Help buying a Digital Hasselblad

[ndwgolf]

Hi I am new here
I am going to buy a digital Hasselblad............either a H4D or a H5D and need some help advice from anyone on here that has either of these models and any general advice about the Hasselblad gear?

As always any tips advice will be much appreciated

[ndwgolf]

Let me add a little more to my original question;
My Name is Neil and I live in Malaysia (ex Scotland) I work in the Oil and Gas industry in Nigeria.
Okay enough about that, I got into photography about five years ago when I moved to Malaysia (100% as a hobby) and still is just a hobby even though it is a huge part of my life now. I started out shooting Nikon and after about two years I got poisoned into buying into the Leica dream which I did and I have had a love/hate relationship with Leica ever since http://neilsphotography.co.uk/lovehate-relationship-with-leica/[/b]]http://neilsphotography.co.uk/lovehate-relationship-with-leica/ I have come to the conclusion that no matter what I do I cant get tack sharp people pictures with the Leica M system so I want to try something else. A good buddy of mine in Malaysia has a Hasselblad camera and some of his pictures are amazing along with tack sharp people. I don't mind spending a few quid on a new or like new secondhand Hasselblad but as you can see I am a complete novice as far as Hasselblad is concerned.
I have recently got into shooting models (pretty girls) in both studio and out and about with and without lighting (strobes), I also love to shoot landscape and travelogue kind of Photography. On my days off from the rig I normally plan at lease one trip to either somewhere in Asia for a week or so, and then once a year longer trips back in either the UK to see family or in and around Europe......all with photography as the main theme of the trip
I am therefore looking for advice on all aspects of the Hasselblad brand
Thanks

[jerome_m]

You realise that the Hasselblad MF cameras are:
-large and heavy
-with a relatively slow AF
-not really good at available light photography
-and not really good at street photography?

When I read your post, I understand that you need a travel camera to photography people. I am not sure an H4D is the best choice for that. On the other hand, you also talk about landscape and studio and for that the H cameras are good, so please elaborate a bit.

[ndwgolf]

I currently have;
Most of the Pro Nikon Gear
Leica M 240 Leica MM and various Leica lenses
Away to get a Sony a7r2 along with Baits lenses
Now looking for a MF system

1/. I like to shoot models (pretty girls) in both studio and outside locations with Profoto lighting gear..............currently using my Nikon D800e and 55mm Zeiss Otus of this but want to use MF for this
2/. I like to travel to exotic locations and shoot the local people doing what they do with there daily lives................Currently using Leica gear for this but plan to change to Sony
3/. I like to shoot landscape .................currently using Leica and Nikon gear for this but again plan to use Sony or and Hasselblad for this

I am hoping to get a H5D with a couple of lenses like the 105 and 24mm and that system will take care of numbers 1 and 3 above and might even work with # 2 as well but that is just a guess as I have no idea about what the Hasselblad is capable..............hoping to get that info from you guys.
If the H5D or another brand can take care of my photography needs then I would get rid of all my Leica gear to help finance it
Looking at a new Hasselblad H5D 40 and the 105 and 24mm lenses should be able to get new for less that 20K...............my concern would be is the H5D 40 but I don't know why

It cant be heaver than a D4s with a 70/200 attached!!!!!!!

[jerome_m]

1/. models (pretty girls) in both studio and outside locations with Profoto lighting gear:

The H will do that, but you will need to learn how to use a flash meter, as you won't have automatic flash. It is actually often simpler this way, but needs to be learned. You will also be able to do certain effects which cannot be done with your Nikon because of the H central shutter.

3/. I like to shoot landscape:

The H on a tripod will do that just fine. You may want to use Phocus (Hasselblad free downloadable software) to process your pictures, it gives the best results. But you will only see much difference with other cameras if you print large.

my concern would be is the H5D 40 but I don't know why

The 40 mpix sensor is priced down now, because it is being replaced by the 50c cmos sensor and because it is not much of an improvement in resolution over cameras like the D810.

Both the 40 and 50c are slightly smaller sensors and will reduce the angle of view of your lenses compared to a 50 (not c) sensor. In my opinion, the 50 is a better choice if you don't plan to use it in low light.

It cant be heaver than a D4s with a 70/200 attached!

The D4s weights 1350g and the 70-200 weights 1540g, together 2890g.
The H4D weights 1855g. The HCD 24 which you plan to use weights 810g, together with the camera 2665g. But this is for a relatively light wide-angle prime. If you want to use a zoom (the HCD 35-90 weights 1410g) or a longer focal (the HC 210 weights 1320g), it will be heavier than the D4s + 70-200 combination.

The weight is not much of a problem in use. The camera is well balanced and feels great in hand. But the typical camera bag is heavy and bulky if you plan to travel.

My main concern, however, is that medium format gear is not at all universal, compared to the typical DSLR. They are great cameras, they can some things better than anything else, but they are not really general photography tools.

[ndwgolf]

Jerome,
Thank you for your feedback........I am leaning towards the 50c as if I buy the H4D 40 then I will be buying old technology ...........is that correct?
Also I just can't afford the 50 Back right now but I take it that if at a later date I want to upgrade to a larger back i.e. 50 or 60 then I can do that.......is that correct?
Weight is really not a problem I am 6' 3" and 250 lbs........I am a big strong guy, even though i am getting on a bit
As for Zoom Lenses, I have stayed away from them in the DSLR world as I like to shoot prime lenses as a rule of thumb zoom lenses in the DSLR world are not as sharp........is that the same in the MF world?

[jerome_m]

I am leaning towards the 50c as if I buy the H4D 40 then I will be buying old technology ...........is that correct?

The H4D cameras are older than the H5D. Mostly, they are slower to display things, etc...

The 40, 50 and 60 backs are old sensors. Mostly, they are not very good in low light.

So all this is "old technology". But it is old technology which works very well and has yet to be matched by more recent technology for some uses.

Also I just can't afford the 50 Back right now but I take it that if at a later date I want to upgrade to a larger back i.e. 50 or 60 then I can do that.......is that correct?

You cannot buy the back without the camera. This being said, you may want to buy and sell used. In your part of the world, you may want to check in Singapore and Hong-Kong.

Weight is really not a problem I am 6' 3" and 250 lbs........I am a big strong guy, even though i am getting on a bit

Heavy is heavy, even if you are a strong guy.

As for Zoom Lenses, I have stayed away from them in the DSLR world as I like to shoot prime lenses as a rule of thumb zoom lenses in the DSLR world are not as sharp........is that the same in the MF world?

I suspect that you have spent too much time reading about photography on the Internet. You seem to be looking for a camera allowing you to take sharper pictures. This is not how it works. Your Nikon D800e together with the lowly 24-85 mm kit lens can take perfectly sharp pictures if you know how to use it.

This being said, Hasselblad H lenses are amongst the finest money can buy, yes.

[ndwgolf]

I am leaning towards the 50c as if I buy the H4D 40 then I will be buying old technology ...........is that correct?

The H4D cameras are older than the H5D. Mostly, they are slower to display things, etc...

The 40, 50 and 60 backs are old sensors. Mostly, they are not very good in low light.

So all this is "old technology". But it is old technology which works very well and has yet to be matched by more recent technology for some uses.

Also I just can't afford the 50 Back right now but I take it that if at a later date I want to upgrade to a larger back i.e. 50 or 60 then I can do that.......is that correct?

You cannot buy the back without the camera. This being said, you may want to buy and sell used. In your part of the world, you may want to check in Singapore and Hong-Kong.

Weight is really not a problem I am 6' 3" and 250 lbs........I am a big strong guy, even though i am getting on a bit

Heavy is heavy, even if you are a strong guy.

As for Zoom Lenses, I have stayed away from them in the DSLR world as I like to shoot prime lenses as a rule of thumb zoom lenses in the DSLR world are not as sharp........is that the same in the MF world?

I suspect that you have spent too much time reading about photography on the Internet. You seem to be looking for a camera allowing you to take sharper pictures. This is not how it works. Your Nikon D800e together with the lowly 24-85 mm kit lens can take perfectly sharp pictures if you know how to use it.

This being said, Hasselblad H lenses are amongst the finest money can buy, yes.

You got the 'I suspect you spend too much time reading about photography" bit wrong. I do spend a lot of time taking pictures and PP them. I know how to take sharp pictures I have hundreds of them but they are all in 35mm format and I want to take my pictures now to the next level in Medium  format .......................
So my question is should I just get the H5D 50c or wait a few months and save for the H5D 50 instead...............is the H5d 50 worth the extra 10k and if so why??
My mate wants me to buy a new Pentax 45 something

[jerome_m]

You got the 'I suspect you spend too much time reading about photography" bit wrong.

My apologies if I did.

So my question is should I just get the H5D 50c or wait a few months and save for the H5D 50 instead...............is the H5d 50 worth the extra 10k and if so why??

The H5D-50 is not more expensive than the H5D-50c. Also: it is not better, it is different. It has an older sensor (so no high isos), but the sensor is bigger (so wider angles).

My mate wants me to buy a new Pentax 45 something

Probably the Pentax 645Z, which maybe a good choice in your situation. It has better weather sealing and an AF closer to what you are used to on a DSLR (with multiple points). OTOH, it has not central shutter and the lenses are not as reputed.

This was just your mate. I also see that the people here: https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/need-help-buying-hasselblad-gear.592255/ suggest you use your existing camera and the people there: http://forum.luminous-landscape.com/index.php?topic=101295.msg830946 suggest you buy Phase One and a tech cam, as they usually do.

[ndwgolf]

You got the 'I suspect you spend too much time reading about photography" bit wrong.

My apologies if I did.

So my question is should I just get the H5D 50c or wait a few months and save for the H5D 50 instead...............is the H5d 50 worth the extra 10k and if so why??

The H5D-50 is not more expensive than the H5D-50c. Also: it is not better, it is different. It has an older sensor (so no high isos), but the sensor is bigger (so wider angles).

My mate wants me to buy a new Pentax 45 something

Probably the Pentax 645Z, which maybe a good choice in your situation. It has better weather sealing and an AF closer to what you are used to on a DSLR (with multiple points).

I don't know why I thought that about the 50 and 50c but you are correct they are the same price.........any chance of helping me understand the difference between the 2 and why would someone pick the 50c over the 50 or vise versa. My goal is to have a MF camera that I can use in both a studio and in the field and maybe even something to carry around a temple, village, etc etc
I don't want a Pentax
Thanks again for taking the time to try and help me 

[jerome_m]

I don't know why I thought that about the 50 and 50c but you are correct they are the same price.........

Maybe you looked at the 60 instead.

any chance of helping me understand the difference between the 2 and why would someone pick the 50c over the 50 or vise versa.

I wrote it above: the 50 has an older sensor (so no high isos), but the sensor is bigger (so wider angles). I use an H4D-50 myself. Actually, that could be the best solution: get a use H4D-50 and find out if you like it. If you don't, you can sell it back without losing too much money. In the process, you will have your questions answered.

My goal is to have a MF camera that I can use in both a studio and in the field and maybe even something to carry around a temple, village, etc etc

These cameras are less adapted than you future A7R2 to be carried around in a village or temple. You can do it, sure, and it might even be lots of fun, but the camera will show its limitations.

This discussion is a bit surrealistic. It is a bit as if you had been using, say, an ultralight aircraft and suddenly wanted to try an hot air ballon, because you heard that they are more stable and completely silent. But you ignore that the hot air balloon will only carry you where the wind blows. The H is the hot air balloon. If you were to come to my place, I could show you in an hour or so, and you would understand what the camera can do and what it can't, but on a forum it is really hard.

[ndwgolf]

If you were to come to my place, I could show you in an hour or so, and you would understand what the camera can do and what it can't, but on a forum it is really hard.

That would be nice.
Anyway again thank you for taking the time to try and help me. I am currently sat on an Oil Rig in Nigeria and will be back home in 2 weeks time when I will go and get some hands on with a H4D and see how it all feels

[NickT]

Great thread, thanks to Jerome for all his great answers.

I would add a couple of points. I too am pretty old school regarding zooms but the Hasselblad zooms are exceptional.

The Hasselblad is a slow camera. If you are happy taking your time, using a tripod etc then you will be fine. I shoot mine all day and nearly every day in studio and in controlled locations (i.e. when I can work tethered). If I have to shoot in say a factory or a fast paced environment then I switch to the D810 every time.

HTH

Nick-T

[ndwgolf]

Cheers Nick
I will continue to try and find out more about the MF system and when I get home in two weeks time I will have a play with my mates H4D 40 and see if this is really the way I want to go with my Photography

[jerome_m]

Anyway again thank you for taking the time to try and help me. I am currently sat on an Oil Rig in Nigeria and will be back home in 2 weeks time when I will go and get some hands on with a H4D and see how it all feels

You are welcome. I don't know where "home" is for you, but if it is close to Munich, Germany, the offer to let you play with the camera is real.