cameras

HASSELBLAD X1D - Review & Sample Images / December 6, 2016 by Benjamin Traves

HASSELBLAD X1D - Review and Sample Images

Hasselblad X1D image via Hasselblad's website

The Hasselblad X1D is revolutionary. Though it has been built around an existing Hasselblad 50 megapixel sensor, almost everything else is brand new. No more Sony Baloney from them. This is an actual new product. It's also a new product category, really, because it's technically "medium format mirrorless" which (other than in the film days) has not been done. In the hand, you can see they borrowed a bit from the design of the Leica T, but they've improved on the grip of that camera by making it rubber and also adding a nice "thumb bump" on the back.

It fits in the hand perfectly. It's relatively light. It's medium format. What's not to like?

Well, the interface is a bit odd and clunky. Keep in mind, I'm only using a pre-production (not final) version of the camera so I imagine they will iron out the quirks by the time you get one. That being said, I'll update this review once I'm able to use a finished version. Firmware will be an important part of this camera's success or failure.

The hardware seems great. If they can just get the software to work properly then this ought to be a great little camera.

Limited lens selection right now, and don't even think of putting Hasselblad's huge H series lenses on this camera, that defeats the purpose of it.

* If you are interested in ordering one, let me know. I work for an authorized Hasselblad dealer. There are no ads on my website because I am in professional camera sales, meaning I personally can handle any purchases you'd like to make. If you would like to speak on the phone or via email about what camera / lenses to get, simply Contact Me and we can talk.

This is a rolling review, as are most of the ones I publish. I work on them and add to them when I have time. More samples coming soon!

Quick snapshot out the window when I first picked up the camera.

** I apologize for the delay in posting more sample images. Unfortunately my access to the prototype has been limited lately. More photos will be posted as soon as I can get my hands on the camera **

These are samples from the Hasselblad 50c digital back, but not from the X1D... Still, it's the same sensor so I thought I'd include these for reference:

* IMPORTANT: If you think you may want to buy an X1D once it is released, feel free to contact me and I'll add you to the waiting list at an authorized Hasselblad dealer (where I work). Yes, it helps me if you choose to give me your business but I still provide my honest opinions on the cameras and lenses I review. Thank you for your support!

Leica X-U is here! Now you really can always have a Leica with you! / January 21, 2016 by Benjamin Traves

The Leica X-U (photo by Leica Camera AG)

The best camera is the one that's with you, unless you've ever owned an underwater compact camera. The Leica X-U is about to change all that. Nothing on the market has ever inspired much confidence in terms of image quality, even if the waterproofing and shock resistance were neat (often essential) features. Not since the Nikonos (film) series has anything compact been worthwhile for serious underwater photos. Not counting the pro standard of using a DSLR in an underwater housing, this is the best possible underwater / outdoor adventure camera.

Even if you do count housed DSLRs as an option (typically double the cost of your camera by itself), consider that this new Leica X-U has an APS-C sensor, the same as in most DSLRs on the market today. So, what are you giving up, really? Interchangeable lenses (I would have probably put a 35mm lens on mine anyway). An optical viewfinder (difficult to use underwater) and you'll still have Live View so that's roughly the same. AND, this has macro mode plus a built-in macro flash, so no dorky, bulky flash arms protruding from either side of your heavy, borderline unmanageable underwater housing rig. In short, this camera packs a lot in a small form factor.

A visit to either the Florida Keys or maybe even the Bahamas seems necessary now...

Fujifilm X100T Review and Sample Images / November 4, 2015 by Benjamin Traves

Fujifilm X100T

The Fujifilm X100T (aka "Fuji" X100T) is the culmination of three generations of improvements to the same essential camera concept. It is what I would call a "companion camera" as it has a certain sentimental pull combined with relatively light weight and ease of use. The APS-C sensor (same size as found in most DSLRs) is a bonus, as the real joy of this camera is the extremely well-designed control layout and incredibly useful (and I might add, revolutionary) viewfinder.

Buy this camera for the viewfinder. Not the sensor, it's great but not rare. The optical / electronic viewfinder is what makes the Fuji X100T different. It's easy to go a bit crazy reading specifications online for all the different cameras you may be considering as a future purchase. Don't do that with this camera, it won't really give you a proper idea of why it is so good.

The image quality has not changed since the last version, the X100S (or so I've gathered, although I did not own that camera). So don't worry about image quality, it's great. Image quality doesn't mean anything at all if you miss the capture of the image due to fumbling with controls on your camera. That won't happen with this Fuji.

The controls on the Fuji X100T are intuitive and tactile. The dials are especially nice. Autofocus is good. Image playback doesn't lag (at least not with the fast SD card I was using). Image quality is not the standout feature of this camera, in my opinion, because there are many APS-C sensor options out there and most are fairly good. The ability to use both optical and electronic viewfinders (both with information overlays which can be customized) is a very, VERY cool feature. Other than the Leica M, which has the option to add an EVF on the hot shoe in addition to the built-in optical rangefinder, I don't know of many cameras that could be said to have both an optical and an electronic viewfinder option.

Speaking of the Leica M, what has always intrigued me about the Fuji is that everyone likes to compare it to Leica cameras. I work with both Leica rangefinders and compacts on a regular basis at Leica Store Miami (they do not endorse/sponsor my posts here, this is a personal blog). The Fuji and the Leica are very different animals. I will explain.

1. The Leica M series are MANUAL FOCUS. You ought to see the look of surprise some customers give me when I explain this.

2. The Leica M series are optical rangefinder cameras, though they now have Live View and the option to add an EVF on top (Leica M and M-P)

3. The Leica M and a 35mm f/2 Summicron lens will cost you over $10,000 (plus tax) and the new Fuji X100T (with a lens) is $1,299

4. The Leica M is compatible with the full range of M lenses. The Fuji X100T does not have interchangeable lenses (not that the lens it comes with is bad, it's actually great, but you can't change it later on and that's an important consideration).

5. Lots of other reasons. Doesn't mean either camera is good or bad, but they are definitely different. Although I won't deny seeing a certain resemblance, don't forget the M cameras have been around for 60 years and the look of the camera has remained true to its origins ever since.

Fuji X100T perched on top of a Leica M (typ 240) with 35mm f/2 Summicron lens

Fuji versus Leica...

Sample images... more coming soon!

New Leica S (typ 007) Review & Sample Images / August 25, 2015 by Benjamin Traves

The brand new (but announced 11 months ago) Leica S typ 007 is finally here! I plan on borrowing one from Leica Store Miami as soon as possible for sample image purposes, although I've already held one and played around with it a bit. Should be able to take one for a spin fairly soon, so stay tuned.

My first impression from using the new S (typ 007): It is VERY FAST. Absolutely the fastest medium format camera I've ever used in my life. I have used everything from the original Leica S2 to the Phase One IQ180 and newer IQ3/XF body from Phase (not counting Hasselblad here because they are not user friendly whatsoever), and I can tell you this new S is phenomenal. And they dropped the price from the originally planned $25,000 to $16,900!!!

Everyone currently waiting for one this past year will be happy to hear that it is not only worth the wait, but comes with a very, very good price point. There are some caveats though, and I'm hearing that the warranty situation will work differently than with past S cameras. More on that soon, once I confirm with Leica.

So, the takeaway from this: Unquestionably the best medium format camera to actually use. Image quality looks phenomenal on a retina MacBook Pro. You can decide for yourself, very soon.

Image samples:

Sony A7R II Review and Sample Images / August 5, 2015 by Benjamin Traves

My review of the Sony A7R II is here! (Well, a rolling review which I will be constantly updating)

So, the elephant in the room, which every review will address: It has a 42 megapixel sensor. Yes, that is a ton of pixels. Last month I tested out Phase One's newest beast (the IQ3 digital back with the new XF camera body) which has 80 megapixels. And of course Canon now has over 50 megapixels with the 5Ds/R so it's really not that crazy for Sony to go with 42 for their flagship shooter.

I am curious to see how this new A7R II compares with the Sony A7 II and Sony RX1 as well as my Canon 5D Mk III. A friend of mine has a ton of Sony gear so I should be able to test it with a wide variety of lenses to really see which ones are best for it. Honestly, there isn't much similar to this camera in terms of a fair comparison because it's just so unusual. No mirror, full frame, interchangeable lenses (and adapters for almost any other brand of lens you might want to put on it), plus it's weather sealed so you can go outside and play. Oh, and by the way, it shoots 4K video and can record it internally, unlike the A7S.

The 42 megapixel sensor is certainly interesting, though really not a huge difference in terms of image size from the previous generation of 36 megapixel sensors. I think the real key difference will be in dynamic range and low-light performance. That, and the ability to crop with an APS-C factor, which still leaves you with a very usable 18 megapixels.

** OK, so probably the most interesting thing about the new Sony A7R II that I've noticed so far is that, unlike with most other cameras, this one seems to have files that look much better on the computer than they did on the camera LCD screen. Usually, when you go out and take some pictures, you look at them on the camera and they seem great, then maybe just ok once you put them on the computer. Not so with this new Sony. It reminds me of the medium format Hasselblad and Phase One cameras I've used in the past, because on those the picture is barely even worth looking at on the rear LCD (which is why most pros shoot tethered to a laptop when using medium format digital backs like those) but once you see them on the computer the images are mind-blowing and incredibly detailed with outstanding colors and quality.

I will be working on this review and posting more text soon, but in the mean time you can check out some quick sample images below:

Pretty impressed with the little Sony/Zeiss 55mm f/1.8 and I'm looking forward to testing the new Zeiss Batis lenses soon. I'm a long-time Canon L user and the bokeh from the 50mm f/1.2 L glass is a bit smoother, although this Sony/Zeiss lens is far sharper wide open.

The colors from this sensor are phenomenal, with no adjustments needed.

I also tested the APS-C crop mode, which gives you the look of a longer lens (although it is not the same optically). Still, if you are using a fixed focal length and you don't have anything else with you (like me when I happened to see this peacock wandering around) it's nice to make the 55mm into an effective 82.5mm lens with the APS-C mode (multiply your focal length by 1.5x to figure out the conversion, i.e. a 35mm lens becomes a 52.5mm and so on).

Crop of the photo above this one. This was a "Normal" quality JPEG (I didn't remember to switch to RAW+JPEG until right after this, sadly)

And another quick crop test, this one was taken by my friend with his Sony 70-200mm f/4 (through a window, from his apartment on the 15th floor) while we were testing out the gear:

See the rectangle? That's approximately a 100% crop...

And here's the cropped image. I did not make an effort to recover the highlights. The boat is only over exposed due to the darkness of the water around it, which is most of the original image. Anyway, if this is your boat, be sure to say hi in the c… — And here's the cropped image. I did not make an effort to recover the highlights. The boat is only over exposed due to the darkness of the water around it, which is most of the original image. Anyway, if this is your boat, be sure to say hi in the comments :)

Now, for a high-ISO test... this next one is ISO 4000 at f/4.5 and 1/250th

Another shot at ISO 4000 (and keep in mind I set Noise Reduction to Low in camera and also sharpened this to +50 in Lightroom) — Another shot at ISO 4000 (and keep in mind I set Noise Reduction to Low in camera and also sharpened this to *+50* in Lightroom)

This one was shot with the relatively new Sony/Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 mounted on the Sony A7R II

The capabilities of this camera are truly astounding. I'm looking forward to doing much more shooting in the next few days, and of course I will be posting more images as well as my thoughts and impressions of this beast.

More images coming soon!

Also testing out the 4K video...