The $15,000 Question: what would you get?

[wlewisiii]

hmm. Lessee: $15K is a Leica M11 and two Leica lenses, one if you pick one of the more expensive Leica lenses, purchased new. Not a huge boondoggle ... I'm sure lots of people on RFF have a new Leica M and a couple of new Leica lenses in their camera bags.

My Hasselblad 907x/CFVII 50c 50th Anniversary, XCD 45P, and XCD 21mm lenses cost more than $15,000 too... I'd have enjoyed the gift if someone had handed me the money to buy them. 😀

G

I admit that the mention of Hassy makes me think of the X2D and a small but exquisite system could be built for $15k.

But then what? No, my Leica and Nikons are enough, the money is better spent on travel instead of on a Hassy I could not put to proper use.

But perhaps to rent for a week with a fast normal someday... 😉

 

[tcmx3]

Hasselblad is cool, the IQ is amazing and all, but the AF is dubious, and they really are AF cameras. Theyre also quite weighty. If one debuts with that like 250 megapixel sensor I'm at least going to rent one to try though that's just crazy.

(I did think about going down that route and ultimately chose digital M stuff)

 

[boojum]

Hasselblad is cool, the IQ is amazing and all, but the AF is dubious, and they really are AF cameras. Theyre also quite weighty. If one debuts with that like 250 megapixel sensor I'm at least going to rent one to try though that's just crazy.

(I did think about going down that route and ultimately chose digital M stuff)

A Leica M240 is ~700 grams. The X2D is ~900 grams.

True, the AF could be better. OTOH its AF is way better than the M240. It has crazy 7 stop IBIS, 15 stop dynamic range, 16 bit color, superb imaging and that very nice HB color science. I gladly pay the 200 gram penalty for all that. The M11 is ~530 grams but no bells and whistles and the image is not as good and is about the same price with lens. And the HB AF is better than the M11. ;o)

For me the decision was easy, for the image alone. As always, YMMV. I still have the Leicas but find it harder and harder to leave the HB at home in favor of a different camera.

The AF can be improved and no doubt will be. It is a common user complaint. OTOH HB never said the X2D was a sports camera. It kind of is a studio camera you can pack along outside. My belief is that it will get better.

 

[tcmx3]

A Leica M240 is ~700 grams. The X2D is ~900 grams.

True, the AF could be better. OTOH its AF is way better than the M240. It has crazy 7 stop IBIS, 15 stop dynamic range, 16 bit color, superb imaging and that very nice HB color science. I gladly pay the 200 gram penalty for all that. The M11 is ~530 grams but no bells and whistles and the image is not as good and is about the same price with lens. And the HB AF is better than the M11. ;o)

For me the decision was easy, for the image alone. As always, YMMV. I still have the Leicas but find it harder and harder to leave the HB at home in favor of a different camera.

The AF can be improved and no doubt will be. It is a common user complaint. OTOH HB never said the X2D was a sports camera. It kind of is a studio camera you can pack along outside. My belief is that it will get better.

how much does the 55 weigh again? how about the 65? oh that 45P is pretty light, it only weighs 1.5 35mm summicron asphs D:

look I'll give you the blad has the edge in IQ and for medium format yeah it's not that big. and I'd choose it over Nikon/Canon/Sony at this point because it's at least as portable as those if not more. but as an overall package it's a material difference in weight.

if it were really just 200g you'd have convinced me. as it stands I can't quite convince myself I need one is all. I'm close though, if it makes you feel better.

re autofocus, I do prefer it to manual focus but I'm willing to make sacrifices for those grams, same as you, just opposite direction.

 

[wlewisiii]

Oh, I'm not worried about the other stuff. The X2D makes beautiful images - that's ALL I care about - EXCEPT that for the purposes of our thought experiment it and about a two, possibly three lens if I am really careful with the used market, kit will burn up the whole of the $15k.

For me, at this point in my life, if I get a magic windfall...

I.

Will.

Travel.

I'm going to places I have never been and will never have a chance to see again and I will start in England because when I was in the army I never made it to that side of the channel. There are people and places I need to see on this side of pushing daises. $15k, a Z5 & the lenses I already own would allow that to happen. A party and a bit of a cuddle with a beautiful lass? Well, even the losers get lucky sometimes ... 😎

 

[Godfrey]

I have the 907x. I love it ... It's the smallest medium format camera around. And I can fit the back to the Hasselblad 500CM and use all my beloved Hasselblad Zeiss lenses too. I use them both quite a lot. Yes, it's a bigger, heavier camera (both of them) than a Leica M. That doesn't matter... it's a different kind of camera that you do different things with.

I've accreted a good deal of fancy equipment over the years. I use it all, it's not just money thrown down a hole. If you buy $15000 worth of Leica or Hasselblad gear, you use it to obtain its value ... that's all. 🙂

G

 

[boojum]

how much does the 55 weigh again? how about the 65? oh that 45P is pretty light, it only weighs 1.5 35mm summicron asphs D:

look I'll give you the blad has the edge in IQ and for medium format yeah it's not that big. and I'd choose it over Nikon/Canon/Sony at this point because it's at least as portable as those if not more. but as an overall package it's a material difference in weight.

if it were really just 200g you'd have convinced me. as it stands I can't quite convince myself I need one is all. I'm close though, if it makes you feel better.

re autofocus, I do prefer it to manual focus but I'm willing to make sacrifices for those grams, same as you, just opposite direction.

The body weights are not in dispute. Google is your friend. Lens weight? XCD 55V is 372 grams with covers and lens shade. Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. Lens is 337 grams. The cost is about the same. So if 235 grams, a little more than 8 ounces, is too great a weight penalty you are correct to ignore the HB. I see the "weight penalty" as a canard bandied about without doing the research. Yes, Google is your friend. As always, YMMV.

What you buy is your decision 100%. I just laid out the reasons I bought the damned thing. On a personal level I was satisfied with the first shots. My decision was based on IQ and the list of camera attributes. I was amazed at one second exposures made at very high ISO's with little to no degradation. It cannot make me a good photographer but it can make what I photograph a better image. And the final impetus was that I did not want to be on my deathbed saying, "I sure wish I had bought that damned Hasselblad." So, OK, it cost me a kidney and I had to sell the wife and kids into bondage. I have the other kidney still and I am sure the wife and kids will get used to their current situation. ;o)

 

[jbielikowski]

I'd love to have a camera that once belonged to some famous photographer, probably a HCB Leica is out of reach with $15k but I'll be fine with some Vietnam-era Nikon.

 

[tcmx3]

The body weights are not in dispute. Google is your friend. Lens weight? XCD 55V is 372 grams with covers and lens shade. Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. Lens is 337 grams. The cost is about the same. So if 235 grams, a little more than 8 ounces, is too great a weight penalty you are correct to ignore the HB. I see the "weight penalty" as a canard bandied about without doing the research. Yes, Google is your friend. As always, YMMV.

What you buy is your decision 100%. I just laid out the reasons I bought the damned thing. On a personal level I was satisfied with the first shots. My decision was based on IQ and the list of camera attributes. I was amazed at one second exposures made at very high ISO's with little to no degradation. It cannot make me a good photographer but it can make what I photograph a better image. And the final impetus was that I did not want to be on my deathbed saying, "I sure wish I had bought that damned Hasselblad." So, OK, it cost me a kidney and I had to sell the wife and kids into bondage. I have the other kidney still and I am sure the wife and kids will get used to their current situation. ;o)

I was literally looking at the blad website but ok.

Imma be real your purchase and your ego are things that need to be separate. If you wanna share something you like that's fine but if youre tying into life regrets something has gone majorly wrong.

 

[nikon_sam]

Could I spend this money to build me a permanent Darkroom...???
If so, that's what I'd do...

 

[drew.saunders]

Hmm, interesting thought experiment. Ideally, said eccentric wealthy individual comes up with another $15K for my wife to spend so I’m not in trouble!

M11M used, $8100 (B&H has one now at this price)

Visoflex 2 $740

Fuji X-T5 w/ new 16-50 $2100 (I have the 16-80, but my wife might like the new 16-50 for her XA-7)

Fuji 70-300 $800

CV 90/2.8 $750 (and sell my 90/2.8 TEM “fat” to fund more batteries, etc)

Used Leica 90/4 macro M $2000

Total $14490, leaving me breathing room for a new bag. Maybe eventually sell my M6TTL for $ to get other lenses.

 

[boojum]

I was literally looking at the blad website but ok.

Imma be real your purchase and your ego are things that need to be separate. If you wanna share something you like that's fine but if youre tying into life regrets something has gone majorly wrong.

I am very sorry my attempt at humor eluded you. I did not sell a kidney. I did not sell my wife and children into bondage. I am not the least worried about my deathbed thoughts. OTOH, I am very pleased with the X2D. Here is a stack of X2D pics from '22 and '23. X2D 2022 - 2023 - 55mm They are great images regardless of the subject matter. And with what the camera offers with 7 stop IBIS, 15 stop dynamic range and 16 bit color with HB's own "color science" I think it is as good or better than anything out there. I would not have bought it otherwise. For my money the M11 does not compare. For my money.

I am just telling you what I bought and why. What you do with your wallet is none of my business or concern. I just hope you are happy with your purchase.

 

[drew.saunders]

OK, this is kinda fun. Two more ideas. I already have an M6TTL that I bought new in 2002 and “a few” lenses for it. More than one but not enough, of course. I also have a Fuji X-E3 and some lenses, plus an Ebony 4x5 and over a dozen lenses, so…

All Fuji option:
Fuji X-T5 w/ new 16-50 $2100
Fuji XF 70-300 $800
Fuji XF 56/1.2 $900
Fuji GFX 100S II $5000
Fuji GF 32-64 $1800
Fuji GF 120 macro $2700
Novoflex M to GF adapter $250

$13550, leaving room for extra batteries, maybe a better flash, camera bag, etc.

Large format option (all used, cost estimates from eBay):

Sinar P2, great shape, w/ bag bellows, rails, etc. $1200-1500
Sinar Copal Shutter. $900
Sinar pan/tilt head. $300
Much sturdier tripod (Gitzo 5 series, aluminum). $300
Nikkor 65/4 $400
Fujinon-A 240/9 $700
Get my Leitz 200/2.5 Hektor slide projector lens mounted by SK Grimes, probably about $200?

~$4000-4500

That leaves lots for some older barrel lenses (f/3.5 or f/4.5 Tessar or Tessar clones like Xenar or Fujinar) or even older lenses, and getting them mounted to work with the Sinar shutter. Plus film and processing (or a Jobo, but I’d need more space). Plenty of ways to spend $5000 or more here: https://www.wetplatedreams.com/

 

[Gordon Moat]

ALPA 12 wide angle with 44x66 film back (medium format), if you could find one.

Professionally, I would probably get some Broncolor portable lighting and modifiers, setup some shoots, then print promos.