Hasselblad and Phase One announced CMOS DB

Jason

Hasselblad is set to launch the world's first 50MP medium format camera using CMOS sensor technology. The groundbreaking H5D-50c will go on sale in March.

Ove Bengtson, Hasselblad Product Manager said: "This pioneering 50 megapixel CMOS sensor camera is based on our H5D-50 model but will offer a faster capture rate; longer shutter speed capability and much greater ISO performance. It will provide greatly improved Live Video in Phocus and will also be available with Multi-Shot functionality."

He added: "We believe this will provide a highly compelling option for professional photographers who prefer a more versatile camera that enables them to immediately embrace a wider range of photo-disciplines but still encapsulating the exceptionally high-end image quality associated with Hasselblad."

Hasselblad's new CEO Ian Rawcliffe said: "We are extremely excited about this highly adaptable new camera which will offer an even broader palette of shooting options for our high-end customers.

"This is a world-first and underpins Hasselblad's status at the forefront of camera technology. It will be the first of a number of medium format capture innovations we have planned for the coming months."

Further information and prices for the new H5D-50c models will be announced in March.

http://press.hasselblad.com/press-releases/2014/2014-01-21_h5d-50c.aspx

vincecharus

I have a feeling that this might be the beginning of the end...

Jason

Actually I think the opposite. I think it opens a new page for Hasselblad.

In recent years CCD sensors development has been very slow. It is clear that CCD really comes to its limitation, or at least its bottleneck. With the demise of Kodak, only one major CCD sensor maker left is Dalsa. It becomes apparent that two major med format digital back players will need to share the same sensor. Hasselblad will have no competitive advantage. And I have to say the PhaseOne / Mamiya / Schneider eco-system is growing strong. Hasselblad must need to find a new way to fight back.

While everyone was laughing at Hasselblad's partnership with Sony, I think it is in fact a smart move. Undoubtedly, those Lunar, Stellar, Lunatic cameras are fashion accessories. But they sell, with a lot of profit actually. We might think 1000 USD for a rebranded NEX-7 is rather lunatic. But if it is a A7R, then it is not that outrageous. And we have to admit that Hasselblad has been very smart in choosing its Japanese partner - first Fuji, now Sony. Both of them have real unique technologies. Today, it is without doubt that Sony makes the best CMOS sensor. Everyone agrees that A7R has better color than D800, even though they are using the same sensor component. It makes me think whether Hasselblad has input in the latest Sony sensor's development, which is not entirely impossible.

With Sony's help to develop sensors, and probably eventually electronic components, Hasselblad H bodies will definitely be the best med format market. The H body, even today, is still miles ahead of Mamiya / Phase DF, for example, True Focus. The only uncertainty to be seen is whether the med-format CMOS sensor will come up with the same image quality, such as, micro-contrast, 3-dimensionality, tonality, as med format CCD sensors. If yes, with high ISO capacities, fast shooting rates, real live-view. Hasselblad is really going to strike back.

M3fans

This is good news. Would that also hinted Sony may come up with super small size med format cameras?

wesley

The day has come

Jason

M3fans 發表於 2014-1-21 23:31
This is good news. Would that also hinted Sony may come up with super small size med format cameras?

I think Hasselblad will stick with its H series. So I don't think there will be a new line of smaller med-format. Smaller camera may also mean lower price. As Hasselblad is really struggling now, it simply can't afford developing a new line with low profit margin.

But on the other hand, whether Sony will make it is another question. But I think Sony doesn't have to, because they have little experience in high end photographic market. They have been very good at making consumer products though. Therefore, the partnership between Sony and Hasselblad in fact makes a lot of sense.

issa918

This year is going to be an exciting year. I heard some very exciting news from a pro photographer who is very close to Canon. And there may be something you can't imagine coming. Personally, I have dropped MFD but I'm still keeping an eye on it.

Jason

issa918 發表於 2014-1-22 01:07
This year is going to be an exciting year. I heard some very exciting news from a pro photographer w ...

i have heard that the next generation Canon sensors will be very good. (and looking forward to your "news"!). Now I worry about Nikon.

As for Phase One, surely this CMOS move of Hasselblad will redefine DMF market a little bit (the extent depends on the image quality of the MF CMOS sensor). Unless Phase is going to partner with Canon (or other CMOS makers, if there is any), or there is some significant breakthrough of CCD technologies, it can be tough, but not unsurvivable for them. I think it becomes clearer that Phase will serve landscape / product photographers, Hasselblad will cater fashion / portrait photographers in the coming future.

Jason

Just looked at the comments on luminous landscape. It's funny to see how it becomes a biased debate of Hass vs Phase One

Jason

It seems that phase will announce an IQ 250 with sony 50mp CMOS sensor too! That is getting interesting!!

wk7leung

Interesting analysis. It takes much reading to come up with findings like the one you've mentioned. In fact, despite we read, we may not be able to pull things together for a conclusion that really makes sense.

Jason

wk7leung 發表於 2014-1-22 13:40
Interesting analysis. It takes much reading to come up with findings like the one you've mentioned.  ...

Yes. I was slight bit surprised that PhaseOne will also get the Sony sensor. But it is not unreasonable. Hassselblad is not strong enough to make it exclusive (assuming the H5D-50C is really using sony).

If Sony adopts a similar strategy of its smaller sensors manufacturers role, I won't be surprised the coming Pentax 645D II will also be using the Sony 50MP CMOS. The result will be a very complicated picture.

Now it is very difficult to decide which camp to go. If Phase One can make a much better body (say 50+ focusing point), very likely Phase One will win.

wk7leung

How do you compare the Phase One camera body with the H-body? Have no experience with Phase One's. What I know is Schneider's lenses are keen.

wesley

Jason 發表於 2014-1-22 01:52
i have heard that the next generation Canon sensors will be very good. (and looking forward to your ...

Which landscape product photog don't want liveview? HK$300k for the IQ type liveview is not a funny thing....

Phase had been dragging the new camera from 645Af to 645DF to 645DF+..... see how advanced they're! still the skeleton of Mamiya 645

Jason

wesley 發表於 2014-1-22 16:50
Which landscape product photog don't want liveview? HK$300k for the IQ type liveview is not a funn ...

Liveview is a very good point, Wesley.

On the other hand, CMOS med format sensor will probably have another problem for landscape photographer - color cast or even smearing when shifting. It seems that CMOS is more likely to have those issues than CCD / it may also be related to microlenses too?

Jason

wk7leung 發表於 2014-1-22 15:11
How do you compare the Phase One camera body with the H-body? Have no experience with Phase One's. W ...

I have a Phase One AF body and had some experience with Phase One DF.

Like what Wesley said, my feeling is: its design is really quite old in today standard and the interface is not quite good. Only three focusing points, and they are close with each other, which make them rather useless. Without H system's True Focus, it is hard to get critical focus for portraiture at wide open on a Phase One body.

And the ergonomic is just worse than Hasselblad. But this can be my personal preference.

vincecharus

I still think CCD is great!  I might not be the only one.

wesley

Jason 發表於 2014-1-22 22:22
Liveview is a very good point, Wesley.

On the other hand, CMOS med format sensor will probably ha ...

landscape photog using CCD MFDB need to choose the back without microlens for technical cam. P30+ has microlens, can't be used on tech cam like Alpa.

color cast with wide angle, it's with the lens design. Latest top of the line tech cam wide lenses all use retro-focus design to minimize

Jason

vincecharus 發表於 2014-1-22 22:39
I still think CCD is great!  I might not be the only one.

I think you are right. I just saw some sample images from PhaseOne IQ250. It doesn't seem to have the same CCD "magic" in it. But perhaps now it is too early to say....

Jason

IQ250 is now official.

http://www.phaseone.com/en/Camer ... Specifications.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll9LGZ12044

44x33mm Sony CMOS. 14 stop DR. ISO 100 to 6400. Live view.