Dust off your Hasselblads - iPhone Back

Wait, does this really make sense other than using it as a back to check exposure (and then again it's the iPhone app that determines exposure...).

You fit a big square magnifying lens (quality?) in the Hassy's body, then there is a screen 'made to simulate a coarse film grain'.

Then you got a wide conversion lens sitting in front of the iPhone's lens.

OK, I use my iPhone quite regularly and in good light the pictures are quite amazing (for a phone), but with all this additionnal glass..... I have to wonder.

EDITT: and VERY heavy vignetting on the sample pictures due to the projected image.... not good!
 
MiniMoke said:
Wait, does this really make sense other than using it as a back to check exposure (and then again it's the iPhone app that determines exposure...).

You fit a big square magnifying lens (quality?) in the Hassy's body, then there is a screen 'made to simulate a coarse film grain'.

Then you got a wide conversion lens sitting in front of the iPhone's lens.

OK, I use my iPhone quite regularly and in good light the pictures are quite amazing (for a phone), but with all this additionnal glass..... I have to wonder.

EDITT: and VERY heavy vignetting on the sample pictures due to the projected image.... not good!
Click to expand...

Well, as they said in the Kickstarter info, the version of the screen they were showing pictures made with is their prototype. One of the things the funding will go towards is development of the back projection screen.

I think it's a darn cool concept and look forward to having a go with it, so I've signed on for one. Today I got an update from the team: they are working on compatibility with the SWC, which requires a change in their triggering software for the iPhone and an alternative back projection screen tuned to the SWC body's different dimensions. Essentially, the SWC needs a different focal length on the collimating optics due to the nature of the Biogon and its short primary nodal point distance. That will be an additional accessory.

This tells me that they're really working this out on a pretty serious level. Can't wait to see what they deliver! I'll use my Hassy's more ... :)

G
 
This makes me sick. And angry. hipsters who just don't get 'it'. And don't say that the 'it' is different for other people.
 
Tijmendal said:
This makes me sick. And angry. hipsters who just don't get 'it'. And don't say that the 'it' is different for other people.
Click to expand...

LOL! Talk about some attitude ... ! :)

Well, the gods of camera craziness have smiled. It took a while: A box was delivered yesterday with the Bad_Ass Camera "Hasselnuts" back in it.

First impressions:

- Very nicely packaged with minimal but complete information.

- Compatible with iPhone 4S and iPhone 5/5S. It would take some rework to bring it to iPhone 6 compatibility.

- The back itself is lightweight but has a nice feel and very nice finish. The protective cap for the back is secured with magnets (very slick) and the kit includes sleeves for the iPhone 4 and 5 generation phones that position their cameras very precisely with the lens system. The back fits my 500CM body very nicely. I haven't tried to fit it on the SWC yet.

- The Hasselnuts app seems fully compatible with iOS 8.1.

I might have time this evening to give it a first try. If it works as well as I hope, it should be a perfect match to also use with The Impossible Project "Instant Lab" and produce Hasselblad-captured Polaroid SX-70 type prints ...

I think this is going to be a lot of fun to work with.
Maybe I should schedule a trip to Amsterdam ... ];-)

G
 
Darn. I was hoping it was a Hasselblad-to iPhone adapter so i could capture my iPhone images on a quality hi-res archival MF film format.
 
Timmyjoe said:
So you bought one??!!

Wow, that's interesting. Be sure to share your iPhone photos when you get some.

Enjoy.
Click to expand...

Yes, I became a supporter on the Kickstarter project some time in 2013. I figured it was going to be an interesting thing to fool with if they succeeded. The project suffered many delays along the way, evidently mostly in the development of the back projection system's fresnel screen and optics: I'm glad to see that they have shipped their first batch of backs now.

Hey, how else can you buy a digital back for a Hasselblad V for $260? ;-)

I'm looking forward to making some photos with it, I'll certainly post what I get with it.

G
 
Rayt said:
I would buy one as a composition tool for my SWC if the price is right.
Click to expand...

I had asked them if it would be compatible with the SWC when I signed up. They said, "Maybe..." the optics for the back projection screen would likely need to be a little different to handle the Biogon 38mm lens properly. And then there's the matter of how to trigger the iPhone—the SWC has a totally different operational vibration signature from the reflex cameras, the way they trigger the iPhone is to use the iPhone's GPS system and motion detector to determine when the shutter is open based on the Hasselblad cameras' motion in operation.

It will be interesting ... I'll certainly try it on the SWC and see if it works at all.

G
 
Godfrey said:
I had asked them if it would be compatible with the SWC when I signed up. They said, "Maybe..." the optics for the back projection screen would likely need to be a little different to handle the Biogon 38mm lens properly. And then there's the matter of how to trigger the iPhone—the SWC has a totally different operational vibration signature from the reflex cameras, the way they trigger the iPhone is to use the iPhone's GPS system and motion detector to determine when the shutter is open based on the Hasselblad cameras' motion in operation.

It will be interesting ... I'll certainly try it on the SWC and see if it works at all.

G
Click to expand...

I hope there is a manual mode. Well if it is under $300 it would be still cheaper than the screen adapter. I am a 100% film user so the back will only serve as preview. Nevertheless I think this is a good idea for general use.
 
this is so stupid... that I'm starting to lose the rest of faith in mankind that still has remained in my heart :D
 
Is it really what you want to do with the beautiful 6x6 Hasselblad output?
Squeeze it somehow into a camera phone?
I don't get it.
 
LOL!

"Any subject which simultaneously brings on equal numbers of Yay! and Nay! responses must be interesting."

I think Richard Feinman said that to me once upon a time. :)

G
 
Just some test shots to see that this thing actually works:







All: Hasselblad 500CM + Zeiss Makro-Planar 120mm f/4 @ f/4
Exposure: Hasselnuts back + iPhone 4S​

No modifications other than resize and add the border. :)

G
 
Rayt said:
I hope there is a manual mode. Well if it is under $300 it would be still cheaper than the screen adapter. I am a 100% film user so the back will only serve as preview. Nevertheless I think this is a good idea for general use.
Click to expand...

I think the retail price is going to be something in the $300-$400 category, assuming they make it to full production.

There's a "live capture" mode, which is what I used for the photos above. I haven't got time to see how well or poorly it works on the SWC just at the moment, but that will come.

I like the rendering it produced; obviously, I need to work on learning how to use it. It is a bit goofy, but a fun concept and, heck, I've seen lots of nice work done with goofier camera toys. ;-) It doesn't detract from using the Hasselblad the normal way ... just swap the film back into place and shoot away.

It's all good.

G

Oh yeah: It made a couple of cool prints from the iPhone using the Impossible Instant Lab too. :)
 
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