Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Medium Format / Film / Digital Backs – and Large Sensor Photography => Topic started by: bradleygibson on June 20, 2008, 03:05:19 am
-
About 6 years ago I started to think seriously about moving to medium format. I'm so excited that I think I've finally arrived at the destination on this journey.
My Hy6 arrived tonight--I've been poking and prodding it all night. My wife is laughing at me because I must look like an idiot as I jiggle the whole thing trying to see if that neck strap contraption will *really* hold (really, really) if I carry the whole thing by the strap...
In any case, I can offer some first impressions:
1) The camera (w/o lens or back) is ridiculously light and small. I was pretty surprised, even though I had read the specs (grams count when you're in the mountains!)
1.5) Add a piece of glass like a 110/2 or a 180/2.8 and you are going to notice. If you're a "camera by the pound guy" (heavier camera must equal better quality, right?) grab some big glass for this bad boy--you won't be disappointed.
2) Aside from the plasticky look & feel of the 'unlock' buttons (allowing removal of the back, finder, or movement of the handle) the build quality is superb. Nary a squeak, wiggle or other problem to be found. Aside from the aforementioned buttons, the fit & finish exceeds my Hasselblad H2.
3) WLF is gorgeous.
4) Camera and back are well-integrated. While I am not getting the lens in my metadata, I am getting shutter speed, aperture and ISO. I'd love to know what lens I used (or be able to search on such metadata), so if it's possible, may I humbly request this metadata in a future firmware release?
5) Like every MFDB I've used, the white balance is what I'd call poor. Even small format DSLR's aren't great, but the sooner the WB sensor information gets used & recorded in the file, the sooner Sinar will jump to the head of the pack for out-of-the-box color under natural and variable light.
6) My back didn't have firmware v5, and so I wasn't able to select "Hy6" as my body type for a few moments until I realized I must need an update. Updater was Mac only! (Did I miss the PC version?)
7) My camera was trying to do bad things to my "half-stop-maximum aperture" 40/3.5 and 60/3.5 until I remembered Theirry mentioning the firmware update for the body fixing this issue. Updater was PC only!! (Did I miss the Mac version??)
8) I will try to post some tasty pictures later this weekend. Everything's dark here now that I've figured out what all the buttons do...
Happy to answer questions if folks still have any. FYI, my revolving back and upgraded "generation 2" eMotion 75LV back have not arrived yet, so I'm still using the non-revolving plate and the "generation 1" digital back.
Have a great night everyone,
-Brad
-
Envious! Please post some samples shots!
p.s. I am going to send you up some black spray paint.
-
Welcome in the family, Brad, and congratulations.
5) Like every MFDB I've used, the white balance is what I'd call poor. Even small format DSLR's aren't great, but the sooner the WB sensor information gets used & recorded in the file, the sooner Sinar will jump to the head of the pack for out-of-the-box color under natural and variable light.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=202539\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Agreed, Brad. The default profiles are default ones: an average calculated from a few backs. For example, the "flash" profile is made with flash light, with a certain brand, at a certain power.
I never use these profiles, instead a grey card or Macbeth chart. Just throw it in the first shot, and from time to time if the light is changing. That way it can be balanced later (or in-camera if you wish). You will have a perfect starting point.
6) My back didn't have firmware v5, and so I wasn't able to select "Hy6" as my body type for a few moments until I realized I must need an update. Updater was Mac only! (Did I miss the PC version?)
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=202539\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Only Mac version exists.
7) My camera was trying to do bad things to my "half-stop-maximum aperture" 40/3.5 and 60/3.5 until I remembered Theirry mentioning the firmware update for the body fixing this issue. Updater was PC only!! (Did I miss the Mac version??)
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=202539\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Mac (or PC) 2.09 version can be downloaded from our webpage (www.sinarcameras.com): login and go to "Downloads" ---> "Software
8) I will try to post some tasty pictures later this weekend. Everything's dark here now that I've figured out what all the buttons do...
-Brad
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=202539\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
OH YES!
Best regards,
Thierry
-
LOL!!!!!!!!
Thank you!!
Envious! Please post some samples shots!
p.s. I am going to send you up some black spray paint.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=202543\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
-
Thank you for the warm welcome, Thierry!
As you know I would not be here if it weren't for your efforts patiently answering my questions and supporting my requests for raw files, etc over the past 15 months. It took a long time to get here, but I'm happy to have arrived.
Take care,
Brad
Welcome in the family, Brad, and congratulations.
Agreed, Brad. The default profiles are default ones: an average calculated from a few backs. For example, the "flash" profile is made with flash light, with a certain brand, at a certain power.
I never use these profiles, instead a grey card or Macbeth chart. Just throw it in the first shot, and from time to time if the light is changing. That way it can be balanced later (or in-camera if you wish). You will have a perfect starting point.
Only Mac version exists.
Mac (or PC) 2.09 version can be downloaded from our webpage (www.sinarcameras.com): login and go to "Downloads" ---> "Software
OH YES!
Best regards,
Thierry
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=202547\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
-
congratulations!
Thank you for the warm welcome, Thierry!
As you know I would not be here if it weren't for your efforts patiently answering my questions and supporting my requests for raw files, etc over the past 15 months. It took a long time to get here, but I'm happy to have arrived.
Take care,
Brad
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=202562\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
-
Thank you, dustblue!
I couldn't wait until the weekend... A trip I had planned was cancelled due to bad weather so I got a chance to get out and shoot a bit.
For a first shoot with the camera, I was very impressed. I took shots in a public park with an industrial factory left standing as 'art'. I'm very happy with the keepers I got with the new kit.
http://GibsonPhotographic.com/Gas%20Works%20Park (http://GibsonPhotographic.com/Gas%20Works%20Park).
Best regards,
Brad
-
Thierry,
I noticed this (551.43.097) in the Hy6 kit I borrowed for the weekend.
Is it a new item, included with eMotion purchase? It's very well made.
Billy
[attachment=7172:attachment]
Inside diameter (white area) is about 95mm.
-
Bily,
"this" is the opal "white shading diffusor. It is part of the kit since the beginning.
Best regards,
Thierry
Thierry,
I noticed this (551.43.097) in the Hy6 kit I borrowed for the weekend.
Is it a new item, included with eMotion purchase? It's very well made.
Billy
[attachment=7172:attachment]
Inside diameter (white area) is about 95mm.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=202950\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
-
Hi Thierry,
does it come with the Hy6 or with the e-75LV?
IOW,would it be supplied with my kit,that I'm about to collect from Sun?
Cheers,
Willem.
-
hi Willem,
It comes in the case, with the kit.
Kind regards,
Thierry
Hi Thierry,
does it come with the Hy6 or with the e-75LV?
IOW,would it be supplied with my kit,that I'm about to collect from Sun?
Cheers,
Willem.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=202981\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
-
Thanks Thierry!