Hasselblad CFV 100c + Hasselblad 503CW | Digital Back + Medium Format Film Camera

In this video I demonstrate how to shoot the NEW Hasselblad CFV 100c Digital Back on a medium format film camera with a classical Carl Zeiss lens. The camera body I am using is the legendary Hasselblad 503CW. Of course I also show sample images to provide evidence that these old Carl Zeiss lenses actually can resolve the 100MP resolution of the CFV 100c.
Related videos on my channel:
NEW Hasselblad 907X CFV 100c | All you need to know:
• NEW Hasselblad 907X CF...
Analog Film Hasselblad 503CW + CFV II 50c Hasselblad Digital Back:
• Analog Film Hasselblad...
Music & Sounds (if applicable):
epidemicsound.com (licensed)
storyblocks.com (licensed)
motionarray.com (licensed)
#Hasselblad

[@mikelyon5595]

What a fun combination! I hope you enjoy it!

[@mathphotographer]

I truly do :)

[@davidselby8115]

Another superbly informative video. Thank you

[@mathphotographer]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@christofferbersau6929]

Best review channel! Hope to see some more sample images from the vintage lenses

[@RamonVaqueroImage]

So enjoyable video, and beautiful stuff!

[@mathphotographer]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@peterkagan1116]

I have come to count on you for crisp technical demonstrations combined with a deadpan delivery of (what I find to be funny) your very occasional bone-dry asides. Perhaps I hear it that way because my mother was Swiss and my half-siblings all have similar accents. The information as precise and time-conscious as a Rolex, but with enough warm appreciation of the aesthetics to make me yearn for my mother's geschnetzeltes...Of course Peace out.

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks Peter, what a nice comment, like it a lot :) Wish you a great start of this new week and ... PEACE OUT :)

[@blazerbarrel2]

Now we need to see more images from the 503cw and all the cf lenses to compare new Digital lenses . Own the same v system and most of the lenses . Nice review , keep going !

[@mathphotographer]

Many thanks and more to come :)

[@PeterAKnipp]

Thank you for the very informative and educational detailed video! Have most of the gear (my 100 stuck in Germany, as Hasstlblad’s Asia distribution system totally sucks) but once I get the back, I will give it the full work out! Can’t wait! 🙏🏻

[@dennislee8253]

Thank you, that was great.

[@wernermarxer]

Vielen herzlichen Dank für diese sehr professionellen und instruktiven Videos. Im April wird mich ein CFV 100 digital back erreichen. Freue mich das mit meiner 500 cm zu verwenden. 👍👍

[@mathphotographer]

Lieber Werner, dann ist die Vorfreude gross. Wünsche sehr viel Spass mit dem neuen Equipment ab April!

[@ducgerard2361]

One more great video! I like it Very much even I don t use Hasselblad! Great job!

[@mathphotographer]

Thank you very much, appreciate your kind words.

[@julioestebanperezescudero6246]

Very informative presentation! Thanks 😀 Maybe will be nice to test old and new lenses of the same focal length to see what is the difference side by side on the same subjet.

[@IcemanHK1331]

Thank you for this comprehensive explanation steps on using leaf shutter and electronic shutter when old mechanical V lenses are used with electronic CFV digital back. This will be helpful to me when I get the digital back to work with my 500 cm and SWC. I guess that when shooting in outdoor, the digital back can measure the auto exposure needed by manually adjusting the aperture ring of the V lenses since there is no electronic connection between the old lenses and the digital back?

[@mathphotographer]

Yes, if the mirror is up, the digital back looks through the camera body and lens and can measure light in the usual way. Thanks for your comment.

[@petermendelson5839]

Thank you. I think you can add metadata - in the live view screen there’s a question mark sign along the bottom (shown in your video), and if you click on that you can add information. I’m planning to use the CFV on an Alpa STC and Rodenstock 32mm - would love to see a video of using the new back on a tech cam if you have the time and desire to do it! The new back should avoid the color cast issues of the CFV 50c.

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks Peter, great comment, will try it out! Would not be the first camera where you can add metadata, well spotted!

[@dmitryersler8095]

Thank you for video! Please make some video about how to shoot tethered and via mobile phone. Sure it would be useful!

[@mathphotographer]

That's indeed a good idea :)

[@NickDevlinPhoto]

Great video - quick question: the white balance /colour tint looks different between the two test images. The Electronic Shutter images seems much warmer. Why is this?

[@cris_photography]

Cool video ;)

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks Cris :) Glad you liked it.

[@mhc2b]

Thank you for a comprehensive comparison. I own both the X2D digital as well as a legacy 501CM with several Zeiss lenses. I presumed that my legacy Zeiss CF lenses would perform admirably with the CFV-100 back. Glad you confirmed that. Lots of doubters on social media. This should keep them quiet! One point - Toward the very end of the video (around 19 min) you show a comparison screen taken with your 503CW/CFV100, using the leaf shutter on the left and electronic shutter on the right. There is a significant difference in color balance between the two. What would be causing that?

[@mathphotographer]

We are discussing the color balance in various comments already, I still do not know what happened here. Maybe the light between the different shots changed a bit in the image.

[@jean-claudemuller3199]

Hi Mat, you forgot to enter the Zeiss lens type used in the digital back, that's why Lightroom says "unknown" in place of the lens used ! You have to notice manually aperture and focus distance as future metadatas in Phocus to activate the dedicated lens optical correction. The lens type should already be in the files metadata if activated in the back. Unfortunately the CFVII 50c firmware update for XCD V lenses did not add the missing Zeiss lenses type EXIF and so you have to do it manually in Phocus with aperture and focus distance. Nice to see that the 503CW with its gliding mirror does not gives camera shake unsharpness, that's not the case with older bodies with the swinging mirror that have to be used with mirror prerelease for maximal sharpness.

[@mathphotographer]

Great comment, many thanks Jean-Claude. Your comment is spot-on.

[@kevin-parratt-artist]

For optimum results with that lens, the Macro-Planar, the recommendations published by the manufacturer are: Reproduction ratio 1:10 at f11. This also applies to the 135mm Macro-Planar, and of course the preceding models, S-Planar 120 f5.6 I also use the pre-release mirror-up on the body.

[@Photojouralist123]

Hi math, Got mine and I'm returning it ! Its a boat anchor! Can't even see the LCD screen in bright sunshine , it get to warm, my 45mm 3.5 won't even AF!!! got have 6 fingers to make exposure adjustments !!! Can't stand it X2D tons better for the same price.

[@RogerGaloubet]

Informative video as always. Apart from smaller legacy lenses I also have a FE350mm tele-tessar lens which I find I very sharp when attached to one of my X-system camera bodies. But the biggest drawback I find with this and my other legacy lenses is chromatic aberration. Phocus processing doesn't help much so I usually have to resort to Photoshop to help get rid of the magenta and green edges which is not ideal. Of course if I were producing B&W images (which I no longer do) it wouldn't matter. Btw my C500mm tele-tessar is even worse for chromatic aberration. I still have my ELM camera body but as yet haven't tried attaching my CFV 50C digital back. But you are dead right, the vertical viewfinder on old Hasselblad bodies beats the hell out of the digital LED displays in bright ambient light. Pity Hasselblad can't bring out a simple lightweight hood (similar to a legacy waist-level finder) to attach to the screens on the CFV and X2D cameras. Perhaps I'll make one myself!

[@jean-claudemuller3199]

Phocus dedicated lens correction removes completely CA of my Zeiss lenses, but you have to enter manually lens type, aperture and focusing distance in Phocus to activate it. You can also use Zeiss SA tele lenses that have natively zero CA. (I use the Sonnar 250 SA)

[@RogerGaloubet]

@@jean-claudemuller3199Oh I've tried that many times. It just doesn't work at least not with my FE350mm.

[@karstens.photography]

Thank you so much for this very informative video! I think there would be a lot of interest in testing additional Zeiss legacy lenses to see whether they can stand up to the 100MP sensor. I haven't seen anything out there on this. I have a good collection of Zeiss legacy lenses and live close by if you are interested :) I certainly would love to know the results...

[@mathphotographer]

Great suggestion!

[@riswanc]

Thanks for the video math, now im aware how to use the liveview function when paired with my 503cw, btw what cfexpress are you suggesting or using besides the agfaphoto? I encountered problem with exascend cfexpress

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks! I use various brands, never had an issue, to be honest.

[@davidlight2513]

When shooting with the leaf shutter how is the back synchronized? I don't believe the 503CW has the contacts for the back. Phase One requires an external sync. cable, how does the CFV operate. Thanks for your presentations.

[@ericwickfield1074]

And, of course, the follow-on video should be using our great Zeiss lenses on the 907x and X2D bodies with the Hasselblad XV adapter...🙂

[@mathphotographer]

Indeed :)

[@1956schoen]

Sehr gut erklärtes Video. Besten Dank dafür! Können die "alten" Hasselblad-Objektive an der Kamera 907x verwendet werden? Danke.

[@julioestebanperezescudero6246]

One question, can the flash be synchronized when the electronic shutter is used? Thanks if you can let me know.

[@PierreYvesLesage_web]

Matt, nice video. What is the brand of the remote you are using ?

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks Pierre. Actually, I do not know the brand of my cable release since there is absolutely nothing engraved or written on it. I purchased it at Ebay as a "Mamiya compatible", and it also works fine for the Hasselblad 500 series.

[@D_L_J_83]

Is there any way to shoot vertically with this combination? This sounded great but I shoot most of my photos vertically

[@user-ms8qg2rz5s]

What if the 907x mount on film back ?

[@TheTigers00001]

Can you do a video on the legendary Superachromat 250mm F5.6 combined with this 100MP back? It was thought of as the ultimate lens back in the day and was supposedly used for scientific work. It didn't have T* coating to allow all the wavelengths of lights to come through but was supposed to be super sharp. Thank you!

[@jean-claudemuller3199]

I use the Sonnar 250 SA on the 503CX and CFVII 50c for a long time. yes it has only single layer coating that gives zero CA in the visible range and low CA in IR and UV, this was a NASA requirement. When used correctly the fine details are equivalent to the XCD135 + extender (perhaps even better on the 100c) but it produces a lower contrast. This can be even an advantage for further image enhancing in Phocus compared to a native image with very (too) high contrast. The big issue with long tele lenses and the V system is the 1/500s shutter speed limit that gives always missing sharpness even on tripod when not using mirror prerelease. With the XCD 135 + extender there is no problem handheld on the mirrorless and 1/2000s The 250 SA gives even super sharp images with the Zeiss extender Mutar 2x. The problem with the extender is focusing at f:11 that's quite impossible even with the Acute Mate D screen. Solution is using live view focusing on a tripod and mirror prerelease.

[@dietmarwenzel2746]

Would you please make a video in the combination new 100 meg pix with a SWC.

[@mathphotographer]

I do not have access to an SWC, sorry. Otherwise would have loved to look into it.

[@dietmarwenzel2746]

@@mathphotographer what a pity. I love your videos, they are informativ and "emotionless". so i have to buy an 907x 100 myself to try it with my SWC . ggg

[@irangeles]

I’m within an inch of buying this. But I keep watching reviews, and I feel stupid. Can I just use it as a “film” back, change the ISO shot to shot, and have my lens do everything else? Like, does the back automatically KNOW I have taken an exposure, and get ready for the next one? (That’s my real question) Also, do you think that would change with using it on the 200/2000 series with the focal plane shutter? Thanks!

[@Sniper5354]

18:50 With due respect, Math, I think the image on the left (leaf shutter) has a slightly higher contrast and more 3-D pop than the one on the right (electronic shutter).

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks Sniper, interesting. I honestly stared at the two images side-by-side for a while in Lightroom and did not spot any differences. Maybe something coming from KZbin video compression? Would be strange. But in any case, if you think the leaf shutter image is superior, then I am happy to hear that since you heard my recommendation in the video to use the leaf shutter and not the electronic shutter of the digital back :)

[@Sniper5354]

@@mathphotographer The skin creases of the leather and the indentations on the silver hallmarks appear to be darker, and the chrome edge right above "Made in Sweden" seems to be more bulging.

[@mathphotographer]

@@Sniper5354Thanks, will check the images in LRC again.

[@kuau714]

I wonder why there was a. little color shift between the leaf shutter and the electronic shutter? Which cable release are you using and which tripod plate do you use o your Hasselblad V camera?

[@mathphotographer]

The tripod head on which the Hasselblad 500EL/M was mounted is the "Arca Swiss d4". The brand of the cable release I do not know, nothing engraved or written on it. Purchased it at Ebay as a "Mamiya compatible" and works fine for the Hasselblad 500 series. On color shift: interesting observation, in Lightroom I did not spot it. Thanks for your comment.

[@toddr.lockwood843]

So, when using the leaf shutter and strobe lighting, will the CFV 100c work correctly at 1/250 second?

[@mathphotographer]

I did not try it out but I hope so :)

[@luislunafoto]

Do you have sharable files? Where? Thanks!

[@hotsang9935]

Can use Swc on Cfv 100 ？？？

[@DeepestValue]

Would the back work on Mamiya RZ67 with a back adapter?

[@mathphotographer]

I use the Phase One IQ4 on Mamiya RZ67 Pro IID but it was hard to find the matching adapter. Did not watch out yet for an adapter for the CFV 100c.

[@kjell-oh7ez]

How much do you use the cameras, they are so clean as they are new?

[@mathphotographer]

I take care of my valuable gear :) The 500 series from Hasselblad does not go out with me under bad weather conditions in contrast to, for instance, my Hasselblad X2D which is very robust and resiliant.

[@edwardferry8247]

Get ready for legacy film camera bodies and old lenses prices to sky rocket.🚀

[@mathphotographer]

Yes - now is the time to invest in legacy lenses :)

[@MikePhumanaut]

I just want a basic smaller megapixel digital back that I can afford.

[@norberttolle6646]

Why is there a difference in colour between leaf shutter and electronic shutter?

[@jaimeduncan6167]

I also notice, I don't know if it was something that changed in the room or what.

[@mathphotographer]

In Lightroom on Macbook I was not able to spot any difference but will be happy to look again. If there is a slight difference, would be interesting if someone had an explanation for that? I honestly would not know why there should be any difference.

[@RamonVaqueroImage]

@@mathphotographer you've set auto WB, hence the color variation.

[@norberttolle6646]

I have now tested it myself with the X2D and the HC 2.2/100 mm. There is no visible color difference between the central shutter and the electronic shutter. Neither with auto WB nor with different apertures and ISO values. That calms me down. Something must have happened to the room light in your room. Or we have to think about the synchronization between CF lens, 503 and 100 C back

[@mathphotographer]

@@norberttolle6646Possible that the colors changed a bit on the LED stripes on the wall. As said in various comments, in Lightroom Classic the images look kind of the same. Don't know what happened here.

[@egenofrazier]

Do you prefer Lightroom over Phocus?

[@mathphotographer]

I hardly use Phocus, is likely a question of workflow, you stick to what you are used to. I use Phocus only if single pixels need to be calculated out of an image. I do use Capture One though but not for Hasselblad due to lack of compatibility between Capture One and Hasselblad RAW files.

[@maitreit1]

money~!

[@alfabravofilm]

Can I come and live with you?😄😄😄 It would be like being in a photographer's paradise.😇😇😇👍👍👍

[@mathphotographer]

Lol :) photographer's paradise indeed :)

[@alfabravofilm]

@@mathphotographer 🤝

[@rafibenatar2519]

I did similar test and legacy lenses can not resolve as xcd lenses 👍🏻

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks for your comment. I think it might depend on what legacy lens you are using. I only bought 2nd hand Zeiss lenses which are known for their incredible sharpness, and the macro lens used in this video is one of them :) Of course, the XCD lenses, in particular the newer ones are calculated for the Hasselblad X-sensors and will perform best on these cameras, spot-on.

[@rafibenatar2519]

@@mathphotographer I used 80mm and Cfi 50mm and Cfi100mm VS XCD 65mm

[@arkadert3950]

#HASSELBLAD907X 100CV

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks for the hashtag!

[@arkadert3950]

503CW LAST GLASSLENS ...50 YEAR PRODUCTIONS

[@mathphotographer]

:)

[@jimb2500]

Those old lenses can’t resolve 100mp sensor

[@mathphotographer]

Yes they can :) Astonishing but true. Same with some old Leica lenses, they can resolve enormous resolutions.

[@cameraprepper7938]

It is a mistake by DJI/"Hasselblad" that you cannot buy the back without a body and the price is too high. It is much better to get the X2D which have EVF and IBIS.

[@jaimeduncan6167]

Not really, the idea is moving the lenses too. It's not that expensive. What does not make sense is was the fixed lense Phase One at 63000 US$ and that is actually expensive. Even today the camera only costs more than 23K greens. The camera is produced at very low volumes, and with expensive components. So no great price and great camera. I agree that for some applications the X2D is better, and that is why they have both.

[@mathphotographer]

Good point. Currently thinking about a short video on "X2D vs 907X CFV 100c" and which photographer might prefer which camera for what reasons.

[@sgroadie6367]

@@jaimeduncan6167though I think the 907x should be optional, the overall process with the 100c back is quite reasonable. The biggest issue I have is if you want to shoot portrait format, it gets awkward.

[@norberttolle6646]

Frankly, the fact is that there is no point in using the CFV 100C on the old 500 system. The lenses from Carl Zeiss are far too bad for recording 100 MP. The only exception is perhaps the Distagon 4/40mm IF. A look at the MTF chart makes this immediately clear. Also a practical test. It is a marketing strategy to prove compatibility. Technically it didn't make sense with the 50 MP back, especially not with 100 MP. The old lenses were good in their day, but now things have evolved.

[@mathphotographer]

Not sure you are right, Norbert. With all due respect. The images speak a clear language and if I would post-process them they would look tack sharp and very very nice :) And the shooting experience with the CFV 100c on a Hasselblad 500 is just sooo vintage and so much fun :)

[@ericwickfield1074]

I'm afraid I can't agree with you, Norbert. I've been using my legacy Zeiss lenses on my X2D and been very happy with the results. And also very pleased when using my CFV back on my 503CW. Are the modern Hasselblad lenses better? In many respects, yes, just like the new Leica L lenses are better than the M; but the legacy Zeiss lenses are still superb and superb is, well, superb (just like the Leica M glass!)! Would you not use a terrific M lens on a SL2 just because the MTF chart for the L lens was "better"? I ran a rather comprehensive testing program, hoping the results would finally encourage me to sell my long-owned Zeiss lenses, but that did not turn out to be the case. The center sharpness was almost always indistinguishable, without consideration of wide open or stopped down, with the corners sometimes going to the newer Hasselblad glass. But contrast was terrific and sometimes superior with the Zeiss. The Zeiss lenses certainly held their own and sometimes out shined the XCD line. It's just silly not to avail yourself of such fine optics just based on a MTF chart. The MTF chart does not reveal character. 😃

[@norberttolle6646]

@@ericwickfield1074 I think you know what you're talking about, Eric. But I also own all the old Hasselblad/Zeiss lenses, from 30mm to 500mm, and I love them and I keep them and still use them for roll film. But never with X2D or CFV 50c. You can do that for a nostalgic photography experience, but I can't imagine a Zeiss lens being superior to any XCD lens. Another word about Leica. I borrowed the new M-Apo Summicron 2.0/50mm and a Leica M 11. This lens has hellish chromatic aberrations. It's a shame to bring such a product to market at this price. Leica offers a good photography experience, but is technically completely overrated. It has always been like this. That's why most Leicas are put in the display case. Professionals use other brands.

[@MarkMetternichPhotographyLLC]

It is my bet that people that will reply to you here will not reply to you with scientific data or specifics. They will reply to you with feelings. And I agree with you that all of the top end cameras of all formats now need much better lenses!

[@jasoncannon]

I have this exact set up as well. With the 80cfe you can get perfect sharp images. But I do prefer the new x lenses, of course they are perfectly intergrated with the cfv100c. Funny thing is because of your comment on this video I almost didn’t buy any of it. But in the end I tested it for myself and bought the 907/cfv100 combo

[@ejm922]

you bad man! shooting at 1/4 second you must use the mirror up first before pressing the shutter!

[@mathphotographer]

Image went well, no issues :) The leaf shutter in the lens is very remote from the sensor and with the cable release it goes well, actually up to 1sec exposure time.

[@vannoz66]

Hi math photographer. I love your videos but I don’t like your secrecy about yourself. Maybe I didn’t look correctly but I couldn’t find any informational whatsoever on who you are and what you do. Of course you are involved in photography but why can’t we see your portfolio? And about you I think you hinted at that you are a German living in Switzerland but that’s all. Ich finde das ganze ein bisschen unheimlich um ehrlich zu sein. Was hast du zu verbergen? Aber ich wette du wirst auch diesmal nich antworten… 😉

[@roybixby6135]

I'd love a CFV100c but not for work - compared to the H series the V is very slow and clumsy ...🦘

[@jean-claudemuller3199]

It's not that slow and clumsy with the 503 CW and winder or an ELM body, the big missing feature compared to H is autofocus. Famous Photographers like Demarchelier, Erwin Olaf, ... used their V series cameras with digital back a very long time after the H series launch.