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New H3D

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emilgil

New Member
Hasselblad apparently introduced this yesterday or so, the new H3D. 22 or 39 Mpixels with 37x49mm sensor, CF-card slot, new focus adjustment mechanism (Ultra-Focus) new prism finder and new waist level finder. Introduced together with a new HCD 28/4 lens.

http://www.hasselblad.se
 
Marketing hype. The sensor and back itself are the same as the current H2D/22-39. The camera has been made to be only a digital MF. No film back can be used (like the current H2D/22-39).

The new lens has been chipped to be useable only on the new H3D body ... leaving those with an H1 or H2 body without the 28mm option. No backward compatibility.

Full frame is marketing hype also. I suspect that the new camera simply reduced the viewfinder area of the interchangable finders to fit the existing digital sensor. I'd guess these new finder prisms are also NOT backwards compatible.

The new scanners appear to be Hype also. Hasselblad has dropped the low end scanner, and replaced the 646 with similar spec'ed scanner costing many thousands more.
 
Marc

Four modes of operation and storage are available and it says very clear : On the film front an optional magazine for 120/220 films is offered .
So the H3D can use the digital back as well as film backs .
Jurgen
happy.gif
 
Right you are Jugen. My error and apologies. I wonder if it is the same film back as the current H one?

I also do not know for sure if the new finders will work on previous cameras. I hope so, but doubt it.

The most disconcerning news is not being able to use the HC28mm on current H bodies. This is something new for Hasselblad.
 
Sadly, this goes some way to confirming my fears and suspicions that Hasselblad would simply become a badge, stuck on a Japanese camera - the present Zeiss lenses are probably regarded as an overkill and will be replaced by cheaply made (but very expensive) Japanese ones! It's rather like sticking a Rolls Royce radiator on a Nissan Sunny.
 
> I know there are definite advantages to digital in certain > circumstances...no film cost, instant pictures, ability to reshoot > almost immediately if something was not "quite right", etc. > However, at the cost they want for the digital H3D, what is the > "break even" point vs film? Since the digital arena obsoletes in > approx 12-18 months, does it "really" gain you that much vs using > film and a scanner??? Either way, you are going to run the images > through something like PS so that part evens out between the two > methodologies.

I am not trying to stir up a firestorm here. I would truly like some honest opinions from those you have used both approaches.
 
These cameras and backs are aimed at commercial accounts, funded institutions, rental houses and higher volume photo studios more than amateurs. The cost of film, processing, proofs, and commercial level drum scans can pay for one of these in short time.

That is because all commercial printing is now digitally mastered. Film images are no longer "separated" onto film. It's all done in the digital domain, so what is required are digital files even if you shoot film. A good commercial drum scan runs anywhere from $25. (small) to $75. each (medium) ... or more. A single catalog can have 100+ images in it. Clients are increasingly reluctant to pay over $10,000. in expenses on such a job.

In contrast, that huge expense is off-set by the photographer charging a digital capture fee. If they own the gear rather than renting it, they capture that fee to go toward paying for the gear. This is the reason I own my own MF digital backs which take me about a year and a half to cover (depending on volume)

Finally, most all of the MF digital back makers provide an upgrade path that reduces the cost of keeping up with technological advances.
 
Marc, on the subject of capture fees. Where does one start? I'm fairly new to Digital capture and alot of people I talk to haven't mentioned capture fees. I would normally charge hourly + a film($70) and scanning charge($35)that covered my time, materials etc. what I've guestimated was, I present a contact sheet 12-15 images and the clients picks 1 image for use and I would charge the old film charge as the capture fee plus any retouching or photoshop work if needed. Can you help shed some light on this subject.
 
You have to structure a business model that takes into account all the cost factors stemming from Digital Capture as opposed to film work ... The difference in price for a digital back verses a film back, as well as all the collateral stuff like having a computer and various software, etc.

You may just look at what you were paying for film, processing and scanning before, and use that as a guideline. The difference is, you are making the money not the lab and scanning service.

Another simple way is to base the fee on how much it would cost to rent the gear needed

This capture fee is accepted practice with commercial work for corporations and ad agencies. The general public like wedding clients and portrait clients wouldn't understand it.
 
Well I am so outraged! I ordered a new H2D in March, got it in June and 3 months later they come out with a new model! I wrote hasselblad and asked what they intend to do, no answer what so ever! I have made an investement as big as a car and they do not even bother to answer! I will get on the case and make sure that every pro magazine gets the story clear, it is madness! In two years are we looking at H20D? Worse off, the camera does not function 100%, it locks itself with software problems, it does not sync flashunits when battery power is showing a symbol in the finder, etc etc
Stay away from Hasselblad, that is my recommendation!
 
<font color="119911">Staffan, what do you expect? It's digital, not photography. Digital is obsolete the minute you order it. It just so happens that in your case this happened literally.

These are the types of things which happen when one steps away from film, to the "dark side".
 
> Hi Staffan > Talk to your dealer, you will probably get a free upgrade to an H3D or failing that the upgrade is 1000 euro.. What flexcolour version are you running? The latest will update your back firmware and should resolve any camera lockups. If you can provide more information about the issues you are having I will try to help. regards Nick-T
 
> You are closer to the truth than you might imagine. Figure in the > time of design, prototypes, die production, manufacturing, and > distribution, and you end up with it being obsolete something like > 2 years BEFORE you buy it.
 
Hi Nick
Thanks for your questions and concern.
I’m using 4.6.1
All the contacts have been cleaned, but the camera still tells me it has lens communication problems.
No sync to flash when battery power shows on display (does not mean its empty), try to use camera flash to sync the main flash to get going, does not work either. After battery change I can get it working with following procedure, take away the viewfinder and digital back, mount them back , restart and it will sync again...
Everything freezes now and then, just have to take away battery and restart, great when models and crew is waiting, great loss of flow in communication...
The focus, which I always leave on manual and use, the user button to focus will change to automatic with a restart, so we change that as well.
When you put a full flash card in the camera it tells me it's full and sometimes I cant get out of that mood unless I restart, I know it's full, I want to format!
Yes the dealer offered me an upgrade for 1000 Euro...
Do you think I should pay 1000 euro to hope that we get out of this?
Have I paid enough already?
What do you think?
 
Hi Staffan Comments inserted below:

>Staffan wrote: >I’m using 4.6.1

Can you confirm that your back is running firmware 168?

> All the contacts have been cleaned, but the camera still tells me it > has lens communication problems. > Is this by any chance with the zoom lens? If you you might need to get it's EPROM firmware updated.

> No sync to flash when battery power shows on display (does not mean > its empty), try to use camera flash to sync the main flash to get > going, does not work either. After battery change I can get it working > with following procedure, take away the viewfinder and digital back, > mount them back , restart and it will sync again... > I have never come across this, sounds like a fault in the sync circuit ie hardware. > Everything freezes now and then, just have to take away battery and > restart, great when models and crew is waiting, great loss of flow in > communication... > These issues should be resolved with FW 168 and a lens update prehaps

> The focus, which I always leave on manual and use, the user button to > focus will change to automatic with a restart, so we change that as > well. > Again I've not seen this before. > When you put a full flash card in the camera it tells me it's full and > sometimes I cant get out of that mood unless I restart, I know it's > full, I want to format! > What cards are you using? Sandisk?

> Yes the dealer offered me an upgrade for 1000 Euro... > Do you think I should pay 1000 euro to hope that we get out of this? > Have I paid enough already? > What do you think? >

Well in my opinion (for what it's worth) your purchase is recent enough to qualify for a free update to the H3D, firmware aside, it sounds to me like you have some hardware issues that need to be fixed. Hope that helps Nick-T
 
"In 2 years are we looking at an H20D?"

Yes, possibly.
The average shelf life of Digital Cameras is 8 months.(according to Nikon's Canadian rep.)

"Just have to take away the battery and restart. Great when models and crew is waiting."
Just think about shooting a wedding...the exchange of rings is taking place and you have to remove and reinsert batteries! Do you ask the Reverend to "Hold on"? Understanding clients will be the next requirement.
 
Hold on! Since when has a camera been obsolete just because something newer has come out. I am going to have to break the news to my 1978 500cm that it can't take great shots anymore. If anyone wants to throw out their H2D I can provide it with a very nice home.
 
First answer yes I use San disk as recommended by Haselblad, second question I do not understand negative or positive?

Phillip, hope you understand this: camera with film is always improving because the film you put in is something new (finer grai etc).
A digital camera is never better than it was when you bought it, some improvements on RAW exrtraction because of software etc. This means if you buy a Canon D10 today and a 20 comes out tomorrow, you can hardly sell it for half the price you bought it.
If the H2D was a great camera I would not mind as much, but when the camera is not even near 80% doing well, who is the guy to throw out another model? Digital cameras are more like cars... I think
 
Staffan, you are talking about several issues all at once and I am not sure that they should be mixed.

If you are unhappy with the H2D that is one thing, but it doesn't have anything to do with the production of an H3D.

My digital camera is a nikon d200, and I know that nikon will come out with something like a d200s next year, and my d200 will still take great pictures as long as I keep doing my part.

Is a camera a good investment for resale, with very few exceptions, no, buy real-estate.

I am a film lover, but that is because I am a hobbyist. But I am also really learning to appreciate digital, its different but also very worthy. Film and vinyl and the Beatles and buying music are all things of the past, we can reminisce, but they aren’t coming back.
 
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