Fun with the Hasselblad 907x

Godfrey

Godfrey

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A couple of folks from this forum have sent me messages and emails about the Hasselblad 907x. I'm not sure that adding to my older thread about the 907x is the right place to add more photos, so I started this new thread in the general interest forum... If you have acquired a 907x, feel free to add more photos of your own.

---
I haven't been out shooting for a bit since I'm recovering from some shoulder surgery, but I do have a number of 907x photos yet to finish rendering and posting. I picked these four out of my 'walks' as being reasonably compatible in aesthetic to post together.


Palm Tree & Shrub by Hotel Windows - Santa Clara 2020
Hasselblad 907x + XCD 45P f/4


Faux Arches - Santa Clara 2020
Hasselblad 907x + XCD 45P f/4


Porch & Sitting Bench - Santa Clara 2020
Hasselblad 907x + XCD 45P f/4


Gutter Drain Against Electricals - Santa Clara 2020
Hasselblad 907x + XCD 45P f/4​

1024x1024 pixel images posted here. Click through to Flickr on any of the photos to access up to a half-rez version.

enjoy!
G
 
I am very curious about the 907x.

How well do classic V lenses perform on it?

Have you compared its performance to the other medium format digitals?

Why did you choose the 907x over digital backs on a classic V series?
Many are probably weighing those choices.

Thanks
Stephen
 
CameraQuest said:
I am very curious about the 907x.

How well do classic V lenses perform on it?

Have you compared its performance to the other medium format digitals?

Why did you choose the 907x over digital backs on a classic V series?
Many are probably weighing those choices.
Click to expand...


Stephen,

In answer to your questions:

  • My V system lenses (Distagon 50, Planar 80, Makro-Planar 120 Macro, Sonnar 150) all work beautifully adapted to the 907x or with the CFVII 50c back fitted to the 500CM. With the back fitted to the 500CM, using it is as if you simply have a film back with an infinite number of film frames in it albeit at an 6x4.5 format reduction.

  • I can't ... I haven't owned any of the others nor do I have access to them to test without spending a small fortune in rental costs. The closest competitors are the Fuji GF series cameras, and I have to say that on first impression seeing one and holding it, I was not particularly motivated to learn much more about it. I have had Hasselblad V system gear for two decades, however, am completely happy with it, and the 907x/CFVII 50c extends the usefulness and functionality of my existing Hasselblad kit into the digital capture world beautifully, while also giving me access to the latest Hasselblad lens line. For me, it's a 100% win-win situation.

  • I chose the 907x because it includes the CFVII 50c digital back for use on my 500CMs, and for the moment it is the only way to obtain this particular back. The 907x body gives access to the modern X system lens line. The Hasselblad CFV series backs provide full system integration with Hasselblad V system bodies, lenses, and accessories and use the same Phocus software (tethered operational capabilities and image processing using Hasselblad color science) as the X1D and H system bodies.

I've been shooting with this kit since mid-March and can only say that my expectations have been met and exceeded in almost every way.

G
 
I made this photo some time ago, it's been sitting in my stack of "picks to work on" ... :)


A Lamp, A Step, A Forgotten Door - Santa Clara 2020
Hasselblad 907x + XCD 45P f/4
ISO 800 @ f/5.6 @ 1/100​

enjoy,
G
 
Some of it may be your post processing, but I really like the clean feel of these images. And that includes not over saturated color. You should be happy with this series.
 
^^^^This! The care taken with the composition helps too. Good composition is hard for me -- it is either the result of native brilliance, or a lot of hard work. You've made the mundane seem interesting!
 
Thank you both for the compliments!

This one's a little different aesthetic ... It's also made with the Hasselblad 500CM instead of the 907x but using the same CFVII 50c back. From a walk around with the camera several weeks back ...


Pipe - Santa Clara 2020
Hasselblad 500CM + CFVII 50c + Planar 80mm f/2.8 T*​

It's delightful to me how well my old V system lenses hold up on the digital sensor. I've found that the critical things for good quality are a-getting the focus right, and b-making sure the camera is held steady. The lenses themselves seem well up to the task!

Enjoy!
G
 
Surface ... A Study

Surface ... A Study

My Control Grip and OVF arrived. I finally had a moment between wildfires and other miseries to go out with the Hasselblad 907x again.

I fitted up the Hasselblad 907x with the grip, the optical viewfinder, the XCD 21mm lens, and a neck strap, and then went for a two-three mile walk around the neighborhood with it to see how it fared as a "walk and shoot" camera.

Working ultra wide field of view always takes me some time to settle into, my brain and eyes can't swap between radically wide and other fields of view so quickly as it can with medium wide to normal to modest telephoto. I decided to concentrate on the surface textures of the streets and sidewalks, utilizing the incredible dynamic range and detail capabilities of this camera.


Surface: Soil and Root - Santa Clara 2020
Hasselblad 907x + XCD 21mm f/4
ISO 800 @ f/11 @ 1/60


Surface: Asphalt and Concrete Curb - Santa Clara 2020
Hasselblad 907x + XCD 21mm f/4
ISO 100 @ f/11 @ 1/45


Surface: Asphalt, Leaf and Drainage Grate - Santa Clara 2020
Hasselblad 907x + XCD 21mm f/4
ISO 400 @ f/11 @ 1/80


Surface: Asphalt, Access Cover - Santa Clara 2020
Hasselblad 907x + XCD 21mm f/4
ISO 200 @ f/11 @ 1/50


Surface: Concrete, Asphalt, Sewer Grate and Warning - Santa Clara 2020
Hasselblad 907x + XCD 21mm f/4
ISO 100 @ f/11 @ 1/45


Surface: Asphalt, Concrete Slab, Lawn - Santa Clara 2020
Hasselblad 907x + XCD 21mm f/4
ISO 200 @ f/11 @ 1/80

Flickr album with 1/2 size images: Surface – 907x 2020 :: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmR87kWy​

My assessment: The grip and OVF add substantially to the bulk of the 907x if not so much to the overall weight, particularly with this lens (which is not small...). It proves to be remarkably handy, nonetheless, and easy to hold steadily and get good, sharp images with, whether using the LCD for best critical focus or riding the extreme DoF provided by f/11 with this very short focal length lens. The control grip's options make using manual focus with AF-C spot focus on demand easy, and as long as you take the time to get a feel for what the OVF parallax and is, the workflow is fluid and comfortable.

The lens performance, the quality of the raw .3FR files, and all that are just delightful. I rendered this set with Lightroom Classic and the adjustments from the defaults in all cases were very very minimal. :D

enjoy!
G
 
Finally joining the club....


Hello Gorgeous by Vince Lupo, on Flickr


Riley and Her Hasselblad by Vince Lupo, on Flickr


907x Walk-8 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr


907x Walk-7 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr


907x Walk-10 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr


907x Walk-9 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr


907x Walk-4 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr


907x Walk-2 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr


907x Walk-1 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

These are from my first outing with the camera - I have a very tolerant wife :)

The camera takes a bit of getting used to, as I’m more accustomed to shooting with an eye-level viewfinder (although I do have a Hasselblad 500c). The optical viewfinder is beautiful but not particularly helpful for shooting with the 45mm lens (which is the one I have). One issue is that the optical viewfinder doesn’t have any kind of parallax correction, so if you’re shooting at a subject that’s say, 6 feet away from you, you’re more than likely to cut part of their head off if you don’t compensate for it. With Leica finders, for example, they have a dotted line inside the brightlines which tells you to keep the subject below it when shooting closer than 6 feet - I wish that Hasselblad had included something like that in this viewfinder. Another option would have been to have an adjustable/tiltable viewfinder like the old Leica Imarect/VIOOH viewfinders. I think this viewfinder, as it is, is probably better suited to the 21 and 30mm lenses.

The camera is really comfortable to use, and the rear screen is great (contrary to some online reviewers, the screen is perfectly fine in bright light). Battery life seems surprisingly good, unlike my Nikon Z7 which eats batteries for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

A few online reviewers say that it’s difficult to do a vertical with this camera. Although I haven’t yet shot a vertical (guess I’ll always be a Leica shooter through and through), I don’t see what the problem is. You turn the camera on its side and the shutter release button is now in the upper right corner. You can then use your right index finger to take the picture while cradling the camera in your left hand - what’s the big deal? As well, it seems that a number of these online reviewers have never used a Hasselblad before and aren’t aware of the ‘correct’ way to hold the camera: Hold the camera in your left hand, left index finger on the shutter button, left middle finger on the ‘function’ button, right hand on the lens. If you look at a 500 etc series camera, there is an ‘indented’ area on the right side of the body - it’s there for a reason. Three of your left fingers are supposed to go there, left index finger on the shutter button, right hand cradling the lens. It’s no different with the 907x. Another reviewer thought the camera should have more buttons on it - sorry but that’s a really bad idea. This camera is perfect in its simplicity - I’m actually surprised at how straightforward the menus are.

If I had any complaints about the camera, it would be these: The auto focus really stinks. It’s a contrast-based auto focus, and I found that the 45P lens ‘hunted’ for focus more times than not, even in bright sunlight. Plus the auto-focus mechanism in that lens is noisy. For me the lens does much better as a manual focus lens. The other thing I don’t like is the focus peaking - it’s not sensitive enough, and when you do get the lens in focus, it seems that the focus peaking encompasses the entire frame, and not the specific area you intended. And unfortunately you can’t adjust the sensitivity of the focus peaking (not sure if a firmware update might add that feature), so eventually I just turned it off. The magnification feature, however, works very well with manual focus.

The files are very easy to work on - I did try the Phocus desktop program and it’s okay, but I get equally good results from Adobe Camera RAW / PhotoShop, of which I’m much more familiar. Most of these shots were taken wide open (f/4), and the images are incredibly sharp. RAW files are about 110mb.

Oh yeah one last thing -- I used the included Hasselblad strap for all of three hours. I don't know whether it's me or the camera manufacturers, but more often than not I don't like their included camera straps. So I put the strap back in its box and went with my old tried-and-true ThinkTank strap. I know - sacrilege.

It’s early days of course, but I really love this little (and in its current configuration, it sure is little!) camera. Now I just have to live up to owning it!
 
Vince Lupo said:
Finally joining the club....

https://flic.kr/p/2jNS8BR :: Hello Gorgeous
https://flic.kr/p/2jNSQsy :: Riley and Her Hasselblad
https://flic.kr/p/2jP78jJ :: 907x Walk-8
https://flic.kr/p/2jP78kR :: 907x Walk-7
https://flic.kr/p/2jP7569 :: 907x Walk-10
https://flic.kr/p/2jP7Vas :: 907x Walk-9
https://flic.kr/p/2jP7VbQ :: 907x Walk-4
https://flic.kr/p/2jP75dD :: 907x Walk-2
https://flic.kr/p/2jP3wzm :: 907x Walk-1

These are from my first outing with the camera - I have a very tolerant wife :)
Click to expand...

LOL! More tolerant than my partner, for sure. And better photos than my own first snaps with the 907x SE... LOL again! :)

Vince Lupo said:
...
The camera takes a bit of getting used to, as I’m more accustomed to shooting with an eye-level viewfinder (although I do have a Hasselblad 500c). The optical viewfinder is beautiful but not particularly helpful for shooting with the 45mm lens (which is the one I have). One issue is that the optical viewfinder doesn’t have any kind of parallax correction, so if you’re shooting at a subject that’s say, 6 feet away from you, you’re more than likely to cut part of their head off if you don’t compensate for it. With Leica finders, for example, they have a dotted line inside the brightlines which tells you to keep the subject below it when shooting closer than 6 feet - I wish that Hasselblad had put something like that in this viewfinder. Another option would have been to have an adjustable/tiltable viewfinder like the old Leica Imarect/VIOOH viewfinders. I think this viewfinder, as it is, is probably better suited to the 21 and 30mm lenses.
Click to expand...

Fair comment. I find it quite similar to using the Leica 35mm OVF (designed for the M) on the Leica X 113: the parallax correction indicator line was essential even at about 10' distances. Over time, I simply got used to the framing and shot "loose" .. This Hasselblad finder is very similar in this way to the SWC finder: You simply have to learn what it sees and how it differs from what the lens/film sees, and use the LCD when you need critical focus and framing.

If you want to use the OVF with the 45P lens a lot of the time and would like it to be oriented a little more true to the actual viewing, a person on another forum came up with a quick fix: Unbolt the finder optics from its accessory foot (I think it uses #6 TORX bolts) and put a thin piece of tape under the rear of the optics component. Now, when you bolt it back to the foot, it will angle down just a tiny bit and your framing will be much closer to what's needed. Obviously, a little trial and error will have to happen to find just the right thickness of tape to angle the finder optics just enough for your satisfaction. (I haven't done this yet because I've only really used the finder with the 21mm lens so far, and I'm used to the parallax offset already.)

Vince Lupo said:
...
A few online reviewers say that it’s difficult to do a vertical with this camera. Although I haven’t yet shot a vertical (guess I’ll always be a Leica shooter through and through), I don’t see what the problem is. ...
Click to expand...

I agree completely.

(BTW, I've never held a Hassy 500 or the 907x that particular way anyway. I find it impossible to get my hands in the right position for that and can't hold the camera steadily enough that way at all. I support the camera in my left hand, work the focus either with the thumb and forefinger on my left hand or my right hand. I work the exposure controls and shutter release entirely—sometimes the focus on the 907x too—with my right hand, using my left hand purely to stabilize the body. I think this is a matter of each photographer learning what works best for their hands and dexterity. :))

Vince Lupo said:
...
If I had any complaints about the camera, it would be these: The auto focus really stinks. It’s a contrast-based auto focus, and I found that the 45P lens ‘hunted’ for focus more times than not, even in bright sunlight. Plus the auto-focus mechanism in that lens is noisy. For me the lens does much better as a manual focus lens. The other thing I don’t like is the focus peaking - it’s not sensitive enough, and when you do get the lens in focus, it seems that the focus peaking encompasses the entire frame, and not the specific area you intended. And unfortunately you can’t adjust the sensitivity of the focus peaking (not sure if a firmware update might add that feature), so eventually I just turned it off. The magnification feature, however, works very well with manual focus.
Click to expand...

To your points, my response (opinions...):
  • I never really care too much about AF ... works fine for my needs. Hardly use it. AF-D with the Control Grip (essentially, spot AF on demand with the camera ain MF mode) works better for me, particularly with the 21mm lens.
  • Same for the focus peaking: It's too coarse in this camera and obscures the view badly. It's more useful on the few short video clips I've made with it, but even then I find it annoyingly over-much and don't use it. Whether they can improve it or not, eh: Doesn't really affect me, but if it becomes more useful, that's always a plus.
  • Focus magnification works beautifully.

Vince Lupo said:
...
The files are very easy to work on - I did try the Phocus desktop program and it’s okay, but I get equally good results from Adobe Camera RAW / PhotoShop, of which I’m much more familiar. Most of these shots were taken wide open (f/4), and the images are incredibly sharp. RAW files are about 110mb.

Oh yeah one last thing -- I used the included Hasselblad strap for all of three hours. I don't know whether it's me or the camera manufacturers, but more often than not I don't like their included camera straps. So I put the strap back in its box and went with my old tried-and-true ThinkTank strap. I know - sacrilege.

It’s early days of course, but I really love this little (and in its current configuration, it sure is little!) camera. Now I just have to live up to owning it!
Click to expand...

Yes, the files have tremendous dynamic range and resolution. I'm still learning Phocus (Phocus Mobile 2 for me ...used it mostly on the iPad Pro so far, with excellent control and image processing results); most of what I've posted has all been rendered from raw .3FR files in Lightroom Classic. Whatever works is all that's important. :D

I never even took the strap out of the box. I fitted the anchors for my Peak Design Leash and Slide Lite ... both work flawlessly, but I prefer the thinner Leash.

Living up to the capabilities of this outstanding sensor will take some time. I'm finding that I previsualize differently with it, because of the extraordinary DR and resolution it can achieve. The lenses, etc, of the whole Hasseblad X and V system are pretty much at the top end of anything anyone can need—the rest is on us as photographers and image rendering machinery. :) :)

Vince Lupo said:
Test shot with the CFV II 50c back on my 500c camera body, 150mm f/4 lens with 2.0 Proxar closeup lens.

https://flic.kr/p/2jPdHLh
Click to expand...

I have the same lens, a wonderful 1967 example of the Sonnar 150mm f/4 (pre-T*). Isn't it amazing how good these ancient lenses are, and how well they perform on the CFVII 50c back? The biggest challenge I've found with them is taking the time to get the focus right on the money, and that's just my aging eyes and often-casual attitude getting in the way. LOL!

Enjoy!
G
 
One trick I use to get around parallax with the OVF on my 903SWC is to frame as normal with the OVF and then raise the whole camera up so the center of the back (and so the center of the lens) is over my eye, much in the same way a Mamiya paramender works. Should work with the 907x although you do have a screen anyway!
 
lcpr said:
One trick I use to get around parallax with the OVF on my 903SWC is to frame as normal with the OVF and then raise the whole camera up so the center of the back (and so the center of the lens) is over my eye, much in the same way a Mamiya paramender works. Should work with the 907x although you do have a screen anyway!
Click to expand...

Better trick is using the flip out LCD screen and composing at waist-level.

The OVF is a slick bit of industrial design atop the camera, admittedly.
 
f.hayek said:
Better trick is using the flip out LCD screen and composing at waist-level.

The OVF is a slick bit of industrial design atop the camera, admittedly.
Click to expand...

There are times when you want an eye-level viewpoint and other times when you want a waist level viewpoint. The two are quite different with respect to the way they render a subject.

G
 
Vince Lupo said:
Maybe I should just pull out my pair of vice grips and bend the viewfinder arm up a bit - yeah that should do it :)
Click to expand...

Yike! You just made me wince! OUCH!
A little piece of tape, please, or I won't sleep at night! :D

Here's the post I was referring to:
https://www.getdpi.com/forum/index....elblad-907x-optical-view-finder-silver.69400/

I'd set up the camera on a tripod and mark a target on the wall about 15 feet away with the 45P. Align that with the center of the view on the LCD and then note how far off it is with the OVF. Add a tape shim to align it. Then you know that your "infinity" is on the money for distance and you just have to do what we always do for optical viewfinders and close up parallax issues. (Of course, you can pick any distance you want to be your "normal" alignment and optimize the camera for your usual subject distance needs that way.)

G
 
Do you think they still blast the body parts with rice before chroming them? Beautiful camera, Vince, and you and Godfrey are showing a lot of what can be done with it. I'd be willing to purchase one if circumstances were different, just on what I've seen here.



PF
 
As a Rolleiflex and SWC shooter I am thrilled by the low angle ergonomics. I will get the next generation in 5 years.
 
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