Hasselblad Digital Camera User manual

The Hasselblad Manual

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The Hasselblad Manual
Seventh Edition
Ernst Wildi
AMSTERDAM • BOSTON • HEIDELBERG • LONDON
NEW YORK • OXFORD • PARIS • SAN DIEGO
SAN FRANCISCO • SINGAPORE • SYDNEY • TOKYO
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Contents
PREFACE xiii
1 HASSELBLAD FROM FILM TO DIGITAL 1
History of the Hasselblad Camera System 1
The Updated Camera System 2
Content in the New Hasselblad Manual 3
The Hasselblad Camera Systems 3
Selecting the Shutter Type and Camera Operation 5
Holding and Supporting the Camera 7
2 IMAGE SIZE AND FORMAT IN DIGITAL IMAGING AND FILM PHOTOGRAPHY 11
Digital Image Quality 11
Sensor Size and Focal Length of Lens 14
Image Size in Film Photography 14
Deciding on the Image Shape in Digital and Film Photography 19
3 DIGITAL IMAGING WITH HASSELBLAD 21
Digital or Film 21
Digital Imaging in the Medium Format 21
Hasselblad’s Advantages in Digital Imaging 22
Photography’s Two-stage Process 24
Recording a Perfect Image in the Camera 25
Helpful Computer Manipulations 28
Hasselblad Digital Cameras and Camera Backs 28
Hasselblad Digital Cameras 30
The Different Hasselblad Digital Backs 31
Hasselblad Film Cameras 32
Recording the Digital Image in the Camera 32
Lenses for Digital Recording 34
Digital Recording Media 36
File Formats 39
Digital Black and White Photography 39

vi Contents
4 OPERATING THE H CAMERAS FOR DIGITAL AND FILM PHOTOGRAPHY 42
The H Camera System Concept 42
Removing the Bottom Plate 45
Battery Operation 45
Audio Feedback System 47
Attaching and Removing Lenses 47
Viewfinders and Focusing Screens 47
Working with Film Magazines 49
Camera Operation 57
Photographing with the H Camera 62
Focusing the H Camera 63
Metering and Exposure Controls 67
Other Operating and Image Creating Controls 74
Custom Options 75
New Options on H3DII Camera Models 79
The User Button Functions 80
Flash Photography 81
The Use and Operation of Profiles 81
The Global Positioning System 82
5 CREATING THE DIGITAL IMAGE 83
Attaching and Detaching Digital Backs 83
Sensor Units on Different Cameras 84
Power Supply 85
Shutter Delay, Exposure Time, and Capture Sequence 87
Operating Controls on Digital Backs 88
Making the Settings on the Camera’s Powergrip 96
ISO and White Balance Settings on H3DII Cameras 96
Evaluating the Tonal Range and Exposure 98
Viewing Images 102
Copying Images 105
Deleting Images 105
Cleaning the Sensor Unit 106
The Phocus and Flexcolor Software Programs 107
Working with Phocus 111
6 THE 503 AND OTHER V SYSTEM CAMERAS AND COMPONENTS 124
Digital Imaging with V System Cameras 124
Hasselblad 500 Camera Models 124
Hasselblad 503 Camera Models 126
The Motor-driven EL Camera Models 126
The Hasselblad 200 Camera Models 127

Contents vii
The Hasselblad 2000/2003 Camera Models 128
The Hasselblad Superwide Cameras 128
The Hasselblad Flexbody and Arcbody Cameras 129
Recording the Image in 503 and Other V System Cameras 129
Checking the Camera Functions in 503 and Other V System Cameras 130
Component Interchangeability in the V System 130
Hasselblad Shutter Lenses On 503 and Other V System Cameras 130
Working with the V System Components on 503 and Other V System Cameras 132
7 VIEWFINDERS AND FOCUSING SCREENS 138
Viewfinders for Digital Imaging 138
Focusing Screens 139
Area Coverage on the Focusing Screen 142
Viewfinders 143
Suggestions for Accurate Focusing 144
Selecting a Viewfinder 145
8 SELECTION AND USE OF FILM MAGAZINES 154
The H System Film Magazines 154
V System Magazines 154
V System Rollfilm Magazine Types 155
Using V System Magazines 155
Use and Application of the Instant Film Magazines 159
9 OPERATING 503 AND OTHER V SYSTEM CAMERAS 163
Operating the 503 and Other V System Cameras for Digital Imaging 163
The Basic Camera/magazine Operation 163
Operating the 503cw Winder 163
Setting Aperture and Shutter Speeds 167
Distance Setting 170
Releasing the 503 and Other V System Camera Models 170
Pre-releasing the Cameras 173
Producing Double or Multiple Exposures 173
10 OPERATING EL CAMERAS FOR DIGITAL AND FILM PHOTOGRAPHY 178
Batteries 178
Operating EL Cameras 180
11 THE SUPERWIDE CAMERAS 187
Basic Camera Operation 187
The Superwide for Digital Imaging 187
Holding the Camera 190

viii Contents
Viewing with the Superwide 190
Leveling the Camera 190
Focusing the Superwide Cameras 191
12 OPERATING THE 200 CAMERAS FOR DIGITAL IMAGING AND FILM PHOTOGRAPHY 197
Digital Imaging with 200 Camera Models 197
Releasing the Camera 197
Film Advance and Shutter Cocking 200
Operation of Film Magazines 201
Setting the Shutter Type and Shutter Speed 201
Selecting and Operating Lenses 202
The Metering System 203
The Viewfinder Display 205
Programming the Camera Functions 207
The Metering Operation 208
The Zone System Theory 212
Electronic Flash 214
13 FLEXBODY, ARCBODY, AND PC MUTAR FOR DIGITAL IMAGING AND FILM PHOTOGRAPHY 216
FlexBody,ArcBody, and PC Mutar for Digital Photography 216
Applications for the FlexBody, ArcBody, and PC Mutar 218
Using the Tilt Control 220
The Shift Control 222
Close-up Photography with the Flexbody 224
Viewing, Focusing, and Evaluating The Image 224
Taking a Picture with the FlexBody and ArcBody 224
The PC Mutar Teleconverter 225
14 LENS CHARACTERISTICS AND SPECIFICATIONS 233
The Technical Part that You Must Know About Lenses 233
Focal Length 233
Covering Power 237
Lens Quality 237
Distortions 246
Lens Design and Lens Names 248
Wide Angle Lens Designs 253
Telephoto Designs 255
Internal Focusing 256
H System CF Lens Adapter 256
Characteristics and Use of Teleconverters 258
Protecting Your Lenses 262
The Creative Part that Helps You Produce Better Photographs 262

Contents ix
Lenses for Area Coverage 262
Changing Perspective 263
Selective Backgrounds 265
Effective Wide Angle Photography 266
Correcting Verticals 267
Effective Fish-eye Images 268
Using the Zoom Lens for Creative Purposes 270
15 ACHIEVING PERFECT EXPOSURES IN DIGITAL AND FILM PHOTOGRAPHY 273
Determining Exposure in Digital Imaging 273
Deciding on the Metering Method 274
Metering Modes 275
Metering Approaches with Built-in and Reflected Exposure Meters 278
Lighted and Shaded Areas 283
Exposing Digital Images 283
Using Different Metering Systems 285
Bracketing 288
Exposure with Filters and Close-up Accessories 288
The Hasselblad Metering Systems 289
16 CONTROLS FOR CREATING EFFECTIVE IMAGES ON FILM OR DIGITALLY 299
Aperture Control 299
Controls for Creating Images 301
Depth-of-field 302
Photographing Groups 308
Background Sharpness 309
Creative Use of the Lens Aperture 310
Selection of Shutter Speed 312
Aperture and Shutter Speed Operation 316
17 UNDERSTANDING LIGHT AND FILTERS 317
Filters in Digital Imaging 317
Reasons for Using Filters 318
Partial Filtering 319
Polarizing Filters 321
The Color Quality of Light 324
Exposure Increase 326
Polarizing Filters Over Light Sources 326
Quality of Filters 328
Soft Focus Effects 330
Visible and Invisible Light 331