why is this camera $13,000

Overread · Mar 9, 2010

Is it bad that I've considered (in those wild "If I won the lotto" dreams) of a medium format setup. Several of the macro shooters have used them for the even bigger frame coverage at macro distances.....

yes the addiction is bad......

But yah medium format is very expensive - espeacilly in digital - but keep waiting and oneday - cheap as chips!

Derrel · Mar 9, 2010

O|||||||O said:
Did you notice the size of the sensor?

Full frame (35mm) = 24x36mm

The sensor on that Hassy is 33.1x44.2mm ... 31 MP
And even then, it's not 'full frame' for it's format.

Astute observation--it is a "tweener" medium format size, and the industry has not taken well to this in-between size. The number of medium format back makers has steadily declined over the last ten years. The development of higher and higher resolution d-slr cameras from Canon, and now Nikon, has steadily cut into medium format digital. it was not "that" long ago that there were medium format digital backs with only 16 megapixels,and all the limitations of MF digital--limited lens selection, slow or no AF, sort of cumbersome tethering arrangements.

usayit · Mar 9, 2010

Joves said:
Well if $30K is a stretch for you Mimiya has a new one out for $22K and it comes with the 85 f/2.8 kit lens. What a deal.

I'd rather have a Hasselblad 500 series with a digital back. Its not just getting a medium format sensor its also about the glass that goes in front. Probably could pull off a used kit well south of $20k.

BLD_007 · Mar 9, 2010

DScience said:
BLD_007 said:

what makes this camera any better than the 1D MKIV?

Its 13,000
Used Hasselblad | H3DII-31 SLR Digital Camera Kit | 70380550

Click to expand...

It's a transformer. This camera will turn into a car, a boat, or an airplane.

It should, my used SUV was only 3grand. Granted I have 7gs in camera gear lol.

Sw1tchFX · Mar 9, 2010

Hey, I shot one of those today! Except it was the H2D-22.. basically the same camera though.
At the studio, we were shooting some motherboards for server decks, where resolution is key for the engineers.

I bet alot of people didn't know this, but that gray bump on top of the viewfinder prism...is a pop up flash (0)_(0)

and who says that pro level cameras don't have pop up flashes?

Personally, I think the Hasselblads are OK. Not GREAT, but OK. and grossly overpriced, like leica. After using the H2D-22, i would never own one. There is alot about the camera that leaves way too much to be desired, and for me the image quality is not worth the sacrifice in an AF system remnicent of the late 80's, slow framerate, pretty lousy ergonomics, odd IQ at longer exposures (i have to experiment more with this), lousy live view feed (it was impossible earlier today) and easily the worst tethering software i've ever seen. Phocus sucks-period.

The thing that the 31MP back doesn't have, that makes the 22MP one so good and why we keep using it is the lack of multishot. The H2D-22 has a 4 shot mode where it will shoot a red frame, blue frame, green frame, and a monotone frame. Than it combines the images so you have no Bayer interpolation and the detail is just outrageous. Think of Sigma's Foveon sensor at 22MP and taking about 10 seconds to shoot a picture. Outrageous picture quality. the H2D-22 prints better with the multishot than the H3D-31 which is missing it.

aside from that, Nikon and Canon make a better all around camera. You don't shoot sports on a hassy, you don't take a hassy on vacation with you, you don't use a hassy to take pictures of the kids on christmas. That's not what it's for, and it's a poor tool for that.

Put it in the studio, or on location as a camera for work, and if you have the time to really light your subject, or wait for the weather to be just right, the image quality is stellar, it really sings.

That is why they're so expensive. It's absolute image quality.

Derrel · Mar 10, 2010

Today Mamiya announced a 40 megapixel back and mamyia 645 AF camera for $21,900 MSRP,and today Pentax announced the 645D for the Japan home market, also a 40 megapixel camera, with a 40x33mm sensor, 11-point AF system, 3-in-1 HDR, in-camera JPEG's with "looks, like a color slide simulation look, automatic dust removal, 70 weather seals, 800 shots per battery, for a suggested MSRP of $9,400 US dollars--but, again, intended only for the Japan market, to be available in May of 2010.

As some pointed out, Pentax 645 stuff has traditionally been available for around 10% under MSRP, so this new Pentax 40-megapixel medium format camera could be one of the lowest-cost and yet broadest-featured MF cameras the market has seen yet. The 11-point autofocus system is quite a difference from the simpler systems the other camera makers have developed. At prices in the $8,500 to $6,500 range, which are flying around the net tonight, Pentax might have a good selling camera on its hands, compared with the rather anemic sales of most medium format digital options.

Mike_E · Mar 10, 2010

Go Pentax!!!

Now the fun begins.

NateWagner · Mar 10, 2010

wow, practically the price of a new 1ds4 (theoretically).

That is quite a savings.

usayit · Mar 10, 2010

Mike_E said:
Go Pentax!!!

Now the fun begins.

I freakin hope so... A long time ago, I was hoping for a digital insert. Nope. Then they announced the 645D. I said hell yah.. where do I sign up. Even saw pictures of their working prototype. Nope. Then I hear these rumors of an updated version to be announced in 2010. Are they pulling my chain again? It doesn't matter.. the funds saved up for it are long gone.

[EDIT]

645D in Japan only!!! GRRRRRrrrrr.... :gah:

Overread · Mar 10, 2010

Japan only? Sounds daft. I mean I know they have a very good market, but cutting out Europe and the US? Sounds a bit like they know they've got a winner but also know they can't meet the production demand so a limited area release. I bet you grey imports will be rampent as well as someone making a firmwire hack to translate the cameras firmwire into other languages

SushiWarrior · Jun 6, 2010

Sw1tchFX said:
aside from that, Nikon and Canon make a better all around camera. You don't shoot sports on a hassy, you don't take a hassy on vacation with you, you don't use a hassy to take pictures of the kids on christmas. That's not what it's for, and it's a poor tool for that.

Put it in the studio, or on location as a camera for work, and if you have the time to really light your subject, or wait for the weather to be just right, the image quality is stellar, it really sings.

That is why they're so expensive. It's absolute image quality.

Tell that to Ken Rockwell.

supraman215 · Jun 6, 2010

SushiWarrior said:
Sw1tchFX said:

aside from that, Nikon and Canon make a better all around camera. You don't shoot sports on a hassy, you don't take a hassy on vacation with you, you don't use a hassy to take pictures of the kids on christmas. That's not what it's for, and it's a poor tool for that.

Put it in the studio, or on location as a camera for work, and if you have the time to really light your subject, or wait for the weather to be just right, the image quality is stellar, it really sings.

That is why they're so expensive. It's absolute image quality.

Click to expand...

Tell that to Ken Rockwell.

Why?

Garbz · Jun 7, 2010

supraman215 said:
Tell that to Ken Rockwell.

Why?[/QUOTE]

Because that's just the kind of garbage he would spurt out on his site. Right before saying his D40x is sooo much better.

supraman215 · Jun 7, 2010

Garbz said:
supraman215 said:

Tell that to Ken Rockwell.

Click to expand...

Why?

Because that's just the kind of garbage he would spurt out on his site. Right before saying his D40x is sooo much better.[/QUOTE]

LOL ok. I don't know who he is but he sounds funny.