Hasselblad’s H6D Medium-Format Camera System

April 7, 2016

By Laura Brauer

Not content to let Phase One hog all the 100-megapixel glory, Hasselblad has launched its own 100-megapixel medium format camera back.

Not just that, with the new H6D range, Hasselblad has completely rebuilt its camera system with new technical components and an all new electronic platform.

The line will include the company’s first 100-megapixel CMOS back, the H6D-100c as well as a 50-megapixel CMOS back, the H6D-50c.

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The 100c will offer 16-bit color and up to 16 stops of dynamic range. Native ISO range will be 64-12,800. (Hasselblad hasn’t yet indicated whether it’s using the same Sony CMOS sensor that was first introduced in the Phase One XF IQ3 100MP back, but the specs are identical so it stands to reason the sensor is the same.)

The 100c will also record 4K video at 3840 x 2160 in Hasselblad’s proprietary RAW video format, though frame rate and codec weren’t disclosed. Other highlights include:

* shutter speeds from 60 minutes to 1/2000, depending on lens

* dual card slots for CFast and SD cards

* 3-inch touch display w/ 30 fps live view

* histogram readout on rear display and camera grip display

* USB 3 (Type-C) and HDMI ports

* Wi-Fi

* AF metering with a passive central cross-type sensor, metering range from 1 EV to 19 (ISO 100)

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The H6D 50c will share most of the same specs as the 100c only with a lower-resolution, 50-megapixel sensor. It will have less dynamic range, at 14 stops, and a native ISO range of 100-6400. The 50c will only record HD video, not 4K.

Hasselblad says the 50c will have a still photo capture rate of 1.7-2.3 fps. It has yet to publish the spec on the 100c’s capture rate.

Details on the updated camera body weren’t immediately available, but judging from the images released by Hasselblad, there’s a top display screen and a more pronounced handgrip.

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Hasselblad is also releasing an updated line of lenses to support shutter speeds up to 1/2000 sec. The new, faster lenses will wear an orange marking to distinguish them from the older versions.

The H6D-50c will retail for $29,995 and the H6D-100c will retail for $32,995.

A video produced by Hasselblad debuting the camera is below.