Hasselblad 907X/CFV 100C Review: This Camera Has SOUL!

[@PetaPixel]

Correction: The CFV 100C weighs 460g and the 907X weighs 160g for a total of 620g. We apologize for the error!

[@ALEXANDERBAUER-w9e]

Malcolm_Sinclare

[@jameslenney]

I love that cutaway of Chris lugging around the tripod while he’s talking about how portable it is.

[@MrChomiq]

To be fair, 99% of the shots taken in this episode would still be done with a tripod anyway so they weight difference still makes a difference.

[@Ildskalli]

Everything came together for this episode: the weather, the camera, and Chris' enjoyment of it, and it shows in the photos. They're some of the best I've ever seen on the channel.

[@EricGibaud]

The most honnest review I have seen so far. No hype! thank you

[@jaimeduncan6167]

Nice balanced review. I do believe that the camera is a good fit for people who shoot an advanced mirrorless system all the time for work and want to remember the joy of going out and taking pictures. Just the form factor and the 4:3 aspect ratio will force one's brain into a different gear. The Hasselblad natural color solution basically means you will have to do little to the images.

[@b12k3]

No camera for me but your shots and your video cuts are always so impressively cool.

[@seantomlinson3320]

The rainbow at 8:02 is so cool. Never a camera for me to own but I’d love a rental just to experience it.

[@NotAnotherChannel_Channel]

The words “exceedingly” and “niche” come to mind. Also “expensive.” Great review, as usual.

[@nathantw]

Loved that b/w photo you had of the mountains when you were descibing the histogram. I know this isn't a popular opinion but if you're going to use that grip all the time then the X2D seems to be a better choice. The digital back and lens, awkward as it may be, is so compact and that's one of the main attraction of the camera (other than the versatility of using it on other camera bodies).

[@phonemyatt3157]

Such a pretty state-of-the-art camera, that comes along with nostalgic feelings.

[@momoz88]

Fuji had a modular GFX concept a while back. I hope they develop it into a product.

[@TristanColgate]

This seems to be the first digital back with proper integration with the V system body (you don't have to lock the mirror up, stop down, and trigger from the touchscreen, you can just use the regular focusing screen and shutter button. It's interesting that they put that effort in (I'll stick with my A12 back though thanks!)

[@jamestulk4169]

I guess that if you have trouble seeing the LCD in bright light, you can go totally retro and use a black cloth like an old school view camera.

[@SilverHalides]

I wonder, how would the CFV100C perform with the (mostly old) V-mount lenses on a 500-series body, compared to the CFV50CII? If you'd only use the CFV100C with X-lenses, would it not make more sense to go with the X2D?

[@emanuelbief7088]

finally a review of this camera using it with a tripod

[@paulhancock]

As someone who shoots very deliberate, composed images and not 'shooting moving targets', I love the calm, slow-paced nature of this camera. It's a nice departure from where things seem to be going. We all know image quality hit a wall in 2017/18 (and has actually gone slight backwards), so for those of us who don't require state-of-the-art AF algorithms or a billion frames per second... The camera world has become pretty uninspiring with literally nothing to tempt me to 'upgrade' beyond a D850/A7R III/X-T3 from 7 years ago (which in the tech world is insane). Maybe niche cameras like these with a focus on beautiful hardware design and an analogue feel will start becoming more common and more in demand as the modern software-driven camera market just doesn't 'scratch that itch' for many of us any more.

[@mgscheue]

I hope so. That would be wonderful.

[@davifernandes5961]

Observations: A Little Toy ( Great Camera!! ) Like this... it's a consumer's dream... Having a Camera like this would be for Portraits ( A Trip!! ), here in Rio de Janeiro/Brazil!!

[@DennisBater]

Thanks to both of you for the in-depth review of the Hasselblad 907X. I particularly like the X2D 100C and the Hasselblad in general because I don't shoot video with my cameras, and the one TB of built-in storage. On the downside for me is there are no zoom lenses which leaves me favoring the Fuji GFX system. Thanks for being here and continuing your great reviews.....

[@Bayonet1809]

There is an XCD zoom lens, the 35-75mm.

[@DennisBater]

I stand corrected, that's a start. 🙂

[@TripleKOShorts]

Probably the greatest looking camera in modern times.

[@gewglesux]

i might have to agree. including anything. from Leica.

[@POVwithRC]

Chris, decent job profiling this. I haven't really considered Hasselblad as a system but this one is just kinda fkn cool. My mirror universe clone probably has one on order for car shows and portraits. And I'm jealous of him.

[@maze400]

I love the look of this camera. I wonder, I have a D850 and wanted to know the step between that and the Fuji GFX50sII vs. the step between the Fuji GFXsII and the Hassy 100c?

[@digtalfear1177]

I will say, the one thing I miss from when they would do their reviews with dpreview, is the viewable gallery on the article. In the included petapixel article you cannot see the full resolution images taken in the video, yet alone the raw files that used to be included with the dpreview article as well. Hope that they bring that back for petapixel

[@markswishereatsstuff2500]

Coming from working professionally with the 500EL/M with a prism on top. You are way more connected. Having a screen on the back that you have to be at least a foot away makes for a second class interface.

[@tjmanou6422]

im surprised nothing was covered about the IMAGE QUALITY, colors, contrast etc. besides the 100mpx. this is a camera produces the best and the most natural colors you can get. I used GFX for many years. not even close. You only cmpared the physical aspects. thank you

[@niccollsvideo]

The pics are perfectly lovely but I wouldn’t personally say they are better or worse. Color is subjective. I do like the Hasselblad colors but Jordan for example does not. It’s really down to personal preference.

[@tjmanou6422]

@@niccollsvideo natural colors are not subjective. It’s either close to life like (natural) or isn’t. I’m not talking about how camera interpret colors generally. I shot many brands for 20+ years (not phase one) and none of them give a natural life like image quality. You have to do ton of post and settle down for something you made up really. With HB I hardly ever do any post. And he doesn’t have to like the HB colors. It’s just a well known detail. Not just an opinion. Thank you

[@niccollsvideo]

@@tjmanou6422 Ugh. Well I guess your day job is to argue your opinion.

[@POVwithRC]

It sounds like you wouldn't have been helped by it being mentioned since you clearly know-it-all already 😊 (not be insufferable to others, challenge impossible)

[@Bayonet1809]

@@tjmanou6422 Do you mean "natural" or accurate colours, as there may be interpretive differences between the two terms?

[@cheynewalls]

Thanks for this review, I'm looking to maybe switch from my current PhaseOne Medium Format system to this Hasselbald system. Your video answered a lot of my questions. Cheers

[@The_Hero_Is_Back]

For me the best thing is that in 15-20 years time, these cameras should be relatively cheap (based in 15-20 year old cameras now) unless they have rarity value and aren’t investment vehicles, like Leicas. I don’t mind waiting. I got my D2X for around 5% of its original price last year and it’s still a great camera.

[@mikerichardson60]

Somehow I don't see this happening to the same degree we've experienced with say a Nikon D3 or a Canon 1D. Hasselblad definitely has more cache than Japanese mass market brands. Sure it'll get a little cheaper but this won't be some bargain bin find.

[@haroldrobinson4849]

Thanks for this review. Now that a hotshoe has been added, any chance that a compact EVF might be developed as an add-on for days when it is too sunny to see the back panel clearly?

[@blazerbarrel2]

It would be nice to see your take on using a 503cw and cf lenses . Cf vs new lenses for performance . Thanks for your review .

[@niccollsvideo]

That would be fun. I have a feeling that the Cf glass wouldn’t do as good a job as the XC stuff when looking purely on a technical level. Of course the character and overall look could be absolutely desirable though.

[@nathantw]

If you venture to watch some of the foreign language reviews of the 907x 100, such as those made by Asian reviewers, they shoot a lot of photos with the v-lenses. I was very happy to see how they performed, which was fine.

[@bunyaadi]

In an ideal world, i would love this camera. Although to be honest the x2d which is almost the same camera would be my choice.

[@costafilh0]

Good screens have become so cheap these days, just look at smartphones... it baffles me how these expensive cameras can have such bad screens.

[@unclefart5527]

A 500C/M had soul. Good luck with that screen in full sun. Back to Hoodman loupes?

[@tomaszstramel3594]

Key takeaway here is the pleasing G9 II footage.

[@akiraspriggan5692]

Thanks for this honest review , was thinking to get the gfx or this one , guess i am going for gfx

[@luiseduardo22285]

Excellent Video, excuse-me for the question, What messenger bag is using Chris?

[@ratgirl13]

It’s a nice affordable camera, but not one that I see adding to my collection, I enjoyed the review-fun with Chris and Jordan.

[@kart182]

Affordable?

[@BW_Maher]

Given that the form factor is based on vintage square format systems, I'd be curious to see how it handles working in portrait orientation. I noticed all of the example photos were horizontal. Odd that such a seemingly obvious issue isn't addressed. Are L brackets available? I don't see a tripod mount on the side. Cantilevering a large camera out over a ball head is not particularly good technique. Not to mention that the screen angle and tilt don't seem ideal for verticals. Are they going to come out with a separate back for shooting verticals? Do the Hasselblad lenses cover a large enough image circle for a large square sensor?

[@carlb401]

I have seen people using L brackets on it. The ones i have seen so far being used are Arca Swiss universal and a 3 legged thing, not sure which one for the latter.

[@BW_Maher]

Thanks. Seems like the logical way to go. That'd be fine for landscapes I think. Not sure if that would interfere with the grip. I assume if you used the grip, which I think I would for portraits, the L-bracket would have to attach over the grip in some way.

[@Bayonet1809]

So many manufacturers ignore L-bracket users. It is like they never use portrait orientation on a tripod.

[@carlb401]

@@Bayonet1809 Exactly. In this case Hasselblad could have put a tripod screw on the left hand side like on the Pentax 645z, so an Arca swiss mount could have been fixed to the side for portrait use on a tripod.

[@carlb401]

@@BW_Maher Yes the few i have seen have been mounted to the grip. It's a shame Hasselblad didn't extend the bottom of the grip out towards the front of the camera and make it big enough to include an Arca swiss mount on it as standard for tripod users.

[@PhotoTrekr]

What a beautiful camera. If I had one, it would never be in it's case, just so I could always look at it.

[@edcAdventures.]

Looks like an impractical camera that has a very specific niche. I cant tell if it actually captures "better" photos. Looks like it captures the same quality as my zve10 tbh

[@vansmith1738]

That big, dirty sensor triggered me!

[@niccollsvideo]

It’s hard to keep dust off of this body for sure.

[@nathantw]

@@niccollsvideo Rocket Air Blaster. ;-)

[@costelloandsilke7321]

One annoying thing about the implementation of the internal storage is that the firmware writes the images to the same folder always, rather than creating a new folder for each shoot - or allowing the user to create folders. This is a proper pain when downloading images from the internal SSD.

[@TopshelfJunior]

That Panasonic G9ii is looking GOOD !!!

[@D_L_J_83]

It would be much more appealing if the screen can flip up in a vertical position. I’m not sure how I can use it for shooting vertical orientation shots.

[@agencemezzografik147]

Hello from France ! What is the reference for the flash attachment that we see on the top of the digital back? THANKS.

[@yawningmarmot]

Tech Support question: how does Jordan white balance his shots when shooting the episodes of your show? Do you eyeball it or use a grey card/xrite color passport? Thank you in advance!

Cool to see Benro tripod in use. I thought Im the only one in the world to use it…

[@niccollsvideo]

Hmmm. I was using a Leofoto MrQ and Lh40 head but the benro are very nice too

[@ThatNorma]

literally see tons of benro tripods everywhere. its a pretty famous brand for tripods and very good quality as well

[@kbruff2010]

Superb scenery !!!!

[@NoahBershatsky]

4:38 Chris is flipping everyone the bird.

[@g.lindzey3291]

I noticed that. Are we sure Chris is Canadian? Might he be from New York?

[@Theirrelephant]

Been on that bridge 1000 times and never ran into you two prime specimens

[@AdamJRichardson]

It's because Chris is a 35mm prime so you never see him

[@meme4one]

Nice looking tool, but for me it is a very expensive tool that doesn't fit many needs I have. If I wanted a medium format camera I'd aim for a fuji that comes with a view finder and is easier to shoot handheld.

[@steveg2417]

Love the review!! Quick question. Is there a compatible on camera flash for Hasselblad 100 mega pixel cameras?? Both of these new Hasselblad lines are screaming, "Take me outside and let's have some run and gun fun!!"

[@carlb401]

The pins are for Nikon, so Nikon/ Nikon fit flashes work on camera.

[@steveg2417]

@@carlb401 thanks!!

[@GlaciaDay]

Nikon SBs and Profoto flashes made for Nikon all work.

[@LiamPhotoATL]

Great video guys, I wish I could play with a Hassleblad or Leica

[@bonedale]

This is amazing! I’m just going to google the cost and be right back

[@studiovitta]

It is the most real.. sensual camera ever made for art photography and advance creativity I own two of them film models 1958 with 3 legendary lenses 40-80-150 When you crab them your mind works….different For my every day work I still have my work horse Sony A7rII and for video a7s3 but for my weekends hasselblad is …my way to feel creative..

[@darylcheshire1618]

Can you operate it with gloves? Like Neil Armstrong?

[@Channel_Yo]

Why not use an optical viewfinder in this situation?

[@TheJugHeadHat]

Oh man with that grip, if it was square format and had a coupled electronic viewfinder I would sell all my gear and buy it in a heartbeat. Even with the 4.5 ratio it's still pretty tempting but I imagine shooting vertical portraits with it is a bit annoying.

[@edwardalexander9486]

Hah! Lunar and stellar! (not that the underlying Sony was a bad camera...) But like Leica, they've recovered from ding-dong management in a most epic way.

[@drthompson65]

Divorce court here I come! Thanks Chris!

[@TheCoolProfessor]

I MUST HAVE IT!!!!!

[@robertjburns9206]

Comparing the Hasselblad 907XCFV 100C MEDIUM format camera to the GFX 100🤔 interesting 😊

[@jjlad5037]

Got the 50MP...gotta have that hot shoe!

[@chrisw443]

You dragged a cstand all the way out there? I try to just use reversible stands, way lighter.

[@kbruff2010]

brilliant stuff!!!!!!

[@mikelyon5595]

I need an EVF!

[@carrieannkouri2151]

Will it tether with Capture One?

[@lelanddyer9461]

as a Wisconsinite, I appreciate the song at 7:30

[@lewcehjitl3282]

What tripod is that?

[@RyanHK]

Looks like the Leofoto LQ-324C and LH-40 head

[@niccollsvideo]

@@RyanHK it is indeed! The Mr. Q!

[@bimmerfan2126]

too bad they didn't use the SWC foot which also works with a grip handle and could have been made with electronic contacts

[@DonaldHawk]

Any reason they couldn’t add IBIS to something like this

[@paulhenry7]

But does it have a viewfinder?

[@landodream]

It seems like a real Hassel to use that screen in bright conditions.

[@Isaac________]

Add-on OVF for 500 bucks, that told me everything I needed to know about this camera.

[@colinstock325]

Stick to your iPhone then. Just remember the OVF is optional.

[@POVwithRC]

What did it tell you?

[@Abc1987]

It told him that there was not a rational link between a product and price

[@thephotoyak]

A camera that is best on a tripod, with a system that only has one zoom, doesn't exactly scream travel photography to me. I get the Hasselblad for portrait pros who can put that flash sync to use, but it seems completely impractical for anything else.

[@CharonSin]

I hope their app will work with the Vision Pro, it would be pretty cool to throw up a large image preview on the Vision Pro. Would solve the glare and bright light issue.

[@thecaveofthedead]

It's weird that a company that built them for decades didn't put a collapsing hood on the display to deal with the brightness - just like they used to do with their reflex viewfinders. It would have matched the styling very easily.

[@tanzexun]

Hey lads, thanks for the video! Perhaps it might be good to check how you're using the C-stand turtle base - weight should be over the tallest leg! Cheers from hot and humid Singapore!

[@jaegerschtulmann]

Another camera for a Dentist or Lawyer =(.

[@hush-615]

"Is this camera good enough for taking pictures of my children?"

[@jameshenry6855]

Indeed haha their target market

[@jaimeduncan6167]

Many photographers use them, many that are better than you 🤣 Also others use them because they are sports or commercial photographers and want to change when they are doing personal projects. In any case, the random Dentist or Lawyer is not going to be able to use it, a top-of-the-line Canon or Fuji are better for them. The Hasselblads requiere time and dedication. A rich, really devoted amateur is going to love it. That is wonderful, because the photography industry depends on aficionados to survive.

[@MichaelRichards983]

How about working hard and saving for it.....what a loser!

[@niccollsvideo]

I bet you that there are some excellent photographers who happen to be dentist that just can’t catch a break! 😄

[@escornwell]

I get grams, ounces and pounds. What is this measure of weight "plena"?

[@EquatorialVillager]

half a noct 😊

[@jlwilliams]

This Hasselblad only seems gratuitous because outdoorsman Chris wants to pitch it as a landscape camera… one that can't be used in bright sun, rain, or snow, lol. Wrong lane! The people who should be all over this are those who get to spend all day in a studio shooting strobe-lit photos of fashion models, brides, babies, etc. - for them, the leaf-shutter lenses are perfect, the compact size allows plenty of mounting flexibility, and the image quality is obviously stellar (oops, shouldn't have said “stellar” in the same breath as “Hasselblad”…) Price? Hey, it's just one more thing to depreciate. I'm not the target consumer for this thing, but I wish I were…

[@niccollsvideo]

JL you know I said it would be excellent in a studio situation as well. Come on now. I just wanted to do some landscapes with it.

[@jlwilliams]

@@niccollsvideo I know you did, but it seemed as if a lot of commenters weren't picking up on that and were harping on its non-suitability for other stuff. Besides, no indoor example pics of adorable offspring/pets/etc. ☹️

[@niccollsvideo]

@@jlwilliams You got it. I’ll remember next time!

[@Giovanni-Giorgio]

How does the 100 MP quality compare to the 96 MP mode of a panasonic s5II for example?

[@Kamukix]

I have compared the pixel shift of the S5ii, S1, S1R and X-T5 to the GFX 50S and 100S native images. The pixel shift modes are really nice to have and are a noticeable jump up in detail, color fidelity, and noise performance...but I still prefer the GFX native output to them all. The S1R pixel shift is pretty crazy though with the 187mp file sizes, and it's incredible that you can do those shifts in-camera on the Panasonic bodies. I did like that the S5ii had a handheld mode too with two different file sizes available. It's a really great camera. I once did a pixel shift with my GFX 100S, just to see how silly it would be from the already ludicrous 102mp files. The SINGLE shot from that is almost 2 gigs each lmao. What a crazy thing to be able to do. If you do have the S5ii, I can say that the pixel shift files on a tripod (how I shot them all), are very good and produce surprising detail if you have a scene that's very still. If Panasonic does actually comes out with an S1Rii and it's got the real-time lut for photography and a few other features from the S5ii...my wallet might be open again, because I love the S1R and having some of the modern stuff from the S5ii while retaining the form factor of the S1R that would be extremely hard to ignore.

[@robertgrenader858]

In my opinion, I think this system is totally unsuited for landscape photography. If I was a studio shooter, this would be the bomb.

[@tomleiningerphoto]

The 28 makes it a digital super wide?

[@PetaPixel]

It makes it a 23mm full frame equivalent, so not extremely wide.

[@benjhaisch]

It’s so fun

[@robertalexander2478]

That’s with the lens right

[@honestinjin10]

Why would you need 100mp? Sorry for asking, because I’m not a commercial photographer, so I’d really like to know the benefits. TIA

[@NoahBershatsky]

Interesting thing. Compared to other reviews of this camera, Chris isn’t over hyping it. He’s giving a well balanced review and a lot of technical stuff. Other reviewers gushed ridiculously and fawned all over this camera. Using a tripod is a deal breaker for me regardless of price.

[@niccollsvideo]

Thanks Noah. That’s what we try to do, and I appreciate the support.

[@unn4medfeel1ng]

Well it's not that you sign a contract to only shoot with tripod while buying the camera, landscape photography is often done with a tripod anyway

[@Vedrajrm]

What’s the song

[@fotografalexandernikolis]

Still a mystery to me why proper cameras today still don't get OLED screens that can be much brighter outside. Even cheap phones have OLED nowadays.

[@JordanAnthonyMagtoto]

What tripod.

[@markburgess276]

You can out it in a Blad 500 C but no one talks about the crop factor. This is not a 6*6 sensor.

[@Snakebloke]

Forget the camera, _where_ is that bridge?!?! That view is INSANE! :o Edit: Oh, you said... _Canmore Engine Bridge, Canmore, Alberta, Canada._

[@ahrayliu]

If Leica can make a film back like this for M3 , M6 , M7 and MP

[@kyderoy]

Which tripod and head are you using?

[@niccollsvideo]

The is the Leofoto Mr Q and LH40 head. I like it a lot and its size for me, although a little short for taller users than me.

[@cryptobyt2403]

Form factor wise. This cam is the best for street and photo arts shoot, better than apsc and pancake (street) and rangefinder ovf (photo artist)

[@MP-ul]

omg you should take a 360 and then make a 3d scan out of those pictures =))

[@johnweir-w2f]

Big fan of Chris, but maybe next week they could review a rolls royce? Or maybe the next gulfstream jet? In just 2 days, more people viewed this video than the number of people who exist in the tax-bracket that this camera is aimed at. Hasselblad make about 10k cameras a year. Most people will never ever see this camera in person, let alone be able to buy one.

[@Photobuffeddy1314]

10 grand camera yay .. 😁

[@KofieBluejay]

Can someone explain to me the point of this camera (besides looking cool)? For real, I’m not sure. Like this is definitely pictures you can take with the same quality with a Sony A7R5, or even some medium formats Fujis. Hell, even the X2D. Is this just a cool expensive toy, like a Rolls Coupé?

[@Photobuffeddy1314]

This and Leica + Extra Caffeine Cash addiction pay gas ..⛽️ lol 😂

[@ilaion11]

"Over on the old channel"...😅

[@adrianrubi5012]

Rich man’s hobby camera.