Hasselblad H3d II vs H4D - how important is True Focus

[The View]

I'm in the market for a medium format camera and my key target is the H4D-60.

I'm also considering the H3D II-39 or 50 as it basically costs half of what the H4D costs.

And it's easier to get a second body as a backup for a decent price.

I have two concerns about the H3D II

1. No true focus - I guess this would make getting the right areas sharp much harder or even impossible as the focus would not be correct after reframing

2. 1.1 Crop factor. It's not much but it pushes the 80mm lens just into the too long area and makes the 35mm a bit less of a wide angle.

What do you think about these points?

Are there any other concerns I haven't listed? I feel the H4D is still a relatively up to date camera, but I'm not sure if the H3D II isn't outdated.

How about tethering with any of those two? Any differences?

[Chris Livsey]

Another difference which may have no impact on your decision is that the H4D series does not support the HM16-32 film magazine even with the software/firmware version that enabled it on other bodies.

[David Watson]

It is well worth getting an H4D for Truefocus alone.  Extremely useful handheld with studio lighting.  I preferred the images from the H4D-50 over the 60.

You can get a guaranteed used one here:

http://www.procentre.co.uk/sales-secondhand-hasselblad-h-system.php

Pro Centre is owned by Hasselblad.

[The View]

It is well worth getting an H4D for Truefocus alone.  Extremely useful handheld with studio lighting.  I preferred the images from the H4D-50 over the 60.

You can get a guaranteed used one here:

http://www.procentre.co.uk/sales-secondhand-hasselblad-h-system.php

Pro Centre is owned by Hasselblad.

Why do you prefer the images of the H4D-50 over the H5D-60.

Isn't the only difference megapixels and 1.0 crop factor? Or is there a perceptible difference in quality?

[landscapephoto]

Another difference which may have no impact on your decision is that the H4D series does not support the HM16-32 film magazine even with the software/firmware version that enabled it on other bodies.

Neither does the H3DII, only the H3D (first version) supports the film back. Also the H5 and H6.

[Chris Livsey]

Neither does the H3DII, only the H3D (first version) supports the film back. Also the H5 and H6.

Indeed , thank you for the correction, but given the "almost free" price of a H1 if film is required that will cover. (£250)

[tazdog]

Thanks for the comments I am also debating which to get 

[rem]

It‘s also a different sensor brand in the H4D50 and H4D60.

[The View]

It‘s also a different sensor brand in the H4D50 and H4D60.

Who does the 50 and who does the 60?

[Joe Towner]

Who does the 50 and who does the 60?

Kodak the 50, Dalsa the 60

[eronald]

Kodak the 50, Dalsa the 60

The 40 has Kodak+microlenses, the 50 is one stop slower, Kodak no microlenses.

[BobShaw]

I have the H3DII-31 and H3DII-39 and after learning here that an H4D body supports an H3 back I bought an H4D body and now use that with the back.
I would say that true focus is definitely nice, but I could probably live without it. They are both good bodies.

Sure I would like more megapixels. Who wouldn't. But 39 is still a lot more than the 20 I had on my Canon with which could shoot a metre wide, and gives a much better image.

[eronald]

I have the H3DII-31 and H3DII-39 and after learning here that an H4D body supports an H3 back I bought an H4D body and now use that with the back.
I would say that true focus is definitely nice, but I could probably live without it. They are both good bodies.

Sure I would like more megapixels. Who wouldn't. But 39 is still a lot more than the 20 I had on my Canon with which could shoot a metre wide, and gives a much better image.

Bob, how does one calibrate the AF to match the back alignment?

Edmund

[BobShaw]

Bob, how does one calibrate the AF to match the back alignment?

Edmund

I don't know, but there doesn't seem to be a problem.
In past times it used to give an error if there was a mismatch.
Something to check out.

[The View]

Kodak the 50, Dalsa the 60

Isn't this the sensor all the Phase One people are excited about?

What would be the key difference?

I'd like to get a full frame sensor for a 1.0 crop factor.

In regards to TrueFocus, as I shoot fashion and portrait it's worth it for me and I'm going for the H4D. It's more expensive, but with the shallow depth of field it's simply a great thing to have. And I heard it really works very very well and every time. It's not a gadget.

[Chris Livsey]

Bob, how does one calibrate the AF to match the back alignment?

Edmund

Perhaps, like the 16 bit files, this was more marketing than reality ?

[douglevy]

I have an H1, H5x and Credo 60. Truefocus is HUGE. Without it, I don't trust myself or the camera to shoot wider than 5.6, and even then I feel like I'm living on the edge.

[The View]

I have an H1, H5x and Credo 60. Truefocus is HUGE. Without it, I don't trust myself or the camera to shoot wider than 5.6, and even then I feel like I'm living on the edge.

Thanks for the confirmation.

Has the Credo 60 the same sensor as the hasselblad H4d-60?

What made you pick h5x and Credo over Hasselblad H5d?

[douglevy]

No idea re:sensor. I picked the Credo because at the time, the Credo 40 was on sale (I obviously later upgraded), I preferred the skin tones, and (most importantly) Capture One.

[The View]

Does anybody know the dynamic range of the h4d50 and 60 sensor?

Could 12.7 f stops be right?