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Here is a good starting point:Hello everybody
I'm trying to find an overview comparing the specs of all H series cameras. Does anyone know if that exists? My onlinesearch-fu capabilities are apparently too feeble to reveal any such comparisons.
Thank you kindly in advance
Philip
Here is a good starting point:
Hasselblad - Wikipedia
en.m.wikipedia.org
Then you can read the detailed summary on each model at various review sites and even B&H Photo.
And of course, there are numerous books available online like this:
Amazon.com: The Hasselblad Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to the System: 9781138958623: Wildi, Ernst: Books
Amazon.com: The Hasselblad Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to the System: 9781138958623: Wildi, Ernst: Bookswww.amazon.com
It is an extensive system, enjoy the reading!
If you have specific questions. Just ask. There are many of us veteran H users here.
I use my H's to digitize... I don't get a bit of vibration, especially since the mirror is locked up all the time. I use a copy stand with camera and 120/4 mounted. A Zone VI cold light source sits below with a set of carriers from an old Omega 4x5 enlarger sitting on top of the cold source. I have a old set of 4x5 bellows modded to fit the end of the lens and glued onto the neg carrier to prevent stray light reflections. I use an old Versalab Parallel laser alignment system for enlargers to ensure that the lens plane and carrier is perfectly aligned and parallel.I have been using the 907x fitted with a Leica macro lens (either Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm or Macro-Elmar-R 100mm) to digitize negatives and instant prints (out of my Polaroids and Instax film cameras) for some time. It does an excellent job. The X1D would do as well.
I don't know that I'd buy an SLR for this task. The liabilities of increased vibration due to the moving mirror and the precision of focusing with the big LCD screen on the X system bodies are both compelling reasons to go with a mirrorless body.
Most SLRs have a mirror lockup, and the H-lenses have implemented it in a very smart way.I have been using the 907x fitted with a Leica macro lens (either Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm or Macro-Elmar-R 100mm) to digitize negatives and instant prints (out of my Polaroids and Instax film cameras) for some time. It does an excellent job. The X1D would do as well.
I don't know that I'd buy an SLR for this task. The liabilities of increased vibration due to the moving mirror and the precision of focusing with the big LCD screen on the X system bodies are both compelling reasons to go with a mirrorless body.
I didn't mean to imply that you couldn't use an SLR, just that if the primary purpose of buying a camera was for digitizing film, I'd pick a mirrorless camera now instead.I use my H's to digitize... I don't get a bit of vibration, especially since the mirror is locked up all the time. I use a copy stand with camera and 120/4 mounted. A Zone VI cold light source sits below with a set of carriers from an old Omega 4x5 enlarger sitting on top of the cold source. I have a old set of 4x5 bellows modded to fit the end of the lens and glued onto the neg carrier to prevent stray light reflections. I use an old Versalab Parallel laser alignment system for enlargers to ensure that the lens plane and carrier is perfectly aligned and parallel.
As far as focusing goes, I have a waist level on camera, but use LV to focus as I'm tethered anyways. I've also modded an old enlarger timer footpedal as a shutter release so that I can have both hands for moving negs in the carrier while I fire with my right foot.
I can do everything from small format to X-Pan to 4x5 with the same setup, just changing carriers (or masking them with Cinefoil).
H system bodies with digital back seem to always be pretty expensive here in the USA—sometimes as much as or more than a new X1D or 907x—and H system lenses aren't inexpensive either. I've seen used X1D bodies going for very favorable prices since the X1D II was released. Another issue is that you cannot adapt other lenses to SLR bodies as easily as to mirrorless bodies, due to the mount registration and other mechanical obstacles, so you usually have to stick to the manufacturers lenses and close up accessories. With the X1D and 907x bodies, I can use my existing Leica R system macro gear ... The 60mm macro lens covers the format with only very slight darkening of the corners, the 100mm lens covers it perfectly, no degradation at the corners of the 33x44 format at all. The Macro-Elmar-R 100mm f/4 plus Focusing Bellows-R nets infinity to 1:1 macro range, super quality, and cost me less than $400 complete, in the box. It also saves money in that it has included into it a geared focusing rail for precision sizing and focus adjustment, as well as the ability to rotate the body from portrait to landscape mode: very very convenient depending upon what kind of film and orientation you need to work the copy setup.Thanks everyone for your replies. I think it's inspiring to see that other photographers use similar setups.
The main reason that I am not now considering the X system or other more current camera is cost. I can find the H cameras quite inexpensively in my native Sweden. But hopefully my X1 won't die any time soon, so by then the X cameras etc might be more affordable.
Depends on where you look, what you want, and it's all relative. Used H3Ds and H4Ds are around the same price as used X1Ds and X1DIIs. or cheaper Used H lenses also are fairly inexpensive IMHO, there are several H 120mm's around 1000 on ebay right now. H5Ds and H6Ds are more expensive, yes, and the orange dot H lenses with the upgraded 1/2000 shutter are as well. Not a huge difference between the H5D and H4D, but the difference between the H6D and older cams is bigger. Some of the H's will even take a film back, which the X1D won't.H system bodies with digital back seem to always be pretty expensive here in the USA—sometimes as much as or more than a new X1D or 907x—and H system lenses aren't inexpensive either. I've seen used X1D bodies going for very favorable prices since the X1D II was released.
G
Godfrey I'm curious if you found the Essential Film Holder to be a suitable replacement for your Negative Supply system ?(I just recently found this set of film carrier fixtures (Essential Film Holder) and have them on order ... My current 120 fixture is the Negative Supply unit, which is really way over the top in price although superbly made, and this setup is far less while it handles 35mm as well. I'm pretty much replacing my flat bed and film scanner units for negative copy now....