Category Archives: Hasselblad

An Ode to Panoramas

05.26.26

Earlier this year, I co-lead a few photography tours in Nepal, Bhutan and Hokkaido, Japan. While traveling for five weeks with my FUJIFILM GFX cameras I really embraced the 65 x 24 panorama crop mode which creates a classic panorama aspect ratio. The GFX cameras can capture images in this aspect ratio in the Raw...

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Top 10 Favorite Cameras of All Time

03.22.22

As I have made the full transition to mirrorless cameras in the last year–having sold off my Nikon D850 and pretty much all of my DSLR lenses a year ago–I started thinking about the cameras that I have used and those that have been critical to my success over the years. And seeing that there...

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Random Thoughts on Mirrorless Camera Systems

10.15.18

Over the past year or more, in anticipation of this time–where Nikon, Canon and everyone else would jump on the mirrorless train–I have been testing out and thinking a lot–too much really–about the equipment I use and what the future holds. It has been clear for a while now, at least to me, that mirrorless...

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Martim VidigalOctober 15, 2018 - 2:04 pm
Hi Michael,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the Mirrorless world.
Since Nikon and Canon entered the full frame Mirrorless focusing most of their marketing on the lens mount itself I have been wondering what are the advantages of having a bigger diameter mount like Nikon vs the Sony smaller mount diameter.
In 1987 Canon introduced the EF mount with a much bigger diameter than Nikon and Nikon was still able to build awesome lenses on pair with Canon.
Do you know what are the advantages of the bigger diameter lens mount?

Cheers
Michael ClarkOctober 15, 2018 - 2:19 pm
Martim – Hello. There are quite a few benefits to a larger lens mount, and especially with such a short flange distance like the Z series Nikons and R series Canons. First it simplifies the lens design pretty seriously, allowing lenses to be built with fewer elements, which means more light reaches the sensor (i.e. fewer lens surface interfaces). Second, you can also collimate the light so it is striking the sensor straight on instead of being bent at radical angles. This reduces Chromatic Aberration and also allows for much sharper rendering in the corners than previously. Thirds, it allows for using IBIS to it’s full potential. Fourth, in the case of the Nikon, it might mean that we are using the center of the lens more – i.e. the best part of the optics. With the Z7 I have not really seen any CA at all, which is pretty phenomenal. I will discuss this more in my actual review. This covers the basics of a larger lens mount. I am sure there is a lot I don’t know. Nikon released a very extensive PDF all about the reasoning behind the larger lens mount.
Equipment Review: Nikon Z7 » Michael Clark PhotographyOctober 25, 2018 - 9:02 am
[…] I wrote about in my last blog post, entitled Random Thoughts on Mirrorless Camera Systems, while the small, lightweight form factor of the Z7 is great for some situations, it can be a […]
Tony BonannoOctober 29, 2018 - 6:23 pm
Excellent thoughts about mirrorless Michael! I totally agree that the future will be (or should be) a range of mirrorless cameras incorporating the advantages and minimizing the disadvantages of mirrorless. I’m very pleased with the Z7, but already thinking about a Z850 :-).
Wilbur NormanNovember 1, 2018 - 11:48 am
Many Thanks for the article. As a long-time (mostly) Leica user I am clearly not in the telephoto or ‘need for speed’ lane. As such, I now cannot imagine having to use those big, long-lens units of my youth! (Especially as most Leica lenses are basically miniaturized.)

At Photokina a few weeks ago the crowds of people around the mirrorless stands were many bodies deep. Probably 75% of them were carrying DSLR cameras so it was possible to see, first-hand, the enormous interest in mirrorless. I did persevere and got to fondle the Nikon Z7. Very nice!

LIGHTING THE SPIRIT: Shooting with the Elinchrom ELB1200

07.31.17

Sidenote: I realize I haven’t posted a blog in quite a while. The last few months have been crazy intense with numerous assignments, frantic image editing and long hours helping to edit video. Not to worry, I haven’t ditched the blog…there is much more to come in the next few weeks. This blog post is...

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Interview on Red Bull Photography

03.02.17

Red Bull Photography recently posted an interview with me about my most recent assignment for Red Bull with the Red Bull Air Force at their annual training camp near Eloy, Arizona. On that assignment, I spent two and a half days with the Red Bull Air Force, which is Red Bull’s sky diving team based...

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Equipment Review: Hasselblad X1D 50c

02.10.17

I have been drooling over the Hasselblad X1D since it was first announced last summer. The X1D is the first mirrorless digital medium format camera. It is also significantly lighter and smaller than any medium format camera on the market that uses an optical viewfinder. With a price tag of $8,995 for the body and...

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David CliffordFebruary 11, 2017 - 2:15 pm
Great review Michael. As always. Any thoughts on using this rig for Architecture?

Cheers,
DC
Michael ClarkFebruary 11, 2017 - 4:03 pm
It could be good for architecture, if you use the XH adapter, put the title shift adapter on it and use the H lenses. But by then you might as well have an H6D I suppose. Here is the link to that adapter: http://www.hasselblad.com/accessories/h-system-accessories/hts-1-5-tilt-and-shift-adapter
Aldo CGFebruary 13, 2017 - 12:51 pm
Regarding Architecture- I am just now noticing that the 30mm has absolutely no distance focus markings on it.

This is completely and utterly useless for architecture. Everything must be focused manually, and you can’t even see where you’re focusing? I have shot thousands of images for clients and not once have I not relied on distance markings.
Niels VoldersFebruary 14, 2017 - 8:42 am
Batteries are long available
Michael ClarkFebruary 14, 2017 - 9:04 am
Niels – Maybe the X1D batteries have been available where you live but here in the USA they are still on backorder and have been for a long time.
JanFebruary 21, 2017 - 11:30 am
How would you compare the AF with a camera as the Sony rx1r? Do you think it is possible to make street photography with the hasselblad x1d?
Erik LundqvistFebruary 24, 2017 - 3:10 am
I rented the X1D for a field test over a weekend a couple of months ago, and one of the shoots I had arranged was a fitness shoot with a boxer. I took around 40 frames of him unleashing his inner fury on a sandbag and I did not manage to nail even one frame just as he hit the sandbag.

Admittedly, maybe the the series of clicks caused me to think there is shutter lag and as a result I pressed the shutter earlier and earlier, but to me it looked like the boxer was in the process of retracting his arm as the sandbag was in full swing.

I am not convinced the X1D is shutter lag free, but I would like it to be 🙂

Erik
Michael ClarkFebruary 24, 2017 - 9:32 am
Jan – I don’t know. I have not ever shot with the Sony RX1R. You can shoot street stuff with the X1D but just realize the AF is going to be a little slower. I’d say rent one before you buy it.
Photographer Michael Clark Reviews the Hasselblad X1D 50CFebruary 24, 2017 - 1:41 pm
[…] Note: This post originally appeared on Michael Clark’s photography blog and has been reproduced with his permission. All accompanying images are ©Michael Clark and also […]
AusTexMarch 23, 2017 - 7:21 am
Try as I may to convince myself that I need this camera I cannot. The nature of leisure or amateur photography has changed as has our lifestyles. When film and processing was expensive, photos were dear. You put time and thought into every shot. I know because I think back to how much money I spent;-)

With mobile devices and tablets with their amazing resolution we now view more images on a monitor instead of on paper I wonder where standalone cameras will fit. Purists will of course lambaste me for saying all this but I wonder these fine pieces technology and optics like fine watches are like the old steel mills that are excellent subjects for photographers, symbols of a bygone era?

I hope not, especially for the company whose cameras went to the moon and back, but I am doubtful.
Benjamin SamsonApril 21, 2017 - 12:44 pm
Dear AusTex, These cameras are entirely unnecessary if your sole wish is to see your photos on a computer screen or on instagram. However, if you like to print your photos and print them big then they are quite relevant.

And whatever happens with time folks are going to keep having a need to fill their walls with content.
KK AgrawalMay 9, 2017 - 10:22 am
I have not read about any shutter release cable being used with X1D. Do they have anything of this accessory, because this is useful for close-up work.
Michael ClarkMay 9, 2017 - 10:30 am
I have heard folks talking about the smartphone app that can trigger the camera but I don’t think there is an actual cable release as far as I know. I might be wrong on that.
Robert SinclairMay 10, 2017 - 2:14 pm
Michael – Thank you for an excellent write up on the X1D – very informative.

I received mine a few days ago and find it a pleasure to hold and work with and the image quality is remarkable. And I am comparing this to my years of Phase One, Leica, and 45 years of Canon use, along with 4×5 view camera film.

One issue I cannot seem to work around is the viewfinder (I don’t use Live View on the back) black out time period, especially in Continuous Drive Mode, but even in Single Drive Mode with quick shutter releases. I shoot only to RAW files, and because the black out period is longer than time between captures (reportedly 2.3 fps), I am unable to see through the black viewfinder what I am shooting.

Any thoughts, comments, or suggestions about this?
Michael ClarkMay 10, 2017 - 3:04 pm
Robert – Save for the latest Fuji X-Series and Sony A7 and A9 series mirrorless cameras, most mirrorless cameras lock up the viewfinder when firing off bursts. The black out on the X1D is not optimal for any kind of action photography. I see it as more of a one shot beast. Hard to say. Also, for clarification, I do not own an X1D. I shot with a friends for a few days to write this review. I have an H5D and still use that.
Robert SinclairMay 10, 2017 - 4:24 pm
Michael – Thanks for the quick response. You answered my question, but thus wonder why HB would even include Continuous Drive Mode if its unusable. My Sony a6000 (mirrorless) allows for fast blasting, but its not much more than a point and shoot. Thankfully I don’t do much action work, but found this to be an issue when trying to photograph my 5-month old granddaughter’s beautiful new smiles 🙂
PS: Your work is outstanding and Shiprock is a favorite subject of mine.
Cheers, _R
JonJuly 14, 2017 - 1:00 am
Thanks for the review. Very interested in this Hasselblad system. It’s the dream camera. I wonder about the shutter lag though. I’ve seen a couple people write about that third click thinking that’s the shutter opening and hence thinking there’s a large lag, but it is the shutter re-cocking itself. The third click is after the exposure is made (reminds me of the delayed secondary shutter in a 500cm).

You say there is still a lag? Are there any numbers anywhere? Second click sounds relatively instant to me but perhaps isn’t?
Michael ClarkJuly 14, 2017 - 7:57 am
There is a pretty long shutter lag. I just shot with it again here a few weeks ago and for any action it is completely unusable. I was very sad to see the shutter lag. I did a lot of testing and it is only a third of a second or so but it was enough that any moving object wold already be out of frame by the time the image was taken. In comparison, my H5D is damn near instantaneous. When I push the shutter release I have the image I wanted.

Six Months On with the Hasselblad H5D 50c WiFi

07.19.16

After six months or so of using the Hasselblad H5D 50c WiFi medium format digital camera, I thought I would add a blog post here summing up the experience so far. To start with, I am still completely excited by this camera and do not regret purchasing it at all. The H5D still inspires me...

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