Hasselblad announces 50 megapixel camera
Hasselblad has started shipping its new 50 megapixel camera. The camera is the first on the market to sport Kodak’s 50 megapixel sensor. The sensor measures 36 x 48mm, twice the size of a largest DSLR sensor currently on the market.
The camera is designed for professional photographers and comes at a $36,000 price tag. With the release of the camera Hasselblad dropped the price of their 39-megapixel camera to $22,000 and announced an upcoming 60 megapixel model.
Christian Poulsen, CEO of Hasselblad, says, “The H3DII-50 features the largest sensor currently available in the 48 mm segment and takes its place as the flagship of our H3DII line. Nevertheless, to show that we’re not going to rest on our laurels, we’re also announcing the forthcoming H3DII-60, an even higher end camera that we’ll launch in 2009. The H3DII-60 will feature a 60 megapixel sensor that provides 94% full-frame, 645 coverage. We feel that it’s important to emphasize the 94% coverage, because, although we hear the phrase ‘full-frame’ being used quite frequently, no manufacturer has yet achieved true medium format full-frame.”
Along with the camera, Hasselblad also announced a versatile zoom lens, the HCD 4.0-5.6/35-90mm is designed to compete with the current Hasselblad/Zeiss line of lenses and they claim to be “the finest lenses ever made for professional photographers” Poulson said “As part of our constant efforts to produce the world’s best lenses, our engineers have combined our advanced optical design models and the H System’s unique ability to digitally compensate for any aberrations with a new aspheric lens element design. The result is what we think will prove to be the highest performing zoom lens on the market today,”
A 50 megapixel sensor almost seems excessive to me. I can remember back when we thought 3 and 4 megapixel cameras were extraordinary…now 50?!? Amazing. Does anyone plan on spending $36k on one of these?
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