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The new medium format Hasselblad 907X & CFV 100C camera body and digital back is not just repackaged heritage; it can provide a digital upgrade to nearly 70 years of vintage cameras.
There are no video capabilities here, but this is an exciting camera all the same. Effectively, Hasselblad’s 2019 907X camera body and CFV II 50C combo has been upgraded with the addition of a new 100-megapixel back-illuminated sensor to the new CFV 100C digital back, doubling the resolution of its predecessor.
The modular nature of the camera opens up some intriguing possibilities. You want long-term investment in gear? Pretty much every Hasselblad film camera made since 1957 can be used with the CFV 100C digital back, which is a solemn commitment by the company to product longevity and backwards compatibility. However, you don’t get the autofocus features of the new combo.
Which is a shame but understandable. The 907X & CFV 100C features Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) with 294 zones spread over the 100-megapixel sensor surface. Covering an impressive 97% of the focus range, the focusing speed has increased by approximately 300% compared with the previous generation. A new face detection function facilitates more efficient and convenient portrait shooting.
Echoing the unique waist-level shooting style of Hasselblad film cameras, the 907X & CFV 100C also features a touch display that can be flipped upward to 40° and 90°. The 40° tilt enables a lower observation perspective for your composition, while the 90° tilt fully revives the classic waist-level shooting style. What the company refers to as ‘eco leather’ and chrome edging helps keep the connection with the camera’s heritage.
Slightly more up-to-date, the CFV 100C back features Hasselblad Natural Colour Solution (HNCS) and a 16-bit color depth, giving access to 281 trillion colors. It also has an ISO sensitivity as low as 64 and an impressive 15-stop dynamic range. Storage is provided via a built-in 1TB SSD with a write speed of up to 2370MB/s and a read speed of up to 2850MB/s. A single CFexpress Type B card slot allows for storage expansion.
Pairing the 907X medium format camera body with the CFV 100C medium format digital back results in a weight of only 620g, 120g less than its predecessor.
Cost? No, it’s not cheap. The Hasselblad 907X & CFV 100C is shipping immediately and will set you back $8,199. It has many limitations compared to modern cameras, but it also lets you upgrade close to seventy years of vintage kit to a high-performing 100MP digital camera, and that’s pretty unique as far as we know.
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