High ISO has predominantly been the domain of 35mm digital systems with CMOS sensors. Few people use medium format (with CCD sensors) above 400ISO (even this only at a push) due to the large amount of unattractive noise that occurs at these levels.
Hasselblad latest 40megapixel offering vows to change all that. With an ISO rating of up to 1600 and promising useable results right across the range, at full resolution, this will be a first for medium format photography.
This sounded very exciting so we decided to put it to the test.
We sat in on a shoot with photographer Jacques Weyers (http://www.jacquesweyers.com) at the fancy Taj Hotel in Cape Town (http://www.tajcapetown.co.za) and asked him to squeeze in a few high ISO shots to compare a high-end 35mm system (Canon MkIII 1Ds) and the latest Hasselblad medium format system (H4D40).
We compared images taken with the full frame 35mm system and the Hasselblad (sensor size double that of “full frame” 35mm) at 1600 ISO to push the capabilities of both systems.
We looked not only at noise levels (presence, quality and appearance of noise) but also at the quality of the file at 1600 ISO; sharpness, skin tones, tonal range being the main secondary focus areas.
As the 35mm system produces a smaller final image (smaller sensor), the image size was increased to be comparable to the Hasselblad file to replicate comparing two equally sized printouts. This was done using two methods. The first being more true to print comparisons using “pixel repetition” and the second for better enlarging using “Bicubic for better enlarging.”
Comparative RAW file sizes
Raw conversion software is often cited as being the cause of differing image results (especially when sharpness is concerned) so to minimise this effect and to compare these differing effects, we used three different RAW convertors;
Phocus 2.5 (Hasselblad software, capable of processing Canon CR2 files)
Capture One 5.1 (Canon files only);
Photoshop CS3 RAW convertor (Canon files), to produce comparative TIFF files.
The results were quite interesting and I must say, impressive for both systems!
(As a side note we experienced a big difference in how the RAW converters are handling and presenting their sharpening tools to the user. We will document our findings in one of our next posts)
click for larger image
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RAW files side by side, Phocus software.
No adjustments applied to either file, vast colour difference, obvious size difference due to larger Hasselblad file size.
Hasselblad Results
Nice skin tones and tonal range
More detail in image as a whole, more depth to image.
Less colour noise, more attractive film-grain like appearance of noise.
Noise more pronounced at high ISO.
Canon Results
Faster shooting speed/capture rate (due to almost 50% smaller files)
Faster shutter speeds with faster lenses (f/1.2, f/1.8, etc)
Smoother noise appearance at high ISO values.
Tonal range not as impressive.
Detail in out-of-focus and “noisy” areas not great.
Enlargement using pixel repetition
Note sharpness and detail in eye, skin tone, amount and appearance of fall off, noise level.
Enlargement using Bicubic enlargement
With both sets of images the Hasselblad file is superior in all areas except for prevalence of noise. It can be argued however that the Hasselblad noise has a more attractive film grain like appearance. As with most things in photography, ultimately this comes down to personal opinion and taste.
OVERALL FINDINGS
Although the Canon slightly out performs the Hasselblad with noise levels, the Hasselblad is superior in most other aspects and the H4D40 did indeed does what they said it will!
Hasselblad is superior in the following areas;
• Hasselblad files are sharper
• Tonal range is greater, skin tones are more accurately portrayed.
• Noise is displayed more evenly with less artefacts. Helped by the processing of RAW files in Phocus software. Photoshop also yields good results in this area.
• Contrast and colour quality from the medium format is greater (higher levels of detail recorded, thus increasing tonal range in the image). This also means less post-production, colour balancing work, which is always a blessing!
• More depth to images. Images appear almost 3D while 35mm files are noticeably flatter.
• Locking focus easy and extremely accurate with the clever “TrueFocus” feature.
Canon wins in terms of;
• Faster lenses, facilitating shooting in even lower light situations.
• Faster capture rates, up to 8 frames a second versus 1fps with the Hasselblad (still a marked improvement on previous generation models 1 frame per 2 seconds).
• Processing is generally quicker, as to be expected with smaller file sizes.
Conclusions!
The H4D-40 performs impressively well in an application not typical for CCD sensors at all. Although the Hasselblad does not out-perform the Canon in terms of noise/grain at high ISO, it as almost equal to the 35mm system. It continues to out perform 35mm, hands down, at low ISOs. Example of this here; “Artwork reproduction.”
When compared to previous generation digital medium format photography, where anything above 200 ISO was unusabley noisy, this is pretty significant!
Shooting medium format in light situations varying from 100-1600 ISO…It would seem that with the H4D40, Hasselblad has produced a camera that offers the superior image quality of a digital medium format camera, which is almost as flexible and versatile as a 35mm! Impressive indeed.
See the earlier blog entry “Adrian and his Airstream” for examples of this. Shot using 200 and 800 ISO (outdoors and indoors).
Equpiment used
Hasselblad H4D40 @ 1600 ISO
80mm 2,8
Canon MkIII 1Ds @1600 ISO
50mm 1.2
Lighting:
2 x florescent light tubes
Great effort guys!
A very interesting test. I also like the Art Repro test too.
Very well done.
Great test guys I shall give it a link on my blog. Worth noting that CS5 is a huge leap forward in terms of noise reduction.
Nick-T
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- I had the same type of vertical banding on my 5DMark ii. This seemed to only happen when using Raw mode.Solution: Sent camera to canon factory repair. Sent examples of photos 100% crop showing vertical banding. And these comments from other 5D Mark ii users The banding seems to be pattern noise with a regular 4-column interval (4-column frequency). 5D Mark ii has 4-channel readout the output signal amplifier can be calibrated. The camera was returned in a few days banding gone. $180.00 for fix $20.00 for shipping
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