Great review – thoughtful and informed by real-world use. Thanks! A few thoughts…
1. Your links on where to buy did not include links for the XCD V lenses – and for good reason as they are near impossible to buy – and/or have ridiculous wait lists. TBH, it was a major knock-out for me. I wanted to buy into this system with these newer lenses but I eventually gave up.
2. Re your gloves and touchscreen comment, have you tried “thumbless gloves” or “touchscreeen gloves”? If not, search Amazon for these terms and you will see a range of options for both.
3. You could put “No video (your opinion may vary)” under both pro and con maybe?
Thanks, Jay! Yes, it works well with fingerless gloves and touchscreen gloves, which is fine in moderately cold environments. Here in Colorado, I do a lot of landscape photography in temperatures where warmer gloves are necessary. All depends on the photographer’s situation.
Luc Mary-Rabine
May 3, 2024 11:46 am
I use both the X2D and the 907 X CFV 50. The 907 X is a joy to use with its retro feeling but most of the time I use the CFV on my 903 SWC, along with the A12 film back. To obviate the lack of stabilization, I use the hand grip, very convenient if you do not carry a tripod. You should add that by a very sunny day, the screen of the CFV may be useless. Thanks for this excellent review.
I’m glad you liked the review, thanks, Luc! Good point, the screen is definitely not that bright. I kept it set to full brightness, and I still sometimes had to shade it from the sun to see my composition properly.
Javi
May 2, 2024 1:28 pm
I find it very strange that the DxO laboratory has not done any analysis of this sensor after two years, or why are they hiding it?
Who knows. But I wouldn’t guess that it’s because they’re deliberately trying to hide something. Not much to hide anyway – it’s a medium format sensor that performs well, as expected.
fiatlux
May 2, 2024 11:27 am
Interesting review of a unique camera (and great photos by the way). Slap an XCD 21 or 28mm on it and you have a kind of digital SWC! Kudos to Hasselblad/DJI for offering such an option on an already niche market.
A few comments though (from someone who uses an X1D):
1 – The XCD lens range is relatively limited and pretty expensive (outside of the two ‘P’ lenses) compared to Fuji GF lenses. Evaluate your needs carefully before committing to the system! 2 – HC/HCD lenses are only fully functional on XCD cameras if they are of the very latest design (manufactured after 2014 or so). These can be updated to FW 18 to offer AF with the XH adapter and converter. Since the H system was introduced in 2002, many (most) of the lenses on the used market are older, cannot be updated to FW 18 and will therefore only work in manual focus. 3 – On the plus side, quite a few lenses designed for 24×36, especially long ones, actually cover 33×44, and you will even be able to maintain AF with Canon EF lenses and Techart’s TCX-01 (which is still hit-and-miss in terms of compatibility). But as with any adapted lens outside of the HC/HCD ones, you are stuck to the electronic shutter which, with the very slow readout time of the sensor, is indeed problematic when shooting handheld or any moving subject.
Thanks, and I’m glad you liked the photos! That’s a useful perspective. I’ll add a mention in the review of which HC/HCD lenses can be used with autofocus.
John Motzi
May 2, 2024 11:20 am
I was a little surprised that one supposedly cannot use the leaf shutter of V lenses when using the 907X “camera”. The 50C back & 100C back are shown to be used with leaf shutters when V lenses are mounted on 500 series cameras, and leaf shutters on view camera lenses (via PC Cable connection) when used with an Alpa system. Not sure why that would not also be the case when using the V lenses dumb adapted on the 907X.
I don’t have V lenses to test with it, so I was just quoting Hasselblad’s page on the XV Adapter, but that does seem to be the situation. This thread is the closest I could find to a discussion about potential workarounds, and it doesn’t really come to a practical answer: www.hasselbladdigitalforum.com/index…pic=8738.0
When you use the digital back on a V Hasselblad camera, it is the camera that mechanically cocks and triggers the leaf shutter in the lens. When you use the dumb XV adapter, there is no such mechanical link and the camera has to rely on its electronic shutter. Same limitation with adapted X-Pan lenses (which also have leaf shutters). I guess engineering an adapter capable of mechanically cocking and releasing the lens leaf shutter would be pretty complex. Somewhat easier would be an adapter for Mamiya 6 or 7 lenses that had electronically-controlled leaf shutters, but I am not betting on anyone coming up with such thing, unfortunately. 😢
Roar Velle
May 2, 2024 7:50 am
Phase one has beautiful cameras. Why not look at these? I think the difference to full frame would be greater, and use in the field better.
I’d definitely be willing to test it. There are a lot of Phase One cameras that range from a couple thousand dollars on the used market to $50,000+ for the newest generation with the most resolution. The 100 MP Trichromatic back is the one that interests me the most – would love to use that on a technical camera – but talk about expensive.
The Phase One XC camera shares a somewhat similar philosophy but, once you factor in the price of a digital back, is quite a bit more expensive. This being said, if I were to use a digital back on a larger MF (or even LF) camera, I think I would prefer a used Phase One IQ1 100 back than this “cropped MF” CFV 100C.
If you’re open to buying used (I certainly am), the used digital back market these days is ridiculous. Including pretty high-resolution “uncropped” medium format sensors selling for less than some full-frame cameras.
Elaine Lansdown
May 2, 2024 6:41 am
The thing that impressed me the most about this camera system was the stunning color profile of the sensor. The pictures you took are beautiful and special. I’ve never seen another camera system achieve the same results. I guess there is a good reason why this camera costs what it does.
Very kind of you to say that about my photos, thank you, Elaine. This camera is definitely out of my budget, but I still consider the price to be reasonable for the niche it offers.
Jason Polak
Admin
May 2, 2024 5:19 am
Awesome review, and fascinating even for someone who many never use such a system. The sensor performance is impressive. Seems like a perfect camera for tripod usage and large printing without the weight!
Thanks, Jason! I agree, it’s great within that specialization. Not a generalist camera by any means, but there are already a million generalist cameras for photographers who need them.
bg5931
May 2, 2024 1:33 am
I guess I am among those 20% who might be within the target audience for this camera. But unless I win the lottery, it is not going to happen (and even if I did win the lottery, I might buy a 400/2.8 TC instead :D ). Nevertheless, I thought this review was an interesting read. Always good to know what else is out there.
And: Hope you were somewhere safe when shooting those buffalo at 70 mm equivalent!
Thanks! I was in my car the whole time – actually in a traffic jam caused by the bison. Nowhere to go even if I wanted to! A surprisingly common occurrence in Yellowstone.
Sam
May 2, 2024 1:15 am
Does the system support astrophotography? Are there fast wide angle lenses that do not weigh a ton?
With this ISO performance, it would be a strong potential choice for astrophotography. Focusing on the stars is a little tricky because, in my opinion, the live view’s maximum magnification is not as high as I would like. The 38mm f/2.5 that I used in this review would not be a bad Milky Way lens if you don’t mind the 30mm equivalent focal length, and there are various other lens options as well.
I’ll write more on the subject soon, so keep an eye out before making a decision on buying into this system for astrophotography.
Great review – thoughtful and informed by real-world use. Thanks! A few thoughts…
1. Your links on where to buy did not include links for the XCD V lenses – and for good reason as they are near impossible to buy – and/or have ridiculous wait lists. TBH, it was a major knock-out for me. I wanted to buy into this system with these newer lenses but I eventually gave up.
2. Re your gloves and touchscreen comment, have you tried “thumbless gloves” or “touchscreeen gloves”? If not, search Amazon for these terms and you will see a range of options for both.
3. You could put “No video (your opinion may vary)” under both pro and con maybe?
Beautiful photography, excellent review.
Thanks.
Thanks, Jay! Yes, it works well with fingerless gloves and touchscreen gloves, which is fine in moderately cold environments. Here in Colorado, I do a lot of landscape photography in temperatures where warmer gloves are necessary. All depends on the photographer’s situation.
I use both the X2D and the 907 X CFV 50. The 907 X is a joy to use with its retro feeling but most of the time I use the CFV on my 903 SWC, along with the A12 film back. To obviate the lack of stabilization, I use the hand grip, very convenient if you do not carry a tripod. You should add that by a very sunny day, the screen of the CFV may be useless. Thanks for this excellent review.
I’m glad you liked the review, thanks, Luc! Good point, the screen is definitely not that bright. I kept it set to full brightness, and I still sometimes had to shade it from the sun to see my composition properly.
I find it very strange that the DxO laboratory has not done any analysis of this sensor after two years, or why are they hiding it?
Who knows. But I wouldn’t guess that it’s because they’re deliberately trying to hide something. Not much to hide anyway – it’s a medium format sensor that performs well, as expected.
Interesting review of a unique camera (and great photos by the way). Slap an XCD 21 or 28mm on it and you have a kind of digital SWC! Kudos to Hasselblad/DJI for offering such an option on an already niche market.
A few comments though (from someone who uses an X1D):
1 – The XCD lens range is relatively limited and pretty expensive (outside of the two ‘P’ lenses) compared to Fuji GF lenses. Evaluate your needs carefully before committing to the system!
2 – HC/HCD lenses are only fully functional on XCD cameras if they are of the very latest design (manufactured after 2014 or so). These can be updated to FW 18 to offer AF with the XH adapter and converter. Since the H system was introduced in 2002, many (most) of the lenses on the used market are older, cannot be updated to FW 18 and will therefore only work in manual focus.
3 – On the plus side, quite a few lenses designed for 24×36, especially long ones, actually cover 33×44, and you will even be able to maintain AF with Canon EF lenses and Techart’s TCX-01 (which is still hit-and-miss in terms of compatibility). But as with any adapted lens outside of the HC/HCD ones, you are stuck to the electronic shutter which, with the very slow readout time of the sensor, is indeed problematic when shooting handheld or any moving subject.
Thanks, and I’m glad you liked the photos! That’s a useful perspective. I’ll add a mention in the review of which HC/HCD lenses can be used with autofocus.
I was a little surprised that one supposedly cannot use the leaf shutter of V lenses when using the 907X “camera”. The 50C back & 100C back are shown to be used with leaf shutters when V lenses are mounted on 500 series cameras, and leaf shutters on view camera lenses (via PC Cable connection) when used with an Alpa system. Not sure why that would not also be the case when using the V lenses dumb adapted on the 907X.
I don’t have V lenses to test with it, so I was just quoting Hasselblad’s page on the XV Adapter, but that does seem to be the situation. This thread is the closest I could find to a discussion about potential workarounds, and it doesn’t really come to a practical answer: www.hasselbladdigitalforum.com/index…pic=8738.0
When you use the digital back on a V Hasselblad camera, it is the camera that mechanically cocks and triggers the leaf shutter in the lens. When you use the dumb XV adapter, there is no such mechanical link and the camera has to rely on its electronic shutter. Same limitation with adapted X-Pan lenses (which also have leaf shutters).
I guess engineering an adapter capable of mechanically cocking and releasing the lens leaf shutter would be pretty complex.
Somewhat easier would be an adapter for Mamiya 6 or 7 lenses that had electronically-controlled leaf shutters, but I am not betting on anyone coming up with such thing, unfortunately. 😢
Phase one has beautiful cameras. Why not look at these? I think the difference to full frame would be greater, and use in the field better.
Now I am expecting a phase one under the tree next Christmas :)
I’d definitely be willing to test it. There are a lot of Phase One cameras that range from a couple thousand dollars on the used market to $50,000+ for the newest generation with the most resolution. The 100 MP Trichromatic back is the one that interests me the most – would love to use that on a technical camera – but talk about expensive.
Or the xt system out in the field!
The Phase One XC camera shares a somewhat similar philosophy but, once you factor in the price of a digital back, is quite a bit more expensive.
This being said, if I were to use a digital back on a larger MF (or even LF) camera, I think I would prefer a used Phase One IQ1 100 back than this “cropped MF” CFV 100C.
If you’re open to buying used (I certainly am), the used digital back market these days is ridiculous. Including pretty high-resolution “uncropped” medium format sensors selling for less than some full-frame cameras.
The thing that impressed me the most about this camera system was the stunning color profile of the sensor. The pictures you took are beautiful and special. I’ve never seen another camera system achieve the same results. I guess there is a good reason why this camera costs what it does.
Very kind of you to say that about my photos, thank you, Elaine. This camera is definitely out of my budget, but I still consider the price to be reasonable for the niche it offers.
Awesome review, and fascinating even for someone who many never use such a system. The sensor performance is impressive. Seems like a perfect camera for tripod usage and large printing without the weight!
Thanks, Jason! I agree, it’s great within that specialization. Not a generalist camera by any means, but there are already a million generalist cameras for photographers who need them.
I guess I am among those 20% who might be within the target audience for this camera. But unless I win the lottery, it is not going to happen (and even if I did win the lottery, I might buy a 400/2.8 TC instead :D ). Nevertheless, I thought this review was an interesting read. Always good to know what else is out there.
And: Hope you were somewhere safe when shooting those buffalo at 70 mm equivalent!
Thanks! I was in my car the whole time – actually in a traffic jam caused by the bison. Nowhere to go even if I wanted to! A surprisingly common occurrence in Yellowstone.
Does the system support astrophotography? Are there fast wide angle lenses that do not weigh a ton?
With this ISO performance, it would be a strong potential choice for astrophotography. Focusing on the stars is a little tricky because, in my opinion, the live view’s maximum magnification is not as high as I would like. The 38mm f/2.5 that I used in this review would not be a bad Milky Way lens if you don’t mind the 30mm equivalent focal length, and there are various other lens options as well.
I’ll write more on the subject soon, so keep an eye out before making a decision on buying into this system for astrophotography.