My intent was not to piss on anyone's parade, but provide
my own opinion about this new camera. That's allowed on these forums, is it not? My
opinions are
my opinions, and not those of a paid reviewer, manufacturer, sales rep, or pro photographer operating under an NDA. I'm coming at this from several perspectives:
- I'm a medium-format shooter (although I recently sold my Pentax 645Z). I've been shooting medium-format since 2010 when I acquired an H4D-40. Since then, H4D-50, Phase One DF/IQ180, Leica S2, Leica S Type 006, and 645Z. In there somewhere is a Cambo and an Alpa (with the IQ180). I've come to know the strengths and weaknesses of these cameras far too intimately, and have learned considerably from experts on GetDPI.
- I also shoot 35mm and spent many years using Nikon DSLRs, up to and including the D810. Once again, over the period starting with the D100, I learned what those DSLRs could and could not do. I took a short foray into Leica territory with the M9 and M Type 240, but that was brief. My main (and only) full-frame 35mm camera now is a Sony a7RII.
- I'm an electrical engineer by education and profession and take more than a passing interest in the hardware and software/firmware technology embodied in all of these wonderful instruments. As an electronics gadgeteer, I've experimented with various of these hardware and software/firmware technologies to understand them better and become a more knowledgeable buyer and user.
- I'm almost 69 years old and have less patience than I once had for corporations to "eventually" incorporate new tech in their products. My impatience is not limited to cameras. I'm just as impatient with Apple for example.
My comment about IBIS and or VR/OSS/IS had more to do with my own use of, and experience with, using those features. While I once could hold a camera steady in my hands and shoot reliably at 1/30 sec. or slower, I'm unable to do that now on a consistent basis (without IBIS/VR/OSS/IS). And with a 50MP camera, it may be unrealistic to think that
anyone can reliably shoot at slow shutter speeds and get
sharp results. I have no doubt that the ISO performance of the X1D will be stellar. It uses the same sensor as the 645Z, and my experience with that camera showed almost noiseless results at ISO 6400. Yes, the X1D is spec'ed to ISO 25,600, but I doubt whether any
serious travel shooter will push it that far.
My expectations of technology companies like Hasselblad are not "absurdly out into the stratosphere" or "nonsensical". All of the technological goodies I've referred to require no new inventions or breakthroughs. The Leica SL, for example, has a 4.41MP EVF to view a 24MP image. The 645Z has an articulating rear LCD. IBIS/VR/OSS/IS are knowns, not unknowns. Perhaps there were design constraints that prevented Hasselblad from incorporating those technologies into the X1D. Perhaps it was cost-to-manufacture translated to price and margin. Perhaps it was timing. I don't know. I was simply opining on their absence, not bashing the camera.
Having said all that, I'll likely buy one. I'm attracted to new tech and enjoy the learning experience. And for the record, I'm very happy.
Joe
P.S. I use my real name in online forums, not a pseudonym. I don't say anything online that I wouldn't say to the person's face. I don't bash or troll.