Fun with the Hasselblad 907x

[Godfrey]

Vince, you're out-shooting me by about six to one right now. 🙂

Another from an evening walk with the 907x back in May.

Meals on Wheels
Hasselblad 907x + XCD 45mm f/4 P
ISO 3200 @ f/9.5 @ 1/20​

I wanted deep DoF and the light was failing, so I held the f/stop down and bumped up the ISO. Still could only manage 1/20 second, which means it's not quite as sharp as I'd like although acceptable to me for a hand-held photo.

This truck is often there and so on another occasion I'll head out and make more photos of it. Sometimes they park it on the street with two wheels up on the curb, and the scene in the evening with a few people in the light is another photograph I'd like to make of it.

Fun fun fun!

Enjoy, G

 

[Vince Lupo]

Vince, you're out-shooting me by about six to one right now. 🙂

Ah you know it’s not the quantity but the quality that’s important 🙂

I may actually use the camera on a job next week up in New Jersey, so we’ll see if it earns its keep.

 

[oldwino]

Interesting! Besides the color differences (Hassy seems more “vibrant”), the rendering on the Hassy is beautiful - very lifelike and 3-D compared to the Nikon, which seems flat when viewed against the Hassy. I would assume that’s the sensor size coming into play?

Finished my work day a little early today, so I thought I'd embark on a little comparison test - Nikon Z7 vs Hasselblad 907x.

Now this isn't particularly scientific, but it did give me a few insights. Both cameras were set up on the same tripod in the same spot and focused on the same scene. I used the 65/2.8 on the Hasselblad (it's considered to be the equivalent of a 50mm lens on 35mm format) and the 50/1.8 on the Z7. Both shot at ISO 100, RAW files (3FR for Hasselblad, NEF for Nikon) and at the same aperture settings (with the exception of the Nikon, which I also shot one additional frame at f/1.8), 2.8, 4 and 5.6. Both cameras focused on the same spot (the white and blue pot on the table).

Hasselblad at f/2.8.

Hasselblad 907x f2.8 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

Nikon at f/1.8.

Nikon Z7 f1.8 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

Nikon at f/2.8.

Nikon Z7 f2.8 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

Hasselblad at f/4.

Hasselblad 907x f4 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

Nikon at f/4.

Nikon Z7 f4 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

Hasselblad at f/5.6.

Hasselblad 907x f5.6 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

Nikon at f/5.6.

Nikon Z7 f5.6 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

The colour difference is one thing that really struck me - I tried to adjust them both so that they were the approximately the same exposure (no sharpening), but the Hasselblad's colours are totally different than the Nikon's. All the images were taken in a total of about 5 minutes and, while the sun was dipping in and out from time to time, it wasn't really drastic from one camera to the other.

Two detail crops (both at f/4):

Nikon.

Nikon Z f4 Crop by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

Hasselblad.

Hasselblad 907x f4 Crop by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

I think I need to do some more 'controlled' tests where the light is more flat and even, but it's a good start.

 

[Vince Lupo]

Interesting! Besides the color differences (Hassy seems more “vibrant”), the rendering on the Hassy is beautiful - very lifelike and 3-D compared to the Nikon, which seems flat when viewed against the Hassy. I would assume that’s the sensor size coming into play?

Possibly - when I'm strictly assessing sharpness of the blue and white pot, they seem pretty close. So I dunno - a 23.9mm x 35.9mm 45.75mp sensor vs a 32.9 x 43.8 50mp sensor might make the difference, plus it seems that online reviewers rhapsodize about Hasselblad's colour management, so there may be something to it. The lenses might make a difference as well, but those Nikon Z prime lenses are pretty darned good in their own right.

Either way, I honestly couldn't see myself wanting anything better than what this Hasselblad is producing -- dare I say it, but I could see this as being a 'lifetime' camera system as it is. Now if they came out with a 58mm x 58mm back somewhere down the line, I may be interested if it's not too crazy-expensive (like over $8k - $10k) and it could still utilize the 907x body. But as of right now, the 'crop' sensor doesn't bother me at all. I view the 907x as its own thing (irrespective of the ability to attach the back to a film body), but even on my old 500c with the viewfinder mask installed, I don't see it being a whole lot different than the 'super-slide' format (16s) that Hasselblad had for film. Of course things are always subject to change!

 

[oldwino]

I agree that the Z7 has nothing to be ashamed of in the sharpness department. Those Z lenses are wonderful - at least the ones I’ve used. And my Z6 plays really nicely with most of my old LTM lenses; in some cases, I feel these old lenses perform better on the Nikon than on film.

Possibly - when I'm strictly assessing sharpness of the blue and white pot, they seem pretty close. So I dunno - a 23.9mm x 35.9mm 45.75mp sensor vs a 32.9 x 43.8 50mp sensor might make the difference, plus it seems that online reviewers rhapsodize about Hasselblad's colour management, so there may be something to it. The lenses might make a difference as well, but those Nikon Z prime lenses are pretty darned good in their own right.

Either way, I honestly couldn't see myself wanting anything better than what this Hasselblad is producing -- dare I say it, but I could see this as being a 'lifetime' camera system as it is. Now if they came out with a 58mm x 58mm back somewhere down the line, I may be interested if it's not too crazy-expensive (like over $8k - $10k) and it could still utilize the 907x body. But as of right now, the 'crop' sensor doesn't bother me at all. I view the 907x as its own thing (irrespective of the ability to attach the back to a film body), but even on my old 500c with the viewfinder mask installed, I don't see it being a whole lot different than the 'super-slide' format (16s) that Hasselblad had for film. Of course things are always subject to change!

 

[Nokton48]

Oooooooo Man

I would eventually like to have a 907X. Still shooting film for now in my Blads.

 

[f.hayek]

The actually pixel # uptick from FF 35 to the crop frame MF isn't all that huge. The interaction of the MF optics, increased DR and software color management are more significant factors.

 

[Vince Lupo]

The actually pixel # uptick from FF 35 to the crop frame MF isn't all that huge. The interaction of the MF optics, increased DR and software color management are more significant factors.

Yes definitely the 14-stop dynamic range and the colour management make a big difference - I can clearly see it in the RAW files vs the Z7. Actually the 907x is a nice complement to the Z7 - glad I have both.

 

[Vince Lupo]

Late Day Acorns by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

 

[Godfrey]

I like the acorns, Vince! 🙂

While the CFVII 50c sensor is 14-bit, my understanding is that Hasselblad up-rezzes the raw files to 16-bit with their color science algorithms. Regardless how they do it, the 907x and 500CM using the CFVII 50c back produces the most dynamic range I've seen out of a digital camera to date. It's such a difference that it changes how you evaluate correct exposure: there's just much more useable data to work with compared to any of my smaller sensor cameras, and FAR more than with any film I've ever worked with until the film format was in the 4x5 inch and larger range.

Truly a wonderful thing.. 😀

Fence and Mailbox - Santa Clara 2020
Hasselblad 907x + XCD 45mm f/4 P
ISO 200 @ f/4.5 @ 1/90​

enjoy, G

 

[Vince Lupo]

Just picked up a 555 ELD with box, 80mm lens, back, caps, manual - the works! Thought I'd give it a whirl with the CFV II 50c back.....


Hello Little Friend by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

 

[DwF]

Vince's Comparison

Vince's Comparison

Vince,

Thank you for the comparison, it was informative. Before I read what it was you were up to, and scrolling through the thread, the green chairs stopped me cold in the way the hues beautifully contrasted the background. For me (maybe because I am not interested in luring myself toward Med Format right now) that contrast and the richness of color in the chairs was for me the big story -happy for the opportunity to have seen it. 🙂

David

 

[Vince Lupo]

Vince,

Thank you for the comparison, it was informative. Before I read what it was you were up to, and scrolling through the thread, the green chairs stopped me cold in the way the hues beautifully contrasted the background. For me (maybe because I am not interested in luring myself toward Med Format right now) that contrast and the richness of color in the chairs was for me the big story -happy for the opportunity to have seen it. 🙂

David

The colours are so nice coming out of the Hasselblad that I feel a little guilty converting some of the images to black and white!

 

[tifat]

Does anyone have any thoughts regarding how the BW image quality of the 907 might compare to the Monochrom? I’m in the process of getting a 907 and using the back on an Alpa 12SWA. I’ve had the Alpa for about 20 years and I’m looking forward to its new life as a digital camera.

 

[Godfrey]

Does anyone have any thoughts regarding how the BW image quality of the 907 might compare to the Monochrom? I’m in the process of getting a 907 and using the back on an Alpa 12SWA. I’ve had the Alpa for about 20 years and I’m looking forward to its new life as a digital camera.

Not really sure how to compare them... I don't have a Monochrom (any of them) to experiment with. They're utterly different cameras to work with besides that as well.

That said, I'm happy with the B&W that I can render from the 907x:

Leaves - Santa Clara 2020
Hasselblad 907x + XCD 45mm f/4 P
ISO 1600 @ f/5.6 @ 1/100​

The files have a richness and depth that I like due to the great dynamic range of the sensor. And rendering from standard raw captures allows me to do B&W filtering in software, which you cannot do with a monochromatic sensor since you only have one channel's worth of color to work with.

Pluses and minuses, I suppose.

G

 

[chipgreenberg]

I like the acorns, Vince! 🙂

While the CFVII 50c sensor is 14-bit, my understanding is that Hasselblad up-rezzes the raw files to 16-bit with their color science algorithms.Those colors are really nice Vince. I've only seen a handful of images with colors I like from the Digital-Blads online, this is one of them.

 

[Vince Lupo]

I like the acorns, Vince! 🙂

While the CFVII 50c sensor is 14-bit, my understanding is that Hasselblad up-rezzes the raw files to 16-bit with their color science algorithms.Those colors are really nice Vince. I've only seen a handful of images with colors I like from the Digital-Blads online, this is one of them.

Many thanks - yes the colours are something special from this camera (not me I swear it!).

As far as black and white goes, I’ve had both the first and second Leica Monochrom cameras and I think the 907x compares favourably. The detail is stunning and - though the 907x does not have any ‘monochrome’ setting - it doesn’t seem to matter, at least not to my eyes. My only regret is that I have to discard those lovely colours to achieve a monochrome image!

A propos of nothing, one other thing that I find remarkable is how few menu settings/options there actually are on this camera. It’s quite spartan compared to most other digital cameras.

 

[Vince Lupo]

Untitled 907x by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

 

[35photo]

Well Sorry I'm calling BS.... The color profile in I'm assuming either Phocus or Capture One is what your seeing and liking along with the lens not some magic Hasselblad "Color Science".... You could certainly make your own custom color profile and the colors would very different...

I like the acorns, Vince! 🙂

While the CFVII 50c sensor is 14-bit, my understanding is that Hasselblad up-rezzes the raw files to 16-bit with their color science algorithms.Those colors are really nice Vince. I've only seen a handful of images with colors I like from the Digital-Blads online, this is one of them.

 

[tifat]

Thanks Godfrey and Vince. This looks and sounds great. Carl