Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Medium Format / Film / Digital Backs – and Large Sensor Photography => Topic started by: rollsman44 on May 28, 2018, 03:55:56 pm

Title: Hasselblad H4D-40 OR Hassy H5D-40
Post by: rollsman44 on May 28, 2018, 03:55:56 pm
  Trying to make a decision between these 2 . I mainly shoot Portraits and Social events   Thank you
Title: Re: Hasselblad H4D-40 OR Hassy H5D-40
Post by: Juanito on May 28, 2018, 07:22:50 pm
It's my understanding that the sensor is the same but that Hasselblad improved the internals of the H5 over the H4. When I spoke with the Hasselblad rep prior to buying my H5, he ran through a laundry list of improvements - especially with the tethering. If you're interested, here's a link to my H5 that's for sale. It includes a Tether Tools Firewire cable and two extra batteries: H5 40mp Camera with 50,000 Actuations (https://www.ebay.com/itm/302721324019).
Title: Re: Hasselblad H4D-40 OR Hassy H5D-40
Post by: Juanito on May 28, 2018, 07:28:34 pm
I know I'm biased here but... I own the X1D and exhibit my prints from that camera side by side with those from the H5-40. Even at 44x60, you can't tell the difference. Everyone wants the 50mp back so the price is much higher for that. The H5-40 is a great deal nowadays.
Title: Re: Hasselblad H4D-40 OR Hassy H5D-40
Post by: rollsman44 on May 29, 2018, 10:33:27 pm
  Thank you I appreciate knowing this 
Title: Re: Hasselblad H4D-40 OR Hassy H5D-40
Post by: Bo_Dez on May 30, 2018, 04:53:18 am
Definitely consider the X1D.

But out of those two I would personally choose the H5. It's just a better, more refined camera.
Title: Re: Hasselblad H4D-40 OR Hassy H5D-40
Post by: jduncan on June 16, 2018, 04:21:45 pm
  Trying to make a decision between these 2 . I mainly shoot Portraits and Social events   Thank you

On its heyday, the H4D-40 was a revolutionary machine: High iso, stable (for those days), affordable. It was a dream. But today in  2018 it's totally a different situation. The H5D-50 is a better option. You may want to consider a CMOS back, but if you control the light the CCDs will do well and will give you some "je ne sais quoi" in terms of look, that the CCDs provided. The modern Hasselblad backs do give a fantastic color, but there is something about CCDs that look different, not better, just different.

If you have the money, taking a close look at the X1D can be a very good idea. I hate the lack of true focus (once you train yourself, it's faster than changing focus points. The FF cameras have tracking that works so multipoint is better), but it's a fantastic machine and one that is very likely to receive investment.

The H viewfinder is addictive, so an extra point for the H, but the X is compact, in a world were traveling is hyper-regulated it could be a plus.

Best regards,