Hasselblad H5D-50c Launches at WPPI Show; Goes on Sale Today

March 3, 2014

By Chris Wiltz

Hasselblad officially launched its new 50-megapixel H5D-50c medium-format camera system today and the camera made its U.S. premiere at the WPPI show in Las Vegas. The H5D-50c started shipping today and is selling, in the U.S., for $27,500.

The Hasselblad H5D-50c is one of three new medium format camera systems to use a new CMOS imaging sensor. Last month, our sister publication, PDN magazine, did a hands-on test of the new Phase One IQ250 digital back, which uses a 50MP CMOS chip made by Sony. PDN found that the sensor in the IQ250 did an excellent job of producing relatively low noise images shot at high ISOs.

Pentax has also unveiled a new 645D medium format camera with a CMOS sensor, which is on display, under glass, at the WPPI show.

According to the Hasselblad folks we spoke with at WPPI today, the 50MP sensor in the H5D-50c is the same 44 x 33mm, Sony-made CMOS chip used in the Phase One IQ250 back.

We got some hands-one time with the H5D-50c at the WPPI show and found it to be, physically, very similar to the H5D-50, which PDN reviewed last month. Like the IQ250, the H5D-50c shoots at a very zippy — for a medium format camera — rate of 1.5 frames per second. It also has a long shutter speed time of up to 12 minutes.