It’s been a long time since I’ve wanted to review a camera this much. But when I saw the back of the Hasselblad CVF100C, I couldn’t have been more excited. Is there anything better than a 100MP medium format back? How good can an $8,000 camera be? Well, suffice it to say, this is one of the best medium format cameras out there.
Introduce
We all love the old Hasselblad 500CM. The retro feel of the camera is something that many photographers find nostalgic, if not comforting. I remember when I was shooting film, in the digital age, I wanted some kind of digital sensor to fit into my old Canon EOS 300, so I could shoot digitally on it too. Well, Hasselblad has done just that with the new CFV100C digital back. Only it’s more than just a digital sensor attached to the back of a vintage camera. Hasselblad CFV100C is the back that will follow you for many years in your career, helping you capture many beautiful photos along the way.
Before I go any further, I want to say that this is a camera review by a photographer who specializes in studio photography.
First Impressions
When you open the box, you quickly realize how compact Hasselblad has made their camera. Not just a medium format camera, but a compact medium format camera. Having shot Phase Ones, I can honestly say that I barely feel the camera is heavier than a DSLR with a zoom lens.
While I’m no stranger to medium format systems, it took me a while to figure out how to remove the protective digital back cover. Sure, it’s a pain, but it would have been nice to have a little sticker for those who don’t want to bother reading the instructions. In case you’re curious, it’s a matter of pressing and sliding the button on the top of the back. On the other hand, I received a review copy and it may just be that the instructions in the box are missing.
Using the Camera in the Studio
The camera comes with a few accessories, namely a grip and a hotshoe adapter. The grip is sold separately and I highly recommend purchasing it if you plan on hand-holding the camera for long periods of time.
When I got to my studio and tried to connect it to the Profoto package, I quickly realized that the flash wouldn’t fire for some reason. This was solved by changing the shutter mode from electronic to leaf. The leaf shutter is a shutter that sits inside the lens of the camera. It is a physical shutter that allows the photographer to take photos beyond the camera’s sync speed. This allows you to shoot at speeds of 1/500th of a second or faster. For outdoor shoots, this is a game changer.
As with every camera I use in the studio, the first thing I add to my setup is a tripod base plate so the camera can rest on a tripod when I’m not shooting. This way I can be confident that the camera won’t tip over. A good Gitzo Systematic tripod comes in handy.
Concentrate
When shooting with the camera in normal studio lighting, I didn’t notice any issues with focusing. The autofocus on the Hasselblad is amazing. It’s probably the most accurate focusing medium format camera on the market. It has 294 focus areas and face detection. The face detection works really well too. I was able to keep the camera in focus in the studio even when the model was moving quickly. While this may not seem like something special for a camera in 2024, it’s somewhat unheard of in the medium format world. Compare that to the Phase One XF body, which has a single focus point, and the winner is clear. The higher the resolution, the more obvious the lack of focus. Something that looks sharp at 20MP is likely to be out of focus at 100MP, which is the resolution of the Hasselblad. Also, the larger the sensor, the shallower the depth of field. Older Hasselblads with fewer focus points had a feature where the camera would calculate how much it was moving when you focused and recomposed. This is the feature I use every time I shoot with my Phase One cameras these days.
Resolution
When it comes to resolution, you really can’t ask for more. 100 megapixels is overkill. The requirements for billboards have remained the same for the past 10 years. However, there are many reasons to shoot at high resolution. One reason is for situations where you need to crop the image, another is to cut out objects and retouch. Photoshopping a high resolution image is much easier than a low resolution one. I really like having the extra resolution for my work.
Connection and Post-production
One issue I have with shooting with the Hasselblad is connectivity. It connects pretty well via the USB-C port on the side of the camera; however, it only connects to Phocus, Hasselblad’s proprietary software. It’s pretty good software, but it has a long way to go before it can compare to Lightroom or Capture One. In fact, if you’re a Capture One user, you can forget about editing Hasselblad files in it. The only way to edit them in Capture One is to export the files as TIFFs, with the metadata stripped. This is a minor issue for me, as I’m a dedicated Capture One user. Otherwise, the files are easy to edit, even in Lightroom. There’s plenty of dynamic range, detail, and color grading opportunities. I really couldn’t be happier with how the files turned out.
Another great feature of the camera is the built-in 1TB SSD for storing your photos. This way, you never have to worry about forgetting your memory card. For those who like to shoot with memory cards, the camera can take XCD cards, with the slot located right next to the battery compartment. The camera’s battery life is really good; however, I would recommend having a couple of spare cards if you plan on shooting continuously throughout the day.
What I like
- Design and construction quality
- Integrated SSD
- Image quality: best I’ve tested
What could be improved
- PC sync port
- Integration with Capture One
Less thought
The Hasselblad 907X and CFV100C The back is one of the best cameras I’ve tested. When it comes to the weight-to-performance ratio, you’ll be looking for a better camera. That said, this is a pure stills camera. It doesn’t shoot video, and it doesn’t need to. At nearly $8,000, it’s not a cheap camera, but it’s a pretty cheap medium format camera, priced around the same as the Fujifilm GFX 100 II. Compared to the Phase One’s price, the Hasselblad is a great option. Overall, if you’re shopping for a medium format camera, the Hasselblad 907X and CFV100C are great options. The latest XCD lenses are some of the sharpest (reviews coming soon), and the back can be used with the classic Hasselblad 500C body, combining the best of the old and new worlds.
