Hasselblad X1D-50c - specs and US prices

[NickT]

No and it can't put emoji's on the image. Nor can it shoot 8K video or make you dinner. It's an awesome mirrorless MF camera is what it is. For goodness sake don't buy it if you don't like it.

[synn]

does it have eye-AF/Face Detection ? like some lowly cheap dSLMs (may be even cell phones now) can focus on left eye, right eye, nearest eye or shoot when smile detected or find the proper face in the group ...

Thank you for that insight. I will just stop making portraits now because clearly, my 1 point AF system is useless and I can only make portraits if the camera has face, eye and ass detection.

This is not a perfect camera. I have made my (very personal) disappointment very clear early on. But that doesn't take away from the fact that it it still a spanking good, well thought out product that will do a phenomenal job for those who actually know how to use their tools. For once, let this spec sheet regurgitation go.

As a Phamiya user, I am really happy that Hasselblad is stepping up andto the Danes and changing the rulebook. This is a great shot in the arm for the industry. The usual suspects who do not shoot MF, but are here for argument's sake will of course be not satisfied, but please understand that you are a (very) vocal minority.

[Ken R]

Thank you for that insight. I will just stop making portraits now because clearly, my 1 point AF system is useless and I can only make portraits if the camera has face, eye and ass detection.

This is not a perfect camera. I have made my (very personal) disappointment very clear early on. But that doesn't take away from the fact that it it still a spanking good, well thought out product that will do a phenomenal job for those who actually know how to use their tools. For once, let this spec sheet regurgitation go.

As a Phamiya user, I am really happy that Hasselblad is stepping up andto the Danes and changing the rulebook. This is a great shot in the arm for the industry. The usual suspects who do not shoot MF, but are here for argument's sake will of course be not satisfied, but please understand that you are a (very) vocal minority.

Exactly! (Nice image BTW)

That very vocal minority dedicates themselves to sow discord in this an other forums. It is quite sad. Even though their info is a lot of times right they are wrong with their (lack of) communication skills and come across like naggy chronically unhappy and unsatisfied folk. They focus on what the product does not have rather than what it offers. 

The X1D offers access to the extensive H lens line and Medium Format look and quality in an extremely light and compact body. That is awesome. Could it be better? Of course. 

[gazwas]

I was so hoping this would be my ticket back into MFD after a two year break however this simply looks like a camera designed to be a first rather that it actually being a great camera. Designed not to step on the toes of the H6 and missing so many great features that make cameras like the Sony A7 so much more iconic tools.

Seems like HB's view of mirrorless is one of compromise rather than revolutionise.

[vjbelle]

No and it can't put emoji's not the image. Nor can it shoot 8K video or make you dinner.It's an awesome mirrorless MF camera is what it is. For goodness sake don't buy it if you don't like it.

+1.......

Victor

[DrakeJ]

I was so hoping this would be my ticket back into MFD after a two year break however this simply looks like a camera designed to be a first rather that it actually being a great camera. Designed not to step on the toes of the H6 and missing so many great features that make cameras like the Sony A7 so much more iconic tools.

Seems like HB's view of mirrorless is one of compromise rather than revolutionise.

All mirrorless cameras are a compromise IMHO, even the latest generations from Sony. This is the first mirrorless medium format camera from a small company. Is it perfect? No. Is it cool? Yes. Let's hope it sells well and that Hasselblad can further develop this platform.

[hasselbladfan]

As usual, a very nice blog / article from Ming Thein.

https://blog.mingthein.com/2016/06/22/announcing-the-hasselblad-x1d-50c/

[Joe Towner]

So are we getting a firmware update that unlocks ISO 12,800 and 25,600 on the existing -50c products?

Just checked, and the H6D-50c is only going to ISO 6400 - will this be updated or is the higher ISO only in the X1D??
http://www.hasselblad.com/h6-system/h6d-50c/

Keep in mind that Pentax 645z has the same chip and does ISO 204,800.  Will Phase unlock higher ISOs on the IQx50 backs?

[eronald]

So are we getting a firmware update that unlocks ISO 12,800 and 25,600 on the existing -50c products?

Just checked, and the H6D-50c is only going to ISO 6400 - will this be updated or is the higher ISO only in the X1D??
http://www.hasselblad.com/h6-system/h6d-50c/

Keep in mind that Pentax 645z has the same chip and does ISO 204,800.  Will Phase unlock higher ISOs on the IQx50 backs?

no matter, it is just an instruction to the raw processor

[torger]

Seems like HB's view of mirrorless is one of compromise rather than revolutionise.

I would say their view is of simplicity rather than swiss army knife feature fest.

If you like the later consumer electronics from the big Japanese manufacturers will always win.

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

So are we getting a firmware update that unlocks ISO 12,800 and 25,600 on the existing -50c products?

Why?

Just checked, and the H6D-50c is only going to ISO 6400 - will this be updated or is the higher ISO only in the X1D??http://www.hasselblad.com/h6-system/h6d-50c/

Looks like a good range if you want some quality.

Keep in mind that Pentax 645z has the same chip and does ISO 204,800.

And the resulting 'quality' appeals to you?

Will Phase unlock higher ISOs on the IQx50 backs?

Only if there is a genuine demand, and they can operate that sensor as a 16-bit device (like the IQ3 100mp). Anyway, one can simply underexpose and push in postprocessing, which will create a similar photon starved capture as with a high ISO setting, but now with specular highlight recovery potential.

Cheers,
Bart

[AlterEgo]

Thank you for that insight. I will just stop making portraits now because clearly, my 1 point AF system is useless and I can only make portraits if the camera has face, eye and ass detection.

synn, synn - people do pose for you here waiting to take a shot (or many shots and present the one which is suitable)... and then you want to post 1:1 pixel sized crop so that we can see that iris is in focus and everything else if hitting outside DOF... your nice picture is just a nice picture, but irrelevant to why eye-AF exists.

[razrblck]

I've asked to my fave shop and I've been told I could get the X1D-50c + 45mm for 7999€ incl. taxes (22% here in Italy).

As much as they like to give me discounts, I know they still have to keep margins high so you might get lower prices as well. Considering the rather low volume of MF gear, resellers might be more interested in making sales at low profits rather than losing customers.

[Joe Towner]

Why?

Looks like a good range if you want some quality.

And the resulting 'quality' appeals to you?

Only if there is a genuine demand, and they can operate that sensor as a 16-bit device (like the IQ3 100mp). Anyway, one can simply underexpose and push in postprocessing, which will create a similar photon starved capture as with a high ISO setting, but now with specular highlight recovery potential.

Cheers,
Bart

Actually, the reasons come down to marketing - Hass can treat 12k/25k as H1/H2 and make it so you have to enable them, but really, to have the same chip with different spec's is asking for communication problems.  Yes, they're noisy, grainy, color being off, etc.  We've known from the Pentax the ability was there, even video, just a business decision to limit it.

The reason for the higher ISOs as a setting rather than a mental calculation has to do with the meter - If you shoot it at -1 or -2 intending to pull up in post, the highlight warning and the image preview on the screen won't be accurate.  By shooting at the higher ISO setting and at 0 your preview will be closer to what the final image will be, quality being ignored.

-Joe

[torger]

Medium format has always had different spec for the same chip, it was even "worse" in the CCD days, as the surrounding electronics was so important. If I understand things correctly the surrounding electronics has much less impact with CMOS, but still not zero. So I think it may be a hardware improvement that has caused the X1D provide higher ISOs.

[synn]

synn, synn - people do pose for you here waiting to take a shot (or many shots and present the one which is suitable)... and then you want to post 1:1 pixel sized crop so that we can see that iris is in focus and everything else if hitting outside DOF... your nice picture is just a nice picture, but irrelevant to why eye-AF exists.

Coming from a person with zero pictures to his name, it means very little.

While you look at 1:1 crops of pictures other people make and huff and puff, I'll be happy making images that make my clients and me happy.

Keep working that keyboard though...

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

Actually, the reasons come down to marketing - Hass can treat 12k/25k as H1/H2 and make it so you have to enable them, but really, to have the same chip with different spec's is asking for communication problems.  Yes, they're noisy, grainy, color being off, etc.  We've known from the Pentax the ability was there, even video, just a business decision to limit it.

That doesn't explain why you seem to want a Higher ISO. Hasselblad are likely to be capable of handling their own marketing.

The reason for the higher ISOs as a setting rather than a mental calculation has to do with the meter - If you shoot it at -1 or -2 intending to pull up in post, the highlight warning and the image preview on the screen won't be accurate.  By shooting at the higher ISO setting and at 0 your preview will be closer to what the final image will be, quality being ignored.

Quality ignored, by underexposing (using a virtual high ISO and shorter exposure time) the highlights will already be protected.

Cheers,
Bart

[eronald]

Medium format has always had different spec for the same chip, it was even "worse" in the CCD days, as the surrounding electronics was so important. If I understand things correctly the surrounding electronics has much less impact with CMOS, but still not zero. So I think it may be a hardware improvement that has caused the X1D provide higher ISOs.

Afaik zero unless outside electronic noise contaminates the chip's internal working - the chip output is digital; however various integration parameters may be adjustable, and of course heat dissipation from the device will vary a lot with the way the chip is embedded in the camera. Heat does affct high ISO performance substantially.

Edmund

[siddhaarta]

I've asked to my fave shop and I've been told I could get the X1D-50c + 45mm for 7999€ incl. taxes (22% here in Italy).

As much as they like to give me discounts, I know they still have to keep margins high so you might get lower prices as well. Considering the rather low volume of MF gear, resellers might be more interested in making sales at low profits rather than losing customers.

Wow, that's a discount of nearly 4.000 EUR.

[hasselbladfan]

Some more info is coming through from Goteborg:

Finally, the early prototype only had one central AF point, with a Hasselblad representative telling me that more selectable points will be available on the shipping camera.