Hasselblad H3D-31 first impressions -- what hath $25k wrought?

If you thought you could just drop 25 grand on one of these upcoming Hasselblad H3D-31 numbers and have, like, the bestest camera evar, then think again. The H3D-31 makes a lot of sacrifices to arrive at image quality hotness -- and of course, 31 megapixels -- including the size, speed, weight, ergonomics and ease of use of its pro-DSLR counterparts. But that's not to say there isn't plenty going on here to please the experienced photographer, you just have to know what you're getting into. As DigitalCameraInfo puts it in their preview, "The H3D 31 is for high-end commercial photographers and rich lunatics." The image quality is apparently on par with 4 x 5-inch film of yore, and the backwards compatibility and modular nature of Hasselblad makes this more of an "investment" than just a convenient way to blow $25k, but if you don't already know that you need one of these, you probably don't.

[Via Digital Photography Blog]

[Mike Isler @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:12PM]

Hah... "Backwards compatibility"? "Modular nature"?? The Hasselblad H3D hardly qualifies. The predecessors, the H1 and H2, worked with any manufacturer's digital back. Hasselblad, in its infinite wisdom, intentionally crippled the H3 so that it can ONLY work with Hasselblad's own digital backs. This came shortly after Hasselblad acquired Imacon, previously one of the large digital back (and scanner) manufacturers.

Source: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/photokina/H3-concerns.shtml


In addition, Hasselblad released a 28mm wide angle lens for the H-system recently. While the lens mount on the H3 is no different from the H1 or H2, the 28mm lens has been crippled in software to NOT WORK with the previous generation cameras, H1 or H2. This is to force anyone who wants the 28mm to upgrade to the H3D, and to purchase the entire system.

This camera is hardly revolutionary, as Phase One has had a 39MP back available (The PhaseOne P45) for this camera for some time now.

[shoota @ Apr 2nd 2007 11:07PM]

Uhh.. try the Hasselblad CFH 39 MP digital back for a comparison with Phase One.
This one is the smaller cousin for say, fashion photographers.

[Evan @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:25PM]

For 25k... I'd much rather a car.

[nuguns101 @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:47PM]

what's so great in this camera that i can't find in a e.g. canon DSLR apart from the crazy 31 MP's?

[Mike Isler @ Apr 2nd 2007 11:01PM]

Nuguns101:

14-bit color. Large photosites, low noise, huge dynamic range. Simple, raw, DETAIL. Leaf (a digital back maker) makes a 17MP back that will absolutely blow the 16.7MP Canon 1DsMK2 files out of the water.

There's a reason people spend so much on these camera backs. I've shot with most of them. I don't own any but rather rent them on a job-by-job basis, around $600/day. Even for magazine doubletruck size, the quality of these MF digital backs is superior to all DSLRs. The lack of noise in the shadow areas of images...fine detail in hair and faces... quality of out of focus areas, as a result of a larger imaging area. Simply comparing the output file size is a small part of the overall quality... like comparing just processor clock speed when looking at PCs, Macs, Suns, SGI machines, etc.

[shoota @ Apr 2nd 2007 11:08PM]

If you don't know what this camera can do for you then you're not the target market.
It's for high end pro shooters.

[PreGHz @ Apr 2nd 2007 11:11PM]

H3D or Mini Cooper?

Damn you for Hasselblad for making me choose.

[ROD @ Apr 2nd 2007 11:43PM]

I hope that one day I'll be one of those crazy rich guys who can own a Hassy although I have absolutely no need for it at all. And for people questioning why it's necessary and so on, that's like questioning why anyone ever needs F1(Hasselblad) when a Ferrari(top of the line DSLR) can do just fine on a track day.

[Markus87 @ Apr 3rd 2007 1:48AM]

@ Preghz...

I'd say pretty much any girl would appreciate the cooper...

Only a select few would enjoy the hasselhoff.. er... hasselblad.

[Mr. B @ Apr 3rd 2007 1:45AM]

Some day, I hope to be a rich lunatic.

[KRAMER @ Apr 3rd 2007 10:43AM]

I'm looking at Hasselblads and Phase One's for my company - I was skeptical at spending so much on a camera too at first but the level of detail and what the camera does in terms of processing, color correcting, white balance, etc. is unrivaled. This camera will give you as close to an exact replica of a detailed original as you're going to get. Anything else, you're sacrificing quality. Right now we send things out for photography/scanning and spend a couple grand a week at least on that. Bringing it in house and doing it ourselves will save money. In those terms, even at this high cost, the camera pays for itself - and I get to play with an expensive new gadget!!! Mike Isler - I'd actually like to pick your brain on this as it's all relatively new to me.

[Eric @ Apr 3rd 2007 11:02AM]

I use a 1Ds Mark II. And though it might not match the big boy's backs form absolute resoltuion, it has an advantage that the big guns don't. Much more flexible shooting with much wider and much longer lenses. Hand-holdable in really difficult situations where a tripod is not useful or allowed. There are times and places where a big camera is useful and gives the best results. But the 1Ds Mark II is more useful in a wider range of subjects, and I defy anyone to prove that one camera (of any size) can do it all.

I want both! :-D

[Michael @ Apr 3rd 2007 11:06AM]

I used this camera a month or so ago in a studio shoot and the results are amazing. Every pore on the models is visible with perfect clarity...wow. The downside is that each file is 50 megs, give or take, which makes it hard to work with large quantities at a time.

[slapboxmaster @ Apr 3rd 2007 1:19PM]

For anyone interested in using this camera body and its future lenses will be very upset with the Lock-in HASSEL-bad is pushing on you. Starting with the H2D system the H3d steps up the lock in by only allowing you to use only ITS digital backs (with the terrible software Flex color) but AFAIK ONLY the back you bought with the body. Which if means no back up body or no back up back. Which for a working photographer kills the deal. Also any future lenses they release for the H-system will ONLY work with the H3D body no backward compatibility. I would say lets see if the HY6 can help hesselblad to remember that photographers need options and the the H-series needs to remember where it came from to see where it should be going.

[Alex S @ Apr 3rd 2007 4:32PM]

Studio photographers, especially product photographers, are always looking for more resolution in digital backs, and cost is not an issue. However, the adoption of the "made by Fujifilm" H series cameras has been scarce. This camera is just further refinements on the H2, and a new back, which will also be made available for V series Hasselblads and Mamiyas.

Higher resolution + larger light sensors = Image fidelity yet to be matched by 35mm based DSLRs. Subjectively speaking, I've seen sample images from a 6MP digital back blow away the 10 and 12 MP DSLRs. Then again there are the trade-offs.

I guess I'm just sad that Hasselblad is marketing a camera and lens system that is made by Fuji and at the same time, hasn't brought the camera prices down. I can import the same camera (under the fuji name) for a lower price than the hassy counterpart.

Oh well, just ranting, killing time during lunch.
Cheers