If my initial expression about H3D sounded disappointed, I did not mean it. By all means it is a series and looks like a well engineered camera, and it works. Just that I was much more used to more simplified layout, no guessing work and intuitive to work with camera such as a Contax 645. But thtat does not make H3D a bad camera, or a worse camera. its handling is still way better than 205TCC, which is a lot havier, the grip hurt than hand if you to shoot handheld and so on.
The H3D is a proof of an intention to have the camera worked as a custom-everything camera, and its ability to do all such features is without question welcomed, perhaps there is no way to get around it to reach such a goal and has to settle for such a complicate navigation system. Spend some time I think everyone can master it. I am sure I will.
Ergonomic and control is just very subjective. On H3D manual it says the manu navigation is similar that of a cell phone was not a bad anology. Some people bother to learn everything the modern cellphone can offer, some just use it as a phone. Leica M8 sets a good example what a navigation system can be, but it cannot have all those feature of a Canon 1Ds MK2. They are different, and there are many different cameras for many different people, Contax 645, H3D just among them. I am certain with al the years of engineering excellence, the coming Hy6 will without doubt a nice one, perhaps the new standard.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=104122\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
After some initial test, I can add few more comments for H3D39.
The view finder - it is confirmed that it is perhpas 1 stop brighter than Contax 645, so it is more pleasant to look thru the viewfinder, and easier to manual focus. The AF is faster than Contax 645, I can't comment on the accuracy since they both looked good to me and I don't rely on AF that much anyway.
The camera is comfortable to hold at eye-level (in shooting position), I will still say I prefer Contax 645, but may be I am just got used to it. But H3D is of course no problem at all for this concern. However, if shooting in location, I did notice that H3D grip is not that comfortable to carry (when it is not on eye-level), especially with heavy lenses (such as the 50-110 zoom I tried today. I don't have the 300/4.5 but at least I knwo it is the most heaviest). If I will carry the camera for an outdoor assignment, a hand strap or shoulder strap should not be spared. The contour of the hand grip look my thumb in position thus making carrying the camera somewhat in a not so comfortable position. In this regard, Contax 645 is superior. I have been in location shoot for hours and hours, handheld, with no problem.
The software - my first try with Flexcolor today and it was OK, still have to learn more, but I was doing better than I expected. I did not read the menu, but basically I went thru most of the control and able to make/try necessary adjustments. I think Flexcolor has its own approach, it will take time for me to comment how good it is to compare against Capture One, but the interface is easy to get familair with, although I missed 2 things which I got from years of using Capture One: (1) the pie - which I can move the mouse pointer around to get the color tone I like (2) the speed - importing the file from CF card is slow, I think next time I will try to download the image to the HDD then try again. And adjusting images (3FR) is slow, processing is slow, compare to raw file from P45 or CS2. I did not covert the 3FR to DNG to compare, sorry!
The DAC correction - The Flexcolor give the correction window with 2 options - chromatic aberration and distortion. My test shots did not allow me to find visible improvement on chromatic aberration correction but the distortion adjustment is VERY noticeable. The most visible effect, if I can describe it correctly, is that visually you can tell the image field flattened after DAC. I checked a few images made by HCD 28mm, not necessarily there are distortions (straight line being curved) to be corrected, but you can compare the before and after picture looks like a sphere image being pulled flat. So the effect is visible not just the centers of the image, but visible on entire image. I have to comment that the image before correction looks OK to me on certain captures, and making it flattend out make you feel that the 3d curvature of the image has been recalculated and pulled flat. On some images, I do not notice much distortion problem before correction, it seemed the software adjust the geometry of the image. And yes, on some images where I try to test the lens performance, particular the HCD 28mm, and yes I did notice some barrel distortion on the corners on some shots, and the DAC did its work. I will have to say this is a useful tool. The shot I made is still not perfect to analyze this, I shall comment later when I test some architecture or interior objects.
Sharpness - from the raw file, it seemed the H3D 3FR has less pre-sharpening than P45. If I address sharpening value of 50 on Capture One, it is easily go above 100 value in Flexcolor, so, it is difficult to comment how sharp the H3D + H lenses system compare to Contax 645+P45. But judged from the developed image, the HCD 28mm is VERY SHARP! I will say it is a lens worth its price, but time will tell.
Overall - The H3D should be a trong performer, but I only did 20 pictures today so it is nowhere near the limit of any camera so to speak. I will put it into tougher work to tell its true manner. Overall the camera is easy to work with, I tried to keep my eye on the viewfinder and adjust the control as much as possible and it worked well. Given time, I think it will be a good professional tool. And again, I will also have to comment for such a camera of such cost, and the digital back attached, H3D could have made the camera looked more expensive than the plastic feeling exterior. The hand grip is in itself a rechargable power source - which can be removed and reattached. I think the entire camera+lens+back rely on such detachable grip is an oversight in design. I would expect Hasselblad to extend the body to cover at least portion of the hand/grip as permanent feature than designed as is. It does not feel filmsy in anyway, but may be it is still brand new, but having the entire handle as a removable part to me was not a good idea, may be this was the idea extended from the 2000 series, but certainly for a modern product, they can look at the Contax 645.