Hi from an old guy!

[ski542002]

Hello from the States. My name is Chris. I’m an old guy, freelancing and technically retired but still shooting primarily lots of architecture and some product. Plan to buy into the X2D II 100C in the next few weeks, with the 38 2.5 mounted (to start).

Over the decades, I shot lots of medium format commercially; 95% film. 500CM, Contax 645, Mamiya Rz67, and 645, two Mamiya 6’s and one Mamiya 7. (Even shot weddings initially with the RZ and the Mamia rangefinders). Have shot Canon digicams and now 100% Sony. Will be selling most of my Sony gear to partially fund the X2D as I continue my architectural assignments. Must I do this, NO. But, I want to experience medium format again commercially before I drop dead some day in the future!

Experimented with the X2D a bit and am absolutely thrilled at the level of quality in such a small form factor. Flash sync speeds will be beneficial for some of the minimal portrait work I continue to shoot. Have zero interest in the big Fuji’s. I don't care for the form factor. I just am enamored over the design of the ‘Blad and the leaf shutters. My only real frustration is dealing with Phocus (which I will learn). I dumped Lightroom more than a decade ago and exclusively shoot (tether at times) and process raws (even iPhone family pics), using C1Pro. Will not go back to LR.

As I morph over into shooting the majority of my commercial work with the X2d, I will have some questions about gear adaptability related to primarily my architectural work. I also have some strong opinions regarding the viability of medium format digital, mostly positive.

For now, stay tuned I guess! More to come.

 

[Patrick]

Welcome to the forum! Looking forward to seeing your images.

 

[Gio]

For architectural work you could try to use via a XH adapter the great TiltShift (HTS) mechanism of the H series, plus a HCD28mm or better 24mm (much more expensive and rare). It’s a heavy combo, but I heard it works with the X series. I myself am still using an old H5D-60 digital Hasselblad. With it it works fantastically well (only MF of course, but it shouldn’t be a problem for you given your expertise in film MF!)

 

[Rensselaer]

Hello from the States. My name is Chris. I’m an old guy, freelancing and technically retired but still shooting primarily lots of architecture and some product. Plan to buy into the X2D II 100C in the next few weeks, with the 38 2.5 mounted (to start).

Over the decades, I shot lots of medium format commercially; 95% film. 500CM, Contax 645, Mamiya Rz67, and 645, two Mamiya 6’s and one Mamiya 7. (Even shot weddings initially with the RZ and the Mamia rangefinders). Have shot Canon digicams and now 100% Sony. Will be selling most of my Sony gear to partially fund the X2D as I continue my architectural assignments. Must I do this, NO. But, I want to experience medium format again commercially before I drop dead some day in the future!

Experimented with the X2D a bit and am absolutely thrilled at the level of quality in such a small form factor. Flash sync speeds will be beneficial for some of the minimal portrait work I continue to shoot. Have zero interest in the big Fuji’s. I don't care for the form factor. I just am enamored over the design of the ‘Blad and the leaf shutters. My only real frustration is dealing with Phocus (which I will learn). I dumped Lightroom more than a decade ago and exclusively shoot (tether at times) and process raws (even iPhone family pics), using C1Pro. Will not go back to LR.

As I morph over into shooting the majority of my commercial work with the X2d, I will have some questions about gear adaptability related to primarily my architectural work. I also have some strong opinions regarding the viability of medium format digital, mostly positive.

For now, stay tuned I guess! More to come.

Hi Chris,

I too am an old guy who decided to get back into Hasselblad, despite it being a completely different paradigm (digital camera and processing).

I too am working my way through Phocus (which you must use if you wish to apply Hasselblad's proprietary HNCS colour science and HNNR noise reduction to your RAW files). I found some useful information on "The Tech Behind the Frame News Letter I started receiving after signing up to "blog.tonalphoto.com" . Written/contributed by Konrad Michels, he goes through Phocus with a fine-toothed comb and explains clearly and succinctly how to navigate it to get what you want. I copied to A4 his article "Understanding Hasselblad Phocus on macOS: The Hidden Rules Behind 3FR, FFF, HNCS and HNNR" then, with a pad of paper to take notes, went through each paragraph and wrote a sentence or two in my own wording of what I learned. My apologies if it is too remedial for you, but for me it is essential.

Take care,
Rensselaer

 

[ski542002]

Hello from the States. My name is Chris. I’m an old guy, freelancing and technically retired but still shooting primarily lots of architecture and some product. Plan to buy into the X2D II 100C in the next few weeks, with the 38 2.5 mounted (to start).

Over the decades, I shot lots of medium format commercially; 95% film. 500CM, Contax 645, Mamiya Rz67, and 645, two Mamiya 6’s and one Mamiya 7. (Even shot weddings initially with the RZ and the Mamia rangefinders). Have shot Canon digicams and now 100% Sony. Will be selling most of my Sony gear to partially fund the X2D as I continue my architectural assignments. Must I do this, NO. But, I want to experience medium format again commercially before I drop dead some day in the future!

Experimented with the X2D a bit and am absolutely thrilled at the level of quality in such a small form factor. Flash sync speeds will be beneficial for some of the minimal portrait work I continue to shoot. Have zero interest in the big Fuji’s. I don't care for the form factor. I just am enamored over the design of the ‘Blad and the leaf shutters. My only real frustration is dealing with Phocus (which I will learn). I dumped Lightroom more than a decade ago and exclusively shoot (tether at times) and process raws (even iPhone family pics), using C1Pro. Will not go back to LR.

As I morph over into shooting the majority of my commercial work with the X2d, I will have some questions about gear adaptability related to primarily my architectural work. I also have some strong opinions regarding the viability of medium format digital, mostly positive.

For now, stay tuned I guess! More to come.

Update.

Today I’m taking delivery of my X2D II 100 C, the 75 and 45P, dual battery charger, and the 9mm extension tube. My dealer in the US sourced their extensive network in the States. I ordered all of the gear early last week and feared that I would not receive the body until maybe early June at the earliest.

I have spent many hours reviewing videos and other supporting documents. Have a pro bono baptismal shoot on Sunday and on Tuesday I have my first architectural shoot with the new system.

My biggest challenge is going to be processing all files for now because I’m a capture one guy. Started re-investigating Lightroom which I do not like. I do plan to use Phocus mobile 2 for the iPad and iPhone quite a bit. And of course I will have a small Sony kit with me just in case I have issues.

Looking forward to shooting with my new gear!

 

[ski542002]

Hi Chris,

I too am an old guy who decided to get back into Hasselblad, despite it being a completely different paradigm (digital camera and processing).

I too am working my way through Phocus (which you must use if you wish to apply Hasselblad's proprietary HNCS colour science and HNNR noise reduction to your RAW files). I found some useful information on "The Tech Behind the Frame News Letter I started receiving after signing up to "blog.tonalphoto.com" . Written/contributed by Konrad Michels, he goes through Phocus with a fine-toothed comb and explains clearly and succinctly how to navigate it to get what you want. I copied to A4 his article "Understanding Hasselblad Phocus on macOS: The Hidden Rules Behind 3FR, FFF, HNCS and HNNR" then, with a pad of paper to take notes, went through each paragraph and wrote a sentence or two in my own wording of what I learned. My apologies if it is too remedial for you, but for me it is essential.

Take care,
Rensselaer

Thanks Rensselaer. More goodies for me to absorb! Your suggestions are on my list. I'm also working on my year-end tax return for a meetup with my accountant next week. Damn frustrating to have to focus on that while I have a new toy to learn quickly for my shoots!

 

[davidmknoble]

@ski542002 , I have the X2D and have used the most current versions of Phocus 2 on the ipad using Bluetooth / wifi to transfer files from the camera. I edit them and some I export and posts to instagram. Then, I move them to my macbook and continue editing in Phocus for the mac, printing and storing the final files. It has gotten to be a much better process with the Phocus 2 updates and I expect it will get better!

I am a C1 user as well for my other digital files, but I try to keep with Phocus on the X2D because it just keeps great color results in my opinion.

 

[ski542002]

I will have to attempt Phocus for the Mac. Recently testing, using Phocus on the iPad exporting the selected files as Tiff’s and then moving the Tiffs to capture one.

It seems kind of dumb and counterintuitive for me to bypass the Hasselblad raw files and using tiffs instead of learning the proper raw file converter.

Will attempt Phocus instead of capture one.