Medium Format Forum

Register a free account now!

If you are registered, you get access to the members only section, can participate in the buy & sell second hand forum and last but not least you can reserve your preferred username before someone else takes it.

hasselblad CFV

cs_foto

Member
lets keep us busy :D

so lets say I have never considred seriously a digital back because of the crop factor (and obviously the price) If I ever were to buy I back for my V system it would have been a phase one with a 48x48 sensor (at least)...

I have always rejected the CFV because of the very small sensor size.

Now, lets say I can get a CFV for a very good price, shall I go for it?

Whats the opinion on the CFV, today, half way through 2009?
 
Now, lets say I can get a CFV for a very good price, shall I go for it?
*********
With the pre-conditions that you have established, you will never get a digital back and then you will miss all of the fun of having a digital "V" system. If you can get a CFV at a good price, you won't regret it, it will dramatically expand the usefullness of you "V" system, IMHO.

Steve
 
There is a 48 X 48 Phase One digital back? I do not think so.

Here is the thing to think on:

ONLY the CFV works without having to use a sync cord from the lens to the digital back. All other digital backs have to use a sync cord ... including a Phase One.

This makes the CFV VERY easy to use. Just like another film back in your bag.

If you need a very wide shot, you use a film back and 40 or 50mm, for most anything else you can use the CFV.

You can also EASILY stitch two shots from the CFV together to produce a wider and much higher over-all resolution image. Stitching these days is very easy to accomplish in Photoshop.
 
I've been very pleased with my CFV, use it professionally as a commercial photographer, and feel no need to upgrade for a higher resolution back.

Rich Quindry
 
thanks for all the comments,

I passed this time... I have previously shot the CFV a couple of times and I agree that it is a top-of-the-line piece of hardware. The sensor size issue is a personal preference rather than a 'real' limitation

The reason why I let it go was because I won't be using it as much as I would like to, at the moment I'm developing my own projects exclusively with film, for the little commercial work that I do, a 35mm DSLR is fine.

In the future, maybe in a couple of years (if I ever) start shooting commerically full-time I will see whats available...

Cheers
 
Leaf-like

It is time for Hasselblad to come up with a CFV version with a 48X36 or 33X44 sensor with a built-in rotating turntable, just like a Leaf AfiII. Is it patented Hasselblad, or you just decided to neglect all V users for good?
Eduardo
 
If a good price is the goal, why not thinking about the "Kodak DCS Pro Digiback": 16Mpix and same size.


Anyway, waiting for 48x48mm sensor.

About Leaf gears: why not making a "CFV-pan" digital back for V with the 60Mpix 54x36 sensor !
 
Sensor size

In my opinion, it is possible now to manufacture a 33X44 sensor back priced as the original CFV. A 22mp 36X48 for a little more. Bigger sensors on any count means expensive.
 
Prices for digital backs have nothing to do with manufacturing costs and or costs for development.
Prices are a simple matter of marketing.
Manufactureres price their products to the maximum potential buyers are prepared to pay with an eye on what the competition does.

Hasselblad decreased its prices by 40% just to stay ahead of the competition.
They also changed their friendly part exchange offer
 
since we are talking about price, it was £3000, in mint condition, is that a good price? not to me!

I still don't understand why no-one has come out with a small sensor (36x36) digital back aimed at all the many artists and low budget professionals with old fashioned mamiya and hasselblad film cameras. for under £2000

The truth is me and many others won't replace film for a digital back, but for the odd commercial job will be nice to shoot the same system instead of having a spare canon or nikon...
 
The truth is me and many others won't replace film for a digital back, but for the odd commercial job will be nice to shoot the same system instead of having a spare canon or nikon...
I could not understand this 4 years ago when I began serious digital.
Now I'm not far to think the same.

I do this with Leica M8 (digital) and M6 (film). My M8 is more than 2 years old and I have the M6 only since 4 months now. Most of time now, I use film gears: M6 and Hasselblad 202FA.

This year I found a Rollei P11(6x6) and a P 3800 (24x36mm) projector.
 
Talking about Rollei I just got a pack of Rollei Black and White Film, R3 and Retro 400, never used them, lets see what comes out. Anyone have used any of those?
 
I could not understand this 4 years ago when I began serious digital.
Now I'm not far to think the same.

I do this with Leica M8 (digital) and M6 (film). My M8 is more than 2 years old and I have the M6 only since 4 months now. Most of time now, I use film gears: M6 and Hasselblad 202FA.

This year I found a Rollei P11(6x6) and a P 3800 (24x36mm) projector.

I also shot a lot of film, mainly reversal one, and use the Hassy PCP80 for projection.
 
There is a 48 X 48 Phase One digital back? I do not think so.

Here is the thing to think on:

ONLY the CFV works without having to use a sync cord from the lens to the digital back. All other digital backs have to use a sync cord ... including a Phase One.

This makes the CFV VERY easy to use. Just like another film back in your bag.

If you need a very wide shot, you use a film back and 40 or 50mm, for most anything else you can use the CFV.

You can also EASILY stitch two shots from the CFV together to produce a wider and much higher over-all resolution image. Stitching these days is very easy to accomplish in Photoshop.


I had a chance to visit a PCP (Photo Competence Partner) professional road show at the 9th of May .
Among CARL ZEISS , NIKON , CANON , LEICA , EPSON etc.
there was a stand for LEAF .
I spoke to the representitive of LEAF and asked , if he thinks , that there will be a 48x48 mm sensor available in the future .
His direct answer was : NO , definately NO .
Then , with a little bit of hesitation he said : I can not imagine .
So , if that is true , it leaves the LEAF APTUS II 8 / 9 as ? ? ? ?

Looking to the newest LEAF catalogue , there is an "exploded drawing" for the AFI II camera system , and surprisingly , the 6x6 film holder is not mentioned at all . Only the 4,5 x 6 filmholder .
Should this be an indicator , that any further square format components are obsolete ? ? ? We will never know , but that is the current state .

I am thinking of a bigger sensor back since long .
Looking at the H3D-II 31 , which is currently available for a special price , the back would draw my attention .
But I do not like the H-System and I will never do .
I don't want to be drawn by HASSELBLAD into their H-SYSTEM boat and buy a lot of new lenses . I want to use my V-SYSTEM lenses .
Here is the disadvantage of the closed HASSELBLAD System .
I would go for that H3DII-31 back , but not for the camera . But that back would not fit the V-SYSTEM , although it would be possible , technically , to do so .
So the LEAF comes into the game .
The new LEAF APTUS II - 6 has almost the same specs . Not as much MB , but would fit the V-SYSTEM as well as any LF camera (adaptors required , of course) and also my beautiful ARCA-SWISS 6x9 .

If I compare the special offer from HASSELBLAD H3DII-31 , which is 10.000 € + VAT + ADAPTER for my V-SYSTEM lenses , I end up at almost the same price as for the LEAF APTUS II -6 .

If HASSELBLAD would open their H3DII-31 back , to be attached to the V-SYSTEM , or have a new CFV back , I would go for the HASSELBLAD back .
But I do believe , that the APTUS II-6 is a very good competitor .
And you will not be bound to one brand of camera .

I do like that freedom very much and do not feel bound to HASSELBLAD any more , as the V-SYSTEM users are not even degraded to serious amatuers any more , but absolutely ignored .
Have a look to the latest VICTOT BY HASSELBLAD .

I can remember the time , when HASSELBLAD advertised : HASSELBLAD , in the hands of the best photographers .
That was at times , when the H-SYSTEM was not even born .
Today , all these photographers , which used these phantastic cameras seem to be not exising any more .

They are still there and do outstanding work with their gear .
HASSELBLAD managers , please do never forget that .

Jürgen
 
Two other possibilities are the Sinar eMotion 54LV (22MP) and 75LV, which also come with adapters, user-changeable in minutes. I am planning on getting a 54LV myself.
 
Hello Göteborg, anybody there?

If HASSELBLAD would open their H3DII-31 back , to be attached to the V-SYSTEM , or have a new CFV back , I would go for the HASSELBLAD back .
But I do believe , that the APTUS II-6 is a very good competitor .
And you will not be bound to one brand of camera .

I do like that freedom very much and do not feel bound to HASSELBLAD any more , as the V-SYSTEM users are not even degraded to serious amatuers any more , but absolutely ignored .
Have a look to the latest VICTOT BY HASSELBLAD .

I can remember the time , when HASSELBLAD advertised : HASSELBLAD , in the hands of the best photographers .
That was at times , when the H-SYSTEM was not even born .
Today , all these photographers , which used these phantastic cameras seem to be not exising any more .

They are still there and do outstanding work with their gear .
HASSELBLAD managers , please do never forget that .

Jürgen


Jürgens plea for more attention from Hasselblad for faithful clients is more than justified.
It is not easy to accept that the company whose products mean so much to both amateur and professional users does not have time to meet these users when they asked to visit Hasselblad in Göteborg.

After months of silence and a new request to one of the long time members of staff that I know personally a small group of users were told Hasselblad could not receive us at their factory.

Compare that to other companies that are also struggling to survive the current economical problems like Carl Zeiss.
They invited us and gave us a warm welcome.
CZ is proud to show the production of lenses we know so well.
If asked for in time most factories welcome interested users of their products and see these visits as an excellent opportunity to meet the buyers of their products.

Paul
 
Two other possibilities are the Sinar eMotion 54LV (22MP) and 75LV, which also come with adapters, user-changeable in minutes. I am planning on getting a 54LV myself.

Yes , I have seen these backs as well and they are all in the same price class .
A little magazine , called PROFIFOTO SPEZAIL 81 , unfortunately only available in german language , shows all currently available digital gear , with lots of details .
 
After months of silence and a new request to one of the long time members of staff that I know personally a small group of users were told Hasselblad could not receive us at their factory.

Compare that to other companies that are also struggling to survive the current economical problems like Carl Zeiss.
They invited us and gave us a warm welcome.
CZ is proud to show the production of lenses we know so well.
If asked for in time most factories welcome interested users of their products and see these visits as an excellent opportunity to meet the buyers of their products.

Paul
Perhaps nothing to show. Hasselblad H are made in Japan, and Hasselblad V production... huh. Perhaps only the 503 is (partly) made there, but the huge stock may drive the fact that they are build only one month pro year. Lenses may arrive form Germany finished.
What's the goal to show product manager or marketing staff working on computers ?
 
Yes , I have seen these backs as well and they are all in the same price class .
A little magazine , called PROFIFOTO SPEZAIL 81 , unfortunately only available in german language , shows all currently available digital gear , with lots of details .

The nice thing about the Sinar is that the adapter is user-changeable. Only the Hasselblad CF backs have that, apart from Sinar, and the CF backs are over-priced. Besides, the Sinar uses the Dalsa sensor, same as Leaf. Sinar has been in high-end photography for decades, and take their image quality seriously, so the pixel-level sharpness and colours are very good, even among MF backs.
 
Back
Top