Medium Format Camera News

While the whole photo world is buzzing about Hasselblad's styling new H1 645 system, Hasselblad quietly announced some stunning price reductions on some of its landmark camera...

When it comes to capturing timeless and transcendent photos, everyone knows that the person behind the camera is the most crucial factor and that the particular gear, he or she used, is less important. However, the camera is not insignificant to the creative process.

The best imaging products of 2009 were voted on at the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) General Assembly held from April 2-4, 2009 in Budapest.

Recent years have seen staggering innovations in cameras, most notably involving ISO speed, sensor size in compacts, and video capabilities. Despite these advances, however, one thing has divided the industry for more than 10 years but has rarely been talked about—that is, until recently—optical low-pass filters. Many cameras include them, but some do not. There are believers in both camps but the only thing that’s clear is that the issue is far from decided.

“Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer, and often the supreme disappointment.”—Ansel Adams

Photokina in Cologne, Germany this week has been (largely) about high-end cameras and there’s not much higher-end than what Leica unveiled at the show: the S3 camera. We got some hands-one time with this 64MP medium format monster at photokina and have to say that if there’s one camera we dream about owning someday, this would be it!

Hasselblad is a storied named in photo history that’s been associated with high-end cameras and lenses for nearly two centuries. While that’s all well and good, the biggest question people have when they encounter the Swedish company’s newest digital medium format cameras is why the heck do these models cost so much?