H4D series high ISO - good, bad, OK?

Shashinka73 said:

I've always liked the idea of digital MF and I once got a chance to shoot with a Hasselblad H5D 50C, i.e. the CMOS version. I loved shooting that thing. However, they're still pretty expensive, at least based on the budget I'm setting myself. I'd rather have a less expensive camera and more lenses.

I've seen some very reasonable prices on used cameras from the H4 series, mainly the H4D-40 and the H4D-50, both of which are of course CCD sensors. But this is where I run into an interesting phenomenon.

Ming Thein, whose advice on cameras is always worth listening to, said that the H4D-40 was usable at all ISOs, and that the noise at the higher levels was like fine film grain.

On other forums, I've read people stating that with the H4D-50 (which tops out one stop lower at 800), you shouldn't even go above base ISO. That seems like a considerable difference of opinion.

I would hazard a guess that the H4D-40 would be better at higher ISOs due to having a bigger pixel pitch, but even then I can't see how the 50 would be that much worse.

I used to shoot an Epson R-D1, which was also a CCD, and I could get decent results out of that at 800 if I exposed it properly.

So...is the H4D-50 that bad at higher ISOs, or what?

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alex21 said:

I use and still own Hasselblad H4D-40 .Regarding noise,I almost never use nothing else than iso 100. And even whit iso 100 if you underexpose , you will see noise,especially on blue sky ,I am tackling about have a stop. Year ago I bought used Pentax 645z, since then I am not pick it up Hasselblad. What is very good in Hasselblad is good lenses whit leaf shutter . Try 645z, you spend even less money and files from this camera is very good even at hi isne more thing,Hasselblad and lenses is not very reliable, especially used one and super expensive to fix, trust me on that, twice i send lenses for repair . So personally I am Not recommend you to do that, but Your decision is more important.

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Paul said:

I highly recommend going with Hasselblad because of color and tones, but I would stay away from H system in general. I don't see any future in it at this point, used X1D are very well worth it though. lenses can get expensive but they are exceptional and hold their value.

there is something about CCD sensors but usually only at base ISO and even there DR is limited. the 50mpix CMOS sensor used in so many (Hasselblad, fuji, Pentax) bodies is pretty old at this point but still somehow holds its own.

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Rich42 said:

Paul said:

I highly recommend going with Hasselblad because of color and tones, but I would stay away from H system in general. I don't see any future in it at this point, used X1D are very well worth it though. lenses can get expensive but they are exceptional and hold their value.

there is something about CCD sensors but usually only at base ISO and even there DR is limited. the 50mpix CMOS sensor used in so many (Hasselblad, fuji, Pentax) bodies is pretty old at this point but still somehow holds its own.

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What does "pretty old" even mean? Is there some other technology that makes it obsolete? Just because time has gone by since this superb sensor was released means nothing. It's specs don't deteriorate. What is it lacking? What competition does it have?

The sensor in my D800E, which I have been using since it was released in 2012 has specs that are still in the highest levels of all sensors currently being used. Newer cameras have better functions other than their sensor performance, but the sensor is excellent. Time doesn't affect sensors.

The Sony sensor in the X1D models, GFXs, Phase One and Pentax does more than "hold its own." It is still state of the art.

Rich

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JimKasson said:

Rich42 said:

Paul said:

I highly recommend going with Hasselblad because of color and tones, but I would stay away from H system in general. I don't see any future in it at this point, used X1D are very well worth it though. lenses can get expensive but they are exceptional and hold their value.

there is something about CCD sensors but usually only at base ISO and even there DR is limited. the 50mpix CMOS sensor used in so many (Hasselblad, fuji, Pentax) bodies is pretty old at this point but still somehow holds its own.

Click to expand...

What does "pretty old" even mean? Is there some other technology that makes it obsolete? Just because time has gone by since this superb sensor was released means nothing. It's specs don't deteriorate. What is it lacking? What competition does it have?

The sensor in my D800E, which I have been using since it was released in 2012 has specs that are still in the highest levels of all sensors currently being used. Newer cameras have better functions other than their sensor performance, but the sensor is excellent. Time doesn't affect sensors.

The Sony sensor in the X1D models, GFXs, Phase One and Pentax does more than "hold its own." It is still state of the art.

Rich

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At base ISO. It doesn’t have dual conversion gain.

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Rich42 said:

Paul said:

I highly recommend going with Hasselblad because of color and tones, but I would stay away from H system in general. I don't see any future in it at this point, used X1D are very well worth it though. lenses can get expensive but they are exceptional and hold their value.

there is something about CCD sensors but usually only at base ISO and even there DR is limited. the 50mpix CMOS sensor used in so many (Hasselblad, fuji, Pentax) bodies is pretty old at this point but still somehow holds its own.

Click to expand...

What does "pretty old" even mean? Is there some other technology that makes it obsolete? Just because time has gone by since this superb sensor was released means nothing. It's specs don't deteriorate. What is it lacking? What competition does it have?

The sensor in my D800E, which I have been using since it was released in 2012 has specs that are still in the highest levels of all sensors currently being used. Newer cameras have better functions other than their sensor performance, but the sensor is excellent. Time doesn't affect sensors.

The Sony sensor in the X1D models, GFXs, Phase One and Pentax does more than "hold its own." It is still state of the art.

Rich

Click to expand...