Alright. I know these posts can be painful for you experienced souls, but here we go.
I am a film shooter (primarily 6x6, some 4x5 and 35mm), desiring to dip my toes into medium format digital. I have done a lot of research, have the money set aside in my bank account, and am ready to make the jump.
I primarily work in motion pictures (narrative and industrial video), and photography is largely a side-gig for me; that being said, I have worked as a photographer and assistant in professional portrait, architectural and wild life photography environments. I've generally done professional photo work using pro Nikon bodies, in the last couple years mostly D810s. I've always felt something missing in shooting digital in comparison to my film work, and I am interested to see if the move to a larger sensor can help me bridge the gap.
I know digital is never going to 'equal' film and is it's own beast. Still, I'm adequately interested in the possibilities of medium format digital that I think it is worth exploring seriously. I have two large personal projects upcoming in the next 6-8 months that I could choose to shoot either on film or digital; the cost of shooting film is likely to be as high as the cost as buying into medium format digital, so I am seeing this as an opportunity to give it a shot. If, at the end of the day, I don't feel I am gaining enough beyond the D810 I figure I can sell the equipment off for minimal loss.
I've settled on two possibilities that meet my budgetary requirements - either buying into the Hasselblad H system with either an H3D-50/60 or H4D-50/60, or buying into Pentax with a 645z. The used market on the old CCD 'Blad's has finally sunk to the point where it isn't too different from going with a CMOS Pentax. Here are my main requirements:
+Highest possible color fidelity at base ISO (high ISO is nice, but beyond 400-800 isn't really necessary)
+Speed of usability on a tripod/monopod in a rough field environment.
+Best tonal gradation when converted to B+W (this is what I am most skeptical of in digital... I've considered getting a Monochrom but a rangefinder is just too limiting in other ways).
+Best lens ecosystem for long term work.
I rarely use strobes, so leaf vs. focal plane shutter doesn't matter much to me. Max shutter of 1/800 is fine for my purposes.
I travel a lot and my gear goes in and out of bags a ton, so robustness of equipment IS important to me.
I am often shooting in remote areas, so the ability to own a back-up is more important than ease of service.
The main thing attracting me towards the Hasselblad cameras is the larger sensor size and a more desirable (but expensive) lens ecosystem. I am a little charmed by the CCD base as well, but I suspect the difference is marginal. Use of a film back on some models would be ideal, but the H4X's of the world seem harder to come by.
The main thing attracting me to Pentax is that I suspect the system is more robust... and I could buy a 645N to shoot film. Cheaper to buy a second body if needed.
My starting budget of this is south of $5k. Happy to invest more down the road if the gear is working for me.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts... My desires shift day-by-day. I've handled both systems and I have to confess the Hasselblad feels better in hand, but I don't know if that is just Swedish pixie dust.
I am a film shooter (primarily 6x6, some 4x5 and 35mm), desiring to dip my toes into medium format digital. I have done a lot of research, have the money set aside in my bank account, and am ready to make the jump.
I primarily work in motion pictures (narrative and industrial video), and photography is largely a side-gig for me; that being said, I have worked as a photographer and assistant in professional portrait, architectural and wild life photography environments. I've generally done professional photo work using pro Nikon bodies, in the last couple years mostly D810s. I've always felt something missing in shooting digital in comparison to my film work, and I am interested to see if the move to a larger sensor can help me bridge the gap.
I know digital is never going to 'equal' film and is it's own beast. Still, I'm adequately interested in the possibilities of medium format digital that I think it is worth exploring seriously. I have two large personal projects upcoming in the next 6-8 months that I could choose to shoot either on film or digital; the cost of shooting film is likely to be as high as the cost as buying into medium format digital, so I am seeing this as an opportunity to give it a shot. If, at the end of the day, I don't feel I am gaining enough beyond the D810 I figure I can sell the equipment off for minimal loss.
I've settled on two possibilities that meet my budgetary requirements - either buying into the Hasselblad H system with either an H3D-50/60 or H4D-50/60, or buying into Pentax with a 645z. The used market on the old CCD 'Blad's has finally sunk to the point where it isn't too different from going with a CMOS Pentax. Here are my main requirements:
+Highest possible color fidelity at base ISO (high ISO is nice, but beyond 400-800 isn't really necessary)
+Speed of usability on a tripod/monopod in a rough field environment.
+Best tonal gradation when converted to B+W (this is what I am most skeptical of in digital... I've considered getting a Monochrom but a rangefinder is just too limiting in other ways).
+Best lens ecosystem for long term work.
I rarely use strobes, so leaf vs. focal plane shutter doesn't matter much to me. Max shutter of 1/800 is fine for my purposes.
I travel a lot and my gear goes in and out of bags a ton, so robustness of equipment IS important to me.
I am often shooting in remote areas, so the ability to own a back-up is more important than ease of service.
The main thing attracting me towards the Hasselblad cameras is the larger sensor size and a more desirable (but expensive) lens ecosystem. I am a little charmed by the CCD base as well, but I suspect the difference is marginal. Use of a film back on some models would be ideal, but the H4X's of the world seem harder to come by.
The main thing attracting me to Pentax is that I suspect the system is more robust... and I could buy a 645N to shoot film. Cheaper to buy a second body if needed.
My starting budget of this is south of $5k. Happy to invest more down the road if the gear is working for me.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts... My desires shift day-by-day. I've handled both systems and I have to confess the Hasselblad feels better in hand, but I don't know if that is just Swedish pixie dust.