Using the Hasselblad CFV 100C Digital Back on the 907X & 500CM

[@Minotauros5]

I can only dream of one day owning both the 500C/CM and the 907X with the CFV 100C. But at least this video gives me something hold onto until that day comes. Great video, Benj.

[@das2003]

When the day comes when you can afford one, I'm sure there will be a more advanced digital back on the market, I bet it will have a larger sensor more akin to the 6x6 film negative and with ibis.

[@mountainhomelodge]

Hi Benj, I can't say how many videos I have watched on the new CFV 100c, but you nailed it on helping many of us understand how the shooting process is going to work on a c/m body using older lenses. As you clearly point out, it's likely you'll be using the the view finder to compose and rely on the lens for exposure, not the digital shutter. As an owner of a 500c/m, 500elx, 50mm, 80mm, and 150mm putting this gang back to work is what peaks my interest the most in considering this new investment. Due to the lack camera shops and the ability to see, touch and take makes your videos in more relevant. Please keep them coming especially emphasizing the work flow with the older body and lens with the digital back as you move through the composing, taking, capturing and processing what I assume will be Lightroom. As a suggestion, it might be important to test handheld versus on a tripod. In this video, with the snow scenes, you had the luxury of a higher shutter speed and hand holding. Trying to understand the sensitivity and sharpness, especially with the older equipment, maybe best on a tripod due to this large sensor. Thank you!

[@asimplefarmer]

love the whole walk through of using the 907x and the 500cm. Like you said a lot of people showed or talked about it, but did not actually show how to set it up and shooting with it!

[@lackoliver55]

Funny. People are always trying to make their digital shots look like film, which usually means 35mm grainy film. But in this comparison it really shows how clean and well performing Portra is on Medium Format. If you told someone you took those Portra shots on digital, they may scoff at how "perfect" it is and want to add grain and lift the curve at the blacks to mute them a bit. Great video as always!

[@caroslavvehiculovic2171]

Yes maybe in sense of grain you are right, but to be honest all analog is digital these days. I often ask myself, how many of the analog shooters actually know how for example the portra film really looks like, as they are just digitising the film and color grading the images to their taste but not really developing photos as we did back in the 90ies. Would be nice to see from Benj how he actually came to hir results in the new video.

[@lackoliver55]

@caroslavvehiculovic2171 it would be a safe assumption that they are lab scans. And yes, all lab scans are dependent on the choices of the lab tech. He could have graded them after. But even a home developer/printer could push and pull in dev effecting color, contrast dynamic range, then dodge and burn and crop etc in print. So even a fully manual analog result can vary shooter to shooter on the same film stock. But I get it.

[@allenl9214]

@@lackoliver55 why don't hasselbald make a digital that shoots images similar to the analogue version?

[@danielscheerer3032]

Excellent. I'm an owner of the 50C back and am really curious about the image comparisons in detail, so looking forward to seeing that if you can get to it. Thanks for your wonderful and practical videos!

[@doctorstrobe]

wow, the 500CM/907x images look fantastic!!

[@davecarrera]

I have the CFV II 50C which I bought to pair up with my 500 c/ms. That has been about 6 months not and I have been blown away how the 907x CFV II50c and 45mm lens works that I have forgotten to go to work pairing them up lol. This I am fixing over this winter with the goal being to first find the exposure I want, not necessarily the "right" one, in digital & have a digital store of the image I am taking then swap over to my 500 cm with iso matched film back swap back to lock it in on film. Its a plan and one I hope sees results. I wish you well and safe journeys.

[@reemrazzaq9799]

Hi Benj… very useful video. I was wondering if I can just purchase the digital back only? Thank you

[@BenjiDalton]

That was fascinating to see the comparisons! They all looked superb and I'd love to shoot with any one of them. I was really surprised with how the digital back on the classic 500c/m looked. Hasselblad has really honed their digital look to stay true to the original aesthetic. But overall I still preferred the film. It held up really well. The portra is amazing. That last shot especially really had a magic in the lighting/flare that came through.

[@-Chugwater-]

Thanks for the video. Looking forward to checking out the images from the old glass.

[@andyvan5692]

great video, I never knew that the 200 series DIDNT need the modification to use it, as according to other KZbin videos you do need it modified. A tip, for the framing mask, it goes ABOVE the ground glass, as if it goes below, it affects the focussing, like with the instant backs, which need spacing out, THERE is where it goes, UNDER, to re-calibrate the focus.

[@juanmanuelromero4433]

Hello! Great video! What is the crew for the 500CM viewfinder? Thank you!

[@luiscruzado1274]

Mr. IS Possible to shoot in 8x4 size from Cámera, With this back? In crop modes?

[@fotosdimitri6559]

Did you use a hand held meter or preview for exposures? With the 6x45 shape, the waist level is awkward to do vertical images. It is too bad back can not rotate. I wait for the day a 6x6 cm back arrives.

[@nineoneten]

Very good coverage of what is possible between the beautiful old V series and the latest digital products. It is just such a shame that camera makers don't make the digital sensors the same size as the original negative size. V series was square format and so worked great with waist level finder - making the sensor rectangular doesn't produce the same user experience. Similar issues arise with smaller sensors in other cameras - Canon APSC, Nikon DX etc that keep the same aspect ratio as the old negative size but compromise on availability of suitable lenses.

[@canadaguy88]

Since there is no electronic contact between old bodies and digital back, how does the back know when a frame needs to be captured or after the camera has been “advanced”?

[@benjhaisch]

Honestly I’m not sure other than maybe the sensor knowing that light has hit it but it does it perfectly well.

[@trevhill952]

Thanks Benj, this was the video I wanted to see about the new CFV 100c. Super cool integration of old and new tech, kind of mind blowing. If they could work IBIS into the back unit, that would be incredible. But congrats to Haselblad for conserving and injecting new life into their back catalogue of film cameras.

[@kevinbrown5093]

The film still looks so good 😂😂

[@camm_eng]

Super cool piece of kit. A great reason for me to keep my Hassy. Maybe in the future prices will become more affordable. Loved the video with all the comparisons!

[@SamMcGhee]

Your office is a vibe I’m about. Oh… and that camera is badass. But that’s not news to you. 😉

[@benjhaisch]

Haha! Well thanks, I’m trying to get this mess together over here.

[@mike747436]

I'd be very interested to see a comparison between the digital back on the 500 shooting B&W, and identical shots on FP4+ or TMX.

[@Leffe49]

Great video with very interesting comparison, with beautiful shots! of all. 👍 I myself, use a 501 C/M with the first edition of CVF-50c and I still love that combination. 😉

[@doctuppes2]

Hi Benj, appreciate the effort you put into producing these vids! Thanks. One Question: does the 100c provide any metering „TTL“? I am quite sure the 50c doesn’t. This would be a substantial difference. Thx for your help!

[@benjhaisch]

When mounted on the film camera? Or on the 907X?

[@doctuppes2]

Oh Sorry 😂 - mounted on the old 500….🙈

[@benjhaisch]

@@doctuppes2 no worries, the mirror blocks the sensor and you can flip up the mirror to use the live view of the back. But it doesn’t just work as is

[@doctuppes2]

Oh Sorry again - to be precise:): in a german Hassi Forum somebody stated that the new 100c has a built in light meter which allows to do the light metering via the live view - if you know what I mean.@@benjhaisch

[@benjhaisch]

@doctuppes2 sure, you can use the live view but you have to bring the mirror up on a camera like this and use the electronic shutter to preview things. I’d be surprised if the CFV50C II didn’t have this option

[@HilainLarkin]

Do you know if you can do a double exposure with the digital back like you would film?

[@floriankberger]

Also curious about this!

[@arricammarques1955]

​@@floriankberger Yeah, nice one!

[@maze400]

You have four backs for film, I would love to see the digital "full frame" back next to them just to reference exactly how far from full frame they actually are.

[@inevitablecraftslab]

44x33 vs 56x56 The digital one is a bit bigger than fullframe and way smaller than eve 645😂 But they will pop up used in a few years so ... also he shows it at min 05:20

[@thewhiteapparation]

hey benj I have the same exact C 80 lens! Have you tried to use live view with the cfv 100c with the lens? How to do you set it up since this doesn't have an "F" mode? I couldn't find any instructions online

[@ChrisRoutledge]

That sensor looks like a nightmare to keep clean, especially in the 500CM with all its flappy bits and pieces.

[@Super.Quasar]

It's so easy to clean as you're not diving down a rabbit hole.

[@seanbond8075]

Hey Benj... So I want a 907x (when I can eventually save some money) But would I like to see is you to mate the digital back with a 903 SWC and shoot in XPan crop ;-) Thanks!

[@NTXMarcusS]

Love the video! All of the shots look awesome. I am glad you are making a series out of these. My favorite camera is my 500C/M, and I am debating buying either the 907x / CFV II 50C or the 907x / CFV II 100C. I would love your thoughts on which makes more sense for someone that has an old Hasselblad film camera. It seems to me from watching your videos on both that the 50C would be fine if one intended to use it on the 500C/M as often as on the 907x, but when combined with the 907x, the 100C appears to be a much better choice due to the improved autofocus and hot shoe option. Then there is the price difference. One could buy a 907x / CFV II 50C with a great lens for less than a 907x / CFV II 100C without a lens. It is a complicated decision, and as someone who has used both, I would really enjoy seeing your perspective.

[@clickid7824]

Thanks a lot! One question, is it also possible to use the 503 CX with a digital back?

[@arricammarques1955]

Yes, guilty as charged mate! 503CX+CFV II 50C. (50MP already over kill)

[@dennislee8253]

Thanks for doing this, something I've been curious about since the 50C came out. Here's the question, how much did/do you enjoy shooting with the 500 vs. the 907? If you're going out for a casual day of shooting are you taking both bodies or just one? Which one? Cheers and thanks again. d

[@allenl9214]

Not familiar with Hasselbalf or medium formats but how much would it cost to acquire this system of digital and film camera?

[@smartdoctorphysicist3095]

Can that digital back work on a 553 ELX body please let me know, thank you.

[@andyvan5692]

one correction, at 7:19 you can use it like a film v system, BUT not when it comes to flash, there you need to connect to the BACK, Not the body, as the back controls the flash, as that is where the "master" exposure control is, also, for some bodies, the lens sync port Has to go IN to the back, for capture signalling, as this is the only way it knows the shutter has gone off.

[@rossawilson01]

Great video thanks. I know it wasn't a film vs digital thing but those Portra shots were beautiful compared to the digital. Amazing location too.

[@LucioBusaPhotography]

Hello, i have the Previous model 50 cfv ii, but we don't have the viewfinder of Mask for the 500cm...do you know if Is It possible to buy It?? 😢 Thanks

[@Super.Quasar]

It's obvious from the triple images that the 6x6 80mm has a limited view being square. When you show the images in your next video can you do a precise match ? So a 56x56 vs 33x33mm comparison (69mp). . I was hoping that 100mp would remove any need for MF and LF in my normal max print sizes, say 20x20", but would 33x33 be capable of that, or will stitching be necessary ?

[@mahdimanesh4221]

Thanks for making this video, amazing! 🤩 can’t wait to see you pixel peeping 😅

[@kqschwarz]

Super great video. Too bad the weather did not allow for comparison of definition between the modern lens and the vintage lens. Taking photos in the fog makes everything look the same - foggy. While fog is great for moody atmospheric photos, it obscures resolution/distortion/contrast/focus/LOC/etc testing. All the best.

[@rxp2photo]

Stuck as you are in Landscape mode with a WLF, makes this camera useless in Portrait orientation. No one ever mentions this. Bronica made a rotary finder for both ETR and GS and this surely is what the camera now needs.

[@AaronStoneVLOGS]

This video is EXACTLY what I wanted to see. Do you happen to know how different the experience is with the 50mp version of this back? Thinking about grabbing one of those to ease my way into. Also I may be using a 503cx vs 500cm 🤔

[@aarontharris]

@8:21 -- There it is. The past 60 years gave us convenience but not necessarily better images ;) I love my Medium Format Film cameras and my Medium Format Digital camera, but I can't say one is better, just quicker.

[@DeanMWi]

Thanks for the video. It is very helpful. Question on the green F mode on the lens you where using. I have the 80mm CB lens on a 501cm. There is no green F button on the shutter speed dial. Does that mean I will not be able to use the 100c to control the shutter speed as you demonstrated?

[@benjhaisch]

Are you referring to flash triggering as well or just working the shutter speeds along with the 100C?

[@DeanMWi]

@@benjhaisch the later was my question. Sync cable for flash will be something I do also…

[@floriankberger]

Just got my digital system, this was really helpful for setup. How do I keep the 500 C/M open to enable live view on the new digital back?

[@floriankberger]

@holyjesus8603 I must still be doing something wrong bc I cannot get a live feed view. Do you mind describing your exact order of steps?

[@peterkagan1116]

Simple question: when using the 100c back on a legacy camera, all metering is done as one would with film correct? Hand held spot or incident meter, no metering via sensor.

[@benjhaisch]

Correct. You can do a mirror lockup and use the sensor if needed, but you can also easily use a test frame to check and roll with it.

[@leighmosley7873]

Nice video. Does the back also work on the Hassie ELM?

[@FerroDuque]

Do you have focus problem when adding a CFV100c to 500CM. It seems to be a different focus plane for digital or film.

[@SVFresh2Salty]

Did you do much post editing of those shots are straight from the camera I’m kind of like wow

[@ccoppola82]

Damn that thing is awesome. I haven’t had my 500cm out in forever. Do they sell a 50mp version? 100 is so overkill for me. I still like the portra version better. There’s a luminance difference and the warm hues pop with a little contrast curve. Film is so tough to beat. Too bad it’s so damn expensive now

[@jakobgrubb7366]

They do! The Hasselblad CFV 50C is 50 mp and is more similar than different to the CFV 100C.

[@benjhaisch]

Yep, they’ve made two different CFV 50C models now. I’ve actually used them both.

[@macipaq]

Nice shots with 500CM ... what speed did you set? Thanks.

[@ferencbodor]

I think they really missed out on covering the whole 6x6 format (if that’s even possible in this form factor w/o causing problems). These days most clients want deliverables in every format out there (3:2,4:5,1:1,9:16) so a square sensor with a lot of megapixels would make a lot of sense! Still… I think the digital backs fitting together with the film cameras just like that is one of the best things that’s happened to the digital/film market in a long time!

[@andreasoberg2021]

There is no such sensor to buy so not really possible.

[@isaacpoole]

Did the second video ever come out?

[@benjhaisch]

This one? kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6nXZoCeoLWqgZYsi=w0APKonU6nXQQVr7

[@webersteve1547]

I never worked with Hasselblad, so a stupid question: how do you work in portrait mode? Do you turn the sensor?

[@benjhaisch]

rotate the camera 90º ;) but yeah, it's not ideal

[@mikepeters93]

Hey Benj, is there an option to purchase the CFV 100C by itself for use on my 500c/m? What is your take on the best way to do this? Thanks!

[@adrianemikko]

Now I’m curious how it would fair on the SWC

[@benjhaisch]

Should work fine although the whole point of a super wide camera wouldn’t really equate here once you consider the crop factor

[@Stesalti]

Wow fantastic comparation 🎉🎉

[@smith507]

Since you've used both the Leica M and Hasselblad X Systems, are they comparable? Would you recommend one over the other for documentary and landscape work? More specifically, interested in 61MP M11 vs 100MP 907X + CFV Thanks Benj!

[@benjhaisch]

Just finished filming this video today ;)

[@sigurdrille9693]

Very interesting, thank you!

[@benbunch4159]

So how is the back knowing you’re taking the photo and how does that work with the shutter in the lens and to save the image? Do you get meta data for exposure time? I guess its probably just like any other sensor with a physical shutter but in theory it must be constantly buffering and then has algorthims to detect the shutter is open and save an image? Because it has no electronic connection to the shutter button. Seems like maybe it could give you that meta data because it presumably knows how long it exposed the photo for? I am kind of surprised to not hear anyone discussing this in more detail? Does it just go “ok hey I’m getting light and now I stopped save that part of the buffer?” Kind of curious what the limitations are here like, what’s the burst rate? If you wired up an electronically driven shutter mechanism in front of this sensor in its filmback mode and let it fly really really fast with a lot of different exposures what would happen?

[@benjhaisch]

The back knows when you attach it to a film body. Still not sure how, but there is a connection. The meta data doesn’t provide aperture/shutter because there is no electronic connection. You have to reset the mirror and the shutter so “burst rate” is as fast as that can happen ;)

[@benjhaisch]

But yeah, I’d assume the rate would be whatever the default for the electronic shutter is although I’m not sure that’s the ideal use case for this of course

[@smith507]

Most Hasselblad film backs have a "ready to shoot" indicator to know if you're attaching a wound back onto a wound body to avoid mismatches and correct frame advance. The way that indicator works is that the body, whenever you press the shutter button, slides a metal prong into the film back pressing and resetting that indicator window. My guess is that this prong is what signals the back to trigger the exposure. Metadata would be limited to what lens you manually select on the CFV back since there is no communication between the body and the back. The only possible exception being the few cameras that have an electronic databus paired with an FE or CFE lens (can't list them by heart), even then, I wouldn't know what information it can transmit using that bus or if the back can receive it correctly because I don't have a CFV or an electronic databus camera for testing.

[@benbunch4159]

@@smith507 yeah but what I don't understand is why they couldn't glean some kind of meta data from the actual exposure time of the physical shutter, because obviously at some point the camera has to know when to stop exposing and save the file. It seems relatively simple to do some kind of algorithm to detect when the shutter has closed and then record the measured exposure time and save it to the metadata. Even if there is a prong that triggers the expsoure it has to know when to STOP the exposure.

[@benbunch4159]

@@benjhaisch Yeah my point is I wonder what happens if you cheat it so you aren't resetting the mirror and shutter and what it would do, but sounds like it does know when you press the shutter button. My assumption was that if it didn't it's literally looking for the light level to change.

[@das2003]

It's a pity there's no dark slide for the digital back to prevent dust from hitting the sensor.

[@benjhaisch]

There is a sensor cover that comes with the back, but yes, no way to completely cover it before even taking it off

[@KillerTacos54]

How amazing

[@huntfilms]

Great video! Quick question if you know. Benj can you use the flash sync off of the Hasselblad 80 mm lens directly or do you have to use the flash synchronization from the back or can you even use electronic flash with this configuration?

[@benjhaisch]

It comes with a cable to connect from the lens to the back, so I’m assuming that’s the way it would work, but the back does also come with a hotshoe on the CFV100C . I’ve honestly never used flash on my 500cm but I’ll try to remember to test it later today.

[@MezeiEugen]

Would that back work on a Kiev 88 too?

[@benjhaisch]

I’m not sure tbh

[@blazerbarrel2]

Thankyou Would like to see the comparison of lens performance between new lenses vs old c , cf , ect . Have nearly all the cf lenses w/ 503cw body . Trying to make a decision to go all Hasselblad digital or keep the v series and use the new back . Am concerned with keeping the sensor Free of dust from mirror flap and would degrade every picture and destroy the work flow with time consuming cleanup .

[@benjhaisch]

I only have that 80/2.8C T* but would love to try more of them for sure

[@cameraprepper7938]

For many years I was dreaming of a back like this for my old analog Hasselblad, but it is 5 years too late, it is too expensive and I will miss an EVF ! So the XD2 is a much better option.

[@Old-School-Liberal]

Is that a MPC in the background?

[@benjhaisch]

NPC?

[@Kimojacky]

Hi Benj, I am come from Hong Kong and thanks for your sharing the details on CFV 100C & 500CM. It is very brilliant. May I know the corp rate about CFV 100c on 500CM?

[@benjhaisch]

I’m assuming you mean crop? It’s 44x33 vs 56x56

[@МаксимГашинский]

What kind of film did you use?

[@benjhaisch]

Portra 400

[@thomascochrane4922]

I want one!

[@Richie_Glasgow]

With the sensor not being square, to take a full frame portrait you would need to rotate the camera 90 degrees hmmm surely a bit awkward for composing…….

[@benjhaisch]

Yep when using the 500cm & CFV 100C combo, I’m only shooting in landscape orientation and leaving room to crop to square if needed. If I want to shoot vertical, I’ll use the 907x as turning that camera sideways really isn’t a big deal at all.

[@bobbleczar]

omfg im so excited for this.

[@BoomsRiddico4868]

good video. interesting pronunciation of Hasselblad or "haughselblawd" as you call it. hehe

[@phillnavin1212]

Geez it looks hard to beat straight Portra

[@drradon]

For some reason most of the film images draw me in most. I would not know the differnce without the comparison though.

[@dimaphotographer90]

What a beautiful camera, I want it just for its design . I’m a photographer and filmmaker, and a couple of days ago I made a video myself, if you’re interested in sharing your opinion about my video and filmmaking skills I would very much appreciate you guys. Thank you. :))

[@rafibenatar2519]

Hasselblad legacy lens can not resolve that kind of resolution trust me I have tested only XCD lenses good enough nothing else 👌🏻

[@benjhaisch]

These tests were all wide open, but I’ve shot a ton larger apertures over the last few days, so we’ll see ;)

[@rafibenatar2519]

Would love to see it Legacy lenses VS XCD from my test huge difference in resolution and sharpness as well compare to XCD

[@petermendelson5839]

Besides resolution and sharpness, I’m curious about differences in rendering - tonality, color, etc.

[@joerg_koeln]

Not convincing - the analog medium format was 3,6x bigger than 35mm, this here is 1,66x bigger than 35mm/FX. All lenses will crop, all wide-angle lenses become almost useless.

[@Uhdi_gaja]

$7,000