Another small section of candid photographs made with the Hasselblad 907x Special Edition. I have waited so long for this camera. Having used a Hasselblad X1D since 201 7 nothing is new in terms of the images I’m seeing coming from the camera, they are as beautiful as one would expect from such a fine camera manufacturer. What wasn’t apparent to me from making my decision to invest in this system was the form factor and weight when it comes to operation. I am in no way being negative towards the 907x but I’m scared of dropping it. I’m scared of marking or scratching it. To me it feels like it needs to be in a glass case on display. One of the things I love about my X1D is the grip, it is in my opinion one of the best, most ergonomic camera grips I’ve ever held. Albeit I’ve not held every camera ever produced but it’s as good as it needs to be. The 907x in comparison doesn’t have any grip, rather you hold it like you would a new born baby. In the 4 years or so I’ve owned my X1D, I’ve looked after it. It has shot tens of thousands of frames and there isn’t a single mark on it. The grip is wearing a bit and the GPS module on the hot shoe got a crack in it the first month I had it which I neglected to bother Hasselblad about but wish I had of now as it looks unsightly.
For me, I think the biggest weakness of the 907x is the aesthetics. I fear if it gets a dent or a scratch it’ll be ruined. I fear the lack of ergonomics or the form factor will inevitably lead me to dropping it. Yes the camera comes with a strap but the eyelets that take the strap are black, anodised I’m guessing, I didn’t put the strap on my camera as I feared the black finish of the eyelets would scratch off. All in all I’m treating it too cautiously, cameras are tools, they are made to be used. Maybe the 907x is just too special to use. Or maybe I can’t afford it, maybe it’s like driving a Bentley to the Supermarket. Most people would park it far away from everyone else and walk to the door to save their car from the potential of other people damaging it. Only you always see these high value cars parked as if the owner doesn’t have a care in the world. I suspect that’s because to their owners they are just tools to get around and they can afford them and they accept if you use things they get damaged and then you pay to have them repaired. I can’t afford the 907x, not in terms of monetary value but in terms of anxiety and wanting to love it. I want to look at it, not get it damaged. It is in m opinion the nicest looking camera ever produced.
As a final note, I entered a competition Hasselblad ran a while back called Hasselblad X You. The overall prize was one of these cameras. I entered about 100 images. I didn’t get any recognition for the monthly prize or the overall. I wish I’d of won this camera. I’m not so sure I’m glad I bought it.
My Main reason of buying the Hasselblad 907x was to use the Digital back section the CFVII50c on a technical camera such as a Cambo WRS1600 or a Cambo Actus. I rented the Actus along with a Rodenstock 32mm HR Lens, sadly upon trying this setup with the digital back it became instantly obvious that I wasn’t going to get along with the workflow. I couldn’t adjust exposure in live view. The Live view preview didn’t match the exposure I got when capturing an image. It didn’t stand up to the Cambo Actus XCD and my X1D. I wanted this to work, but unfortunately it isn’t for me.
