that be? Why would those newcomers not get in at the point we
are today?
Why, when (lets exagerate a bit ;-)) the "rest of the world" now wants to
throw away their ancient film using cameras and replace them with digital
thingies would some "starter nation" want to begin "at the bottom"???
I can tell you: they won't!

Tough to tell about that. One thing that comes to
mind is that in the western world a popular phrase is "time is money",
while in
China, a more common thought is "time is free". I think that shows some
differences in cultures.

Never seen today's Bejing, or Shanghai...?
;-)