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Hasselblad CFV Digital Back CONTINUED

WOW,
thanks Peter, a very nice little guide.

Where do you record the "Action"? Do you use Mac's Automator for that? and what is "Bridge"? is that separate software or part of Flexcolor?

Also in Flexcolor do you perform sharpening? and what's the average input level? around 2 to 300?
 
The Action is recorded in one of the PhotoShop tabs called Action. Simply create a new action then hit the record button. Hit stop after you have done the Save and you will have an action that you can select either from within PhotoShop or Bridge (batch menu) to repeat the steps that you performed during the recording.

Bridge is an image management tool that comes bundled with PhotoShop CS2 and CS3.

I don't use sharpening much at all. I find that it looks a bit obvious if you are not careful. I keep sharpening to under 50% in most cases and then keep an eye out for any stange lines or highlights that might be created by the sharpening.

If you do want to do some sharpening, it should be one of the very last things you do before you Save. In other words, prepare the image completely for the intended output or distribution, apply a little sharpening, review the effect and then, if OK, do the final save.

Regards
Peter
 
A few alternative suggestions (assuming you have already corrected an image for regular use)

Do sRGB conversion of the original at full size.

When downsizing, no need to alter the resolution. It's not relevant.

Using BiCubic Sharper, is a matter of opinion. It is recommended when downsizing an image, but applies the "Sharper" aspect wholesale ... which may or may not preserve the original images intent or feel.

Then hit "Actual Pixels" in the top bar menu in PS ... it shows the exact size the image will appear in the thread. Further adjust curves, levels, or whatever on that smaller sized image if needed (reduced sRGB images often look flatter and darker)

I also sharpen at this stage by simply hitting the "Sharpen" command in PS, then use "Fade Sharpen" so you can visually control exactly how much. In some cases when there is delicate Bokeh I selectively sharpen using the Lasso and Feather 5 or 6 pixels.

I do not use an action for this process because each forum I participate in has different maximum standards ... this being the second worst in terms of size allowed.
 
41546.jpg
 
I think I may have over sharpened a little.

I would love to send the RAW file to someone with more experience and see what the end result would be... it would be nice to know how much is possible in processing....
 
Installing FLEXCOLOR 4.8.4 , I found a problem , which I do not quite understand .

After the upgrade to firmware R237 , I find a 2GB CF card only being able to store 60 images instead of 87 images with R233 .
I do not care about the amount of images , that can be taken with one card , but would like to understand , as I could not find a hint from HASSELBLAD .

Jürgen
 
Rather than start a new thread, I wonder if anyone here can help me with a couple of queries when using the CFV.

I understand that for exposures longer than a second one needs to use a flash sync cable. I've also read conflicting information when using exposures between 1/8 sec and 1 sec. What is the situation/procedure?

Is the mirror up facility unaffected when using the CFV?

TIA

Keith
 
"...be ready for the moment that will not be too far off that Hasselblad will
anounce the end of the V series."

Boy, did Paul really hit home with this statement from the Contax forum. I've been putting off purchasing a CFV for one reason - I don't want to deal with a 1.5 lens factor. Everything else I can live with. But I've always had hope that there would be a CFV-2 on the horizon, maybe with a 48x48 sensor. But after reading Paul's statement, I felt a deep inward withdrawal, a wake-up call, that it's simply not coming. Perhaps, Hasselblad is really doing us all somewhat of a favor, as we speak, in keeping the V system alive, when for all intent and purposes, it is already dead - we just don't know it. So why, I thought, would they be investing time and money on a newer, larger digital back for a system that's waiting for the last nail to be hammered into the proverbial coffin? Maybe the CFV-2 will come 100 years from now, when they celebrate Victor's bicentennial birthday, and temporarily resurrect the V system as part of the celebration. And who knows, in 100 years maybe the Hy6 square digital back will finally be a reality. As well as a square back for the H system.
I wonder if I could put the CFV sensor in a vice, and stretch it out a bit to eliminate the 1.5 factor?
 
Michael,

The signs I looked at are the selection of lenses being offered.
In a relatively short period of time the following lenses were dropped:
30 CFi, 180 CFE, 250 CFi ans 350 CFE SA. Before that the 905 SWC was gone.
The reason for this is not difficult to understand.
New stock has to be ordered from Zeiss with minimum quantities.
It simply takes too long to sell these minimum orders so the lenses mentioned are dropped from the catalogue.
Hasselblad keeps the V system alive as long as it still returns some money.

For users the V series can go on many years even after support from Hasselblad is gone.
Independant technicians will service and repair bodies and lenses.
For a large part this is already happening for lenses older than the CF range.
With large quantities of used lenses floating around the globe any wish to get extra lenses is not difficult to realise.

The CFV was made to give both serious amateurs and pros a chance to step into the world of digital imaging with a digital back from Hasselblad.
I would not put my money on the arrival of a CFV II back in the near future.
 
polypal said:
Michael,
I would not put my money on the arrival of a CFV II back in the near future.
Click to expand...

Paul, this is/was my point. As I stated, I've been watching the horizon with anticipation, but all in vain, I now believe. My choice is simple - either the current CFV or nothing. And I know there are other square backs available, but none any larger, and given such, I'd prefer the CFV.
I am also aware that the V system will be around and active for decades to come, at least as a film system. But I want the benefits of digital, the benefits of square, and I want the benefits of my 40mm lens. In today's world, I can't have all three, and it doesn't look like I'll ever have that option now.

Appreciate all you do here.
Michael H. Cothran
 
Here's an interesting camera comparison between the H3D/22 and the new Nikon D3. No big surprises here, but considering the test is from the Ken Rockwell site (an avid Nikon fan), I felt a little more encouraged about owning a V system digital back (presumably the CFV) as opposed to buying a high end full frame DSLR. Mouse over the test images for direct comparisons between the D3 and H3D-22.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d3/h3d-1.htm
Also, you may have read -
In today's photo news online, Sony has unveiled a new 24x36 full frame sensor with 24.81 mega pixels. Since Sony provides some of the Nikon sensors, there is immediate speculation that Nikon will introduce a new camera later this year touting this new 24mp sensor. In addition, Nikon will be introducing 3 new tilt/shift lenses of the same focal lengths as those currently in Canon's lineup. Now all this really lifts my spirit. In 35mm, I've always been a Nikon user, and feel good knowing that Nikon is finally making a major come-back, regardless of how overdue it is.
As of late, I have even been seriously considering selling all my beloved V system gear for a high end Nikon/Canon DSLR system. After reading Ken's comparison, it is obvious that the Hasselblad quality still wins hands down - no news to many on this site, who have declared so all along.
The thing is, all these DSLR's are aimed at fast action shooting. I'm a landscape and still life shooter. I shoot reeaaal slooooow. I want maximum quality. That's my only criteria. So, while I've been rather depressed lately because of the lack of more V digital backs, I feel much more encouraged now. But if money were no object, in addition to the Hasselblad, I would like to have the upcoming 24mp Nikon with the 3 TS lenses.
Michael H. Cothran
 
Michael, thanks for the link to the comparison.

Can anyone confirm that the sensor used in the CFV is essentially the same, i.e. a cropped (square) version of the sensor used in the Hasselblad 22MP back?
 
Just to add a mono conversion. This again Madrid as it so far the only place I have used my new CWD.

Added lots of bits from Ebay. but as far as got. Oh and built a studio to use. it.

Still no answer though on how to set up my elinchroms, Pocket wizard (and with no wizard). Also have a Sekonic 358 with transmitter.
As said bought all the gear . No idea how to safely use it.

Need HELP. hence the multiple posts on different threads.

Peter
 

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Referring to post #267 in this thread , I deinstalled FLEXCOLOR 4.8.4 and reinstalled FLEXCOLOR 4.8.3 with R233 firmware level .
Now the CFV BACK behaves again as it should do .
Formating a 2GB CF CARD now results again in the display 0/87 images .
Formating a 1GB CF CARD now results again in the display 0/47 images .

Is there anyone else out there who experienced the issue described in #267 ?
I have passed the issue on to HASSELBLAD .

Regards Jürgen
 
FLEXCOLOR 4.8.4

I recieved an answer from HASSELBLAD . Here it is .

Mr.Loob
Your observation is correct and here is why :
Based on experience from photographers around the world , we have realized that under certain (rare) circumstances , the estimated capacity of a given CF card would be too optimistic . To ensure that the capacity estimate numbers are kept on the conservative side and that they allow for a certain margin , the figure which is shown in the display is now somewhat lower (about 20-30%) than previously . This however does not have any influence on the actual capacity of that CF card .

Benny Buchtrup , HASSELBLAD Technical Support , www.hasselblad.com
 
jotloob said:
FLEXCOLOR 4.8.4

I recieved an answer from HASSELBLAD . Here it is .

Mr.Loob
Your observation is correct and here is why :
Based on experience from photographers around the world , we have realized that under certain (rare) circumstances , the estimated capacity of a given CF card would be too optimistic . To ensure that the capacity estimate numbers are kept on the conservative side and that they allow for a certain margin , the figure which is shown in the display is now somewhat lower (about 20-30%) than previously . This however does not have any influence on the actual capacity of that CF card .

Benny Buchtrup , HASSELBLAD Technical Support , www.hasselblad.com
Click to expand...

I too have the same experience. All my 2Gb cards are now showing available space for 60 images when empty. Used to show 87.

I don't understand the thinking behind Benny's answer to you. I never had the experience where "87" was too optimistic. My CFV, with a 2Gb card, always counted down from 87 to 1 and when it got there the card was full. Even if a "certain margin" was required for different brands of cards, 30% is way too much margin. 5% might be reasonable. Can you imagine a car that said it had run out of fuel even though 20 liters was still in the tank... Weird.

I have not yet tried taking a large number of images and seeing what happens when 60 goes down to zero. Does it stop at zero for the last 27 shots? Or does it go negative? Have you tried that? Based on Mr Buchtrup's answer, you ought to be able to keep shooting for another 27 shots. Might try to tomorrow.

Regards
Peter
 
Hello all CFV back users

Since I have started working with the CFV back , I always experienced a yellow cast in the images .
Sometimes the yellow cast was rather intense , but sometimes much less . The white balance was set according to the weather situation , like daylight , cloudy , etc .

Now , I have bought a EXPODISC whitebalance filter , which is held in front of the lens and you do a manual "white balance" shot . This works much better than the "gray card" balance setting .

The result is , that the yellow cast has gone completely .
That means to me , that a precise colortemperature setting is required to obtain optimum results .

There is a new colormeter , produced by Sekonic . PRODIGI COLOR C-500 . Has anyone bought that meter and can give some experience ? ? ?

Regards Jürgen
 
jotloob said:
Hello all CFV back users

Since I have started working with the CFV back , I always experienced a yellow cast in the images .
Sometimes the yellow cast was rather intense , but sometimes much less . The white balance was set according to the weather situation , like daylight , cloudy , etc .

Now , I have bought a EXPODISC whitebalance filter , which is held in front of the lens and you do a manual "white balance" shot . This works much better than the "gray card" balance setting .

The result is , that the yellow cast has gone completely .
That means to me , that a precise colortemperature setting is required to obtain optimum results .

There is a new colormeter , produced by Sekonic . PRODIGI COLOR C-500 . Has anyone bought that meter and can give some experience ? ? ?

Regards Jürgen
Click to expand...

I am confused. I thought the "White Balance" affected only the display and had no effect on the raw image. The manual says "The setting is temporary for preview display reasons....."

The Expodisc is great for batch white balances and for a "dust" shot.
 
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