Pros: High Quality, features, three types of focus modes.
Cons: Cost of total system, lens cost/selection, bulk.
The Bottom Line: A masterpiece of engineering design. Perhaps the most user friendly of all medium format cameras out there. Dual digital/film utilization!
colonialpara's Full Review: Hasselblad H1 Medium Format Film Camera
Hasselblad, the Swedish camera manufacturer, has long been respected for its hi-quality 6x6cm format, manual focus SLRs. Now, for the first time in its corporate history, it has introduced an AF medium format SLR. This camera is the impressive and stylish H1.
Like its 6x6 forbears, the H1 is modular in design, with interchangeable lenses, viewfinders and film backs. Of particular interest to digital users is the fact that Hasselblad offered a digital back for this camera body from the first day it became available.
With its introduction, Hasselblad had available only four fully AF lenses for the body. They are the standard 80mm f2.8, the 150mm f3.2 (portrait telephoto), the 35mm f3.5 wide angle and 50-110mm f3.5-4.5 zoom. Hasselblad plans to have three (3) more lenses available by year's end. They should be the 120mm f4, 1:1 macro, 210 f4 telephoto and a 50mm f3.5.
Hasselblad also made immediately available a 1.7x teleconverter which turns the 210mm into a 357mm telephoto. Hasselblad equates this to a 240mm lens on a 35mm SLR.
The company HQ also announced that they will be releasing a special adapter later in 2003 that will permit camera owners to utilize the V system lenses from the 6x6 systems.
As I write this, there is only one viewfinder available. It is a full information finder that permits a 100% view of the subject (even when wearing glasses). The finder uses three metering systems and allows eyepiece adjustments from -4 to 2.5 diopters. There is also a pop-up flash with a guide # of 38.
Film magazines for this newest Hasselblad include the std. HM 16-32 which will auto set itself for 120 and 220 film rolls. Also usable is the HMi 100 magazine for the Type 100 instant films. For digital users, the camera accepts "Phase One" and KODAK digital backs.
While this camera differs in appearance from all other "Blads," it should be noted that this camera, like the XPan panoramic 35mm rangefinder, is a joint venture between Hasselblad and Fuji. Hasselblad designed the system and build the bodies, which are stainless steel shells with a die-cast lt. weight aluminum internal structure. The electronic leaf shutter is also a Swedish design. The lenses, finder and film magazines were designed and provided by Fuji in Japan.
FOCUSING:
The H1 provides three focusing modes: They are single shot auto, continuous auto and manual. The desired mode is selected by pressing the AF button, then rotating the front dial until the desired mode appears on the top deck LCD panel. One then presses the Drive (Save) button to save the setting chosen for the exposure.
Auto-focusing can be achieved in light levels from EV 1-19 and is attained by a central cross type detection sensor.
MF is through the focusing ring on the lens.
In AF, the lens can be manually adjusted w/o having to switch to MF mode.
Just like 35mm SLRs, the finder provides an in-focus confirmation signal when full focus has been reached. This applies to both AF and MF operation.
EXPOSURE:
Three metering modes are built in to the standard viewfinder. Just depress the EXP button and rotate the rear control wheel until the selected mode appears on the LCD panel and then the SAVE button to save the setting chosen.
For Average Mode, the camera system averages 70% of the center of the frame area. In center-weighted, the system uses 20% of the image area and in spot mode, the central 2% of the image area. Think of this much like you would the similar type metering modes on 35 mm cameras (especially Nikon owners).
FLASH:
Built right into the H1's finder is a pop-up TTL flash with a GN of 38. This pop-up flash covers the angle of view of the standard 80mm lens. Exposure control is center weighted TTL and the user can set plus or minus 3EV of exposure for the flash. There is also a hot shoe on the top of the camera, immediately to the rear of the viewfinder. The user can select normal (front) or rear synch. Due to the use of the leaf shutter lens system, flash synch is attainable up to 1/800 of a second.
By using Hassleblad's SCA3002 flash, the user gets the same capabilities as with the pop-up flash combined with additional power. Hasselblad states that flash features work equally well with either film or digital backs.
OTHER FEATURES:
Some of the benefits of the H1's ability to use interchangeable backs include the automatic setting of bar-coded films. The magazine will automatically set the film length (120 or 220), film speed and frame counter. You can also set film speed and length manually if you choose.
Film wind to first frame and wind-off at the end of the roll are also automatic with a built-in motor drive. Single frame and continuous (2 fps) are available with the H1.
The offered lenses contain electronic leaf shutters with speeds as long as 18 hours to 1/800 second, plus B and T.
There are 21 custom features accessed using the settings screen and Hasselblad has also built in a Profiles feature, which permits the user to store and then quickly retrieve favorite camera settings.
Several data imprint options are also available as part of the custom feature set.
DIGITAL UTILIZATION:
The H1 offers full digital compatibility. All the user need do is get a digital back like the ones mentioned earlier, attach it and the camera becomes fully digital capable. This is a great advantage over 35 mm SLRs. In that domain, one must choose film or digital. Both capabilities ARE NOT currently available with the same camera body.
IN USE:
While the H1 contains many features, to be fair, it will take a while to get accustomed to their use and functionality. Once the user does so, however,the camera is logical and intuitive.
35 mm shooters will need time to adjust to loading the H1's film magazines, but again, after several rolls, the process will become old hat. There are advantages to this format, especially for re-loads in mid roll. All one need do is remove the magazine and re-load with a new roll. This is especially useful when switching from color to B&W or to slide from print film.
As users of medium format will tell you, they love the sharp images and the larger size of the negatives and the final images. In the case of the H1, the negatives are 2.7x the size of a 35mm negative. With the Fuji designed and provided lenses, the images obtained are dead solid perfect!
Yes, it's costly and large, but this camera produces incredible images. And from the land that has given us years of safe and stodgy Volvos now comes a fully automatic AF medium format SLR. Japanese companies have not yet succeeded in completing their domination of photographic tools and won't as long as Hasselblad is around to produce camera systems like this one. This is a camera built on heroic proportions.
If you would like to see another side of analog and digital imaging, medium format is a wonderful path to follow. If you have deep enough pockets, Hasselblad is the tool that will open new doors to photographic discovery.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $2,225 body This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Solid Enough for a Professional
BRAND NEW ORIGINAL HASSELBLAD H1 CAMERA PIN The size is around 3/8-1/2 inch by 3/8-1/2 inch. If you own a H1 camera, this will be a nice item to have!...More at eBay
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