Digital back options for Hasselblad 500

Hassasin

Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2023
Messages
1,323
Location
Hassasstan
Format
Multi Format
I've been looking at digital back options for the Hasselblad 500 and am not considering the latest. At first glance the CFV 16 back looked like not enough to even think about but then some photos appear to show it is still a viable option (not looking for large files, large prints etc. but image quality that gives a satisfying feeling).

The 16 was then followed by several others. Is there a place that covers all the backs ever made for Hasselblad 500? Can anyone give some short history / differences / interface quirks / user experience feedback?
 
OP
OP

Hassasin

Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2023
Messages
1,323
Location
Hassasstan
Format
Multi Format
After sine quick search I'm leaning towards the CFV 50c , as that appears to be probably as much as I would ever need, and as such be a one-time investment (if these things are meant to last that is, with gentle non-pro use).

Still looking for feedback on any options, but if anyone can shed some personal light on CFV 50c that would help too.
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,359
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
I was in Samy's Camera on Fairfax to day and I asked the same question. They recommended the Hasselblad 907 back with the new lens mount for the ease of use and fewest number of problems. They said the going rate is $6400US. I will have to think about that for a bit.
 
OP
OP

Hassasin

Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2023
Messages
1,323
Location
Hassasstan
Format
Multi Format

I’ve asked some question on a forum that has much deeper digital following and basically same conclusion. The CFV 50 c or latest v. II, is by far the best option. unless one wants to get going at a lower point, which would mean older CCD backs, which can still deliver great output, but come with limitations and mostly lack live view.
 

P1505

Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2019
Messages
91
Location
London
Format
35mm RF
I’ll be going for the latest version II back in the new year. After a lot of research and getting to try various backs, it’s the only real sensible choice. It’s seamless.
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,359
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format

I made a sudden turn just now. I will be going on an Antarctica and sub Antarctic Circle cruise January 2025, a year from now. For the cruise I bought the Tamron 150mm to 600mm AF zoom lens plus the compatible 2x extender. The week I had my friend from Boulder Colorado down to visit me. At my suggestion he signed up and took an Falklands Island, South Georgia, Antarctic cruise more wildlife, not sub Antarctic Cirlcle. He was on the cruise and traveled to South America for 42 day. He recommended that I buy a digital camera because changing film could be sub-optimal in blustery weather. So we visited Samys. We looked at Leica and Sony mostly. Then after a couple of days thinking about it, I decided on the Nikon D850. He pointed out that the Tamron lens has vibration control, the Nikon D850 does not, but for about the same price the Nikon Z7 II does and the the vibration control was well worth having. So I just ordered the Nikon Z7 II body in LN- condition from KEH. Now I will have about a year to get familiar with the digital camera, learn LightRoom and PhotoShop. The Hasselblad 907 body will have to wait for a while, but is now closer.
 
Last edited:

Ai Print

Subscriber
Joined
May 28, 2015
Messages
1,292
Location
Colorado
Format
Multi Format
I think the best bang for the buck is the 907x CFVII 50C. I had one for a few years but just sold it because I use an X2D 100c now with a tilt-shift adapter on my V glass 100mm and longer. While the image quality between the CFV 50c and CFVII 50c is pretty much the same, the operation of the backs could not be more different. The later back that comes with the 907X is far better in terms of overall operation and live view use. In a V system use, you may not think that you will use live view much but due to how critical focus is, believe me, you will want it to work well.

You will also want to either get the focusing screen that has the crop marks on it or get a template to trace the outline on a regular screen with a sharpie. Another item to consider is a PM90 or other 90 degree finder so that you can use the camera in vertical mode, a bit of an odd feeling at first in using a square format camera.

I think Hasselblad is going to announce the CFV III 100C on the 27th of this month but honestly, none of the V system lenses 80mm and wider hold up very well on the X2D so I am not sure I see the point. The 907X 50C combo was truly great though, I would have kept it as a second body to my X2D and for my v system had I not needed to raise funds. But I think the announcement of the new 100MP back could drive the price of the current 907X 50c down a bit and don’t shy away from a used one either. It’s not a camera and back that has any moving parts so perhaps sub $4K bargains can be had once the new back is announced.
 
Last edited:

Ai Print

Subscriber
Joined
May 28, 2015
Messages
1,292
Location
Colorado
Format
Multi Format

Wow, I never thought I would see the day.

I have used the Z system since day one and love it, spectacular optics. I use a Z7II, Z8 and Z9 with a bunch of lenses. I took a pair of two Z7II bodies to Iceland last year and they did great.

But I also did film in the super blustery Faroe Islands the year before for two months and had no issues re-loading film, rain was more of a gremlin than wind.

In October I took my Hasselblad X2D, the XCD 28, XCD 45, XCD 65 and 100mm CFi with a 1.4X to Scotland and had a blast with it. I think when I do Scotland again, I will bring the V system and buy and develop the film there.

Now then, my one piece of advice about the Z7II is to be careful in wind when swapping lenses. The Z6II and Z7II do not have the protective sensor shield that the newer Z8 and Z9 have. So that basically means they are dust magnets for on sensor dust. So buy a thingy called a Rocket Blower to bring with you and also get some sensor swabs to clean the sensor with if it gets some goo on it. The lens to pair with that Tamron is the Nikon Z 24-120 F4, it is excellent, light and sharp.

I have been shooting digital professionally since 1994, if you need any pointers, reach out.
 
OP
OP

Hassasin

Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2023
Messages
1,323
Location
Hassasstan
Format
Multi Format
That old lens (in)compatibility with high resolution sensors is one thing that gets me a bit. Fuji GX might be something to explore as long term investment.

As for V system, I think there are no doubts CFV as the way to go. It will be interesting to see how the 100 back will affect the pricing of 50, especially the first version, which for me would be more than enough for what I'd do with it, for likely a long time.
 

Ai Print

Subscriber
Joined
May 28, 2015
Messages
1,292
Location
Colorado
Format
Multi Format

What type of images would you mostly use the V / CFV combo for? If mostly hand held people, etc then the first CFV 50c will be fine for the most part. If for landscape or other focus critical work, I can not stress this enough, get the 50c version II. Live view is nearly unusable on the older back.

I think while the Fuji system may seem like the more “future proof” route, the combo of Hasselblad’s Natural Color Solution and the incredible line up of XCD lenses plus the better V system glass adapted makes the argument for Hasselblad overall a better choice.
 
OP
OP

Hassasin

Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2023
Messages
1,323
Location
Hassasstan
Format
Multi Format

That's good to know. I was mostly looking at how slow the operation is overall (compared to say a Fuji system), but am all too new to this to have a fully educated opinion yet. I've not heard that live view on first version was that bad.
 

Ai Print

Subscriber
Joined
May 28, 2015
Messages
1,292
Location
Colorado
Format
Multi Format
The problem is the refresh rate is sub par. For example when I would go to check focus on a bright day wide open, it would completely wash out so I would either have to stop down or use a filter to knock back a couple stops of light. Also the battery is a non-Hasselblad type that resides outside the back where as the newer version uses the same battery as the entire X series inside the back making the whole affair more protected and streamlined.

The interface on the new back (and the X2D) is by far the best I have ever used on any camera. It’s super intuitive and very responsive with a near instant startup time.

My only beef with the older back was the live view limitation but all the other pluses of the new one plus the really cool 907X made the upgrade pretty big.
 

P1505

Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2019
Messages
91
Location
London
Format
35mm RF
Interesting to hear about V system needing live view focussing. I was planning to shoot as I would with film and forget I had a digital back attached. Is this likely to cause issues with the 80mm?
 
OP
OP

Hassasin

Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2023
Messages
1,323
Location
Hassasstan
Format
Multi Format
P1505 said:
Interesting to hear about V system needing live view focussing. I was planning to shoot as I would with film and forget I had a digital back attached. Is this likely to cause issues with the 80mm?
Click to expand...
My understanding is that screen is not perfectly aligned with sensor, call it screen focusing plane is not, or no longer, precisely in design plane. Live view ensures you are focusing as per sensor not as what's on screen. Screen can be of coursed used, and it might be good for ball park focus and framing, but live view gives everything that sensor sees (crop from 6x6) and focusing is as god as it can be.
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,359
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format

I plan on using the 28mm to 300mm zoom, no vibration control or the 150mm to 600mm zoom with or without the 2X extender and vibration control. Both lenses are F lenses so I will not be able to use the in body vibration control . I am planning to use one lens or the other with minimum or no lens swapping. I will contact you for advice or suggestions, thank you.
 

Ai Print

Subscriber
Joined
May 28, 2015
Messages
1,292
Location
Colorado
Format
Multi Format
Think of it this way, it’s really just a tool that we did not have before. Absolutely you can easily use the camera normally but this is great to check focus on each lens, verify any focus shifts and be super precise for things like star photos or aerials.

This was not easy to do with the trial and error of film or even a Polaroid back. Now with a digital back it is instant and 100% accurate.
 

P1505

Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2019
Messages
91
Location
London
Format
35mm RF
For the work I do, which I could do with a hollowed out lemon, I think I’ll be ok.
 

bags27

Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2020
Messages
576
Location
USA
Format
Medium Format
I am 100% film these days, but with a couple of international trips planned and wife that's not super-happy in security waiting for my film to be checked (neither am I), I'm thinking about a digital solution.

Cheapest way is to buy an original Nikon Df (I have a lot of Nikon/Zeiss glass and love an OVF). But more likely, the 907x for my 500 c/m. Probably buy the 100c the moment it's announced (for the IBIS, not the mps). Buy at least 1 X mount wide lens (28p; maybe 45p) and use my V 100m and maybe 180 as well. Throw in the 2xmutar, and I'm set I think.
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,359
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format

More likely the Hasselblad 907 for me.
 

Ai Print

Subscriber
Joined
May 28, 2015
Messages
1,292
Location
Colorado
Format
Multi Format
bags27 said:
I'm eager to know how you have this information. Thanks!
Click to expand...

There have been clues for some time but now some pretty solid intel is surfacing:

Hasselblad CFV 100C Update

The CFV 100C, as of yesterday, has an FCC ID and approval. https://apps.fcc.gov/reports/ViewExhibitReport/fcc_id CFV100C The PDF document Label and location, accessible thru the documents linked above, shows image stabilization in the LCD display menu.
www.getdpi.com
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,359
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format

Will it have the same or better ability to work with C and CF lenses without problems that the 907 does? The initial price is about twice that of the 907 body from Samy's Camera.
 

Ai Print

Subscriber
Joined
May 28, 2015
Messages
1,292
Location
Colorado
Format
Multi Format
Sirius Glass said:
Will it have the same or better ability to work with C and CF lenses without problems that the 907 does? The initial price is about twice that of the 907 body from Samy's Camera.
Click to expand...

It’s pretty much the same as the current 907X but it is 120 grams lighter, 100MP, 1TB of fast internal storage and better AF with XCD mount lenses.

Other than that, it is exactly the same operation and compatibility with V system cameras and lenses. It will show a lot more of the optical deficiencies with V system lenses wider than 100mm, but that is due to the lenses on the higher resolution back, not the back it self.

The 907X CFV 50C lists for $6399
The 907X CFV 100C lists for $8199

To put it in perspective, I paid $11,000 for the CFV50C before the one above in 2015 and it was only the back and the use of live view was pretty rough.

These things are priced right where they need to be now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…