Hasselblad's "game changer" 22nd of June?

[BobShaw]

I'm starting to think from reading some of the comments on here that some people here are so pessimistic that they see a half full glass as 3/4 empty.

LOL. Many photographic commentators don't own a Hasselblad, will never own a Hasselblad, don't know what a leaf shutter is, don't shoot manual because they can't and have never heard of the exposure triangle. Their Rebel sits on the Green Square and they imagine that the camera somehow knows what should be in focus and what should be correctly exposed.

Personally i am quite excited by this announcement and at that price point I think it will sell well to all of Hasselblad owners, other medium format owners and high end 35mm owners.

[JoeKitchen]

I'm starting to think from reading some of the comments on here that some people here are so pessimistic that they see a half full glass as 3/4 empty.

I'm a pretty optimistic person and rarely complain about products.  (Really, what is the point; I just don't buy them.) 

But I just find it odd that Hassy would negate one of the main reasons people love mirrorless, open accessibility to using whatever lens you want. 

BTW, I dont shoot mirrorless and have no plans to, but I know many who do and this one of the things I hear over and over again.  It is just mind boggling!  I really hope the IQ is amazing, otherwise I don't see this being a home run.  I like MF and would prefer there be two main players, even though I am clearly in P1's camp.  Competition just makes the products better. 

[eronald]

I'm starting to think from reading some of the comments on here that some people here are so pessimistic that they see a half full glass as 3/4 empty.

You know, this new Hassy thingy is crippleware; it doesn't do most of what an A7IIR does, and that's just too bad.

- inferior viewfinder
- inferior focus
- cannot take Canon and Nikon lenses
- no 4Kor 4K bursts
- no in-body stabilisation
- no multishot

I think what most of us were hoping for is a body with a *large* sensor -possibly in Pano format- that can use any brand C or N lens with a new-style Metabones, and possibly even Leica S, Hassy V and Contax lenses. With in-body stab and at least on-tripod multishot for those really incredible landscapes.

This is not a 1/2 full glass, it is a serving of an expresso when you want a glass of water.

Edmund
PS. I'm sure that apart from the stab and multishot, a revised sensor, better VF and some firmware would turn the list around. But that's not what's on offer today.

[NickT]

Crippleware. That's just silly Edmund. I get that you are not going to buy one... what are you going to buy? Oh wait I know, nothing!

[eronald]

Crippleware. That's just silly Edmund. I get that you are not going to buy one... what are you going to buy? Oh wait I know, nothing!

Maybe I'm gonna sell *all* my still video gear and get some pro video kit for documentary work. I've done some tests with a GH4 and it may be time to put my money where my mouth is

Nick - this camera solves a well known business school problem of how to introduce a new product just before your cash cow dies of old age. You bring in a new "calf" except it cannot do everything the H6 cow can, so the cow customers still buy cow milk, and then at some point you pension off the cow and make the calf the new milk provider. Sony already killed off their old Alpha line much in the same way, replacing it with mirrorless. Wait, that's wrong, they sold off their inventory by titanium-plating it and rebadging it a Hasselnut or something.

And I stand by my quote. The X1D is crippleware. With electronic shutter and a good viewfinder and on-sensor phase-detect focus all over the image area, it would be a real alternative to the H body, make people with dSLR shift lenses VERY happy, grow zillions of third party lens adapters and get a fan following like the A7RII.

BTW - as I wrote before, the only perfect systems are the obsolete systems; the H6 system is now just about perfect with the 100MP sensor, superb focus, good ergonomics and a complete lens assortment so it is (falsely maybe) logical to declare it obsolete. It would clearly be illogical to simply lower the price to attract more buyers, right?  So before you know it, you'll be getting rich by ebaying Contax H6 WLF finders.

Edmund

[AlterEgo]

don't know what a leaf shutter is

it seems you miss the point that P&S cameras have (may be with few exceptions) leaf type shutters and can sync for example @ 1/4000... but it seems you never touched one, no ?

[fdisilvestro]

they... have never heard of the exposure triangle.

Well, that's a good thing actually

On topic: I like the XD1 and would buy it if my budged allowed it.

[ndevlin]

This thread proves that if Perry Oosting had walked across the water in the Skagerrak straight during the press conference today, people here would complain that he ought to have grown wings and flown.

The X1D is both beautifully designed and appears to be superbly executed. It has *almost* everything I would want in such a camera.  It is scarcely larger than the Xpro with its (comparatively) minuscule APC sensor, has sharp lenses, simple clean UI, and features the best sensor yet built. Add GPS and wifi and what's not to love?

The inclusion of leaf shutters is, imho, one of its biggest features.  Shutter vibration has noticeably degraded images on every MF camera I have seen that uses one.  Landscape shooters work in the 1/4 to 1/30th range consistently and even the well-dampened shutter of the 645z takes a toll there with longer glass.  A small cost, but a noticeable one. Leaf shutters solve that and are ideal in any environmental portraiture setting.

The only downsides are the meh resolution on the EVF. Yuck. (I still dislike EVFs intensely, but the SL's is getting there - this is well shy of that, but probably limited by the sensor's output, not Hasselblad's  obduracy.) And the price. Better, but still painful. 

Oh, and where's my all-black body? Chrome is nasty 

But well done Hasselblad. Very well done.

Over to you, Fuji and Leica.

- N.

[NickT]

Thanks Nick, voice of reason.

This guys seems pretty happy with the screen:

http://www.thephoblographer.com/2016/06/22/first-impressions-hasselblad-x1d/#.V2tO_1fwwUE

I've never been a fan of EVF but I'm old so..

[BernardLanguillier]

Single AF point using contrast detection.

I would think there would be MF focussing aid, have asked the question.

Thanks, this is going to be a make or break question for many.

AF is going to be pretty much unusable with this first body (single point, probably pretty slow on static subjects and unusable on moving ones), so MF aids will be essential since the EVF is not resolving enough to enable accurate focusing...

Cheers,
Bernard

[AlterEgo]

Single AF point using contrast detection.

but you can move that single AF point around the frame, right ?

[E.J. Peiker]

but you can move that single AF point around the frame, right ?

Unless you can do that via the touchscreen, I see no control on the camera that would facilitate moving an AF point.

[AlterEgo]

Single AF point using contrast detection.

I would think there would be MF focussing aid, have asked the question.

somebody has the camera and embargo is over - can't we get a PDF manual finally ?!

[E.J. Peiker]

This thread proves that if Perry Oosting had walked across the water in the Skagerrak straight during the press conference today, people here would complain that he ought to have grown wings and flown.

The X1D is both beautifully designed and appears to be superbly executed. It has *almost* everything I would want in such a camera.  It is scarcely larger than the Xpro with its (comparatively) minuscule APC sensor, has sharp lenses, simple clean UI, and features the best sensor yet built. Add GPS and wifi and what's not to love?

The inclusion of leaf shutters is, imho, one of its biggest features.  Shutter vibration has noticeably degraded images on every MF camera I have seen that uses one.  Landscape shooters work in the 1/4 to 1/30th range consistently and even the well-dampened shutter of the 645z takes a toll there with longer glass.  A small cost, but a noticeable one. Leaf shutters solve that and are ideal in any environmental portraiture setting.

The only downsides are the meh resolution on the EVF. Yuck. (I still dislike EVFs intensely, but the SL's is getting there - this is well shy of that, but probably limited by the sensor's output, not Hasselblad's  obduracy.) And the price. Better, but still painful. 

Oh, and where's my all-black body? Chrome is nasty 

But well done Hasselblad. Very well done.

Over to you, Fuji and Leica.

- N.

Thank you!  I couldn't agree more (well I don't hate EVF's but other than that... ).  My only additional beef, no C1 support or my order would already be in.

[AlterEgo]

Unless you can do that via the touchscreen, I see no control on the camera that would facilitate moving an AF point.

so one might think that H decided to preserve the mental sanity of H users who used to the one immutable AF point ... but w/o TrueFocus

[Zorki5]

I'm starting to think from reading some of the comments on here that some people here are so pessimistic that they see a half full glass as 3/4 empty.

So, this forum is 3/4 empty, I guess?

<sigh...> And we could all hold each other's hands and sing together... Another opportunity is lost... Life is just unfair...     

But wait, not all hope is lost!! I heard there's a place up there where everyone is friendly and meets every new piece of hardware with genuine enthusiasm, wholeheartedly thanks manufacturer, and immediately places the order!!!

That magical land of untold beauty is called THE ZOO around these parts. I personally cannot guide you there, I am forever doomed to these empty forums, but just ask around, my friend, and someone less cursed than me will guide you there...

[Mousecop]

You know, this new Hassy thingy is crippleware; it doesn't do most of what an A7IIR does, and that's just too bad.

It's not supposed to duplicate a mass production camera, or use lenses devised for a 35mm sensor, or be an ersatz video camera. You're also not going to get good images with an adapter that tries to expand the imaging circle.

It's a medium format stills camera. It's designed to be highly robust, very precise, and produce high-quality images, in a relatively compact form factor.

The target audience is not gearheads, it's working professionals and enthusiasts who want a large sensor in a highly portable body.

this camera solves a well known business school problem of how to introduce a new product just before your cash cow dies of old age. You bring in a new "calf" except it cannot do everything the cow can, so the cow customers still buy cow milk, and then at some point you kill off the cow and make the calf the new milk provider.

Yeah... no, that's not what is happening here.

Hasselblad makes expensive system cameras for studio use, and already has a modular 100mp high-end DSLR. That is not going away any time soon.

What will likely happen is the X1D will supplement existing pro MF shooters, who want a higher-quality body for field use. Given its price point, it might also sell to a few enthusiasts -- sort of like the Bronica SQ-B back in the day.

[NickT]

but you can move that single AF point around the frame, right ?

Yes I'm pretty sure you can just touch the screen like on an iPhone for where you want focus.

[BernardLanguillier]

Yes I'm pretty sure you can just touch the screen like on an iPhone for where you want focus.

Hum, from a UI standpoint this is poor. You need to take your eyes off the EVF.

Cheers,
Bernard

[NickT]

Well that's an option I assume you can focus/recompose too, again I don't know much about the AF, and I'm not a mirrorless user. Will try and find out more.