Dreaded lost images from a H4D/60!

[fotografz]

I recently returned from a trip where I took my H4D/60, HCD28, HC50-II (which was brand new), HC100, HC210 and the HT/S-1.5. All gear was in a Think-Tank Airport roller and carried on board the plane.

I was shooting to a brand new Sandisk 32 gig Extreme Pro which I checked before using, and then reformatted in camera. Once formatted, I never removed the CF card from the camera until returning. Note: I did not have time to download to a laptop while on location, nor did I delete anything in-camera at any time.

I also checked the new 50-II before leaving. Seemed perfectly fine.

Upon returning I put the CF into a tried and true Lexar Pro FW800 card reader, and of about 200+ shots only 72 showed up in Phocus (latest version). I then removed the card and tried another card reader ... same result. Also tried Lightroom (latest version) ... same result.  72 files showed, and about 130 images had vanished.

I then purchased Rescue Pro Deluxe which lists the Hasselblad 3fr RAW files as supported. I ran the CF card thru rescue and it indicated that it had found the missing files. I thought I had been saved ...

Upon loading the rescued folder, Phocus showed all the files including the 72 that were previously visible, BUT Phocus will not load any of them including the 72 good files ... same with Lightroom ... the Browser shows the previews, and will import them, but the 3frs are not available for processing "file is not supported or is damaged" is the message.

Other specifics: At no time was there a power issue ... I had 4 grip batteries with me, and none went below 60% at any time ... all indicated 100% power upon first use. Weather was perfect ... about 75 degrees F ... camera was not left in the sun or anything of the sort.

I then sent an e-mail to my Hasselblad dealer, and I also called Rescue Pro technical assistance. I have sent them 2 of the missing files and the rescue log text file to be studied. Rescue pro seemed quite concerned that the Deluxe version can't restore the 3frs as advertised, and want to know why. I've heard nothing from Hasselblad.

Recovery aside, I am concerned as to why this happened in the first place:

So, I also studied the exif info available from the browser previews and discovered that the 72 shots that were okay were all from either the HC/100, or the HT/S with the new 50-II mounted. ALL of the images from the 28, 50-II alone, and the 210 are missing. Very odd coincidence,  if it is a coincidence.

Any additional thoughts from members much appreciated, and I will keep everyone in the loop as the investigation moves forward.

If this had been a typical paying job I'd be royally screwed ... it was for some stock and library images, but still frustrating after lugging all this stuff through airports and to various locations for shots that can't be easily redone ... grrrrrrrr!

-Marc




 

[David Grover]

Hey Marc,

Sorry to hear of your problem.  I am racking my brains but can't think what would have caused the missing files?  It is such a rare occurrence.

Did you shoot with the 50+100 / HTS first and then move through the other lenses or was it random?

The only way to have an idea of what went on is to see some of the missing files which were recovered, or to see the card itself perhaps.

The fact it was a new card is interesting.  Keep us updated when you hear from HUSA.

D

[Douglas Fairbank]

I have not used Rescue Pro Deluxe but check to see if the saved files have been given a TIF tag instead of a 3FR tag.
Is it possible the card was removed from the camera before the file structure was fully written.

[fotografz]

Hi David,

Yeah, this is a first for me.

To answer your question ... yes, I believe the first shots taken were with the HT/S and HC50-II (which were okay), and I just checked that again ... but because the recovery program renumbered them, I can't be 100% sure. I think it placed the 72 good files first followed by the missing ones.

To continue the saga, The camera was then shut down, and when used later with the HC28, all showed all being well with no error report or indicated mishap, and the LCD showed the previews ... although I never zoomed in on any shot. Those shots were missing along with all others from the 50-II alone and 210 ... whenever I attached the HC100, all those shots were okay ... any time I used the HC100 at different times, those files could be imported.

The recovered files all have the 3fr in a circle in the top left corner when viewed on the Phocus Browser, and the exif data shows dimensions as 6708 X 8956 ... but it will not import any of them from the recovered folder ... including the 72 good ones (which I copied from the card to a safe place before doing anything else). The recovered files in the Rescue Pro Deluxe folder all have 3fr tags, not tiff.

The camera was never shut down prematurely, I am experienced in using these cameras and aware of such user errors.

The card was indeed new, but I checked it ... of course not with all the lenses, but it did initially work fine with the new 50-II alone. The card is from B&H and I seriously doubt it is a counterfeit from them. I suspect the card immediately if it weren't for the odd lens combinations where all of the shots from the HTS with 50-II and 100 by itself were okay, and all of the others were not.

-Marc









 



 

[Juan Pablo merchan]

Hi guys, anyone there usin de 1.7 converter.? I want to use in my 80mm lens but was told bu my seller tuse its a piece of crap.
Thank you