medium format camera

[jd40]

why do they cost so much????
such as this:
http://www.adorama.com/HS503CWK.html

how is it different than a regular DSLR?
I suppose all them crop factor, but what else?
what kind of flexibility does it provide?

I thought all there is to the camera is shutter speed and aperature.

[Pete-eos]

I thought all there is to the camera is shutter speed and aperature.

Sensor size plays a massive part, as the surface area increases so does the cost, drastically. I'm sure someone will chime in with the figures... you'll then have other costs like the much bigger view finder and many use higher grade glass.

Edit: checked the link, thats an SLR, check the price of a medium format digital!

[gjl711]

It’s all in the CCD/CMOS sensor size. Big chips are very expensive to manufacture. The bigger, the more costly.

[Wilt]

1. Everything is bigger, so it is inherently more costly to produce (like buying meat by the pound)
2. Fewer people buy them, so economies of scale are not present
3. Geometrically increased cost to fabricate huge sensors

Industry has taken a long time to produce 24x36mm sensors by other manufacturers besides Canon. So imagine the complexity when the sensor is almost 40x55mm

[Richard_Miami]

That was the film version. Here is one of the digital versions of the Hassy:
http://www.adorama.com/HSH3D392.html

You are looking at extremely high quality tools. The Hasselblad system gives you interchangeable EVERYTHING such as backs, viewfinders and more, not just interchangeable lenses. In addition - the LARGE sensor. To quote:

"the largest image sensors currently available 48x36 mm - more than 2x the size of even the largest 35mm camera sensors. These sensors hold more & larger pixels, ensuring ultra sharp images without gradation break-ups in even the finest lit surfaces"

These cameras tend to be used by high end studio photographers and others demanding only the best quality images (think fashion photogs..etc.).

I wish I could afford one - I will keep buying those lottery tickets! :D

[jd40]

but what is the advantage of having big sensor? Is it less noise?

btw, thnx admin for moving the thread

[Richard_Miami]

"These sensors hold more & larger pixels, ensuring ultra sharp images without gradation break-ups in even the finest lit surfaces"

[gjl711]

but what is the advantage of having big sensor? Is it less noise?

btw, thnx admin for moving the thread
It’s the exact same principals as to what makes a 5D a better camera than a crop or a 40D a better camera than a P/S. More resolution with larger individual sites lead to sharper, more detailed pics.

[jd40]

oh ok
In the movie "Cherry Crush" character Jordan Wells uses one of them to take photo of the models

That was the film version. Here is one of the digital versions of the Hassy:
http://www.adorama.com/HSH3D392.html

You are looking at extremely high quality tools. The Hasselblad system gives you interchangeable EVERYTHING such as backs, viewfinders and more, not just interchangeable lenses. In addition - the LARGE sensor. To quote:

"the largest image sensors currently available 48x36 mm - more than 2x the size of even the largest 35mm camera sensors. These sensors hold more & larger pixels, ensuring ultra sharp images without gradation break-ups in even the finest lit surfaces"

These cameras tend to be used by high end studio photographers and others demanding only the best quality images (think fashion photogs..etc.).

I wish I could afford one - I will keep buying those lottery tickets! :D

[Lani Kai]

Not all medium format cameras are expensive; what you're looking at here is near the top end of the spectrum. For example, I paid $200 for my Pentax 67. For something with interchangeable backs, you can get a Mamiya RB/RZ for dirt cheap prices these days. They're still very high-quality instruments.

[JeffreyG]

but what is the advantage of having big sensor? Is it less noise?

btw, thnx admin for moving the thread

Not always. The real advantage of a larger sensor is the same as the advantage of a larger piece of film. There is significantly less enlargement needed from captured image to print. This means the fine detail is better retained as it is enlarged less.

[Mcary]

My Dream" Money is no object system" would be the Leaf AFI +65S back cost about 30K
28MP 44x33 3x4 ratio sensor
Rotating back (turn the back instead of the body for portraits)
Leaf shutter= Sync speed of 1/1000 of second even with studio strobes

Mike

[Analog6]

That was the film version. Here is one of the digital versions of the Hassy:
http://www.adorama.com/HSH3D392.html

You are looking at extremely high quality tools. The Hasselblad system gives you interchangeable EVERYTHING such as backs, viewfinders and more, not just interchangeable lenses. In addition - the LARGE sensor. To quote:

"the largest image sensors currently available 48x36 mm - more than 2x the size of even the largest 35mm camera sensors. These sensors hold more & larger pixels, ensuring ultra sharp images without gradation break-ups in even the finest lit surfaces"

These cameras tend to be used by high end studio photographers and others demanding only the best quality images (think fashion photogs..etc.).

And many of the old Hasselblads will take a digital back (the backs, of course, cost from $AUD 15,000 upwards) but it's cheaper then a whole system.

I wish I could afford one - I will keep buying those lottery tickets! :D

Me too! I think the lotteries are rigged!

I had a Hasselblad film version for a while many eyars ago (it was stolen) and the quality is amazingly high. If you g=have the moeny, they are well worth it.

Of course, with digital images that big you need much more computer storage and processing capacity and so it goes on . . . .and on!

I still have a Seagull TLR film camera which I got for just $50 over the net, and the quality of the lens and the results are excellent.

[JWright]

why do they cost so much????
such as this:
http://www.adorama.com/HS503CWK.html

how is it different than a regular DSLR?
I suppose all them crop factor, but what else?
what kind of flexibility does it provide?

I thought all there is to the camera is shutter speed and aperature.

Hey guys, the camera in the link is a FILM Hasselblad... As was mentioned above, Hassy's are quality tools. They are the Ferrari's of the medium format world. If you're looking for something a little less pricey, then I'd suggest Pentax, Mamiya or Bronica. Again, these are all film cameras.

[Wilt]

Hey guys, the camera in the link is a FILM Hasselblad... As was mentioned above, Hassy's are quality tools. They are the Ferrari's of the medium format world. If you're looking for something a little less pricey, then I'd suggest Pentax, Mamiya or Bronica. Again, these are all film cameras.

Correctamundo! People really should be asking why the Ferrari of medium format film costs 25% less than a 1Ds body! :mad:
or they should marvel at the cost of a digital Hassy!:cry:

[T.Hogan]

jd40, look at the Mamiya RB67. Its a horse of a camera, and so you dont turn the camera to take protraits the film back revolves. Hence RB (revolving back). Also, what it is worth, its a 6cm x 7cm. Nearly the same ratio as a 35mm. Look at the used section of auction sites on the web. I believe the Hasseys are 6 x 6.

[agent.media]

Hey if you want to get into Medium format film, you can't go past a used (but in good condition) Mamiya TLR! Especially if you like the look of 6x6.

They take beautiful photos, a la...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lamul/2406627805/

[T.Hogan]

You can do that with a rb, and change the film back from b+w to color to chrome without finishing the roll to do it. The TLR is a good camera (had one), but I think the rb is a little more versatile.