Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/02/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On 2/22/07 10:44 AM, "Christopher Williams" <leicachris@worldnet.att.net> typed: > They may be a little more than a niche player now as there are allot of > commercial/fashion photog's using the H system now. Some > backlash on the H3 though as it will only accept the digital Hassy backs > 22mp > and 39mp. > > Chris > > A different use of the term "Niche" though less existential than Leicas. In the sense of Hasselblads its for high end commercial photography done for catalogs and large display pieces. Often tethered using software which makes for all your sheets and pillowcases and curtains all matching up in the end with little to no post processing. Instead of hundreds to thousands of dollars worth of post processing. Its large format digital photography. And of course can be used for fine art photographers whole vision includes that level of quality. Or sized output. >From the Epson at Photokina IN Cologne booth Harold Cummer had grabbed and showed me a 13x19 black and white print on fine art matt paper taken with an H3 which made me think I was wearing 3d platinum glasses. Knocked my socks off certainly blowing output from both APS-2 and 24x36 digital output right out the window. Much more that a film 35mm to medium format comparison. medium format film had been used by a lot of not so great wedding photographers and shlock commercial photographers who really didn't need it. What they needed was square format. And they needed to be holding a Swedish built Hasselblad in their hands. An image thing. They are now shooting with DSLRs which gives people the idea that the quality on DSLRs "replaces" the quality you'd get with the film Hasselblad. And that's just nowhere near the case. These people were not having 20x24 inch prints made of their weddings with any persistence at all. They could have been shooting it with a Robot (square format camera) and a few shots of the bride and groom with slow film if a very large print was part of the package. Otherwise they could be shooting the whole thing with 400 speed 35mm film. There's a blurring between medium format digital and large format digital as the same backs are often used. And the sizes of the chips are so funny. The medium format backs are only recently coming vaguely close to full format which is not square medium format but 645. And large format backs for sheet film cameras have sensors about the size of medium format film from all I can tell. Right now the used market is flooded with Hasselblad gear going for a decimal point of its worth 5 years ago. And true worth now. Go to your camera stores used glass case and pick up a Hasselblad body with back and lens for the same price than just a body cost a couple a years ago. Or half that. Backs are a hundred bucks instead of a thousand. (ok used vs. new) and the best deal of all is the Zeiss glass a reason for using Hasselblad in the first place even if you didn't need a modular camera. Those lenses are being given away free to every 4th person who walks up to the counter for the purchase of a Zeiss filter or lens cap. The best deal you've ever had in photography would probably be when you got into Hasselblad NOW. Before the impossible happens. Which of course its going to and soon. A consumer priced medium format digital back. Don't wait. Go now. You are loosing money every second you wait on that new used Hassy setup. I'd get a loan and get several backs and lenses. A spare body. Different prisms. I almost forgot about the cool Man from U.N.C.L.E. prisms. I think you can get a 20,000 dollar Hassy full typical set up for 5000. With some room for slight exaggeration. And the occasional impossible. As much as I love Leica with such a setup you will be photographically enabled to the very highest extent. Not a whole lot you're not going to be able to shoot. Film or digital. Scott Evil: It's no hassle... Dr. Evil: Shot it! Scott Evil: But... Dr. Evil: Been there. Shot it! Scott Evil: Would... Dr. Evil: Shot it! !... Knock-knock. Scott Evil: Who's there? Dr. Evil: Shot it! ! Scott Evil: But... Dr. Evil: Let me tell you a little story about a man named Shot it! ! Shot it! ! even before you start. That was a pre-emptive " Shot it! " Now, I have a whole bag of " Shot it! " with your name on it. Polly want a SHOT IT! Mark Rabiner New York, NY markrabiner.com