Hasselblad H3D rumors

[John.Williams]

There are a few rumors floating around regarding capabilities of the Hasselblad H3D, some of which are discussed on this board. If we accept the truth for what it is, then I cannot think of a better way to address some of these rumors than hands-on with a demonstration.
 
Oct 14 - After the Atlanta Hasselblad University workflow training, Greg Hollmann (Hasselblad USA) and I will have the H3DII cameras, lenses, HTS tilt/shift, and Phocus software required to prove or bust some of these issues starting at 6:00PM
 
Here are some of the rumors I have read on the forums:

• Lens Corrections do not work;
• Cannot shoot with Carl Zeiss lenses because H3D is a "closed system";
• The digital back only works on the H3 body;
• Phocus is slow;
• MFDB/DSLRs are not better than 35mm

I know Paul and David from Hasselblad have done a good job of keeping the facts out front - let's face it, it is not reasonable to come here for glowing Hasselblad reviews - but I feel that most of the readers aren't after that anyway and choose to get down to the nitty-gritty about what is relevant and what is not. It is a put-up or shut-up environment and that is not a bad thing.
 
Whether you don't believe lens corrections work, 35mm is just as good, or you are curious about what you have read/heard/thought about Hasselblad, we will be at Ambient + Studios in downtown Atlanta starting at 6:00PM and invite you to come see for yourself what interests you about the H3D - or even if you want to bring something to shoot head-to-head like the legendary "Real Deal" events.

John
hotwire-digital.com

[gdwhalen]

There are a few rumors floating around regarding capabilities of the Hasselblad H3D, some of which are discussed on this board. If we accept the truth for what it is, then I cannot think of a better way to address some of these rumors than hands-on with a demonstration.
 
Oct 14 - After the Atlanta Hasselblad University workflow training, Greg Hollmann (Hasselblad USA) and I will have the H3DII cameras, lenses, HTS tilt/shift, and Phocus software required to prove or bust some of these issues starting at 6:00PM
 
Here are some of the rumors I have read on the forums:

• Lens Corrections do not work;
• Cannot shoot with Carl Zeiss lenses because H3D is a "closed system";
• The digital back only works on the H3 body;
• Phocus is slow;
• MFDB/DSLRs are not better than 35mm

I know Paul and David from Hasselblad have done a good job of keeping the facts out front - let's face it, it is not reasonable to come here for glowing Hasselblad reviews - but I feel that most of the readers aren't after that anyway and choose to get down to the nitty-gritty about what is relevant and what is not. It is a put-up or shut-up environment and that is not a bad thing.
 
Whether you don't believe lens corrections work, 35mm is just as good, or you are curious about what you have read/heard/thought about Hasselblad, we will be at Ambient + Studios in downtown Atlanta starting at 6:00PM and invite you to come see for yourself what interests you about the H3D - or even if you want to bring something to shoot head-to-head like the legendary "Real Deal" events.

John
hotwire-digital.com

Any chances you guys are going to have an H4 to examine/shoot?  And a working beta edition of Phocus 2. I am doing the 10-4 seminar and would stick around if these opportunities are available.

[Dick Roadnight]

Lens Corrections do not work;

I think they do - the end results are pretty good

Cannot shoot with Carl Zeiss lenses because H3D is a "closed system";

I have the CS adaptor, and have used Zeiss lenses (and posted results to this forum)

The digital back only works on the H3 body;

Edit: I think the H3D is the only DSLR body with which the H3D digiback is compatible.

Phocus is slow;

No too bad with a fast laptop

MFDB/DSLRs are not better than 35mm

Not worth discussing... see countless topics on this forum

Were these rumours started by the opposition? No I do not work for Hasselblad, and have never received anything from them free of charge.

[derekhsu]

Any chances you guys are going to have an H4 to examine/shoot?  And a working beta edition of Phocus 2. I am doing the 10-4 seminar and would stick around if these opportunities are available.

Rumors - No way.
People are usually like to Bad Mouth others when he/she didn't acutally having the real experience on the operation with the Phocus but never demonstrated the proof.  Bluffing is the World no.1 free of charge skill here.

I had used Imacon I96C + Rollei 6008(6008AF later on) since 2002 using with Flexcolor Version 3.x on Windows Platform.  It is really crap at that moment.
However, after Hasselblad acquired Imacon, I could really see their huge and significant improvement on the Software Development on Windows especially when on or after Version 4.6 to the final 4.88.  Flexcolor and Phocus is the 1st software to roll a true 64bit Platform running very well on XP64 and Vista 64.

For Others, I doubt and it is a 32bit application only.

I could always managed to run a batch job with around 500-800 shots and convert the 3F file to 16bit TIFF(230MB) without any problem with 3-5 hours.
Of course, I am using a pretty well configured system and High Performance Disk Array Storage.

When you are talking with Hasselbald R&D, Product Development, Production, Sales & Marketing, It is not likely to have any information leak to the public until the Press Release.  I really appreaciated how Hasselblad could control their staff, perhaps, they have to sign an NDA.

I had also visited Rollei Factory in 2005 before their official restructuring to F&H and also visited Leica Solms on the same Personal Trip.

I could realised Rollei had lost all its place on the market!

When I go back to Hong Kong and discussed with my friend Mr. Lxx, he is the parallel importer for Rollei in HK and China and dealed with Mr Haans from Rollei.  At that time, I had realised Rollei got serious financial problem becuase every month he suck and beg Mr. Lxx to remit money to Rollei to shelp them to solve the cash flow problem.  The hightest amount is around EUR200,000.00.

Because of this incident, I had surrenderred all my Rollei system and switch to H3D on 11/2006.

In addition, when I have noticed H3D is a more closed system oriented system which may significant impact PhaseOne and Leaf.
When I heard about a JV/collaboration with Rollei, PhaseOne and Leaf, I felt very sorry with PhaseOne and Leaf which they have boarded on a Pirate Ship.

I have expressed this statement in a HK Forum long time ago and it had proven my vision towards this interesting deal:
http://www.dchome.net
http://www.digiback.net

In addition, a possible repeated story will happen again for the Digital Back Industries..
Regards
Derek

[BJNY]

First of all, these are not rumors  
but misconceptions.

[derekhsu]

I have done quite an in-depth analysis on H System (from a End-User point of view):

It is in Traditional Chinese but shown with alot of pictures to proof Hasselblad had a long vision and effort to go through this:

Hasseblad V lens Vs H lens:
http://www.digiback.net/bbs/viewthread.php...;extra=page%3D1

Hasselblad H4 launched and the background on H systems:
http://www.digiback.net/bbs/viewthread.php...;extra=page%3D1

Regards
Derek

[derekhsu]

If Paul and David from Hasselblad USA don't mind, I could share more Hasselblad information here.
Those information was provided from Shriro Hong Kong exclusively to me!

[Greg Hollmann]

The Digital back only works on the H3 body

I think this is correct

Actually this is false, I can put the digital magazine onto a view camera, Alpa, etc., shooting either tethered or untethered with an external power source such as the bigwave power adapter.

Greg

[Kitty]

H3D back doesn't compatible with H1, H2, H1D, H2D.
It is very closed system to me.
I doubt H4D will compatible with H3D or not.
This is really not good for H users included me too.

Kitty

[Eurotographer]

H3D back doesn't compatible with H1, H2, H1D, H2D.
It is very closed system to me.
I doubt H4D will compatible with H3D or not.
This is really not good for H users included me too.

Kitty

Why would you want to take the back from an H3DII or H4D and use it on an inferior camera body?  These are integrated systems, properly aligned and individually assembled to give the absolute most precise images.

yeah, I can't put my back on a H2, but I can get another H3 body to use as a backup if necessary and continue to take advantage of the integrated system.

[aaanorton]

Why would you want to take the back from an H3DII or H4D and use it on an inferior camera body?  These are integrated systems, properly aligned and individually assembled to give the absolute most precise images.

yeah, I can't put my back on a H2, but I can get another H3 body to use as a backup if necessary and continue to take advantage of the integrated system.

When traveling or on a tight schedule, it is wise to carry a backup body.
Where can one buy a H3 body only?
What's the difference between a H2 and H3 body, other than firmware?

[erick.boileau]

What's the difference between a H2 and H3 body, other than firmware?

it was only a way to close the system , nothing else

[David Grover / Capture One]

it was only a way to close the system , nothing else

Absolutely incorrect.

The H3D 'body part' has the ability to power the digital magazine / 'sensor part' the H2 does not.

Plus each H3D is custom focus calibrated in the factory, hence you will see 'Focus Calib. ID' in the System Status menu.  This is a unique adjustment for every camera based on the individual AF system of each camera.

I have of course mentioned this here on this forum many times before.

[David Grover / Capture One]

There are a few rumors floating around regarding capabilities of the Hasselblad H3D, some of which are discussed on this board. If we accept the truth for what it is, then I cannot think of a better way to address some of these rumors than hands-on with a demonstration.
 
Oct 14 - After the Atlanta Hasselblad University workflow training, Greg Hollmann (Hasselblad USA) and I will have the H3DII cameras, lenses, HTS tilt/shift, and Phocus software required to prove or bust some of these issues starting at 6:00PM
 
Here are some of the rumors I have read on the forums:

• Lens Corrections do not work;
• Cannot shoot with Carl Zeiss lenses because H3D is a "closed system";
• The digital back only works on the H3 body;
• Phocus is slow;
• MFDB/DSLRs are not better than 35mm

I know Paul and David from Hasselblad have done a good job of keeping the facts out front - let's face it, it is not reasonable to come here for glowing Hasselblad reviews - but I feel that most of the readers aren't after that anyway and choose to get down to the nitty-gritty about what is relevant and what is not. It is a put-up or shut-up environment and that is not a bad thing.
 
Whether you don't believe lens corrections work, 35mm is just as good, or you are curious about what you have read/heard/thought about Hasselblad, we will be at Ambient + Studios in downtown Atlanta starting at 6:00PM and invite you to come see for yourself what interests you about the H3D - or even if you want to bring something to shoot head-to-head like the legendary "Real Deal" events.

John
hotwire-digital.com

Have a great event!

[David Grover / Capture One]

When traveling or on a tight schedule, it is wise to carry a backup body.
Where can one buy a H3 body only?
What's the difference between a H2 and H3 body, other than firmware?

Any dealer can supply an H3 Body but it is matched to your digital magazine.  (See above post)

[derekhsu]

Absolutely incorrect.

The H3D 'body part' has the ability to power the digital magazine / 'sensor part' the H2 does not.

Plus each H3D is custom focus calibrated in the factory, hence you will see 'Focus Calib. ID' in the System Status menu.  This is a unique adjustment for every camera based on the individual AF system of each camera.

I have of course mentioned this here on this forum many times before.

I doubted that a lot of users still didn't realised the 'Focus Calib. ID'  is related to the feature Ultra Focus I and II for H3D, it is no meaning to buy a spare body without Calibration.
In case, you have connected the Back to a different H3D body, there may be precision problem on the focus which may lead to back focus or front focus issue.

This has been announced at 2006 Photokina when H3D launched.

If this forum users don't mind, you may browse on my Topic here using a TC to English Translation Tools:
http://www.digiback.net/bbs/viewthread.php...;extra=page%3D1

Regards
Derek

[erick.boileau]

Absolutely incorrect.

The H3D 'body part' has the ability to power the digital magazine / 'sensor part' the H2 does not.

Plus each H3D is custom focus calibrated in the factory, hence you will see 'Focus Calib. ID' in the System Status menu.  This is a unique adjustment for every camera based on the individual AF system of each camera.

I have of course mentioned this here on this forum many times before.

Then why haven't you done a H3 ?

[Dick Roadnight]

The Digital back only works on the H3 body
Actually this is false, I can put the digital magazine onto a view camera, Alpa, etc., shooting either tethered or untethered with an external power source such as the bigwave power adapter.

Greg

Of course, the main valid criticism of the H3D11-50 is that it still cannot do live video.

Apparently the retailers were told to point this out to the customers, but mine did not, even thought I told him I was buying it for use on a view camera.

Can we have an update on when we can expect the firmware update that will allow us to use the H3D11-50 with live video?

[Paul_Claesson_HasselbladUS]

Then why haven't you done a H3 ?

Erick

I think this was already answered by David numerous times. The H3D/H3DII is an integrated DSLR. The H3D digital magazine is calibrated to a specific H3D body. This calibration takes place at the factory in Denmark. The Focus Calibration ID is indicated the Menu on the digital magazine. Menu > Settings > About > "Focus calib. ID" third line down.

Option I
The photographer that already owns an H3D/H3DII can purchased any number of spare H3D bodies that they wish. A photographer will need to make arrangements via their dealer to ship the existing H3D/H3DII body and digital magazine to the factory. This is done because the sensor in the digital magazine needs to be calibrated to each individual H3D/H3DII body purchased.

or

Option II
Place an order with your Hasselblad dealer for X number of backup bodies. Each H3D body will be calibrated to the H3D digital magazine. This order from the dealer will be placed with the Hasselblad factory and when completed the kit will be shipped to Hasselblad and in turn the dealer for pick up by the customer.

For reference to Ultrafocus previously posted to LL, go here.

Paul Claesson

[Paul_Claesson_HasselbladUS]

Of course, the main valid criticism of the H3D11-50 is that it still cannot do live video.

Apparently the retailers were told to point this out to the customers, but mine did not, even thought I told him I was buying it for use on a view camera.

Can we have an update on when we can expect the firmware update that will allow us to use the H3D11-50 with live video?

Dick

It is being worked on, but I can not give you a specific target date.

Paul