Hasselblad H4D Features 60 Megapixel Medium Format Sensor

With the release of the new H4D-60, the first H4D camera and most recent addition to the Hasselblad H System, Hasselblad marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history of medium format DSLRs. The H4D-60 will feature True Focus with APL (Absolute Position Lock), making auto-focus substantially easier and more accurate for photography professionals.

As part of the celebration honoring the first manned lunar landing and the first lunar photography, camera manufacturer Hasselblad is announcing another first, the launch of the H4D camera series. The first model in the new series is the H4D-60, featuring a 60 Megapixel medium format sensor.

“We are thrilled to be able to announce the introduction of the H4D,” says Christian Poulsen, CEO of Hasselblad. “This step represents the natural evolution of our H System and of our photographic strategy in general. As part of our efforts to inspire 35mm photographers to step up to the quality found in high-end DSLRs, the H4D series is built upon the successful H3D platform and features our revolutionary True Focus technology. The H4D also comes bundled with our new Phocus 2.0 imaging software.”

True Focus and Absolute Position Lock

“True Focus helps solve one of the most lingering challenges that faces serious photographers today,” he continues, “true, accurate focusing throughout the image field. Without multi-point auto-focus a typical auto-focus camera can only correctly measure focus on a subject that is in the center of the image. When a photographer wants to focus on a subject outside the center area, they have to lock focus on the subject and then re-compose the image. In short distances especially, this re-composing causes focus error, as the plane of focus sharpness follows the camera’s movement, perpendicular to the axis of the lens.”

The traditional solution for most DSLRs has been to equip the camera with a multi-point AF sensor. These sensors allow the photographer to fix an off-center focus point on an off-center subject, which is then focused correctly. Such multi-point AF solutions are often tedious and inflexible to work with, however, and do not really solve the problem, claims Poulsen.

“Photographers have grown accustomed to using auto-focus systems in their day to day work and we see increasingly higher numbers of focus points advertised in each new wave of AF products. The term ‘multi-point auto-focus’ is a bit misleading, however, for cameras with sensors larger than APS,” claims Poulsen. “Due to the physics of an SLR-camera, the off-center focus points that are offered are all clustered relatively close to the center of the image. To set focus outside of this center area, the photographer is still forced to focus first, and then shift the camera to reframe, with the resulting loss of focus as a result.

To overcome this problem, Hasselblad has used modern yaw rate sensor technology to measure angular velocity in an innovative way. The result is the new Absolute Position Lock (APL) processor, which forms the foundation of Hasselblad’s True Focus feature. The APL processor accurately logs camera movement during any re-composing, then uses these exact measurements to calculate the necessary focus adjustment, and issues the proper commands to the lens’s focus motor so it can compensate. The APL processor computes the advanced positional algorithms and carries out the required focus corrections at such rapid speed that no shutter lag occurs. The H4D’s firmware then further perfects the focus using the precise data retrieval system found on all HC/HCD lenses.

“This technology takes AF to an entirely new level, correcting for the vertical and horizontal focus-shift that results from the rotation of the camera around an axis close to camera,” says Poulsen, “In simple terms, True Focus allows the photographer to concentrate on their composition, to focus on their creativity, while True Focus takes care of the other, more mechanical focus.”

True Focus on the H4D can be set to work at a half press of the camera release button, or via any user button programmed to AF-drive when the camera is in manual focus mode. This, the first release of True Focus, only corrects the horizontal and vertical positioning of the camera, and does not correct for any focus-shift which results from larger lateral movements of the camera during recomposing. The True Focus technology and APL (both patent pending) mark a significant milestone for Hasselblad’s high-end DSLR strategy and represent the result of many years of development work.

Faster Software, Shorter Learning Curve

The new user interface in Phocus 2.0 drastically reduces the learning curve for high-end imaging. The average photographer will be up to speed in less than 15 minutes, claims Hasselblad CEO Christian Poulsen. Functionality has not been lowered, however, with Phocus 2.0 matching or bettering the speed, functions, and usability found in Lightroom, Aperture, and Capture One.

“We’ve increased speed, increased functionality, and dramatically increased the speed at which photographers can learn to use this advanced software,” says Poulsen. “In less than 5 minutes an amateur photographer can learn to work with our images. In less than 10 minutes, learn how to setup for production of high-res files for Photoshop. In less than 20 minutes learn how to shoot tethered as a professional studio photographer. The new version of Phocus is just another step in our efforts to make complex functionality simple to use, allowing photographers to focus on their shooting.”

This philosophy lies behind a range of the features found in the H4D, including Hasselblad Natural Color Solution (HNCS), which achieves consistent color reproduction using a single color profile, and digital lens correction (DAC) which perfects each image captured through the HC/HCD lenses, by removing any trace of distortion, vignetting or chromatic aberrations. It was also the key motivation for what will surely be the most attractive feature in the new H4D, Hasselblad True Focus, explains Poulsen.

The Hasselblad H4D-60 will be available for delivery in January 2010 at a price of 28,995 €. The Hasselblad H4D-50 will replace the H3DII-50. Delivery of the H4D-50 will begin in Q1, 2010 at a price of 19,995 €. H3DII-50 cameras purchased between now and Q1, 2010 will be upgraded to the H4D-50 free of charge. A program is also being announced for owners of H3D-31 and H3D-39 cameras to step up onto the H4D platform.

Raising the bar from H3D

Expanding on the great feature set of the H3D camera-line, Hasselblad introduces a set of new camera features with the H4D-60:

• new 3” double-res (460.320 pixels) TFT 24bit color display with large viewing angle
• new camera electronics delivering the basis for True Focus and ultra fast Auto Focus
• new True Focus auto-focus system with Absolute Position Lock with new camera controls
• new improved AF assist lights for working in dark environments
• new 90 MB/sec read-write performance on Extreme Pro cards from Sandisk
• new rear uni-body housing for improved local servicing

The H4D-60 camera system has been especially designed to meet demands for both flexibility and ultimate image quality. This includes:

• highest image resolution from 60Mpixel sensor
• the freedom to choose between eye-level and waist-level view-finders
• the choice of combining point-and–shoot and tilt/shift to solve creative commercial challenges
• the ability to combine working tethered and un-tethered to get the most of your camera system both on location and in the studio
• the option of processing your raw images in Hasselblad’s Phocus imaging toolbox, or working with your raw images directly in Apple or Adobe imaging environments.

The H4D-60 features a CCD sensor measuring 40,2 × 53,7mm - more than twice the physical size of the largest 35mm DSLR sensors. Basic ISO rating is from ISO 50 to ISO 800. The H4D-60 makes use of a new high speed capture architecture capturing full size, compressed 80Mbyte images at the rate of 1.1 seconds per capture, working either mobile or tethered to a computer.

The combination of these features makes the H4D-60 the natural choice for the professional commercial photographer wanting to work with the highest image resolution within a camera system that supports ultimate creative expression in order to deliver outstanding image quality to satisfy the most demanding customer.

Medium Format digital capture advantage

In digital photography, the advantages of large format cameras have become even more obvious. The 6 × 4.5 cm window allows the H4D-60 to use the largest image sensors currently available in digital photography. Consequently the sensor holds more pixels, which deliver the highest possible image quality in terms of moiré-free color rendering without gradation break-ups in even the finest lit surfaces.

An impressive lens line outperforming the Carl Zeiss icons

The highly renowned HC/HCD lens line includes 11 Auto-Focus lenses, all with central lens shutters. Range is from 28mm to 300mm, 35-90 mm zoom, 50-110mm zoom, and 1.7X converter. The HTS 1.5 tilt/shift adapter delivers an easy to use, portable tilt/shift solution for 5 HC/HCD lenses ranging from 28mm to 100mm. The central shutter, with flash sync speed up to 1/800s, also improves image quality by reducing camera vibration.

The CF adapter allows use of the classic CF-lenses from the Hasselblad V-camera, with full use of their central shutters, allowing flash to be employed at shutter speeds up to 1/500s. And thanks to the large format of the H System cameras, there is a considerably shallower depth of field range, making it much easier to utilize selective focus to creative effect.

A choice of large and bright viewfinders

One of the important traditional advantages of the medium format is the extra-large and bright viewfinder image, enabling extremely precise compositions and easy operation in dim lighting. The H4D-60 comes with the HV 90x viewfinder designed for full performance over the large sensor. Hasselblad has added an interchangeable waist-level viewfinder, the HVM, for the entire range of H system cameras. The bright and large viewfinder image is ideal for creative composing and the photographer is able to shoot in the fashion that suits them most; maintaining eye contact with the model, or gaining impact by shooting from a point lower than eye-level, for example.

True Focus and Absolute Position Lock

True Focus helps solve one of the most lingering challenges that faces serious photographers today: true, accurate focusing throughout the image field. Without multi-point auto-focus a typical auto-focus camera can only correctly measure focus on a subject that is in the center of the image. When a photographer wants to focus on a subject outside the center area, they have to lock focus on the subject and then re-compose the image. In short distances especially, this re-composing causes focus error, as the plane of focus sharpness follows the camera’s movement, perpendicular to the axis of the lens.

The traditional solution for most DSLRs has been to equip the camera with a multi-point AF sensor. These sensors allow the photographer to fix an off-center focus point on an off-center subject, which is then focused correctly. Due to the physics of an SLR-camera, the off-center focus points that are offered are all clustered relatively close to the center of the image. To set focus outside of this center area, the photographer is still forced to focus first, and then shift the camera to reframe, with the resulting loss of focus as a result. To overcome this problem, Hasselblad has used modern yaw rate sensor technology to measure angular velocity in an innovative way. The result is the new Absolute Position Lock (APL) processor, which forms the foundation of Hasselblad’s True Focus feature. The APL processor accurately logs camera movement during any re-composing, then uses these exact measurements to calculate the necessary focus adjustment, and issues the proper commands to the lens’s focus motor so it can compensate. The APL processor computes the advanced positional algorithms and carries out the required focus corrections at such rapid speed that no shutter lag occurs. The H4D’s firmware then further perfects the focus using the precise data retrieval system found on all HC/HCD lenses.

Phocus software driving down the learning curve

Phocus provides an advanced software toolbox that has been especially designed to easily achieve optimum workflow and absolute image perfection from Hasselblad raw image files.

With the H4D-60 camera system Phocus provides:

• Uncompromising Image Quality
• Special extended camera controls with which to operate your H4D-60 camera. These features, such as live video for easier shot set-up and workflow, or the ability to control the lens drive for focusing when the camera is in a remote position or when the digital capture unit is mounted on a view camera, bring an entirely new level of flexibility to the way you shoot.
• Moiré Removal Technology automatically applied directly on the raw data, leaving image quality intact and eliminating the need to carry out special masking selections or other manual procedures, saving hours of tedious post-production work.
• Flexible Workflow. The Phocus GUI features easy-to-use options that allow you to customize your set-up to suit a range of different workflow situations, such as choice of import source, browsing/comparison functions, file management, image export in a number of file formats, pre-setting of options for upcoming shoots, and much, much more.
• New Metadata (GPS, etc). The extended metadata included in all Phocus images provides for accurate and detailed cataloguing and indexing, easy image management, and includes added GPS data functionality in order to allow a range of new functions. Phocus links GPS data directly to Google Earth, for example, making geographic reference a snap and image storage and retrieval much easier.
• Perfect Viewing Quality. The Phocus Viewer delivers image viewing quality that matches every detail of what you will see later in Photoshop.

In addition, the Phocus Viewer allows you to customize layout and composition to suit your current or desired workflow, providing a wide range of options including full view, compare, browse, horizontal, or vertical view, and so on. You can have multiple fol¬ders open simultaneously for side-by-side viewing, comparison, and selection.

Hasselblad’s unique natural colors

Hasselblad’s Natural Color Solution (HNCS) enables you to produce outstanding and reliable out-of-the-box colors, with skin tones, specific product colors and other difficult tones reproduced easily and effectively. In order to incorporate our new unique HNCS and DAC-features we have developed a custom Hasselblad raw file format called 3F RAW (3FR). This file format includes lossless image compression, which reduces the required storage space by 33%. The 3FR files can be converted into Adobe’s raw image format DNG (‘Digital Negative’), bringing this new technology standard to the professional photographer for the first time. In order to utilize DAC and optimize the colors of the DNG file format, conversion from 3FR must take place through Phocus.

Accessories including GPS Recording Flexibility

Hasselblad’s Global Image Locator (GIL) is an accessory for use with any Hasselblad H-System digital capture product. With the GIL device, all images captured outside are tagged with GPS coordinates, time and altittude. This data provides the key to a number of future applications involving image archiving and retrieval. One example is the direct mapping of images in Phocus software to the Google Earth application.

Ultra-Focus and Digital Auto Correction for image perfection

The H4D-60 camera allows information from the lens and exact capture conditions to be fed to the camera processor for ultra-fine-tuning of the auto-focus mechanism, taking into account the design specifications of the lens and the optical specifications of the sensor. In this way the full HC lens program is even further enhanced, bringing a new level of sharpness and resolution. Digital correction for color aberration and distortion is also added. “Digital Auto Correction” (DAC), is an APO-chromatic correction of the images based on a combination of the various parameters concerning each specific lens for each specific shot, ensuring that each image represents the best that your equipment can produce.

Instant Approval Architecture

Building on the success of its Audio Exposure Feedback techno-logy, Hasselblad has created Instant Approval Architecture (IAA), an enhanced set of feedback tools, designed to enable the photographer to focus on the shoot rather than the selection process. IAA triggers audible and visual signals for each image captured, notifying the photographer immediately of its classification status. The information is recorded both in the file and in the file name, providing a quick and easy way to classify and select images, in the field or back at the studio. IAA is a Hasselblad trademark and Hasselblad has a patent pending on the invention.

Extra large 3” display on the H4D-60 provide a realistic, high quality and perfect contrast image view, even in bright sunlight.

Options for working with tilt/shift

Two basic options are available for tilt/shift work with H4D-60. A simple, portable adapter solution and the classic view camera solution.

The HTS tilt/shift adapter for H4D-60 allows for portable tilt/shift with the HC/HCD lens range from 28mm to 80mm.

To further increase usability, the H4D-60 has been designed to allow the digital capture unit to be detached and used on a view camera by way of an adapter.

Two modes of operation and storage

The H4D-60 offers a choice of storage devices: portable CF cards or a computer hard drive. With these operating and storage options, you are able to select a mode to suit the nature of the work in hand, whether in the studio or on location.

HASSELBLAD H4D-60 SPECIFICATIONS DIGITAL FEATURES

• Sensor size 60.1 Mpixels (6708×8956 pixels)
• Sensor dimensions 40.2×53.7 mm
• Pixel size 6.0 μm
• Image size RAW 3FR capture 80 MB on average. TIFF 8 bit: 180 MB
• RAW file format Lossless compressed Hasselblad 3FR
• Shooting mode Single shot
• Color definition 16 bit
• ISO speed range ISO 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800
• 3 storage options CF card type U-DMA (e.g. SanDisk extreme IV) or tethered to Mac or PC
• Color management Hasselblad Natural Color Solution
• CF storage capacity 4 GB CF card holds 50 images on average
• Capture rate 1.1 seconds per capture. 33 captures per minute
• Color display 3 inch, double-res (460.320 pixels), TFT, 24 bit color
• Histogram feedback Yes
• IR filter Mounted on CCD sensor
• Acoustic feedback Yes
• Software, included Phocus for Mac and Windows
• Platform support Macintosh: OSX version 10.5. Windows: XP (32 and 64 bit), Vista (32 and 64 bit)
• Host connection type FireWire 800 (IEEE1394b)
• View camera compatibility Yes, Mechanical shutters controlled via flash sync. Electronic shutters can be controlled from Phocus.
• Operating temperature 0 - 45 ˚C / 32 - 113 ˚F
• Dimensions Complete camera without lens: 153 x 131 x 136 mm [W x H x D]
• Weight 1800 g (Camera body, HV 90x-II viewfinder, Li-Ion battery and CF card)

Source: Hasselblad