Fun with the Hasselblad 907x

[budfox]

Agree - I can't see them releasing the back stand-alone anytime soon - too many XCD lens sales in the offing (I had no intention of getting any XCD lens either - but I now have a new 45P and second-hand 80 - bloody hell!)

 

[Godfrey]

Since the 907x body is likely such a small premium on the cost of the package (I can't see the back selling for much less than about $6000 standalone), I'd just buy a 907x and leave the body section in the box.

That was my original idea as well . But as the 4/45P Lens is rather cheap and good , I could not resist . I don‘t know if Dante was involved here .
Now the 907x/45P kit is my new SWC .

Well, for me the 907x + XCD 21mm is my new SWC, but I get your meaning. The 45P lens is a delightful "use it all the time" piece.

 

[Godfrey]

I went out carrying the 907x today fitted with an Elmarit-R 135mm f/2.8 to test out. I like it, but I like the 80-90mm focal length better so when it's time to buy another lens, it'll likely be one of those.

Now and however, I was shooting a photo of this house across a busy street and a few time a car intruded into the frame. Ah, the joys of an electronic shutter with 300ms readout speed...

Lartigue has nothing on me!

G

 

[Joe Colson]

Has Hasselblad ever sold standalone digital backs? I'm curious.

Joe

 

[jotloob]

Yes , they have .
CFV16 , CFV39 , CFV50 , CFV50c and they also sell the 100MP back from the H-System as a separate unit .

 

[Joe Colson]

Thanks. I learn something every day.

Joe

 

[Ai_Print]

Since the 907x body is likely such a small premium on the cost of the package (I can't see the back selling for much less than about $6000 standalone), I'd just buy a 907x and leave the body section in the box.

I figure when I can afford to get one next year that is likely what I will do. I am 100% committed to the V system since that is where the bulk of my fine art works comes from. The D-back allows me to get deliverable color digital files from the same system so I don’t have to carry a Nikon body in addition to the Hasselblads.

I’m just not going to be an X system guy so the 907 will be totally unused.

 

[Godfrey]

Whatever works best for you is all that matters!

Part of my enjoyment of the 907x is that I have wanted a Hasselblad SWC-like camera that was all digital for some years. The 907x fitted with the 21mm lens and set to square crop finally achieves that, for me, with very similar FoV and rendering qualities, and much more similar DoF than anything I've been able to cobble together in smaller formats. The rest of my use, initially, was always going to be for the back on my 500CM body.

The 45P lens changed that notion, for me. It's so small, light, and handy ... performs so well at a very reasonable price ... that I've been using it on the 907x more than any other Hasselblad kit for a while. I figure one more XCD lens will do it for me, and I'm taking my time trying out different focal lengths with adapted lenses to determine just exactly which lens I will go for next year.

The real boon to me, now, is that I can choose to shoot with just the 907x and obtain all super, full digital workflow and results. OR, I can mix and work classic V system film and digital media while carrying only one body and set of lenses. It's a two sided plus equation...

G

 

[Godfrey]

Experimenting with a longer lens on the 907x the other day:

Spike - Santa Clara 2020
Hasselblad 907x + Leitz Elmarit-R 135mm f/2.8
ISO 800 @ f/4 @ 1/100​

The Elmarit-R 135mm works very well on the full frame. Just a tiny bit of corner darkening, which cleans up nicely one stop down from wide open.

enjoy! G

 

[Steve Hendrix]

Has Hasselblad ever sold standalone digital backs? I'm curious.

Joe

From the very beginning with the Carnival 2020 (4mp). And they still do (H6D)!

http://mediumformatback.org/carniva..._back_for_medium_format_hasselblad_rollei.htm

Imacon acquired ColorCrisp, eventually merged with Hasselblad, and here we are today.


Steve Hendrix/CI

 

[Godfrey]

Another little bunch of photos from the same walk as "Spike" (... was "Frond" but that seemed incorrect... ). Anywho:

Living Bouquet - Santa Clara 2020


Gate on Iron Fence - Santa Clara 2020


Yard Sale Boxes and Shelves - Santa Clara 2020


Sign Shadow on Garage - Santa Clara 2020


Chair, Pool, Reflection - Santa Clara 2020

All: Hasselblad 907x + Leitz Elmarit-R 135m f/2.8[/I]​

Enjoy! G

 

[Ai_Print]

Question about the CFVII 50c, I assume it clears the underside of a PME90 prism finder when on a 500 series camera?

The previous back did without issue but this new back appears to either be a little thicker or the card slot door smaller giving it the impression that it is.

Anyone use this combo with the new back?

 

[Godfrey]

I don't have a PME90 prism finder to experiment with.

The top of the CFVII 50c back, looked at from the side, starts to curve downwards about 32mm past the body/back joining. Maybe that helps you visualize whether the PME90 provides enough clearance to use with it...?

I'd recommend sending Hasselblad Customer Support a note to ask about compatibility of that finder with the CFVII 50c. If nothing else, they should have both in hand to try it...

G

 

[FloatingLens]

Question about the CFVII 50c, I assume it clears the underside of a PME90 prism finder when on a 500 series camera?

It does.

 

[FloatingLens]

It does.

PS. I can recommend getting the Acute Matte screen for CFV (3042264).

 

[Ai_Print]

PS. I can recommend getting the Acute Matte screen for CFV (3042264).

Yep, I had one with my CFV50C. B&H stocks them so I will likely order another one once I get a CFV back again. Worst case I can take one of my 8 Acute Matte screens and use a sharpie. Thanks for confirming the clearance of the PME 90, it's essential for use with the back for vertical shots.

 

[FloatingLens]

Yep, I had one with my CFV50C. B&H stocks them so I will likely order another one once I get a CFV back again. Worst case I can take one of my 8 Acute Matte screens and use a sharpie. Thanks for confirming the clearance of the PME 90, it's essential for use with the back for vertical shots.

You're welcome! For sure this is the way to go for vertical.

One caveat though, the PME back ejection system forces a slight push on the CFV lever. This creates some play as the prongs of the body are angled to always engage the back fully when the lever is not pushed – in my case. I am concerned that because of this the CFV might not be perfectly flush against the 500C/M body in this setup. Nitpicking perhaps. Could be an issue for closeups.

All of that said, in reality I have not yet observed sharpness falloff in conjunction with the PME90. YMMV.

 

[Godfrey]

...
One caveat though, the PME back ejection system forces a slight push on the CFV lever. This creates some play as the prongs of the body are angled to always engage the back fully when the lever is not pushed – in my case. I am concerned that because of this the CFV might not be perfectly flush against the 500C/M body in this setup. Nitpicking perhaps. Could be an issue for closeups. ...

Since I don't have this finder and likely won't in the future, this is just a theoretical conjecture ... Do you think there's enough material in the PME90 housing to be able to file or mill it out for a little more clearance so that it will not contact the back's release lever?

And yes on the 3042264 screen. I bought one and have it fitted to my black 500CM body. It makes a difference. When I'm feeling a little more flush, I might order another for the chrome body: It'd be nice to have the same screen in both bodies, although a bit of a luxury.

G

 

[FloatingLens]

Since I don't have this finder and likely won't in the future, this is just a theoretical conjecture ... Do you think there's enough material in the PME90 housing to be able to file or mill it out for a little more clearance so that it will not contact the back's release lever?

Yes, quite possibly a solution, Godfrey. But I'd recommend anybody to check on their particular setup that the back sits flush before using it. It for sure works by design and the dimensions are all compatible, just be aware that tolerances on the ejection mechanism are small.

 

[Ai_Print]

Yes, quite possibly a solution, Godfrey. But I'd recommend anybody to check on their particular setup that the back sits flush before using it. It for sure works by design and the dimensions are all compatible, just be aware that tolerances on the ejection mechanism are small.

I looked at the mechanism on the finder, it might have to be taken apart to retool it, I won’t know until I try it all out. I am also thinking I could order a spare part and rework that and keep the stock one for resale reasons.

On another note, B&H got the screens back in AND the 907X back in, I went ahead and ordered them, stoked to get back in the digital V system game!! I also ordered two spare batteries, the charging cradle and the Remote X release.