Fun with the Hasselblad 907x

[Retro-Grouch]

Vince, "Riley at the Sink" looks like a photo that Vermeer would do if he lived today and shot with a 'blad. The light, the simple interior domestic scene... No need for exotic scenery or gripping drama; an eye for everyday beauty is a enough.

 

[Vince Lupo]

Vince, "Riley at the Sink" looks like a photo that Vermeer would do if he lived today and shot with a 'blad. The light, the simple interior domestic scene... No need for exotic scenery or gripping drama; an eye for everyday beauty is a enough.

Many thanks - it also shows me that maybe our kitchen needs a bit of tidying 🙂

I have to say that after having had this camera since last September-October, I still love it. Though the Ermanox is giving it a bit of competition in the ‘vying for my attention’ department, I actually think they complement each other nicely.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

"Tidying" is overrated. As we say in our household, "A clean house is the sign of a wasted life."
I'd rather spend my time shooting!

 

[Vince Lupo]

Late Day Tomato by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

 

[tbhv55]

"Tidying" is overrated. As we say in our household, "A clean house is the sign of a wasted life."
I'd rather spend my time shooting!

Yes!! 😀 😀

 

[Vince Lupo]

"Tidying" is overrated. As we say in our household, "A clean house is the sign of a wasted life."
I'd rather spend my time shooting!

Or as we say in our household: "Keep that up and you'll be living somewhere else!"

 

[Godfrey]

Or as we say in our household: "Keep that up and you'll be living somewhere else!"

Uh huh. I maintain: never let the place get to be too much of a mess. I don't think straight when there's chaos all around me, so it's self-serving to keep things tidy and clean. 🙂

I have had my 907x Special Edition since February 2020 ... almost a year and a half now. It is a superb piece; I'm glad I went for it. I'm working up to acquiring the XCD 65mm lens for it now.

I went walking with the 907x fitted with 90mm and the Control Grip the other day. That is definitely about the limit in size and weight that I'm willing to carry on a several mile, casual walk. And it reinforced that my cobbled up 'dumb' left side grip is more ergonomic for my use than the Control Grip, which is really best used with the wides and the optical viewfinder for eye level shooting. After shooting a decent bit with both the 45 and the 90 now, I know the 65 is going to be the lens I grab most of the time for sessions like that walk.

The 21mm is special, like the SWC was always special: it's perfect when my eyes are in that visual space, and way too much when they're not.

A great system. Not for everything of course... 😀

G

 

[Vince Lupo]

Yeah the 65 is pretty much my go-to lens, it's so versatile. You'll definitely love it. I also have the 45P and the 30, but combined I don't use them anywhere near as much as the 65.

I don't use the control grip that often (I seem to prefer the 'naked' camera), but I found it most helpful in colder weather while wearing gloves. Overall I don't really mind the ergonomics for waist-level shooting. It's certainly a beautifully-made accessory.

What I really wish Hasselblad would do is get their AE lock function properly sorted out, instead of the wonky way they currently have it. I think they are past due for a firmware update.

 

[Godfrey]

Yeah the 65 is pretty much my go-to lens, it's so versatile. You'll definitely love it. I also have the 45P and the 30, but combined I don't use them anywhere near as much as the 65.

I don't use the control grip that often (I seem to prefer the 'naked' camera), but I found it most helpful in colder weather while wearing gloves. Overall I don't really mind the ergonomics for waist-level shooting. It's certainly a beautifully-made accessory.

What I really wish Hasselblad would do is get their AE lock function properly sorted out, instead of the wonky way they currently have it. I think they are past due for a firmware update.

Hmm. I haven't really used the AELock function much at all... I just set the exposure manually most of the time. I'm way too mired in the 1970s for camera control...! LOL!

I find the control grip is simply angled too upright for much other than eye level work, for me. I fumble with the buttons, dials, and release using it way too much. The naked camera is fine with the 45P, but with the 21 or 90 on it, I want something more substantial to stabilize the camera with, so my left grip works well for that and is angled for a low-angle shooting position.

Personal differences, I guess. I'll have to see what the 65 feels like ... I suppose I could put the Macro-Elmarit-R 60/2.8 on the camera for a walk about and get a feel for the FOV, etc., too, despite the limitations of the eshutter. Maybe I'll do that today. The XCD 65mm is a bit larger and heavier, but not by all that much when you consider the mount adapter.

Fun stuff! 🙂

I suppose I should post a photo from the other day...

Fence and Trellis - Santa Clara 2021
Hasselblad 907x + XCD 90mm f/3.2
ISO 200 @ f/8 @ 1/320​

enjoy!
G

 

[Vince Lupo]

I've posted this shot before - hopefully it will give you an idea of the size of the 65 relative to the camera body. It's really not bad at all.


907x with 65mm by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

 

[Godfrey]

Thx, yes: I've looked at it quite a lot but so few of the photos show it on the 907x body vs the X1D body.

It's a little shorter than the 90mm (about 10mm) and a little bit heavier. Not hugely different; it should work well, both with or without a grip, mostly due to the shorter focal length. The 90, for me, really needs a grip of some sort as does the 21 because ... The 90 for stability due to the focal length, the 21 because the lens itself is longer and heavier.

By and large, I tend to fit all my Hasselblad cameras to a tripod or stand most of the time ... They just feel best as tripod cameras to me. 😀

G

 

[Godfrey]

Okay, a few more 907x photos from recent days experimenting with the XCD 90mm lens.

Leaves - Santa Clara 2021
Hasselblad 907x + XCD 90mm f/3.2
ISO 400 @ f/5.6 @ 1/180


Leaf Sprig - Santa Clara 2021
Hasselblad 907x + XCD 90mm f/3.2
ISO 1600 @ f/3.5 @ 1/180


Bananas and Knives - Santa Clara 2021
Hasselblad 907x + XCD 90mm f/3.2
ISO 1600 @ f/4.5 @ 1/8​

Can't think of anything bad to say about it... 😀

enjoy! G

 

[Vince Lupo]

Nice set Godfrey - I particularly like the 'Leaf Sprig'. Nice light and contrast with the background.

I’m still working close to home...


After the Rain July 2021 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr


After the Rain July 2021-2 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr


Morning Kitchen Light by Vince Lupo, on Flickr


Our Dead Bee by Vince Lupo, on Flickr


Riley on the Dock by Vince Lupo, on Flickr


On One of Our Many Walks by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

 

[Godfrey]

I've posted this shot before - hopefully it will give you an idea of the size of the 65 relative to the camera body. It's really not bad at all.


907x with 65mm by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

I did the deal ... an XCD 65mm is now on its way to me. I should see it next Thursday according to the tracking. I got a very good deal on a barely used one...

😀

G

 

[Vince Lupo]

Good to hear -- the only bad news is that your other lenses are now going to languish!

 

[Vince Lupo]

Raindrops on Our Screen Door by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

 

[Vince Lupo]

Picked This Morning by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

 

[Godfrey]

The XCD 65 lens arrived two days ago and I was eager to go out for a walk with it and make a few photos, see how it performed 'in the field' ...

I configured the camera with my cobbled up, left-side grip and went out on a walk with it yesterday. I made a couple of dozen exposures, getting the feel of the XCD 65 lens. It's not much bigger than the 45P lens, a little shorter than the 90mm, but it's a heavier than either, I can feel the weight of the lens elements as it focuses. The camera as configured proves a bit bulky but comfortable to carry with the strap across my body, and it's quick to pick up and make a casual photo with.

I stopped in a cafe to get some lunch and a drink of water ... warm out and I'd been walking for about 2 miles or so. I connected up my iPhone to the 907x to review the photos in Phocus Mobile 2 ... a bit more screen real estate to play with ... and was diddling about with the camera control features when I saw the table across from me with an older man and his grandson. They were deep in conversation. I made the exposure and quickly cropped away about 40% of it, then took it around to show them on the iPhone. They were very pleasant, had been discussing the young man's school work—he's a college student. I emailed the photo to them on the spot. I later re-rendered the photo at home in Lightroom Classic with the same crop and a bit of modest cleanup to the lighting. I didn't even bother looking at noise reduction as I like the feel of the lightly grainy appearance, barely visible at this resolution.

Grandfather and Grandson - Santa Clara 2021
Hasselblad 907x + XCD 65mm f/2.8
ISO 3200 @ f/5.6 @ 1/250​

I have to say, this is a wonderful lens! It's heavy but quick in use, a bit noisier than the other XCDs I've got, and the imaging is superb. Very glad I went for it! More soon...

enjoy,
G

 

[Godfrey]

Another photo from my walk with the XCD 65mm lens the other day.

Reading under a Tree - Santa Clara 2021
Hasselblad 907x + XCD 65mm f/2.8
ISO 200 @ f/5.6 @ 1/250​

This lens truly has lovely imaging qualities ... I have another little set of 14 photos that I'm working on from that walk as well.

It makes the 907x a little bit heavier and a bit bulky. My cobbled up left side grip adds to the bulk, as does the Hasselblad Control Grip, but both do make the camera easier to hold steadily in most circumstances. Switching the strap from the PD Leash to the PD Slide Lite for use without a grip also helps.

A very pleasing addition to my Hasselblad X-system kit. 🙂

G

 

[Vince Lupo]

You may as well sell the rest of your XCD lenses 🙂