Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Medium Format / Film / Digital Backs – and Large Sensor Photography => Topic started by: Neil Williams on April 08, 2018, 11:30:07 am

Title: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: Neil Williams on April 08, 2018, 11:30:07 am: Guys
I am going on another Tanzania safari in September and have this possibly stupid idea of taking my Hasselblad H6D100 with me rather than what might be considered the correct tool for the job being my Nikon gear. If I take my Nikon gear then it will be this;

Nikon D500
Nikon D810
Nikon 600mm f4 (latest one)
Nikon 100/400mm (latest one I think)

But If I take my H6D then I guess I would need to get a HC300 to go with it, but even that on my H6D would be maybe 200mm (135 equivalent) which in my opinion would be way way to short. Last time I was in Tanzania I used my D800e with my 600mm f4 lens 95% of the time and my 70/200 the rest

I'm thinking leave the Hasselblad at home and take Nikon, but would be interested to hear what others think

Neil
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: Bo_Dez on April 08, 2018, 01:39:39 pm: I would take both personally.

You would likely find your Nikon more usable on some shots but the Hasselblad would still have it's place for landscape sort of work and I think you would regret not having it.

Get the 300 for the Blad - there is also a 1.7 tele converter too as well so that would take you close to 400mm. Also, being 100MP you can crop it right down anyway.
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: Neil Williams on April 08, 2018, 02:47:29 pm: Quote from: Bo_Dez on April 08, 2018, 01:39:39 pm
I would take both personally.

You would likely find your Nikon more usable on some shots but the Hasselblad would still have it's place for landscape sort of work and I think you would regret not having it.

Get the 300 for the Blad - there is also a 1.7 tele converter too as well so that would take you close to 400mm. Also, being 100MP you can crop it right down anyway.
Does the 1.7 TC give AF as well??

Neil
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: stever on April 08, 2018, 10:53:58 pm: i'd take both with the 200 and a moderate wide angle for the Blad. I like African landscapes and animals with landscape (eg wildebeast herds). That said, if you're only going to be in the Serengeti where you're confined to the roads the wide to medium opportunities are reduced.
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: Joe Towner on April 08, 2018, 11:01:38 pm: Quote from: Neil Williams on April 08, 2018, 02:47:29 pm
Does the 1.7 TC give AF as well??

Yep, at least with the 210mm. Take the Hass and what ever glass you can carry. Toss in the D500 with the longest zoom and call it done.
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: landscapephoto on April 09, 2018, 04:22:33 pm: There was an article about that subject on this very site 4 years ago:

https://luminous-landscape.com/why-medium-format-digital/ (https://luminous-landscape.com/why-medium-format-digital/)

and more here, from the same photographer:

http://www.theglobalphotographer.com/the-global-photographer/tag/tanzania?currentPage=2 (http://www.theglobalphotographer.com/the-global-photographer/tag/tanzania?currentPage=2)

(https://luminous-landscape.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/AndyBiggs_052213__Grumeti_043.jpg)
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: Neil Williams on April 09, 2018, 04:55:44 pm: Quote from: Joe Towner on April 08, 2018, 11:01:38 pm
Yep, at least with the 210mm. Take the Hass and what ever glass you can carry. Toss in the D500 with the longest zoom and call it done.
Joe
I am taking
H6D100c with HC300 HC100 HC50 II and a 1.7 TC
Leica Binoculars
I will leave the Nikon gear at home

Thats it

Neil
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: Joe Towner on April 09, 2018, 05:23:24 pm: Quote from: Neil Williams on April 09, 2018, 04:55:44 pm
H6D100c with HC300 HC100 HC50 II and a 1.7 TC
Leica Binoculars
I will leave the Nikon gear at home

It's gonna be a blast - you'll get plenty of odd looks I figure. ;D The HC300 is the only Hass lens I haven't used, and with the 1.7x a focal length of 510mm is going to work the higher ISOs on the body.

Crap, now I want to play with one....
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: Neil Williams on April 10, 2018, 03:54:09 pm: So here is the final list of equipment for now;
Leica S007 (Body Only for a backup)
H6D100c
HC300
HC100
HC50 II
HC1.7 TC
Leica S to H adapter
Ball head with clamp to fit on top of the jeeps roof

Cant wait to go now......roll on September

Neil
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: Joe Towner on April 11, 2018, 11:45:43 pm: You know they'll announce the X2D in time to screw with your decisions ;D
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: Neil Williams on April 12, 2018, 04:12:20 am: Quote from: Joe Towner on April 11, 2018, 11:45:43 pm
You know they'll announce the X2D in time to screw with your decisions ;D
X2D
X2D to H adapter ;D ;D ;D ;D
Leica S007 (Body Only for a backup)
H6D100c
HC300
HC100
HC50 II
HC1.7 TC
Leica S to H adapter
Ball head with clamp to fit on top of the jeeps roof
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: ErikKaffehr on April 13, 2018, 02:46:04 am: Hi,

You could consider the Fuji GFX-2 also. It has a real focal plane shutter, also supports HC lenses but can probably also work with a Canon 100-400/4.5-5.6L .

Best regards
Erik

Quote from: Neil Williams on April 12, 2018, 04:12:20 am
X2D
X2D to H adapter ;D ;D ;D ;D
Leica S007 (Body Only for a backup)
H6D100c
HC300
HC100
HC50 II
HC1.7 TC
Leica S to H adapter
Ball head with clamp to fit on top of the jeeps roof
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: Graham Welland on April 13, 2018, 07:20:14 am: I shoot GFX with 100-400 Canon & techart adapter and it works fine with AF etc but does vignettete past 200mm or so.
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: Joe Towner on April 13, 2018, 01:24:08 pm: Quote from: Neil Williams on April 12, 2018, 04:12:20 am
X2D to H adapter ;D ;D ;D ;D

I want a more structural X2D to H adapter, with 500mm of focal length in front of it, it's more the camera is just hanging on for life.

The new GFX 250mm/f4 with the 1.4x tele makes the GFX a very nice backup to the H, with full AF fun.
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: hubell on April 13, 2018, 01:41:24 pm: With the HC 300mm lens, you don't need to worry about the structural integrity of the XH Adapter. The HC 300mm lens had a built-in tripod collar that is very robust.
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: landscapephoto on April 14, 2018, 12:50:28 pm: I don't understand the point of all this.

The photographers who took a MF to a safari found out that they could make different images. Images that could use the higher resolution of the MF, but would be taken with a shorter focal length. More atmospheric images, groups of large mammals, etc... By seeking the longest lens available for MF, you seem to be trying to force the MF to do the same job as a 24x36 camera, except that it will not be as good. If you want to take the kind of pictures a 24x36 is best at, use a 24x36. If you want to use a MF, take the pictures for which the MF is the best camera.
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: Neil Williams on April 16, 2018, 08:27:04 am: Quote from: hubell on April 13, 2018, 01:41:24 pm
With the HC 300mm lens, you don't need to worry about the structural integrity of the XH Adapter. The HC 300mm lens had a built-in tripod collar that is very robust.
Mate
Will the HC300 lens rotate on the collar so that it makes it easy to switch from landscape to Portrait...........I also have a Wimberly Gimbal head at home, do you think that would be overkill of something to consider to take with me to Tanzania. I used it last time clamped to the jeep roof when I took my D810 plus 600mm f4 lens......it worked flawlessly

Neil
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: BernardLanguillier on April 16, 2018, 08:34:37 am: Quote from: Neil Williams on April 16, 2018, 08:27:04 am
Will the HC300 lens rotate on the collar so that it makes it easy to switch from landscape to Portrait...

Yes.

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: Neil Williams on April 16, 2018, 08:39:17 am: Quote from: landscapephoto on April 14, 2018, 12:50:28 pm
I don't understand the point of all this.

The photographers who took a MF to a safari found out that they could make different images. Images that could use the higher resolution of the MF, but would be taken with a shorter focal length. More atmospheric images, groups of large mammals, etc... By seeking the longest lens available for MF, you seem to be trying to force the MF to do the same job as a 24x36 camera, except that it will not be as good. If you want to take the kind of pictures a 24x36 is best at, use a 24x36. If you want to use a MF, take the pictures for which the MF is the best camera.
Not necessarily. Yes I want to try and get as long as possible which I have done with my HC300 + HC1.7 TC with a combined focal length of 321mm (135 equivalent) I will also have my HC100 for wide angle + if I take it my HC50 II for super wide landscapes........both of those lenses can also use the TC if the scene calls for it.
My plan will be to have the HC100 or HC50 II attached to my Leica S007 (my back up body) sitting on one of the seats in the jeep incase something pops up nearby (This combination will have AF via the S to H adapter) with the HC300 plus 1.7TC permanently on the H6D100c either sitting on my Wimberly Head or on a bean bag................
Neil
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: Neil Williams on April 16, 2018, 08:40:29 am: Quote from: BernardLanguillier on April 16, 2018, 08:34:37 am
Yes.

Cheers,
Bernard
Fantastic Bernard
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: Neil Williams on May 11, 2018, 03:40:10 am: Okay so I have just arrived back in Phuket so now have my H6D100c with me. I just tried the HC1.7 TC plus HC300mm and I’m gutted to find out that the manual focus aid conformation doesn’t work with this setup. I tried my HC100mm and it works perfectly. I’m also disappointed that there was no Auto ISO in the recent firmware update..........
Not sure what to do now??

Neil
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: ErikKaffehr on May 11, 2018, 05:14:48 am: Hi,

If AF does not work it would also indicate that focus confirmation does not work as they use the same PDAF mechanism.

What will always work is manual focusing on the focusing screen or magnified live view on the back. Accurate focusing in the viewfinder may not be easy.

It may be possible that you can get better results with the 300 without the extender and cropping, that will still give you 35 MP. I would suggest you can do a few tests in your backyard.

How to evaluate? I would decide on a print size, say 30"x40". So, I would shoot something with both the 300 and using the 300 with 1.7X extender. Crop the image and resize to 30"x40" at 180 PPI in Photoshop, view both at actual pixels side by side and find out what works best for you.

Best regards
Erik
Title: Re: Medium Format on safari ??
Post by: Neil Williams on May 11, 2018, 06:30:15 am: Eric
Here are the two images that you suggested to take.......(Just a lion cub hanging out)
300mm NO TC and shot with AF
(https://www.dropbox.com/s/f84b7he2huuy3r7/300mm-NO-TC.jpg?raw=1)

300mm Plus TC LV zoom focus

(https://www.dropbox.com/s/lrge0dod5l4l14c/300mm-WITH-TC.jpg?raw=1)

Both shot at f8 ISO800 and 1/300
What do you think??

The HC300 AF is very snappy and fast. Shooting the HC300 plus TC is maybe going to be a PITA but I'm on safari for 8 days..........if it turns out to be a nightmare with the TC then I can always leave it off

Neil