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New H3D

My 2nd fridge in the garage is stuffed to the gills with film Wilko.

I still will be shooting my M7 (even though I'll soon have the M8) and film Hasselblads (despite all the digital backs).

Some for for weddings ... and for all my personal work.

Weddings, because I'm sick to death of processing hundreds of files in front of the computer like some lab rat. Especially the endlessly boring formals where people try to see how many mathematical combinations can be constructed with family members : -)

Personal work because film looks better to my eye.

So, I'm a dual user, and will remain so.
 
It has been reported that Leica has obtained 51% of Sinar. Rollie and Sinar will produce a 6X6 called the Hy6 with it's own back. Leaf will produce it's own version and name it(AFi) using their back. So, when the dust settles there will be a lot of choices to consider. A great deal to think about, and I'll being deciding what film I want. I hope.
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Regards:

Gilbert
 
Yes, I see what you mean. For weddings that would amount to unpaid labour. I've seen it happen at a prof. photographer friend who went digital (on Nikon btw ; she still has her Blad with film).

Wilko
 
Hi Marc, Nick and some other serious guys that try to solve my problems.
First of all thanks for your concern. Yes the powerissue I know of, eve a PC can have the same problem, thinking a battery has a different power than it has.
Now this is how it went Friday.
My camera was finally in for an "agressive" check where they really provoced it and yes it has problems they haven't seen before. upgrading etc done, of course.
This is the good stuff: I got a new H2D right of and will have it til they solved the problems and yes they will upgrade me to an H3D without cost. This makes me feel better.
Agree fully that digital equipment has its flaws, but as Marc writes, the quality is astonishing!
The workflow is marvelous, the control and the possibility to make some of the money the lab did before....

Well let's hope Hasselblad or Imacon stays on...
 
Gentlemen, given what are described as huge leaps forward by MF back makers in recent times, are issues like the seemingly disappointing attributes (magenta cast to name one) of the Leica M8 sensor prevalent among MF backs today?

It strikes me that high end MF pro users like Marc are sometimes the pioneering early adopters these companies desperately need. But in the consumer segments every customer is at risk of disappointing performance. Do you feel the likes of Hasselblad / Imacon and Leaf have had such issues - I don't mean issues like "relative performance", but rather fundamental issues like blacks that are purple!

I suppose my questions raise the limitations of small sensors, but all things being relative, I suppose a 10Mp 35mm sensor may face similar challenges to something like a 20MP MF sensor. But resolution is only one thing, what about the attributes / quality of the pixels! Is a "good" 35mm sensor more desirable than a "weak" MF sensor? Maybe the answer is yeas and that is why Canon's initial "super size" sensor shook the MF market so hard?

Whatever, I want my blacks black and not purple. So, for Marc, did you ever have an M8-like experience with an MF back?
 
Simon, MF backs are not without their issues. But it varies based on how new the technology is.

For ex&le, I found the Hasselblad CFV back as close to prefect as it gets right out of the box. The 16 meg sensor has been around for quite some time. The only caveat I could reference is that the LCD playback is somewhat primitive, compared to even a Canon Rebel. But most pro shooters don't use it in that manner anyway, opting to trust the Histogram for exposure evaluation.

The next best thing to that experience is the Hasselblad H2D/39. However, I do run into issues from time to time, but you get used to that and learn the field fixes pretty quickly. Rebooting has become a photographic term now : -)

Color has never been an issue with the Imacons.

I recently experienced some color and banding issues with my Leaf Aptus 75. They are so recent, that I'd prefer not getting into them until I determine the cause(s) ... which may well be user error, or power issues.

The single biggest cause of MF Back issues I found to date are often user error, or related to a low battery power.

The issues with the M8 (which I have), are related to rangefinder design. The rear element sits so close to the sensor that design problems not encountered to any great degree by DSLRs makers have raised their ugly head. A deliberately weak IR cut filter in front of the M8 sensor is the offending culprit. Leica supposedly did this to preserve image integrity.
This strategy may well be the only solution ... requiring the use of IR cut filters on each lens and in some cases "coding" of wide angle lenses to allow correction of cyan vignetting.

Frankly, for the casual photographer wishing to enter the digital world in a significant way, I would say Canon or Nikon offers the path of least resistance. My Canons are faithful and trouble free under the most difficult of conditions.

For MF shooters using the Hasselblad V system, the CFV is a no brainer. I can say the same thing for the old Kodak ProBack 645C or M for those shooting a Contax 645 or Mamiya 645 AFD. Trouble is finding one used that someone will part with.

Adopting new digital solutions 35mm or MF is not for the faint of heart. It is a more secure strategy to wait, and buy the version prior to the new one ... the bugs have been worked out or are a known entity rather than a surprise event while shooting.
 
Thanks Marc - an excellent synopsis putting it all into perpective. For me, nothing other than the D5 has in any tempted me to go digital yet, but my 1v HS has much life left in her yet
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And no matter how tepting the H2/3D may be the price certainly is out of my ball-park. Who knows a CFV may win the day for me yet!
 
Simon

I realise that this is a MF forum, but think I can talk about the M8 here as it is very relevent to the above discussions. There is a problem as Marc describes which is unique to the rangefinder design, but you really need to go and try one of these. Take some shots on an SD card take em away and see what you think. I did not want to like it and was hoping to dismiss it after a trial but it actually has a lot of plus points. The level of detail is extremely impressive. Probably not better than a D5 but its a hell of a lot easier to use Leica glass on an M8 than it is on a D5. If you like the very distinctive Leica images then this is a serious option. The 1/8000 shutter speed may seem a bit strange, but what this means is you can shoot wide open in fairly bright conditions. The 1.4 lux and also the noctilux become very interesting especially at an effective focal lenght of 75mm! For those who shoot portraits think it will take a good few MF users out of the system.

Regards

Richard
 
Simon

The CFV is a 16 MEG back . Therefore it should be named CFV16 . Perhaps around the middle of next year there will be a CFV22 or even a CFV39 .
This would easily be possible as you can attach a CF22 / CF39 back to almost all MF cameras when using the correct adapter .
This does not seem to be wanted by HASSELBLAD on the one side and therefore the price for a CF39 is almost as high as for a H3D . I believe , Mr.Imacon wants all HASSELBLAD users to switch to H-System and sell their good V-SYSTEM gear .
But on the other side , the market might develop different . Look at the new ROLLEI HY6 .
Most existing lenses can be used and the camera can be better integrated in existing gear .
So i will put up a question here :
Will V-SYSTEM users go for a CFV back , a CF22/39 back , a H3D or might be , a FLEXTIGHT X5 scanner . Interesting times are coming up .
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Well... I would imagine that Mr. Imacon would not spit on people buying one of their nice & expensive backs for the V-series. As in: better sell them an Imacon back for the V-series than loose them to either another vendor who sells them a V-series back or sells them a 1DsMKII..

Interesting times we live in, indeed..

Wilko
 
You already can put a Hasselblad CF/22/39 back on a 500 series camera.

I doubt there will be a CFV version since the 22 & 39 meg sensors are not square, they are 645 sized and shaped (actually they're 1.1X of 645) . This requires you to manually remove and rotate the back from landscape orientation to portrait using the adapter designed for this purpose as Hasselblads aren't designed to be 645 cameras held in portrait orientation. This set up also requires a sync cord from the leaf shutter lens to the back.

The CFV back doesn't require either because it is a square sensor, and there is no adapter required ... so the film advance lever activates the digital back (no sync cord required). If a way to do that with the back in 2 different positions could be devised, maybe it could happen.

Interestingly, Cameras with a rotating backs like the Mamiya RZD and Rollie can accomidate changing framing orientation without manually removing the digital back.

For those with an extensive collection of V series lenses, there is a fully auto aperture CF adapter for using them on a H camera.

I use CF lenses on a variety of cameras, and in some cases also use FE glass on cameras other than the 200 series bodies. One of my favorites is the Mamiya 645AFD with an adapter allowing use of the FE glass along with the Mamiya's in-viewfinder AF confirmation.
 
Marc,

I have a number of Hasselblad CF and CFi lenses, as well as a Mamiya 645AFDii. Is there an adapter that will allow me to use these lenses on the Mamiya as well as the FE lenses? If so, could you post a link?

Thank you in advance.
 
Yes Bob, There is an adapter that lets you use any V series lens on your Mamiya.

I don't have the link anymore, but just go to e-bay and do a search for Hasselblad to Mamiya 645 Lens adapter. That's how I found mine.
 
as Hasselblads aren't designed to be 645 cameras held in portrait orientation.

True.
But they can anyway, just like any other camera. And as easily as you can do with, say, a Mamiya 645. The only thing you need is an 90 degree prism.
So you don't need to rotate the back. Just do what every 6x4.5 camera user does, and flip the camera.

V-System Hasselblads have been 6x4.5 cameras (if and when you want to) from 1956 onwards.
A 90 degree prism however 'only' became available in 1960.
 
Marc

I know the CFV has a square sensor . And i did not mean a "speculation CFV22 or CFV39" with a square sensor , but a CFV22/CFV39 in the "classic body" , for those who love or prefer the classic design .
 
Yes, I understood that Jurgen. I was saying that the CFV, which requires a stationary back to operate as it's currently designed, precludes the ability to rotate the back to the portrait orientation.

Q.G., I am aware of the 90 degree prism, and tried to use one with a 645 Hasselblad back (which I still own), but found it exceedingly awkward. Using the CW winder helped in holding the camera ... and I seemed to recall there were limitations to the 90 degree finder in terms of certain backs ... what would be interesting is how it would work in conjuntion with a digital back that requires a two pronged attack to remove it from the camera.

IMO, when you spend that amount of money on a digital back, the camera itself is secondary.
The price for a Hasseblad CF/39 back is just about the same as a H2D/39 bundle (complete with camera, lens, and finder). Add the CF adapter and all your current C, CF, CFi or CFE lenses are good to go.

Personally, I would love to see a CFV/33 with a larger square sensor so I could use the cameras as I have for 30 years. It'll never happen, but one can dream out loud.
 
<personally,>

Marc,
I am sharing that dream, a Hasselblad CFV back that does not make my SWC a moderate wide angle and that allows me to use my shutterless lenses.

I have not yet understood why it is impossible. Technically it should not be a big problem. Is the estimated number of potential buyers that low compared to the buyers of the sensors that fit into the 4,5x6 cm frame?

Ulrik
 
Marc

You bring a 5th variation into the game . Let me point out the variations you could go , when going digital as HASSELBLAD V-SYSTEM owner/user .

aaa) Get a digital back (for ex&le a CF22) + adapter for your V-SYSTEM and then use all existing V-SYSTEM gear . Or even LF cameras .
bbb) Get a CFV back , no adapter and use all existing V-SYSTEM gear .
ccc ) Get a H-SYSTEM camera set and buy new lenses and accessories . Keep or sell your existing V-SYSTEM gear .
ddd) Get a H-SYSTEM body or set plus a CF-ADAPTER and use at least your existing C , CF , CFI or CFE lenses without auto focus possibility .
eee) Get a FLEXTIGHT X1/X5 scanner and scan your transparencies .

All variations regarded as "if you could afford" .

Now , a question to all of you , who plan or want to go digital with your V-SYSTEM .

Which variation would you prefer or go and most important , WHY .

I am very much looking forward for your replies .
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Yes Ulrik

I also dream of a 48mm square sensor back . That would enable me to use all my existing gear as i have done in the past (but now digital , of course)
 
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