H5D-50c Wi-Fi announcement

[Paul_Claesson_HasselbladUS]

Live view directly in the untethered back is great news. I wasn't sure if Hasselblad's digital back platform had the performance to do it, but here it is, that's nice!

Any indications of what the quality of this live view is? Is it as good as any modern DSLR, ie ~30 frames per second ... Or is it only a few frames per second and only working in a narrow ISO range?

Live View will show a 100% full resolution image at approx 10-11 frames per second. This will be good enough for focusing. You are able to zoom into the image.

[Paul_Claesson_HasselbladUS]

Will they be selling the H5 backs with an H5X camera if one prefers the H5X than the dedicated body? ...Will they sell the H5 backs (especially the 50ms-c and 200ms-c) as separate products for those that want to use the backs on a view camera?

Hasselblad is maintaining the integrated H5Dxx camera solutions where the body and backs are calibrated together to ensure optimum performance. Each H5D system has been calibrated for UltraFocus and UF has been available since the H3D in 2006. The H5D represents the 6th generation of HxD camera and Hasselblad has learned a great deal through development and integration starting with the first H1D in 2004 to the present H5D in 2014. H5D digital backs are not sold separately.
You are able to remove the digital magazines from the H5D and use it on a technical camera. We offer a battery adapter for those that wish to work untethered and of course tethering to Phocus is also an option.

Prior to the H5X was the H4X and this camera accepted the Hasselblad HM 16-32 film magazine and third party digital backs. The Hasselblad photographer who owned an H4D body had the option to purchase a spare H4D body through their dealer and Hasselblad would calibrate UltraFocus so the digital magazine worked on two H4D bodies. We also offered the spare bodies for the previous models, H3D and H3DII. A spare body solution for the current cameras at that time have been available since 2006, though the company has not spent much time promoting this fact. When the introduction of the H5X, Hasselblad has eliminated the need for a spare H5D body as the exiting H5D digital magazine will work on the H5X and we can calibrate UltraFocus for the H5X and H5D digital magazine.

[Paul_Claesson_HasselbladUS]

@paul - any idea when these and the X will ship?

Doug, the H5X should arrive in a matter of weeks and I anticipate the H5D50c WiFi shipping in December 2014.

[douglevy]

Awesome, preordered mine and I have zero patience. Thanks!

[skimasks]

Hasselblad has been killing it lately. Opening the H4x, announcing H5X, and now this. Kudos, Hasselblad.

[Theodoros]

Hasselblad is maintaining the integrated H5Dxx camera solutions where the body and backs are calibrated together to ensure optimum performance. Each H5D system has been calibrated for UltraFocus and UF has been available since the H3D in 2006. The H5D represents the 6th generation of HxD camera and Hasselblad has learned a great deal through development and integration starting with the first H1D in 2004 to the present H5D in 2014. H5D digital backs are not sold separately.
You are able to remove the digital magazines from the H5D and use it on a technical camera. We offer a battery adapter for those that wish to work untethered and of course tethering to Phocus is also an option.

Prior to the H5X was the H4X and this camera accepted the Hasselblad HM 16-32 film magazine and third party digital backs. The Hasselblad photographer who owned an H4D body had the option to purchase a spare H4D body through their dealer and Hasselblad would calibrate UltraFocus so the digital magazine worked on two H4D bodies. We also offered the spare bodies for the previous models, H3D and H3DII. A spare body solution for the current cameras at that time have been available since 2006, though the company has not spent much time promoting this fact. When the introduction of the H5X, Hasselblad has eliminated the need for a spare H5D body as the exiting H5D digital magazine will work on the H5X and we can calibrate UltraFocus for the H5X and H5D digital magazine.

Do you really expect to recover if you follow the same policy as before? ...I very much doubt it!  For Hasselblad selling the H5 backs with H5X camera body and selling the H5 backs to whom ever would like to buy one, is only adding extra customers... If you don't want them, ...so may be it! ...You don't have to stop offering the H5 systems to apply to a new market, you obviously don't need the extra customers coming into the firm! ...well, you know better! ...its your capital that is destroyed after all.

[Brent Daniels]

Paul
"Good enough for focusing" when asked how the new live view compares to the best live view presently available is a politicians answer not an actual answer. I regularly suffer with the present Hasselblad live view on a regular basis. It is barely usable for focus and only if the scene / set has an extremely low lighting ratio. It is really a piece of crap compared to a Nikon I played with lately.

So can you actually answer the question in real life comparison terms? Is it as good as a Nikon or Canon? Can it handle real life set lighting ratios? Will it not drop what is 5 stops in brightness when going from full view to 100% view? Can Phocus now set and show two different focus points of 100% at the same time? (think of the ease of shift tilt adjusting focus if you could see 2 100% points at once???)

Please note that I do not even own a 35mm camera, digital or film. We use them on productions. I hire the cameras and a great operator. When I see the live view on these compared to my Blad back it makes me sad. When I have to change a sets lighting ratio to flat shit just to see anything beyond white on the blad live view it so tempts me to throw it against the wall.

So I would appreciate a real truthful answer to the quality of the "New & Improved" Hasselblad live view as compared to Canon or Nikon or Pentax Z ..........  .

[jerome_m]

Hasselblad is maintaining the integrated H5Dxx camera solutions where the body and backs are calibrated together to ensure optimum performance. Each H5D system has been calibrated for UltraFocus and UF has been available since the H3D in 2006. The H5D represents the 6th generation of HxD camera and Hasselblad has learned a great deal through development and integration starting with the first H1D in 2004 to the present H5D in 2014. H5D digital backs are not sold separately.
You are able to remove the digital magazines from the H5D and use it on a technical camera. We offer a battery adapter for those that wish to work untethered and of course tethering to Phocus is also an option.

Prior to the H5X was the H4X and this camera accepted the Hasselblad HM 16-32 film magazine and third party digital backs. The Hasselblad photographer who owned an H4D body had the option to purchase a spare H4D body through their dealer and Hasselblad would calibrate UltraFocus so the digital magazine worked on two H4D bodies. We also offered the spare bodies for the previous models, H3D and H3DII. A spare body solution for the current cameras at that time have been available since 2006, though the company has not spent much time promoting this fact. When the introduction of the H5X, Hasselblad has eliminated the need for a spare H5D body as the exiting H5D digital magazine will work on the H5X and we can calibrate UltraFocus for the H5X and H5D digital magazine.

It would be nice if Hasselblad would unlock the film magazines on their entire series of cameras. Now that the H5X exists, there is no reason to lock film magazines and whatever back presents itself as one (i.e. third party backs...) from the system.

The film magazines exist and film enjoys a revival at present. Hasselblad could be the only company supporting the use of film on their digital cameras by a simple exchange of the back. That would be nice and, presumably, only the effort of a firmware update.

[Theodoros]

It would be nice if Hasselblad would stop thinking instead of photographers for photographer's needs... They have the best body in the market, they have quality lenses and they are the best there are in committing suicide... People want to buy from them ...but they refuse to sell! They'll only sell you if one promises to change his mind on his needs! Can't they see how many past customers they lost to Leica? Can't they see how much market they lost to P1 after they closed the system? How many more after they stopped the CF backs? Hasselblad's marketing thinking (judging from Paul's answers - if this is the official position for the future) is leading them to shrink their market further.

[Brent Daniels]

My apologies to Michael and the others but ..................

Hey Theodorass

If you want an H5D back buy one. They come with a free camera body. Great deal $$ wise compared to Phase.  Just please......please .........please stop going on about how Hasselblad should change their sales practices to suit your specific needs. If you want to have a real voice & influence in how Hasselblad runs their business stop ranting here. Put your $$$ where your mouth is and buy enough of the company to have a real say in their corporate direction & decisions. If you are right you will be able to buy us all a drink mate.

Ps: When you are the big boss at blad can you put get me my 2 up 100% live view points for shift/tilt focus adjustment?

[Theodoros]

My apologies to Michael and the others but ..................

Hey Theodorass

If you want an H5D back buy one. They come with a free camera body. Great deal $$ wise compared to Phase.  Just please......please .........please stop going on about how Hasselblad should change their sales practices to suit your specific needs. If you want to have a real voice & influence in how Hasselblad runs their business stop ranting here. Put your $$$ where your mouth is and buy enough of the company to have a real say in their corporate direction & decisions. If you are right you will be able to buy us all a drink mate.

Ps: When you are the big boss at blad can you put get me my 2 up 100% live view points for shift/tilt focus adjustment?

Hi Brent...
Why do you say that the body comes for free? ...is it because if one buys an H5 system he can't sell the body?  In my view (and most that think sensibly) the body costs as much as an H5X body. Besides, none suggested that they should stop making the H5 systems... All I suggested is that they should consider selling the backs with H5X along it... Since all the 5-series backs are fully compatible with H5X and both are in production, there is no research expenses needed for such a decision, it's purely a marketing decision! They may even ask sales men to try to convince customers in favour of the complete system... Never the less, they could get some feedback from the balance of sales for what's more appealing to the market. Otherwise one insists to enforce customers on how they should think for optimum performance, instead of just informing of the extra qualities and let the customer decide for what's best for him... That's not a CEO's unique way of thinking... it's called common sense.

EDIT: I wonder why none can come up with the damage that such a decision would do to Hasselblad... Is there any?

[eronald]

Theodoros,

 Your point of view makes sense. A body is a body is a body, no reason for it to be locked down.

 Also, I guess we should all apologize for Brent who has not yet internalized that in this forum we shamelessly bash cameras while remaining polite and collegial with the photographers who use them.

Edmund

Hi Brent...
Why do you say that the body comes for free? ...is it because if one buys an H5 system he can't sell the body?  In my view (and most that think sensibly) the body costs as much as an H5X body. Besides, none suggested that they should stop making the H5 systems... All I suggested is that they should consider selling the backs with H5X along it... Since all the 5-series backs are fully compatible with H5X and both are in production, there is no research expenses needed for such a decision, it's purely a marketing decision! They may even ask sales men to try to convince customers in favour of the complete system... Never the less, they could get some feedback from the balance of sales for what's more appealing to the market. Otherwise one insists to enforce customers on how they should think for optimum performance, instead of just informing of the extra qualities and let the customer decide for what's best for him... That's not a CEO's unique way of thinking... it's called common sense.

EDIT: I wonder why none can come up with the damage that such a decision would do to Hasselblad... Is there any?

[tjv]

It's one thing to agree with the point – in essence I happen to agree, too, although I can accept the reality of the situation and moved on – but to hear someone harp on about it, time and time again, in such an antagonistic and condescending way? I got sick of it long ago and have blocked the above mentioned members posts from showing up on my feed.

Theodoros,

 Your point of view makes sense. A body is a body is a body, no reason for it to be locked down.

 Also, I guess we should all apologize for Brent who has not yet internalized that in this forum we shamelessly bash cameras while remaining polite and collegial with the photographers who use them.

Edmund

[eronald]

It's one thing to agree with the point – in essence I happen to agree, too, although I can accept the reality of the situation and moved on – but to hear someone harp on about it, time and time again, in such an antagonistic and condescending way? I got sick of it long ago and have blocked the above mentioned members posts from showing up on my feed.

Yes, ignore is a good solution if you feel that way. I have no problem with that. Just please, no direct insults, they are unlikely to make most people smarter, and guaranteed to make some people angrier


There is some frustration evident in this repetition. MF customers are treated as locked-in cash cows. with nowhere to go without paying $10K or so. Phase and Hassy seem to be as much about paywalling their upgrades as about making good cameras.

I think it would be really beneficial if there were more actors - Leica and Pentax are real assets to the community in that sense as both have pretty conventional business models based on selling cameras and as then as many lenses as possible, not based on upgrading the expensive bodies.

Edmund

[bcooter]

A body is a body is a body, no reason for it to be locked down.

No it's not and yes there is.  Actually locked down is not the proper word, going forward is a better term.

Edmund,

You stereotypically prove that some French really don't like the free market system, because EVERY TIME someone mentions medium format pricing or business models you lose it.

Since Hasselblad dedicated  their newer cameras to be a synchronized unit for their newer digital backs, some went into uproar.

Actually the world didn't scream, new Hasselblad buyers didn't scream, it was basically just leaf/phase users that didn't like the mamiya 645 camera and wanted hasselblad to make newer bodies for their backs.

There is nothing closed about a Hasselblad h1, anymore than a Mamiya's RZ or V system.   You can put any back you want on those bodies, but they're just not made anymore.

My Contax bodies hasn't been made in years and I'm not mad at Zeiss because they continue to work better today than they did when I bought them new, so options are out there and easy to find.

Actually if you want to complain ask Phase why they didn't latch on to the HY6 because it was offered to them, they just didn't like the buy in and Mamiya was cheaper to develop with.

I shake my head at this thought process of "open systems" because why would Hasselblad offer a $6000 camera to assist a competitor that sells $30,000 camera backs?

Before anybody  thinks that's not fair, ask Nikon to give Canon 1ds users a kit to put a d800 sensor in a Canon, or ask Canon to offer a kit that allows all of their lenses to work with full functionality with Nikon bodies.

They wouldn't.  

In the world of $3,000 Nikons, medium format is expensive.  

Even the new Pentax is expensive when you add a modern lens set.  That's just the way the world rolls, bigger usually costs more.  Pay the price or buy a Nikon, or buy used medium format.

Used medium format is a good deal as the depreciation is on the front end and I'd much rather buy from a dealer than an e-bayer because a good dealer adds a level of support and security.

I buy RED's . . . the company is pretty good, but my RED rep changes every 6 months and I don't see any huge discounts or increase in service because RED sells direct.  Honestly compared to working with CI and Steve I get 100x better service, a lot better value working through a dealer than going direct.  

But this same conversation goes on in this section of the forum every week, with the same protagonists complaining about the same thing, which all boils down to price.

Professional products, professional service always costs more than consumer goods.

IMO

BC

Edmund,

You must have had bad dealer service in Paris.  Maybe you should have tried peartree in London.

Still in the U.S., no dealer gives me the service of CI and I know in buying from big box stores like B+H, working direct with RED, the service I get from Steve Hendrix is far and above easy, the other's are fine as long as everything goes well, but I strongly believe in long term personal relationships with suppliers.

Maybe that's why I've never bought from Amazon.

[Ken R]

No it's not and yes there is.  Actually locked down is not the proper word, going forward is a better term.

Edmund,

You stereotypically prove that some French really don't like the free market system, because EVERY TIME someone mentions medium format pricing or business models you lose it.

Since Hasselblad dedicated  their newer cameras to be a synchronized unit for their newer digital backs, some went into uproar.

Actually the world didn't scream, new Hasselblad buyers didn't scream, it was basically just leaf/phase users that didn't like the mamiya 645 camera and wanted hasselblad to make newer bodies for their backs.

There is nothing closed about a Hasselblad h1, anymore than a Mamiya's RZ or V system.   You can put any back you want on those bodies, but they're just not made anymore.

My Contax bodies hasn't been made in years and I'm not mad at Zeiss because they continue to work better today than they did when I bought them new, so options are out there and easy to find.

Actually if you want to complain ask Phase why they didn't latch on to the HY6 because it was offered to them, they just didn't like the buy in and Mamiya was cheaper to develop with.

I shake my head at this thought process of "open systems" because why would Hasselblad offer a $6000 camera to assist a competitor that sells $30,000 camera backs?

Before anybody  thinks that's not fair, ask Nikon to give Canon 1ds users a kit to put a d800 sensor in a Canon, or ask Canon to offer a kit that allows all of their lenses to work with full functionality with Nikon bodies.

They wouldn't.  

In the world of $3,000 Nikons, medium format is expensive.  

Even the new Pentax is expensive when you add a modern lens set.  That's just the way the world rolls, bigger usually costs more.  Pay the price or buy a Nikon, or buy used medium format.

Used medium format is a good deal as the depreciation is on the front end and I'd much rather buy from a dealer than an e-bayer because a good dealer adds a level of support and security.

I buy RED's . . . the company is pretty good, but my RED rep changes every 6 months and I don't see any huge discounts or increase in service because RED sells direct.  Honestly compared to working with CI and Steve I get 100x better service, a lot better value working through a dealer than going direct.  

But this same conversation goes on in this section of the forum every week, with the same protagonists complaining about the same thing, which all boils down to price.

Professional products, professional service always costs more than consumer goods.

IMO

BC

Edmund,

You must have had bad dealer service in Paris.  Maybe you should have tried peartree in London.

Still in the U.S., no dealer gives me the service of CI and I know in buying from big box stores like B+H, working direct with RED, the service I get from Steve Hendrix is far and above easy, the other's are fine as long as everything goes well, but I strongly believe in long term personal relationships with suppliers.

Maybe that's why I've never bought from Amazon.

Great post. Forum Admins should sticky this post at the top of the Forum and make it a must read before posting!

[ynp]

As a Sinar 54H multishot user, I am interested in an upgrade later this year or next year and went to Photokina specifically with this intentions. I am not a pro, but I shoot the painting for my wife and some artists. I have no creative ambitions, but I need a tool.

Before, seven years ago, there were at least two players who manufactured the backs with their system of adapters: Sinar and Hasselblad. Both had the digital backs for multishot shooting. The hasseblad allowed untethered shooting and had a screen. Sinar has none.

I have the money ready for the upgrade and wonder why Hasselblad  would not manufacture a stand alone 50 mpx multishot back with the adapters. I would use it on my Sinar P3 or buy a new, lighter view camera for that back. At the same time I want to use the same back on my Contax and 6008AF.

Why not?
I don't want the H5 camera, I have no interest in the Hasselblad lenses. But I am ready to spent my money for the multi shotback and the fora regulars are saying that the body is free, the value lays in the digiback.

I am confused.

Yevgeny

[NickT]

The hasseblad allowed untethered shooting and had a screen.

There was no untethered multishot with Hasselblad.

[Theodoros]

There was no untethered multishot with Hasselblad.

He never said there was... he only said "there was untethered shooting (ability)" from Hasselblad , which is true. In fact I use such a back myself.

EDIT: He also meant (without saying it) that he would buy a 50MS or 200MS on the spot... but Hasselblad won't sell him one! ...same happens with me actually... and some thousands of others. 

[eronald]

J eke yclept Cooter,

 I will let you have the last word and go back to sipping wine and gnawing at frog's legs.
 Let me state without irony that I respect your work as a photographer and that I agree that the dealers you name have sterling reputations.

Edmund

No it's not and yes there is.  Actually locked down is not the proper word, going forward is a better term.

Edmund,

You stereotypically prove that some French really don't like the free market system, because EVERY TIME someone mentions medium format pricing or business models you lose it.

Since Hasselblad dedicated  their newer cameras to be a synchronized unit for their newer digital backs, some went into uproar.

Actually the world didn't scream, new Hasselblad buyers didn't scream, it was basically just leaf/phase users that didn't like the mamiya 645 camera and wanted hasselblad to make newer bodies for their backs.

There is nothing closed about a Hasselblad h1, anymore than a Mamiya's RZ or V system.   You can put any back you want on those bodies, but they're just not made anymore.

My Contax bodies hasn't been made in years and I'm not mad at Zeiss because they continue to work better today than they did when I bought them new, so options are out there and easy to find.

Actually if you want to complain ask Phase why they didn't latch on to the HY6 because it was offered to them, they just didn't like the buy in and Mamiya was cheaper to develop with.

I shake my head at this thought process of "open systems" because why would Hasselblad offer a $6000 camera to assist a competitor that sells $30,000 camera backs?

Before anybody  thinks that's not fair, ask Nikon to give Canon 1ds users a kit to put a d800 sensor in a Canon, or ask Canon to offer a kit that allows all of their lenses to work with full functionality with Nikon bodies.

They wouldn't.  

In the world of $3,000 Nikons, medium format is expensive.  

Even the new Pentax is expensive when you add a modern lens set.  That's just the way the world rolls, bigger usually costs more.  Pay the price or buy a Nikon, or buy used medium format.

Used medium format is a good deal as the depreciation is on the front end and I'd much rather buy from a dealer than an e-bayer because a good dealer adds a level of support and security.

I buy RED's . . . the company is pretty good, but my RED rep changes every 6 months and I don't see any huge discounts or increase in service because RED sells direct.  Honestly compared to working with CI and Steve I get 100x better service, a lot better value working through a dealer than going direct.  

But this same conversation goes on in this section of the forum every week, with the same protagonists complaining about the same thing, which all boils down to price.

Professional products, professional service always costs more than consumer goods.

IMO

BC

Edmund,

You must have had bad dealer service in Paris.  Maybe you should have tried peartree in London.

Still in the U.S., no dealer gives me the service of CI and I know in buying from big box stores like B+H, working direct with RED, the service I get from Steve Hendrix is far and above easy, the other's are fine as long as everything goes well, but I strongly believe in long term personal relationships with suppliers.

Maybe that's why I've never bought from Amazon.