digital backs

OK, several years ago I made the switch from hasselblad film to to Canon, mainly using the 1Ds Mk3. A top of

the line Canon camera.

I would have stayed and bought a Blad digital back, however I would have to sell the house, the car and the wife!

I'd really enjoy getting back to medium format however the marketing people with Hasselblad, Pentax, Phase

one, all of them never call back. I suppose they are all rich?

I'm looking for a decent starter system, 2 lenses maybe; zooms, and a digital back around 30 to 35 megapixels?

I can pay cash for around $9000. Maybe another $3000 on a credit card.

Is there something out there? I"d sure like to buy the digital back new. I'm actually able to repair Hassy's; rebuild

them. Shutters, leaks, the winding systems and all of the gears.

However I'm open to any new camera line, such as the Pentax. The Pentax lenses are pretty darn good. I had a

6 by 7 for a short time and I was able to enjoy some very large enlargements. 40X60 is as high as I went.

Thanks folks! Be well and be happy! bob

Bob, do you want to shoot square, like the original Hasselblad was designed to shoot, or settle for rectangular shots?

Since the current Hasselblad owners have virtually abandoned the V system, it is amazing to me that none of the current digital back manufacturers have not seen the large niche opportunity to offer a digital back that can shoot square or rectangular at a price that does not require a second mortgage.

<p>You have a lot of options. <br>

You could get a Pentax 645D. This is a great camera with the best AF and Metering out there in medium format. There's an upgrade coming out soon so waiting for a better deal may make sense.<br>

You could also get a pre owned Phase One or Hasselblad back, I have not heard of any complaints from users of something "pre owned".<br>

The third option is leasing a new or pre owned back which may make more sense, since you could get the exact back you want.<br>

I would personally recommend the 645D, although I would wait for the new version to come out.</p>

<p><em>[D]o you want to shoot square ... ? ... t is amazing to me that none of the current digital back manufacturers have not seen the large niche opportunity to offer a digital back that can shoot square or rectangular at a price that does not require a second mortgage.</em></p>

<p>AFAIK, there has never been a square-sensor MFDB with a sensor larger than 37x37mm, i.e., giving you a 1.51x 'crop factor' relative to 6x6 film. AFAIK, the largest sensor ever offered in a regular MFDB is about 54x40 mm, i.e., slightly smaller than 645 film--and those are expensive (maybe $25,000+). The largest sensor available new for the stated price range is about 36x48mm (Mamiya / Leaf, starting around $8,000). Insofar as back cost is to some extent proportional to sensor size, any MFDB with a sensor approaching anything near 6x6 film size would almost have to be quite expensive.</p>

Agreed, I requested info regarding adapting a more current Digital Back to Bronica ETRSi, no responses from anyone even if there are some options out there.

The Digital age of manufacturers followed suit of Computer manufacturers , faster, made cheaper, more profits with turnover, your Digital camera is obsolete in 6 months replaced by a new model.

Years ago in the Film camera era, camera manufacturers were going broke, photographers were hanging on to their quality cameras & lenses for decades.

Now Digital camera manufacturers = $$$$$, we will maybe get back to you.

An option would be to check for Demos at reduced pricing, possibly financing a balance.

Just like purchasing a vehicle.

" I would have stayed and bought a Blad digital back, however I would have to sell the house, the car and the wife! "

How much do you want for the wife ?

Bob H

I don't mind at all the square format look at all. I actually prefer it because in the film days, needless to say you

can keep it square, or crop to vertical or horizontal.

Yes, it's a shame that square is pretty much gone, or is there a square digital back?

I'm making a move sometime just after the Christmas day season because there are a lot of sales going on. I have always liked Pentax and the 6x7 lenses were very sharp.

We have Samy's here in Los Angeles so maybe I can rent a few cameras in my price range, new and used.

You guys have been great and I will send out the email to Lance.

I will keep everyone aware if I buy used, new, or sell a hot rod car I have.

Be well everyone.

<blockquote>

<p>AFAIK, there has never been a square-sensor MFDB with a sensor larger than 37x37mm, i.e., giving you a 1.51x 'crop factor' relative to 6x6 film. AFAIK, the largest sensor ever offered in a regular MFDB is about 54x40 mm, i.e., slightly smaller than 645 film</p>

</blockquote>

<p>The Dicomed Bigshot in the mid-1990s was the only larger one, with a 16 Mpix, 60x60 mm format Loral Fairchild CCD sensor (actually larger than the 56x56 mm film gate of 6x6 format cameras). It mounted on Hasselblad cameras and tethered over SCSI to Macs. They very occasionally turn up on ebay. With such colossal pixels, the dynamic range could have been incredible, but it wasn't; because the readout noise was equally colossal. </p>

<blockquote>

<p>I'm looking for a decent starter system, 2 lenses maybe; zooms, and a digital back around 30 to 35 megapixels? I can pay cash for around $9000. Maybe another $3000 on a credit card.<br>

Is there something out there? I"d sure like to buy the digital back new. <br>

However I'm open to any new camera line, such as the Pentax.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Bob, with about $10k cash and no legacy ties to any particular MF system, nor any expressed desire for unusual lens requirements or secondary view-camera use, you are in a very strong position choice-wise. In that situation I would also point you to the Pentax 645D. </p>

<blockquote>

<p>I requested info regarding adapting a more current Digital Back to Bronica ETRSi, no responses from anyone even if there are some options out there.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Sorry you got no replies, Robert. Nobody suggested a Hasselblad V format back (any manufacturer) with a Kapture Group adapter for the Bronica ETRS?<br>

http://www.kapturegroup.com/phase/phase.html#bronica_a</p>

<blockquote>

<p>...your Digital camera is obsolete in 6 months replaced by a new model.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I have always taken the view that if it still works and if I still use it, it's not obsolete. It's just not the latest thing.</p>

<p>Bob,<br>

My recommendation would be an Hasselblad 501CM (or 503CW) with a digital back having a crop factor around 1.1.<br>

There are a few very good digital backs falling in that category. All of them will allow you to use your lenses as they were intended and give you results far superior to the best DSLR from Leica, Nikon or Canon.<br>

A short list of backs I would highly recommend (I have used all of them in this list):<br>

- Leaf Aptus (Phase One) 75 - A fantastic 33Mpx back, can be used in portrait or landscape.<br>

- Phase One P45 (more expensive) 39Mpx<br>

- Hasselblad CFV-39 39Mpx<br>

If you buy one, do not worry about the number of actuations, instead be sure that the seller guarantee that the IR filter is not scratched (around $1,500 to fix).</p>