Unreadable 3FR files on H3D-39 CF

[fiatlux]

I hope my digital MF adventure won't turn in a very expensive failure 

I finally received my HC 80 2.8 and could fully test my second hand H3D-39 that was waiting for about 10 days in a cabinet. While waiting for my lens I had the potentially bad idea to update the body and back to the latest fw (they came with very old, possibly original ones).

So this evening I mounted the lens on the body and shot random subjects in the garden. Back inside I tried loading the pictures in Phocus or Lr but while there were circa 50Mb files I could copy, none of the 3FR files showed a preview or loaded in the software. This was on a CF sent with the camera, which had readable 3FR files on it when I got it (Studio shots from the previous owner).

I repeated the exercise with another CF card, after repeating the fw update process, and had almost the same result. This time the files showed a preview but still would not load properly in Phocus or Lr 

The camera does work properly in tethered mode but that's not the main way I intended to use the camera...

I am not experienced with the Hasselblad H system so maybe I missed something obvious... any clue?

[davidthescot]

Have you downloaded the latest version of Phocus and Lightroom?

[fiatlux]

Yes. Camera works fine in tethered mode in Phocus (on a 2010 Mac Pro with a FW800 cable)

[Bashir Lunat]

If you have a compact flash card reader,try using that to see if Phocus opens those files. Or drag files onto Desktop and then open.
Also try using 4GB card to test.

[fiatlux]

I only have 4GB CF cards (the Transcend which came with the H3D, and a Sandisk and a Sony from my Nikon D700 days). I copied files with a Lexar USB 3.0 dual slot reader.

[fiatlux]

Ok, cleaned all viewfinder and back contacts, reset camera to default, removed and put battery back in place, switched to Sony UDMA 300x CF card (only not tested so far), and everything seems to work now   

I'll do a few more tests on several days before calling it a success 

Could it be that the latest fw needs a fast enough card? Any recommended CF card (I'll park the Transcend 120x and Sandisk Extreme III for now...)?

[Bashir Lunat]

I am now using "Delock Compact Flash to Micro SD Memory Card Adapter" with 8 GB class 6 micro SD card. Its working very well. You dont have to eject the adapter from the 39 back.Just take the micri Sd card out.

[fiatlux]

I am now using "Delock Compact Flash to Micro SD Memory Card Adapter" with 8 GB class 6 micro SD card. Its working very well. You dont have to eject the adapter from the 39 back.Just take the micri Sd card out.

I would expect this to be slower than any of my CF cards so speed may not be the issue in my case...

Irrespectively, the advantage I can see with your solution is that the CF pins in the back are no longer "stressed". I never had any problem with any of my CF cameras but it remains a theoretical possibility.

[Bashir Lunat]

Irrespectively, the advantage I can see with your solution is that the CF pins in the back are no longer "stressed". I never had any problem with any of my CF cameras but it remains a theoretical possibility.
[/quote]
Exactly. I damaged two CF card readers! I didnt want to see any damage to the pins in the digital back!
I should try a class 10 card to see the speed difference but my present set up is also acceptable.

[fiatlux]

Just a quick update to say that I have shot a few more images with my Sony UDMA 300x CF card and had no problem. 

I'll test a Sandisk Extreme UDMA 7 card later today since the latest H3D fw is supposed to introduce such support. I'll see if it makes any difference...

[Hassilistic]

Additionally, always format card in camera, everytime you insert the card into your camera body regardless of which brand of camera you are using.

[fiatlux]

Additionally, always format card in camera, everytime you insert the card into your camera body regardless of which brand of camera you are using.

Of course, something I have always done with any camera.

Just for your information, I just tested a new Sandisk Extreme UDMA7 card. It works and appears much faster than my old Sony UDMA 300x card. I did not really expect a 10y old digital back to benefit from the "latest and greatest" CF cards but apparently it does (with the latest firmware).

[HBIEVP]

I hope my digital MF adventure won't turn in a very expensive failure 

I finally received my HC 80 2.8 and could fully test my second hand H3D-39 that was waiting for about 10 days in a cabinet. While waiting for my lens I had the potentially bad idea to update the body and back to the latest fw (they came with very old, possibly original ones).

So this evening I mounted the lens on the body and shot random subjects in the garden. Back inside I tried loading the pictures in Phocus or Lr but while there were circa 50Mb files I could copy, none of the 3FR files showed a preview or loaded in the software. This was on a CF sent with the camera, which had readable 3FR files on it when I got it (Studio shots from the previous owner).

I repeated the exercise with another CF card, after repeating the fw update process, and had almost the same result. This time the files showed a preview but still would not load properly in Phocus or Lr 

The camera does work properly in tethered mode but that's not the main way I intended to use the camera...

I am not experienced with the Hasselblad H system so maybe I missed something obvious... any clue?

Fiatlux,

I you would like to send a few RAW files to Hasselblad for review, please send me an email and I'll give you access to upload them to our FTP site.

Sincerely,

Eric Peterson
Field Sales Specialist
Hasselblad
epeterson@hasselbladbron.com