Today, with a migraine that just wouldn’t quit, I did something different. I laid down and played this video. Such a pleasure; such a joy. Migraine gone. Thanks, Hugh.
Thanks to those folks who have reached out to me here in the comments and privately expressing your concern about that nastiness above my left eye. It is a scab, since fallen off (the band-aid looked stupid and didn’t hold anyway because of the antibiotic). Still, this has been an on and off (literally and constantly) thing for more than a year, so I will check it out. Claudia and I are humbled and grateful to you all. 🙏🏻❤️
Hugh， I notice the black mole on your eyebow and checked your recent video， i found its growing rapidly over 2month，I strongly urge you check this mole in case of melanoma.
JOY - today I finally pulled the trigger and got the X1D II from KEH along with a 45P - oh yes, we lust for the X2D but $5K less. Think about that. I have been enjoying my Leica Q2M and was on the path to get the D-LUX 8. I had considered the M series and the SL - but again the costs far more than what I just paid. The X1D II has the features that appeal to me. IBIS is nice, the internal SSD is nice, the 100 MPx is cool, but for a budget entry to the top tier of photography equipment, what more can I enJOY and not break the bank? I have the iPad Pro and that will work just fine along with my iPhone 15 Pro Max. So when we weigh the pros and cons on the scale of realistic expectations - what better bang for the buck in having such a masterpiece in your hands. Love manual focus and just being able to slow down and enJOY the experience - that comes with age or is it with wisdom? As always - love your insights and thoughts.
Limitations combined with quality always boosts creativity. This is a fascinating combo, but I'm not sure if the small-medium format is a way to go for me on the streets. Setup is still quite big and expensive and, in the end, makes small mistakes bigger with a high-resolution sensor.
After spending money on two other cameras and lens to photograph artwork for a project but did not get the color and details needed I was at my wits end. I scraped together some money to buy X1D II + 65mm (and the 45p). The first image I took blew me away-wow the detail and color accuracy. After the project I put the camera away in a drawer. After watching this I think I will pull it out and take it on my next walk. Thank you.
Every time I think about selling some stuff and getting an X1DII and 45P, I watch this video to remember why that would be a poor decision, no matter how lovely to look at or hold.
The images are truly impressive. The colours and tonality almost made my eyes water. I use the Leica CL for street and travel photography and enjoy using that set up a lot but I also will have a closer look at Hasselblad, thanks to Your very interesting introduction. Not that I could go out and purchase a Hassy right now but one day I might. Thank You for being around.
I’ve just bought a boxed, mint condition X1D from a retailer for $2875 USD/ £2200. With the new XCD 45P it’s quite a combo. Firmware updates have much improved the first generation X1D and, shot as you suggest in manual, it has very few drawbacks compared to its X1D II successor. Even the EVF is good, to my eye. Relatively speaking, that’s not a lot of money to get into a modern Hasselblad system; maybe about the same as a used SL and 50mm Summicron, which I also enjoyed for a while. I do love the X1D’s image quality, and particularly the way the sensor protects highlights. Staggering dynamic range, and beautiful colours and contrast.
For Pete's sake! Quoting Frank Zappa - The Torture Never Stops. A sensor is a dead, analogue, passive thing, in its core. It's an array/grid of resistors (photovoltaic cells, PVC) called photosites and there are no pixels in it (zero). These analogue PVC are scanned by the camera's electronics: presented with a reference voltage and their resistance measure in the analogue domain. One by one (so there is time parallax like caused by a focal plane shutter). The analogue resistance is presented to the analogue to digital conversion (AD conversion). Is that important? Yes, older design sensors need discrete AD conversion stage (i.e. separate from the sensor) where newer sensors have an AD conversion stage bundled. The bundled on the sensor AD conversion - so far - comes in 14 bits only. When each PVC is scanned, their resistance digitized and stored into memory, the camera's processor(s) and firmware need to make chocolate of this, cooking up a raw file and when this is done (beyond well-done) that raw file is written from cache memory to card. Between the cached digital PVC resistance values and the cached raw image, pixels are invented, imagined, faked, cooked up. Pixels have RGB values, PVC values are monochrome. The 16-bit (Hassy) depth is at the PVC level and at that level we only have monochrome red, monochrome green or monochrome blue. With the monochrome PVC arranged as per Bayer, the firmware needs to extrapolate RGB pixels and does this by interpolating the monochrome scan values. This is where we lose a lot of color space. If we could retain the "16 bits" from the PVC, we would end up with 3x16 = 48 bits of color nuances. That is not the same as color space because it abstracts away from dynamic range. And this is why DxO measures a maximum color space around 26 bits in the best cameras they have tested so far. Which is only 2 bits better than the 24 (3x8) bits we have in JPEG. No, I am not saying that you might as well shoot JPEG because it is the result of throwing both used and unused information away from a raw file relative to the presentation on your computer. How good your raw file is, is simply the result of choices made in the design of the voltage regulation that presents the reference voltage to the PVC, AD conversion and firmware. The firmware needs a good start to make it better. De-Bayerization, demosaicking - by firmware. In cooking up the raw file, some AI (like the 30 year old "convolution" algorithm) may get applied in order to support the extrapolation of RGB from the naked PVC values and with that there may be sharpening, even, more or less. And this is how a movie buff in YT reports that the raw movie output from camera X of brand Y gives a result that has less sharpening applied when the camera was set to a neutral or flat profile in a place you would not have associated with "raw". As indicated above, we need to relate color depth to dynamic range or else there is no depth. The thing called color depth in general is just the amount of nuances at the digital level. Convert the "bits" to a decimal number and you have your number of nuances. Around 1980, somebody wrote that humans could distinguish about 10 or 11 billion color nuances (generally females are better at this, genetically) and that decimal number would require about 33 bits. This is why we can see nuance differences between a Kodak Portra and a Fujifilm Velvia as each makes another abstraction. And this is the same with firmware. Dynamic range of a digital camera at the lowest base is limited by the PVC, but the AD conversion messes with that. Somewhere between the "objective" measurement of PVC resistance and the raw file, a mapping is made between "light levels" (as in LV) and bit values. This does not have to represent LV differences in a linear way. There can be a film like treatment where the "10log i*t" density curve showed a linear (10-base exponentially!) straight part with strongly non-linear "shoulders" at the base and top. We would call the straight part "usable" and define dynamic range by that. (Note a digital scanner with some algorithm in its software could straighten this out!) This is why Adobe, DxO and others have been buying new cameras: to reverse engineer raw files and develop matching profiles that a) can open these files and b) have deeper knowledge of how to interpret the relation between bit values and the deeper photographic meaning. Manufacturers have developed the insight they have lost their attempt to keep raw file interpretation proprietary and now collaborate with software developers (e.g. Adobe and Phase One). The DxOmark was just a way for software vendor DxO to market their Lightroom, etc., competitor and by publishing part of their analysis for their profile development generate traffic and hopefully sales. Note that each profile is firmware-version dependent. So, new firmware versions require a new assessment and addition to the application so as to keep supporting users of older firmware versions. Users can be lazy, ignorant or very sophisticated in that they prefer the colors of version N over N+1 (N+1>N). Can you understand why I think that people talking about "sensors" and color science are parrots at best, posers a bit less complimentary or imposters? Who benefits from the silence around this knowledge? A camera brand that needed to grow market share carrying the same (corporate) name as the biggest sensor-chip baker in the world. The latter are totally separate from the camera company under the same roof, but the camera operating company benefits. That camera company is a separate entity with Chinese walls and they get the same treatment from the sensor bakers as any competitor buying these sensors. And the sensor bakers, over a decade, have learnt a lot from clients who told them what they needed. Still, the noise created by posers causes the parrots to flock to the camera brand under the same roof. To the point camera-brand competitors go elsewhere. That big sensor baker has now sunk to the level that their marketers dare publish their sensor specification in "pixels" and this is where imposters become liars. At the software and processing level many improvements can be made and Moore's Law can be benefited from still. Banding is a consequence of time parallax coupled with a flashing light source (flashing at a time-microscopic level). Complaining about it is like saying out loud "I'm stupid and don't know my s..t!" Camera manufacturers can improve the processing pipelines (at the software level) and by running separate pipelines (e.g. down-sampling to viewfinder resolution could fork to JPEG creation, applying one profile and another pipeline could focus on raw, when a separate pipeline could work on (lossless) data compression of subsequent movie frames - running these in physically separate pipeline architectures with separate caches and no competition over I/O channel access so as to take all sorts of issues out. If a sensor baker would really innovate they would have to extend each PVC with some memory that stores a scanned value and enables "freezing" PVC values all at the same time, after which scanning-reading the stored values becomes a piece of cake and time parallax is gone - and the requirement of a mechanical shutter has disappeared. "particularly the way the sensor protects highlights" - Really? A sensor is a dead, analogue, passive thing, in its core. Details above, in abundance.
@@Pembers357 - I don't. I don't feel better. I don't feel better than you. The problem with influencers talking as if they are >the< authority in the world in some subject is that their viewers/readers/listeners are inclined to give these people that authority. We, as consumers of such content, need to be alert, critical, suspecting clickbait. We may encounter a loudmouth with no portfolio of any (artistic) value getting frustrated not having been asked in an ambassador role. Or an ex-software engineer making proposals to change measurement units because he knows better, again with no substantial portfolio. Such people can have a large following and one time may say valuable things but another total nonsense, or come up with things that are true but totally futile, may have marginal validity but zero relevance. And then the general public starts parroting that and potentially honest businesses with a long history are ruined. "Freedom of speech" replied a commenter yesterday, when I asked him why he used street language. I don't intend to be some sort of thought police. The point with "sensors" though, long due. Even a company like DxO helps maintain the myth where they write about "sensor performance". Others are silent - mainly because the employees who understand all this are never heard and managers or decision makers only look at spreadsheets. I would feel better if influencers could at least read up to the point they all understand all this, in full depth, and that reflects in the way they communicate in their channels.
@@jpdj2715 I've no doubt they influence some. I'd like to think I'm a bit more 'savvy' than that. I find channels like this - with the greatest respect - engaging and entertaining; I like the sense of community. But I wouldn't base my own opinions or what I see and hear, nor make expensive purchase decisions, without castling my net a little wider and doing some further research...though I'm sure some do. Your insightful response on sensor science was fascinating, though some of it was lost on me. When I edit photos taken on my X1D, I find I'm able to recover details from highlights (in particular) far better than I have been able to with some other cameras I have used. Whether 'protecting highlights' was the right phrase to use I'm not sure, and I guess most other people aren't sure either. For me, I posted because of this: I got a nice camera which I'm really enjoying using, and it was cheaper than I expected. It produces lovely looking images.
I wish Hasselblad would hurry up and release the new cfv II 50C Digital back that will work with the old V System film camera bodies and lenses. THIS is where I'd like to enter the world of Hassy Digital. I already love the old film body and lenses and shoot with them, so, biding my time till they release the new digital back. Hoping it will be in the $5K range.
Just subbed. I'm testing the X1D II and 907 X for a few weeks and have fallen in love. You expertly articulated my thoughts and feelings. Shame, I could do with keeping hold of the money, but I'm going to have to buy one :). Nice work 🙂👌
Interesting commentary as always, Hugh! In your opinion, if you were a 100% stills only, landscape, and small product photographer, which MF system do you think would work best (Hasselblad X2D or Fujifilm GFX 100 II), including evaluating lens sharpness and detail rendition, assuming one shoots 100% tripod-mounted, and 10 second self timer for optimum sharpness? (For wildlife. I use a Nikon Z8 with the NIkkor Z 180-600 f/5.6-6.3, so I'm not necessarily seeking "speed" in a potential MF System.) Thank you!
You know, I'd like to see them remove the video icon on the mode dial and just be a Hasselblad(even though it still doesnt work anyway). I'm just not sure every camera needs to be a video camera. Am I wrong? is it bad business to not lend your new camera to vloggers and have them talk about SLOG and (n)K whatevers? Some of us just take photos.
I previously owned the 50C/907X, the only unacceptable for me the the shutter lag, it is frustrating for the street photography. Is it the same for the X1D II?
A return to Streets of NYC is not possible this year ... too many other commitments. Including a return to Civita di Bagnoregio where I did a month-long photo project for the Civita Institute in 2015. So, I am already looking at 2021 to get "recharged." Hope you are able to throw out the 2021 schedule early so I can book it in. Keep up the good work.
I just bought an X1D II with the same lens. I laughed when you said that you can take great photos with an iPhone. One of my first major photo contest wins was using a rebel as my 7D was in the shop lol
Oh Hugh, I loved your review, I have the Mk1 and do landscape photography in North Wales, always on a tripod so slow Evf, slow focus does not bother me, I have all the time in the world, of all the Canons, and Nikons I have owned this is far superior for my needs. Keep coming with the videos, my grandchildren are in NY this week, and I am sure they will have a ball. Bravo and kind regards, Ron
Look, I arguably have one of the finer video cameras around in the Z6 and after 7 months of ownership I haven't used this capability. For some of us, it just doesn't matter, probably more than some of us really. Eventually, I will turn the z6 into a video camera like when I buy the Hasselblad. Or a Leica M series. I loved this video by the way. And I love this new lens. I am going to rent this outfit for an upcoming trip where street photography will take center stage. And if the images you shared are typical I am certain that the joy will be there in force.
Three Blind Men and An Elephant Productions I of course meant typical of outstanding image quality and absolutely... your images, composition, creativity, and visible passion for your work is anything but typical. Hope to at some point join a workshop. I expect the companionship of others on the hunt for a perfect image would be a once in a lifetime experience!
When I watched this video (& I have been watching your videos for several years now), I saw your wife’s last name, Brownstone. Your last name, Brownstone. & then it clicked... Harry Chapin & his second song of Taxi 🚕. Harry’s lover lived in a Hugh(e) Brownstone... mind blown. Listen to taxi 1, then taxi 2 for the full effect of the story. Thanks for the content you all produce for me & others to consume! With much respect, ~me
I’m surprised and curious about the statement of the GFX 50r not speaking to you. It too can be considered as an M10 with EVF. It too has a similar sensor to the hasselblad. It has the tilt LCD you say you like. What’s not to love?
All of your points are valid! I just didn’t like the way it felt in my hand. That’s OK: other the this and a couple of the smallest models I’ve enjoyed and occasionally loved most of the Fujifilm lineup.
Three Blind Men and An Elephant Productions ....ah, now I understand! I’ve read others commenting about it not being too great ergonomically. Some have found a smallrig add-on swissarca/ front grip helped, which is a route I’d exposure if/when I get a 50r. I appreciate you taking the time to read & post a reply.
Photo Bob ....I’m not a GFX owner (yet!), so not trying to defend it here, just trying to understand others comments & observations who may have more direct experience than myself. When you say ‘mundane’, I’m not sure if I should take that as a negative or positive, or just a humorous post (it did make me smile ;-) ). If it was a serious comment, can you describe more about what you mean by it being ‘mundane’.
Lawrence Dunn yes. But please realize that this is just my opinion and has NOTHING to do with the function of the camera. I personally finding it to be a boring a camera. The ergos on it do not fit me well. There is very little grip and when you have a heavy lens on the front it’s not fun to shoot. It’s not one of those camera you are dying to pick up and shoot. You might have a completely different experience. It’s obviously an incredible camera
Haha! I almost joined Overthrow Boxing club... They actually do some cool shoots in there... :-P It's funny.. When the original X1D came out, I thought "Wow, this could be a great street AND studio camera!" And when one of our amazing NY camera stores had Hassy demo'ing their products, I had to go check them out! I was super impressed with the camera. At the time, I had my Panasonic GX8 and really, the size difference wasn't much. Little taller and wider. Wow! The interface is fantastic. The best I've ever seen. But not so impressed by the lens-build quality. Heck, even my Panasonic-Leica Nocticron feels better in my hands. And then there were all the issues with the original X1D. And after all this time, they STILL don't have a proper 100mm - 110mm, standard portrait lens. 4 years later. The 135mm they have could work. A little on the long side. And $4k. I'm really happy the X1D II fixed most if not all the issues of the original. And especially, cut the price like, in half of the as well. While not as pronounced as a full-size, MF sensor, you still get a bit of that 'MF look' in images. But when I look at your pictures with the camera, I see a lot of the Panasonic S1R with the 50mm S Pro lens. The color science. Image quality. Image rendering. It's really close. And of course, there are plenty of competitors that also share some qualities of the Hassy.... And exceed them. And for less money. Great camera. For people who love Hassy.
I wanted to add how much I appreciate the images you demoed with this lens. I was completely surprised at how wonderfully this digital set-up reproduces pretty well how my eyes see space, if that makes sense. And it exposes how flat and dead most every digital set-up has become: including every Fuji, Olympus, Nikon Z, Canon R, Sony. (I am excepting Leica, Canon DSLR, Nikon DSLR, Hassy) I-only hope photographers can see what I’m talking about. This has nothing to do with sharpness, information accuracy, bokeh, or anything else. It has more to do with the difference in sound stage presence in Carnegie Hall vs an airport. Yeah, our eyes and minds will accommodate whatever our cameras are feeding them. As we get number and dumber. It’s our cultural loss.
Compared to the Fuji GFX 50R with 3.5/50 for 4000 USD it's not that good anymore. I owned two Hassis back in the film days, but now? The Fuji system is far more precious in my mind.
Penis Anthony Dublinier Because Trump has made very positive changes to the country but you wouldn’t know that since you probably don’t turn off CNN, btw I’m Mexican so don’t come at me with “Ur RaCiSt”
A Honda Accord gets you effortlessly to the grocery store, but if an Aston is painless to acquire, why wouldn’t you? The camera decision is most painful for those of us who wish to be Prosumers.
Hugh, with your incredibly good radio voice and approach to perfectionist presentation from a photographic-artistic point of view, consider your use of language. When you say "for X and I" it hurts. "For x and y" is an abbreviation of "for x and for y". Or, "for x and for me" can be shortened to "for x and me". English may be the most confused language in the world and does not need more of that, I would say.
Sorry Fuji GFX50s, but it's over. Its not you it's me. You were a wonderful thing, and yes if I am honest I didn't like the significant weight gains, the grip, EVF tilt adaptor, enormous lenses. But most of all you were too complicated. I like simple elegance, and yes I have to admit to falling in love with a pretty Swedish thing but I am only human. Please forgive me. Yes I know she will cost every penny I have but I think this time she will be worth it. (bought it yesterday with a couple of extra batteries and the slimline 45p).
Well, this settles it, I will pull the trigger and fork over the 'hardly' earned money for this camera and lens in early summer. As a single shot shooter who could care a flip less about video capabilities and a die-hard image quality fanatic I just feel like this camera will bring hours of joy... and fewer vacation days... but we only live once right? I suppose I could sell a kidney and get one now...
I don't know wether it simply looks like it in the video but the mole on the left side of your forehead appears to have gotten bigger and darker in comparison to your other recent videos. If that actually is the case and not just scab from scracthing it you should have it checked urgently.
Hugh, Hugh, Hugh.... you feed my covetness and desires. SL2 and now this. Seriously been wanting this since the first was introduced at photo expo. I really want to slow down. Pull out the old Luna Pro. Sports photography is fun, but I need to slow down for my spirit.
Clever, how you showed the larger Fujifilm GFX 100 (with twice the pixel count) and not the 50r, which would have been the fair comparison. Adding the battery grip to give it extra height really enhanced the illusion (Fujifilm' 50r is 1mm taller). Not attaching Fujifilm's 50mm pancake lens and instead choosing a lens so large it required something to prop it up was genius! But you didn't stop there, you attached a lens hood, just to be sure the impression of size, weight, and heft really impacted your viewer. For a moment I was almost discouraged to see how HUGE Fujifilm's offering is compared to Hasselblad's, not to mention Leica's. But then, I'm a photographer and trained to look closely and carefully at what's in front of me and critically scrutinize and evaluate detail. Hope your viewers are too.
Any conversation about cameras should be printing. Closing or ending the journey of any photo. I don’t think that digital has brought any interesting advancement in the ability to produce better photos. Maybe just faster garbage. So high resolution cameras do allow to see more errors and not more meaningful images. Hold that thought.
Ok, I get it, you’re not a troll, but COME ON!!!! I just watched your intro to Fuji x100V. The images, quality, staging, sharpness, color of this Hassy blow the Fuji out of the sun’s gravitational field. This is a real camera. The Fuji is a hobbyist toy. What’s never mentioned beyond Fuji film simulation, is that X100any is a CAMERA simulation-a toy that looks like a real camera. Do a side by side, let’s see. It’s a shame you have to spend 6K+ for a great camera, but that’s the way it is.
Today, with a migraine that just wouldn’t quit, I did something different. I laid down and played this video. Such a pleasure; such a joy. Migraine gone. Thanks, Hugh.
Delighted to be of service, Peter!
Thanks to those folks who have reached out to me here in the comments and privately expressing your concern about that nastiness above my left eye. It is a scab, since fallen off (the band-aid looked stupid and didn’t hold anyway because of the antibiotic). Still, this has been an on and off (literally and constantly) thing for more than a year, so I will check it out. Claudia and I are humbled and grateful to you all. 🙏🏻❤️
All I can say is that the combination of the Hasselblad X1d with the old Hasselblad V lenses is nothing short of STUNNING! Spectacular!
Dude.... that bleep was waaaaay too loud. I’m wearing headphones for BBLLLLLEEEEEEEEPPS sake
I almost had another heart attack!
Hugh， I notice the black mole on your eyebow and checked your recent video， i found its growing rapidly over 2month，I strongly urge you check this mole in case of melanoma.
I noticed that too, compared to a video just a few months ago, you cant be careful enough
Damn, hope it's benign.
It’s a scab, but I WILL check it out. Thanks for your concern!
@@3BMEP If moles are scabbing, it's time to see your dermatologist, immediately. Don't wait.
@@3BMEP huu that was a relief，always love your narratives and warm voice，you just like a friend that i never met.
Hasselblad summed up in two words..."Yum, Yum." That was outstanding! Really enjoyed this review.
JOY - today I finally pulled the trigger and got the X1D II from KEH along with a 45P - oh yes, we lust for the X2D but $5K less. Think about that. I have been enjoying my Leica Q2M and was on the path to get the D-LUX 8. I had considered the M series and the SL - but again the costs far more than what I just paid. The X1D II has the features that appeal to me. IBIS is nice, the internal SSD is nice, the 100 MPx is cool, but for a budget entry to the top tier of photography equipment, what more can I enJOY and not break the bank? I have the iPad Pro and that will work just fine along with my iPhone 15 Pro Max. So when we weigh the pros and cons on the scale of realistic expectations - what better bang for the buck in having such a masterpiece in your hands. Love manual focus and just being able to slow down and enJOY the experience - that comes with age or is it with wisdom? As always - love your insights and thoughts.
Absolutely delighted for you!
I agree regarding the use of manual focus. As well, I avoid the electronic shutter.
Limitations combined with quality always boosts creativity.
This is a fascinating combo, but I'm not sure if the small-medium format is a way to go for me on the streets. Setup is still quite big and expensive and, in the end, makes small mistakes bigger with a high-resolution sensor.
Which photos looks better when printed: Iphone or camera?
After spending money on two other cameras and lens to photograph artwork for a project but did not get the color and details needed I was at my wits end. I scraped together some money to buy X1D II + 65mm (and the 45p). The first image I took blew me away-wow the detail and color accuracy. After the project I put the camera away in a drawer. After watching this I think I will pull it out and take it on my next walk. Thank you.
Glad to be of service. X1D II with the 45/P in particular is a killer street combo with INCREDIBLE color, agreed!
Every time I think about selling some stuff and getting an X1DII and 45P, I watch this video to remember why that would be a poor decision, no matter how lovely to look at or hold.
The images are truly impressive. The colours and tonality almost made my eyes water. I use the Leica CL for street and travel photography and enjoy using that set up a lot but I also will have a closer look at Hasselblad, thanks to Your very interesting introduction. Not that I could go out and purchase a Hassy right now but one day I might. Thank You for being around.
Glad to be of service! 😊
I’ve just bought a boxed, mint condition X1D from a retailer for $2875 USD/ £2200. With the new XCD 45P it’s quite a combo. Firmware updates have much improved the first generation X1D and, shot as you suggest in manual, it has very few drawbacks compared to its X1D II successor. Even the EVF is good, to my eye. Relatively speaking, that’s not a lot of money to get into a modern Hasselblad system; maybe about the same as a used SL and 50mm Summicron, which I also enjoyed for a while. I do love the X1D’s image quality, and particularly the way the sensor protects highlights. Staggering dynamic range, and beautiful colours and contrast.
Imcredible buy - enjoy!
For Pete's sake! Quoting Frank Zappa - The Torture Never Stops. A sensor is a dead, analogue, passive thing, in its core. It's an array/grid of resistors (photovoltaic cells, PVC) called photosites and there are no pixels in it (zero). These analogue PVC are scanned by the camera's electronics: presented with a reference voltage and their resistance measure in the analogue domain. One by one (so there is time parallax like caused by a focal plane shutter). The analogue resistance is presented to the analogue to digital conversion (AD conversion). Is that important? Yes, older design sensors need discrete AD conversion stage (i.e. separate from the sensor) where newer sensors have an AD conversion stage bundled. The bundled on the sensor AD conversion - so far - comes in 14 bits only. When each PVC is scanned, their resistance digitized and stored into memory, the camera's processor(s) and firmware need to make chocolate of this, cooking up a raw file and when this is done (beyond well-done) that raw file is written from cache memory to card.
Between the cached digital PVC resistance values and the cached raw image, pixels are invented, imagined, faked, cooked up. Pixels have RGB values, PVC values are monochrome. The 16-bit (Hassy) depth is at the PVC level and at that level we only have monochrome red, monochrome green or monochrome blue. With the monochrome PVC arranged as per Bayer, the firmware needs to extrapolate RGB pixels and does this by interpolating the monochrome scan values. This is where we lose a lot of color space. If we could retain the "16 bits" from the PVC, we would end up with 3x16 = 48 bits of color nuances. That is not the same as color space because it abstracts away from dynamic range. And this is why DxO measures a maximum color space around 26 bits in the best cameras they have tested so far. Which is only 2 bits better than the 24 (3x8) bits we have in JPEG.
No, I am not saying that you might as well shoot JPEG because it is the result of throwing both used and unused information away from a raw file relative to the presentation on your computer.
How good your raw file is, is simply the result of choices made in the design of the voltage regulation that presents the reference voltage to the PVC, AD conversion and firmware. The firmware needs a good start to make it better. De-Bayerization, demosaicking - by firmware. In cooking up the raw file, some AI (like the 30 year old "convolution" algorithm) may get applied in order to support the extrapolation of RGB from the naked PVC values and with that there may be sharpening, even, more or less. And this is how a movie buff in YT reports that the raw movie output from camera X of brand Y gives a result that has less sharpening applied when the camera was set to a neutral or flat profile in a place you would not have associated with "raw".
As indicated above, we need to relate color depth to dynamic range or else there is no depth. The thing called color depth in general is just the amount of nuances at the digital level. Convert the "bits" to a decimal number and you have your number of nuances. Around 1980, somebody wrote that humans could distinguish about 10 or 11 billion color nuances (generally females are better at this, genetically) and that decimal number would require about 33 bits. This is why we can see nuance differences between a Kodak Portra and a Fujifilm Velvia as each makes another abstraction. And this is the same with firmware. Dynamic range of a digital camera at the lowest base is limited by the PVC, but the AD conversion messes with that. Somewhere between the "objective" measurement of PVC resistance and the raw file, a mapping is made between "light levels" (as in LV) and bit values. This does not have to represent LV differences in a linear way. There can be a film like treatment where the "10log i*t" density curve showed a linear (10-base exponentially!) straight part with strongly non-linear "shoulders" at the base and top. We would call the straight part "usable" and define dynamic range by that. (Note a digital scanner with some algorithm in its software could straighten this out!) This is why Adobe, DxO and others have been buying new cameras: to reverse engineer raw files and develop matching profiles that a) can open these files and b) have deeper knowledge of how to interpret the relation between bit values and the deeper photographic meaning. Manufacturers have developed the insight they have lost their attempt to keep raw file interpretation proprietary and now collaborate with software developers (e.g. Adobe and Phase One). The DxOmark was just a way for software vendor DxO to market their Lightroom, etc., competitor and by publishing part of their analysis for their profile development generate traffic and hopefully sales. Note that each profile is firmware-version dependent. So, new firmware versions require a new assessment and addition to the application so as to keep supporting users of older firmware versions. Users can be lazy, ignorant or very sophisticated in that they prefer the colors of version N over N+1 (N+1>N).
Can you understand why I think that people talking about "sensors" and color science are parrots at best, posers a bit less complimentary or imposters?
Who benefits from the silence around this knowledge? A camera brand that needed to grow market share carrying the same (corporate) name as the biggest sensor-chip baker in the world. The latter are totally separate from the camera company under the same roof, but the camera operating company benefits. That camera company is a separate entity with Chinese walls and they get the same treatment from the sensor bakers as any competitor buying these sensors. And the sensor bakers, over a decade, have learnt a lot from clients who told them what they needed. Still, the noise created by posers causes the parrots to flock to the camera brand under the same roof. To the point camera-brand competitors go elsewhere. That big sensor baker has now sunk to the level that their marketers dare publish their sensor specification in "pixels" and this is where imposters become liars.
At the software and processing level many improvements can be made and Moore's Law can be benefited from still. Banding is a consequence of time parallax coupled with a flashing light source (flashing at a time-microscopic level). Complaining about it is like saying out loud "I'm stupid and don't know my s..t!" Camera manufacturers can improve the processing pipelines (at the software level) and by running separate pipelines (e.g. down-sampling to viewfinder resolution could fork to JPEG creation, applying one profile and another pipeline could focus on raw, when a separate pipeline could work on (lossless) data compression of subsequent movie frames - running these in physically separate pipeline architectures with separate caches and no competition over I/O channel access so as to take all sorts of issues out. If a sensor baker would really innovate they would have to extend each PVC with some memory that stores a scanned value and enables "freezing" PVC values all at the same time, after which scanning-reading the stored values becomes a piece of cake and time parallax is gone - and the requirement of a mechanical shutter has disappeared.
"particularly the way the sensor protects highlights" - Really? A sensor is a dead, analogue, passive thing, in its core. Details above, in abundance.
@@jpdj2715 I hope you feel better now that's out of your system...
@@Pembers357 - I don't. I don't feel better. I don't feel better than you. The problem with influencers talking as if they are >the< authority in the world in some subject is that their viewers/readers/listeners are inclined to give these people that authority.
We, as consumers of such content, need to be alert, critical, suspecting clickbait. We may encounter a loudmouth with no portfolio of any (artistic) value getting frustrated not having been asked in an ambassador role. Or an ex-software engineer making proposals to change measurement units because he knows better, again with no substantial portfolio. Such people can have a large following and one time may say valuable things but another total nonsense, or come up with things that are true but totally futile, may have marginal validity but zero relevance. And then the general public starts parroting that and potentially honest businesses with a long history are ruined. "Freedom of speech" replied a commenter yesterday, when I asked him why he used street language. I don't intend to be some sort of thought police. The point with "sensors" though, long due. Even a company like DxO helps maintain the myth where they write about "sensor performance". Others are silent - mainly because the employees who understand all this are never heard and managers or decision makers only look at spreadsheets.
I would feel better if influencers could at least read up to the point they all understand all this, in full depth, and that reflects in the way they communicate in their channels.
@@jpdj2715 I've no doubt they influence some. I'd like to think I'm a bit more 'savvy' than that. I find channels like this - with the greatest respect - engaging and entertaining; I like the sense of community. But I wouldn't base my own opinions or what I see and hear, nor make expensive purchase decisions, without castling my net a little wider and doing some further research...though I'm sure some do. Your insightful response on sensor science was fascinating, though some of it was lost on me. When I edit photos taken on my X1D, I find I'm able to recover details from highlights (in particular) far better than I have been able to with some other cameras I have used. Whether 'protecting highlights' was the right phrase to use I'm not sure, and I guess most other people aren't sure either. For me, I posted because of this: I got a nice camera which I'm really enjoying using, and it was cheaper than I expected. It produces lovely looking images.
What about the 907X with CFV 50c II?
I wish Hasselblad would hurry up and release the new cfv II 50C Digital back that will work with the old V System film camera bodies and lenses. THIS is where I'd like to enter the world of Hassy Digital. I already love the old film body and lenses and shoot with them, so, biding my time till they release the new digital back. Hoping it will be in the $5K range.
Just subbed. I'm testing the X1D II and 907 X for a few weeks and have fallen in love. You expertly articulated my thoughts and feelings. Shame, I could do with keeping hold of the money, but I'm going to have to buy one :). Nice work 🙂👌
Welcome - and enjoy!
Interesting commentary as always, Hugh! In your opinion, if you were a 100% stills only, landscape, and small product photographer, which MF system do you think would work best (Hasselblad X2D or Fujifilm GFX 100 II), including evaluating lens sharpness and detail rendition, assuming one shoots 100% tripod-mounted, and 10 second self timer for optimum sharpness? (For wildlife. I use a Nikon Z8 with the NIkkor Z 180-600 f/5.6-6.3, so I'm not necessarily seeking "speed" in a potential MF System.) Thank you!
The color rendering is mind blowing and soft dreamy style wauw great video as always
Black cat photography 😊🙏🏻
For pure image quality, would you recommend this combination for $4000 or Leica Q3?
We bought the Leica Q3. 😊🖖🏻
@@3BMEP thanks
Will Leica SL 16-35 work well with Hasselblad X1D ii? or will they give vignetting ?
I now understand why Fujifilm slashed the price of their 50mm F3.5 to $499. $1100 seemed a good price at first for the Hasselblad Lens.
H O L Y S H * T 4:07 startled me!
You know, I'd like to see them remove the video icon on the mode dial and just be a Hasselblad(even though it still doesnt work anyway). I'm just not sure every camera needs to be a video camera. Am I wrong? is it bad business to not lend your new camera to vloggers and have them talk about SLOG and (n)K whatevers? Some of us just take photos.
Also, great review as usual Hugh - sorry I didnt say so before complaining ;)
You’re not wrong at all! 😊
I previously owned the 50C/907X, the only unacceptable for me the the shutter lag, it is frustrating for the street photography. Is it the same for the X1D II?
Yes, especially when in autofocus.
@@3BMEP thanks, heard that autofocus and shutter lag are better in X2D, but the price too high to consider.
A return to Streets of NYC is not possible this year ... too many other commitments. Including a return to Civita di Bagnoregio where I did a month-long photo project for the Civita Institute in 2015. So, I am already looking at 2021 to get "recharged." Hope you are able to throw out the 2021 schedule early so I can book it in. Keep up the good work.
One day when we are allowed out again... ( time stamp ) I just HAVE to come to the city and join up on one of your workshops...
We’d love to have you join us!
And at the end, what is the concluson?
You were fairly keen on the Leica Q a while back. Is the Hassy combo shown here that much better?
Better, no. Different, yes. We’ve invested in Leica for our personal street work: CL for Claudia, SL2 for me. Perhaps a Q2 or Q2M at some point.
At 4:26 where the hell did your hand appear from?! lol
I just bought an X1D II with the same lens. I laughed when you said that you can take great photos with an iPhone. One of my first major photo contest wins was using a rebel as my 7D was in the shop lol
😎🖖🏻
Oh Hugh, I loved your review,
I have the Mk1 and do landscape photography in North Wales, always on a tripod so slow Evf, slow focus does not bother me, I have all the time in the world, of all the Canons, and Nikons I have owned this is far superior for my needs.
Keep coming with the videos, my grandchildren are in NY this week, and I am sure they will have a ball.
Bravo and kind regards,
Ron
Thanks so much for sharing. Seems a perfect use of the camera!
Will the 45p work on the original X1D
Yes
Bose 700, intelligent, charming and fascinating plus that voice ... bliss 😊
Can I dream that the new Panasonic GX10 will have a 40meg organic sensor with inbuilt ND and improved dynamic range ?
Ahh, this just popped up on my feed. I remember the optimism of early 2020.
Look, I arguably have one of the finer video cameras around in the Z6 and after 7 months of ownership I haven't used this capability. For some of us, it just doesn't matter, probably more than some of us really. Eventually, I will turn the z6 into a video camera like when I buy the Hasselblad. Or a Leica M series. I loved this video by the way. And I love this new lens. I am going to rent this outfit for an upcoming trip where street photography will take center stage. And if the images you shared are typical I am certain that the joy will be there in force.
David Jackson Well... I’d like to think our images are not typical... 😉🖖🏻 but: enjoy!
Three Blind Men and An Elephant Productions I of course meant typical of outstanding image quality and absolutely... your images, composition, creativity, and visible passion for your work is anything but typical. Hope to at some point join a workshop. I expect the companionship of others on the hunt for a perfect image would be a once in a lifetime experience!
David Jackson 😎💯👍🏻
Hi master! What kind illumination do you use for your RUclips videos?
FotografiaFantástica just a student. 🙏🏻 But I’ve settled on the D&O 180W run through a Neewer 72” umbrella. 🖖🏻
When I watched this video (& I have been watching your videos for several years now), I saw your wife’s last name, Brownstone. Your last name, Brownstone. & then it clicked... Harry Chapin & his second song of Taxi 🚕. Harry’s lover lived in a Hugh(e) Brownstone... mind blown. Listen to taxi 1, then taxi 2 for the full effect of the story. Thanks for the content you all produce for me & others to consume!
With much respect,
~me
Great video, although I may need hearing aids after that loud bleep at around 4:09
Medium format dunno i dont like slr form factor, i prefer body design of waist box
Rangefinder also
Its a a very lux street camera isnt it?Its almost tempting me away from a CL!
I really really would like a X1D II + 45mm f/4 P for my next shooting. The Colors...My God
I’m surprised and curious about the statement of the GFX 50r not speaking to you.
It too can be considered as an M10 with EVF. It too has a similar sensor to the hasselblad. It has the tilt LCD you say you like. What’s not to love?
All of your points are valid! I just didn’t like the way it felt in my hand. That’s OK: other the this and a couple of the smallest models I’ve enjoyed and occasionally loved most of the Fujifilm lineup.
Three Blind Men and An Elephant Productions ....ah, now I understand! I’ve read others commenting about it not being too great ergonomically. Some have found a smallrig add-on swissarca/ front grip helped, which is a route I’d exposure if/when I get a 50r.
I appreciate you taking the time to read & post a reply.
Three Blind Men and An Elephant Productions the GFX 50r delivers superb performance in the most mundane way possible.
Photo Bob ....I’m not a GFX owner (yet!), so not trying to defend it here, just trying to understand others comments & observations who may have more direct experience than myself.
When you say ‘mundane’, I’m not sure if I should take that as a negative or positive, or just a humorous post (it did make me smile ;-) ). If it was a serious comment, can you describe more about what you mean by it being ‘mundane’.
Lawrence Dunn yes. But please realize that this is just my opinion and has NOTHING to do with the function of the camera. I personally finding it to be a boring a camera. The ergos on it do not fit me well. There is very little grip and when you have a heavy lens on the front it’s not fun to shoot. It’s not one of those camera you are dying to pick up and shoot. You might have a completely different experience. It’s obviously an incredible camera
I lowkey would like to listen audiobook reading by you sir 💆♂️
Excellent review and depth of analysis into the psychology of photographers Hugh. Thank you.
Haha! I almost joined Overthrow Boxing club... They actually do some cool shoots in there... :-P
It's funny.. When the original X1D came out, I thought "Wow, this could be a great street AND studio camera!" And when one of our amazing NY camera stores had Hassy demo'ing their products, I had to go check them out!
I was super impressed with the camera. At the time, I had my Panasonic GX8 and really, the size difference wasn't much. Little taller and wider. Wow! The interface is fantastic. The best I've ever seen. But not so impressed by the lens-build quality. Heck, even my Panasonic-Leica Nocticron feels better in my hands. And then there were all the issues with the original X1D. And after all this time, they STILL don't have a proper 100mm - 110mm, standard portrait lens. 4 years later. The 135mm they have could work. A little on the long side. And $4k.
I'm really happy the X1D II fixed most if not all the issues of the original. And especially, cut the price like, in half of the as well. While not as pronounced as a full-size, MF sensor, you still get a bit of that 'MF look' in images.
But when I look at your pictures with the camera, I see a lot of the Panasonic S1R with the 50mm S Pro lens. The color science. Image quality. Image rendering. It's really close. And of course, there are plenty of competitors that also share some qualities of the Hassy.... And exceed them. And for less money.
Great camera. For people who love Hassy.
I love my x1d, I love your videos but may I ask where you get that hasselblad strap ?! Looks nice :D
Came with the loaner. Suggest you call or drop an email to Hasselblad’s New York Experience Studio and ask for Dan or Emi (both great people!).
@@3BMEP Thanks à lot !
The strap comes with the new X1DII camera
Is the 23mm TL sharp?
Stephen Valera yes!
I wanted to add how much I appreciate the images you demoed with this lens. I was completely surprised at how wonderfully this digital set-up reproduces pretty well how my eyes see space, if that makes sense. And it exposes how flat and dead most every digital set-up has become: including every Fuji, Olympus, Nikon Z, Canon R, Sony. (I am excepting Leica, Canon DSLR, Nikon DSLR, Hassy) I-only hope photographers can see what I’m talking about. This has nothing to do with sharpness, information accuracy, bokeh, or anything else. It has more to do with the difference in sound stage presence in Carnegie Hall vs an airport. Yeah, our eyes and minds will accommodate whatever our cameras are feeding them. As we get number and dumber. It’s our cultural loss.
A beautiful look to those images.
4100 now with 45mm f4 great price
Compared to the Fuji GFX 50R with 3.5/50 for 4000 USD it's not that good anymore. I owned two Hassis back in the film days, but now? The Fuji system is far more precious in my mind.
Thanks for sharing your perspective!🖖🏻
before I even watch it - those were some great shots you posted on IG (politics aside lol) :) Maybe if Bernie wins you can be WH photog !
Why not for Trump?
FinalLogicPro why would any sane person want their name attached to something like Trump, lmao
@@user-jt6xh2ln9z I'm assuming you consider yourself very very "Sane", and pat yourself 12 times a day for it? 🙄
Penis Anthony Dublinier Because Trump has made very positive changes to the country but you wouldn’t know that since you probably don’t turn off CNN, btw I’m Mexican so don’t come at me with “Ur RaCiSt”
A Honda Accord gets you effortlessly to the grocery store, but if an Aston is painless to acquire, why wouldn’t you? The camera decision is most painful for those of us who wish to be Prosumers.
Hugh, with your incredibly good radio voice and approach to perfectionist presentation from a photographic-artistic point of view, consider your use of language. When you say "for X and I" it hurts. "For x and y" is an abbreviation of "for x and for y". Or, "for x and for me" can be shortened to "for x and me". English may be the most confused language in the world and does not need more of that, I would say.
JP dJ I know you are right. Thanks for catching it.
Does anyone see the resemblance between this guy and Jeff Goldblum? He not only looks like Goldblum, he sounds like him too!
IPhone view finder! Love it
Sorry Fuji GFX50s, but it's over. Its not you it's me. You were a wonderful thing, and yes if I am honest I didn't like the significant weight gains, the grip, EVF tilt adaptor, enormous lenses. But most of all you were too complicated. I like simple elegance, and yes I have to admit to falling in love with a pretty Swedish thing but I am only human. Please forgive me. Yes I know she will cost every penny I have but I think this time she will be worth it. (bought it yesterday with a couple of extra batteries and the slimline 45p).
You understand. Enjoy!
I loved that movie!!
Listening to this at work and nearly died when the beep came on
always really really enjoy your video
😊
Well, this settles it, I will pull the trigger and fork over the 'hardly' earned money for this camera and lens in early summer. As a single shot shooter who could care a flip less about video capabilities and a die-hard image quality fanatic I just feel like this camera will bring hours of joy... and fewer vacation days... but we only live once right? I suppose I could sell a kidney and get one now...
Be safe! 😉
its still on back order :(
Adorama has stock on eBay.
at minute 12... no worries if you didn't make a pano with it, I did them...
I don't know wether it simply looks like it in the video but the mole on the left side of your forehead appears to have gotten bigger and darker in comparison to your other recent videos. If that actually is the case and not just scab from scracthing it you should have it checked urgently.
Great portrait at 5:06
🙏🏻
Nice the camera line up at 5 40 is lip smacking ummm did you say ::^$#^&&*,&&& lol
Hugh, Hugh, Hugh.... you feed my covetness and desires. SL2 and now this. Seriously been wanting this since the first was introduced at photo expo. I really want to slow down. Pull out the old Luna Pro. Sports photography is fun, but I need to slow down for my spirit.
Savage Frieze I am so sorry! 😉
Three Blind Men and An Elephant Productions 😇♥️love your work.
Isn't it Japanese?
Nope and nope
Clever, how you showed the larger Fujifilm GFX 100 (with twice the pixel count) and not the 50r, which would have been the fair comparison. Adding the battery grip to give it extra height really enhanced the illusion (Fujifilm' 50r is 1mm taller). Not attaching Fujifilm's 50mm pancake lens and instead choosing a lens so large it required something to prop it up was genius! But you didn't stop there, you attached a lens hood, just to be sure the impression of size, weight, and heft really impacted your viewer. For a moment I was almost discouraged to see how HUGE Fujifilm's offering is compared to Hasselblad's, not to mention Leica's. But then, I'm a photographer and trained to look closely and carefully at what's in front of me and critically scrutinize and evaluate detail. Hope your viewers are too.
Albert Loan Not clever - it’s what I had, and thought it interesting.
Hasselblad is owned by DJI, a Chinese company.
Part owned - and....?
Any conversation about cameras should be printing. Closing or ending the journey of any photo. I don’t think that digital has brought any interesting advancement in the ability to produce better photos. Maybe just faster garbage. So high resolution cameras do allow to see more errors and not more meaningful images.
Hold that thought.
Indeed. Stay tuned.
Ok, I get it, you’re not a troll, but COME ON!!!! I just watched your intro to Fuji x100V. The images, quality, staging, sharpness, color of this Hassy blow the Fuji out of the sun’s gravitational field. This is a real camera. The Fuji is a hobbyist toy. What’s never mentioned beyond Fuji film simulation, is that X100any is a CAMERA simulation-a toy that looks like a real camera. Do a side by side, let’s see. It’s a shame you have to spend 6K+ for a great camera, but that’s the way it is.