So, Medium Format?
When I’m in the zone with the Hasselblad X1Dii, it’s really something else. The look of shots on the luxuriously huge, contrasty rear screen convince me that we’re really on a different level here. That yes, this is worth 4x or 6x or whatever times the price of the Olympus OM-1. Even when downloading and editing, the feeling remains, and hitting zoom at 100% reveals the incredible level of detail. I’m convinced I have photos here I could not have taken with any other camera (well, yeah, ok, there is the dp0 Quattro sitting on the shelf over there). This gear-induced high continues, urging me once again to consider the unthinkable upgraded to an X2D. And then…
…and then I compare a shot to a similar one taken on a far more humble camera 10 years older.
Is it worth it? Is it really? It is. It must be. Mustn’t it?
Square Space
I’ve been virtual window-shopping V-Series Hasselblad’s for quite some time now, but, rationally, my X1DII in square crop already does everything they can do… doesn’t it? Well, yes, but it doesn’t shoot film, and it doesn’t quite give the 3D depth of those Zeiss lenses on true 6x6 format. I thought I wanted a 503cw, since those were the last word, but they are expensive and that, luckily, stopped me. Following a bit of revision, I realised that the only difference between a 503cw and a 501cm is that the 503 has extra features for flash photography. And I really, but really, do not do flash. Shortly after this, a very nice looking, very late model 501cm popped up on a Swiss auction site. And it was black, which inevitably as it goes against the flow, I prefer. So I put in the minimum bid, and to my surprise I won.
Hasselblad XCD 35-75 Review
I’m fully aware that me reviewing a high end object such as the Hasselblad XCD 35-75 zoom lens is faintly ridiculous. Even more ridiculous, not to say foolhardy, is me actually owning one. Well, I’ve gone into my reasons for the extravagance of buying into Hasselblad medium format elsewhere, and my ownership of the 35-75 zoom came about by chance. I actually had no hope or even really desire to buy this lens, but earlier this year I stumbled across an almost unbelievable offer. Coming from a very reputable dealer, it was advertised as secondhand, without packaging, and nearly half retail price. But when it turned up it was boxed, still with protective foils, and indistinguishable from new - I decided not to quibble. But I still had a touch of buyer’s remorse. It’s big, heavy, and has very limited range compared to the Micro Four Thirds zooms I’m used to. But then I used it…