Last Updated on 01/21/2014 by Chris Gampat
In what seems like a commendable step in the right direction (and not just rebadging Sony gear), Hasselblad has announced today that they’ll be releasing a medium format DSLR with a CMOS sensor. Knowing Hasselblad though, we’re specifically talking about a medium format back unless the company decided to go the route of Leica’s S and Pentax’s 645D. All previous iterations were CCD sensors–and all of them did an admirable job.
According to the company’s press release, the H5D-50c will be a 50MP DSLR and will offer a faster capture rate, longer shutter speeds, multi-shot functionality and better ISO performance. This is incredibly interesting–being a medium format film shooter for years, I never thought about using my Bronica ETRS for anything above ISO 400.
More information and price points will be announced in March, but don’t expect them to be cheap. Hasselblad DSLRs have always catered to the working studio and professional that needs medium format quality.
Considering that this camera will have a CMOS sensor, we’re very curious to see how it will perform against the likes of the Nikon D800E and Sony A7r–which according to DXOMark are the kings of the crop. While the Nikon camera has been taken with lots more seriousness than the new Sony camera, the sensor performance is still there. To boot, medium format sensors are also bigger than the 35mm sensor coverage that both of the other full frame cameras offer.
After a rather dull CES 2014, this year is starting to shape up in terms of announcements. And we can only wonder what Photokina will bring for us.