Digital back options for Hasselblad 500

In your choice, keep in mind that the Hassy 500C does not have a shutter-to-digital-back connection, so shooting with a digital back on the analog body has some workflow adjustments...early digital backs had a means to trigger both lens shutter and digital capture, IIRC via a 'split' shutter release. Later Hassy bodies provided an electronic connection to trigger the digital back in a less cumbersom fashion. What I do not know is how current digital backs are interfaced to one of the older bodies. Worth investigating and undertanding.

wiltw said:

In your choice, keep in mind that the Hassy 500C does not have a shutter-to-digital-back connection, so shooting with a digital back on the analog body has some workflow adjustments...early digital backs had a means to trigger both lens shutter and digital capture, IIRC via a 'split' shutter release. Later Hassy bodies provided an electronic connection to trigger the digital back in a less cumbersom fashion. What I do not know is how current digital backs are interfaced to one of the older bodies. Worth investigating and undertanding.

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Back senses shutter trigger on camera and follows up with tripping the back.

Hassasin said:

Back senses shutter trigger on camera and follows up with tripping the back.

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Any idea for how many years have digital backs had this auto-sense capability?..or which model/make launched this feature? I would love it to be able to get a digital back to use on my Bronica ETRSi, but stopped looking long ago primarily for cost reasons; maybe time to start to consider again.

wiltw said:

Any idea for how many years have digital backs had this auto-sense capability?..or which model/make launched this feature?

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From my reading it looks like at least the CFV 50C was doing that, so a few years, some 8+ by now.

Hassasin said:

HERE is an article on CFV 50 C

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Wow, I just discovered product for Bronica ETRSi (and other cameras) that is relatively inexpensive addition of digital back, brand new $450 (adapter extra) with 8MPixels!
a whole lot more affordable way to make use of a long fallow MF system (they keep eliminating my favorite emulsions!) Break-even equivalent to 20 rolls of 120 film and E-6 processing!

wiltw said:

Wow, I just discovered product for Bronica ETRSi (and other cameras) that is relatively inexpensive addition of digital back, brand new $450 (adapter extra) with 8MPixels!
a whole lot more affordable way to make use of a long fallow MF system (they keep eliminating my favorite emulsions!) Break-even equivalent to 20 rolls of 120 film and E-6 processing!

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Tread carefully. One such product that I know of (the "I'm Back") is actually something that AFAIK reimages the MF image onto a small sensor. It could be fun to play around (although rather expensive for that) but it's not a drop-in medium format digital.

To reuse components of legacy medium format systems, a more practical way, would be to get a Fuji G system mirrorless medium format body (not cheap), and mechanical adapters for the Bronica lenses onto the G body.

Hassasin said:

From my reading it looks like at least the CFV 50C was doing that, so a few years, some 8+ by now.

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This is correct and it really does work well. You select the V body in use in the back's menu and then just get on with it.

Just to note: there is no IBIS on the CFV 100. For much use, the 50C II is just fine.... for IBIS, have to go to the X2D.

I have a CFV 50 on my watchlist.

I've wanted the original CFV16 Digital Back for decades. The problem always was, there were never any offered out there (worldwide) for sale. Last year one came along for $2500 and I snagged it up. Keep in mind that the CFV16 was $15,000+ when it was introduced in Japan 2007. Mine is working great and I will never part with it. For me it is a perfect match to the 500C/M and EL/M bodies I have owned for thirty years.

Look on my Flikr pages, I posted some of my CFV16 tests. Also search on Flikr for "Hasselblad CFV16" and there are several excellent pages of example shots. Look it was good enough for commercial photographers in the 2000's......... This is the one that was specifically marketed by Hasselblad to owners of the olde "V" mechanical Hasselblads.

Digital V System 30mm to 120mm by Nokton48, on Flickr

CFV16 80 PLANAR 500CM 283 XTC SOFTBOX by Nokton48, on Flickr

My olde event camera (25th Anniversary 500C/M) with CdS Prism finder, exposures through it are quite accurate TTL. Also updated with Hasselblad CFV16 fat pixel Digital Back. Fresh batteries and charger ordered from B&H, Card Adapter ordered from the UK (excellent suggestion!), Micro Phone Cards from local Walmart. Added the Focus Levers on all my V lenses. Ready for fat pixel Digital fun. I have discovered I have a nearly complete set of Blad Diopters, for the CdS Finder. So now I will be able to sharpen up the viewfinder (to my eye). Helpful as focus is tricky to nail with this thing. The Cross Matte Finder is a no-go, I'm switching back to the Acute CFV16 Focus Screen that came with this package. The Matte Cross Screen shines with the long Tom V lenses.

18x24 8x10 Norma 300 Symmar Norma Auto Iris by Nokton48, on Flickr

Here's a CFV16 Hasselblad photo I shot in my studio, using Broncolor strobe lighting. 80mm C T* black Planar taking lens.

500mm Oberkochen 500ELM CFV16 EI 200 EV 14.5 by Nokton48, on Flickr

This is the first test of the 500mm F8 Oberkochen Opton Hasselblad lens. EL/M Body with Olde Hasselblad CDS Meter Prism indicated EV14.5. Set that on the lens, this is the result. Hasselblad CFV16 Digital Back set to Ei 200, camera/lens mounted on a Plaubel Peco 2 Way Head, attached to sturdy Manfrotto legs. The pretty new Magnolia tree is our yard was blowing visibly, the 500mm shutter seems to have frozen it, there was a lot of leaf movment in the breeze. It is fun to play with the new digital back and I am loving the saturated colors I'm getting. Hasselblad says it's the fat pixels, but also how much space is around each pixel. Anyways I'm loving the color right out of the camera. Shooting distance was 28 feet, the absolute minimum focus distance on the lens. So I will add extension tubes if needed.