H3D and H6 Question

[JJon]

So, as people have kindly informed me here, I can confirm now that the H3D does indeed work with H4D digital backs. Also, it will take film so it is a wonderful extra camera (and backup body). But, I am trying to figure out what the replacement would be. Would the H6X also use H4D backs and the film back? Would the H6D? Can you even by an H6 without a digital back?

Many thanks.

[landscapephoto]

You cannot buy an H6D without a digital back. (Edit: from the message below this one, some dealers may allow it.)
The H6X will not operate the H4D back (educated guess, I have not actually tried that particular combination). It will operate the film back.
I don't know whether the H6D would operate the H4D back.

[Tarkowsky]

Last year I got my h4d-60 main body destroyed but I managed to save the back (only the protection glass was damaged)
I went to B&H and asked them if I could use one of their bodies and attached my back and see if it was still working.
They gave me the new  H6d body and my H4d-60 back worked just perfectly on it.
Pictures were perfectly on focus.
Of course Hasselblad technicians will tell you that H6d body and H4d back are incompatible but that's just marketing forcing you to buy new stuff.
 

[BobShaw]

I actually have and H3DII back on an H4D. Most things work. I was not aware that the H3D works with H4D backs. Can anyone confirm if H3DII backs work on H3D cameras?

[landscapephoto]

Can anyone confirm if H3DII backs work on H3D cameras?

The one I tried did.

[Joe Towner]

You may find a unused 'previously owned' H6D body from someone who only wanted the 100mp back for tech camera work and preferred the Hasselblad colors.  But I'm not sure what you're going for. 

[JJon]

That is huge to know (as my main cam is H4D60). Out of curiosity what did you end up doing for a camera body? I spoke to Hasselblad / Bron and they said they would try it for me on an H5X. For me this is about having the right insurance replacement value listed. I want to figure out what camera would be a direct replacement of the H3D (given that it functions as a backup for my H4 back and shoots film) in the event of a loss. I was told that they do sell H6D spare bodies but only if you already own another body because they will only sell it matched to the back. My experience was that the H4D60 back worked 100% on my H3D so I think they should give themselves a pat on the back for machining and a wagging finger for marketing and protectionist policies.

If the H6D can fire an H4D back - then perhaps the H6X can as well. The H5X was touted as being a backup body (able to fire H5D backs). The Hasseblad people told me that the H5X and H6X are essentially the same. Has anyone tried an H4D back with the H5X?

Last year I got my h4d-60 main body destroyed but I managed to save the back (only the protection glass was damaged)
I went to B&H and asked them if I could use one of their bodies and attached my back and see if it was still working.
They gave me the new  H6d body and my H4d-60 back worked just perfectly on it.
Pictures were perfectly on focus.
Of course Hasselblad technicians will tell you that H6d body and H4d back are incompatible but that's just marketing forcing you to buy new stuff.

[kenkenman]

That is huge to know (as my main cam is H4D60). Out of curiosity what did you end up doing for a camera body? I spoke to Hasselblad / Bron and they said they would try it for me on an H5X. For me this is about having the right insurance replacement value listed. I want to figure out what camera would be a direct replacement of the H3D (given that it functions as a backup for my H4 back and shoots film) in the event of a loss. I was told that they do sell H6D spare bodies but only if you already own another body because they will only sell it matched to the back. My experience was that the H4D60 back worked 100% on my H3D so I think they should give themselves a pat on the back for machining and a wagging finger for marketing and protectionist policies.

If the H6D can fire an H4D back - then perhaps the H6X can as well. The H5X was touted as being a backup body (able to fire H5D backs). The Hasseblad people told me that the H5X and H6X are essentially the same. Has anyone tried an H4D back with the H5X?

I've tried an H4D 40 MP back with an H5X: doesn't work. 'Incompatible Back' is the error on the body.

[HBIEVP]

So, as people have kindly informed me here, I can confirm now that the H3D does indeed work with H4D digital backs. Also, it will take film so it is a wonderful extra camera (and backup body). But, I am trying to figure out what the replacement would be. Would the H6X also use H4D backs and the film back? Would the H6D? Can you even by an H6 without a digital back?

Many thanks.

Jon,

Thank you for posting this compatibility question. Although some have been kind enough to confirm some camera and back combinations working together, I suggest anyone needing a compatibility confirmation, please send the model, serial number and firmware versions (if known) to techsupport@hasselbladbron.com. As Jon has stated the "H3D body and H4D digital back" are compatible. The "H6X body and H4D digital back" is not compatible, neither is the H6X compatible with any of the integrated camera system sensor units: H1D, H2D, H3D, H3D-II, H4D or H5D (compatibility chart will be updated for the latest camera systems soon) — the H6X is compatible with the Hasselblad Ixpress, CF & CFH digital backs, 3rd Party digital backs and film backs.

Note: when a body and back combination listed as "not compatible" work together, it is not our intention to mislead but to only present solutions that have been tested and confirmed by Hasselblad. Do feel-free to information us about any such combination successes; again, please included the model, serial number and firmware versions and send to: techsupport@hasselbladbron.com.

Sincerely,

Eric Peterson
Field Sales Specialist
Hasselblad   

[Steve Hendrix]

One night I grabbed all the combination bodies I had available and did some cross testing with results tabulated on the attached PDF Matrix. Has not been updated for H6, so cannot speak to that. Eric P, my friend, of course do alert me if any of this seems contrary to the presumed knowledge base.


Steve Hendrix/CI

[JJon]

Damn. I was hopeful that the h4d would work on the h5x because it was my understanding that the h5d back would work and that the h4d would work on the h5d as well. Thanks very much for that chart. Not what I was hoping for but now I know.

One night I grabbed all the combination bodies I had available and did some cross testing with results tabulated on the attached PDF Matrix. Has not been updated for H6, so cannot speak to that. Eric P, my friend, of course do alert me if any of this seems contrary to the presumed knowledge base.


Steve Hendrix/CI

[JJon]

Hi Eric, I actually spoke on the phone with a tech and they said they would try the combo for me and call back but they never did. H4d on h5x. That said - as an insurance question if my h3d body goes south but the back works fine - what is considered the direct replacement? I need to insure it based on that value. It seems like the h6d would be the obvious choice but how do I acquire one without a back?

As an aside I recently saw sales literature stating that the h5x serves as a backup body for h5d owners. I was told by the tech on the phone that h6x is functionally identical to the h5x. So why would the h5d back not be compatible with the h6x officially?

Jon,

Thank you for posting this compatibility question. Although some have been kind enough to confirm some camera and back combinations working together, I suggest anyone needing a compatibility confirmation, please send the model, serial number and firmware versions (if known) to techsupport@hasselbladbron.com. As Jon has stated the "H3D body and H4D digital back" are compatible. The "H6X body and H4D digital back" is not compatible, neither is the H6X compatible with any of the integrated camera system sensor units: H1D, H2D, H3D, H3D-II, H4D or H5D (compatibility chart will be updated for the latest camera systems soon) — the H6X is compatible with the Hasselblad Ixpress, CF & CFH digital backs, 3rd Party digital backs and film backs.

Note: when a body and back combination listed as "not compatible" work together, it is not our intention to mislead but to only present solutions that have been tested and confirmed by Hasselblad. Do feel-free to information us about any such combination successes; again, please included the model, serial number and firmware versions and send to: techsupport@hasselbladbron.com.

Sincerely,

Eric Peterson
Field Sales Specialist
Hasselblad

[BobShaw]

I recently saw sales literature stating that the h5x serves as a backup body for h5d owners.

Sales literature from whom? Fiction is also literature.

[JJon]

Capture Integration - https://captureintegration.com/hasselblad-h5x-compatibility-and-usage/

Sales literature from whom? Fiction is also literature.

[calindustries]

Sorry to the OP as this is a side question. I hadn't noticed there was an H6x out. Does it get better flash sync than the H5x as far as using with iq/credo backs are concerned? I have an H4x and at some point will need to replace it so I am curious if there is a reason to go H6x over H5x.

Thanks,
Craig

[douglevy]

It will, but it's not the camera, it's the lenses. So the H6X with the new 1/2000 lenses will sync with 3rd party backs at those speeds.

[calindustries]

oh that's really cool to know. I thought that the jump from 1/1000 to 1/2000 on the orange lenses had to do with synching tech with the back as well (not strictly the leaf shutter). If it works with 3rd party backs it would be a good reason to jump to the new body and lenses.

thanks

[douglevy]

Side note: it's currently 1/800, not 1/1000

[calindustries]

yeah..... that's what I saw too 

[Joe Towner]

It will, but it's not the camera, it's the lenses. So the H6X with the new 1/2000 lenses will sync with 3rd party backs at those speeds.

Nope, the H6X is limited to 1/800th - from http://www.hasselblad.com/h6-system/h6x
"Electronically controlled integral lens shutter in each lens. Shutter speed range 1/800 s to 18 hours"

The precision timing required to pull off a 1/2000th shutter speed requires a level of integration between the body, lens and back that to do it with a 3rd party back isn't viable IMHO.