Hotwire-Digital :: Get the Best from the Experts

On a late-August trip to the North Carolina coast, we examined the detail produced by the Hasselblad H3DII-50 - the world's most powerful DSLR to get an idea of how much data is available on the 50 megapixel, 16-bit sensor. The advantage of capturing this enormous amount of data is the freedom to crop the image and have plentiful pixels leftover to produce a cover or spread, or to push the pixels in editing way past what is available from smaller sensors - including full-frame 35mm professional digital systems.

It is all about the details

The following images illustrate the detail available from the H3DII-50; the red square is the area shown at 100% Zoom

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Image at 100% with exposure correction of (-2) f-stops. Slats in fence and power lines clearly visible as well as rocks underneath bridge.

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Note the detail in the wood grain and rope (again, note to self - watch that exposure!)

Let's see the exposure correction recover the highlights:

Deep Dynamic Range

Later, we took the Hasselblad H3DII-50 out during an overcast September day a half-hours drive north of Atlanta to get a feel for the capability in terms of detail and dynamic range. Lenses used were the standard HC 80mm f/2.8, HCD 28mm f/4.0, and the HC 100mm f/2.2 - each sporting noticeably fast and crisp autofocus.

The clouds provided a giant softbox in the sky so light was evenly distributed and ideal for testing the ability to hold highlight and shadow information

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Note the detail held at the highlight area - there is data in the sky (231, 237, 238) and not blown out...

Now, let's move to the other end of the histogram:

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Same image, note the exceptional dynamic range deep into the shadows. Plenty of detail with RGB values of (14,16,12) indicating data present even in the darkest area.

Maximum Power, Maximum Flexibility

The Hasselblad H3DII-50 offers the greatest detail available in a DSLR configuration to the modern photographer. When detail is the objective to produce large files, this camera gets the job done right the first time with color that does not require manipulation (the images above are color-balanced to remove cast from the RAW file, but no other color manipulation - straight out of camera.)

The selection of fast, autofocus prime lenses ranging from 28mm (17.5mm equivalent 35) through 300 mm, a 35-90mm and 50-110mm Zoom lenses, and tilt/shift lens adaptor (or CF lens adaptor for Zeiss lenses) makes the H3D platform the most flexible choice for any photographer looking to beef up their imaging-making capability.

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