Via the German Calument site, we finally get a peek at the specs of the Hasselblad H4D 40- the camera that Hasselblad announced today will go on a world tour, February 10 and 11.  The Launch Event schedule is here.  ...and by posting this link, I just saved you several minutes of your life watching the most pointless product launch video I've ever seen.  If you have time to kill, and are amused easily, that is here.  Don't say I didn't warn you.
 

Here's what we have:
 

Sensor size: 40.0 Mpixels (7304×5478 pixels)

One last little bit of news from CES?  Red Scarlet Prototype, and annoying press guys. 
 

Brain under $3K, full (basic) shooting package under $5K.

We’re wrapping up our Fashion/Portrait Shootout so be sure to check out the Nikon segment going up today, but, working on the final installment, our Medium Format Digital Back piece featuring the Hasselblad H3D 31 and 39, the files just demanded a mention here. 
 

We’re always seeing questions and opinions on MFDB cameras, asking if there’s a difference, whether they’re worth it, how powerful the full-frame DSLR cameras are, and to be honest, in a lot of cases the MFDB cameras just feel like overkill, even to us.  They certainly are expensive, and they certainly have fewer features. 
 

In truth, it’s been a while since I’ve played with the files from one of the “big chip” cameras and it’s easy to forget how incredible this hardware performs.  Here, for the record, are three files that were shot with the Nikon D3s, the Canon 5DMII, and the Hasselblad H3D 31.  The Nikon is running a 12mp sensor at full-frame 35mm format, the Canon is also a full-frame sensor at 21mp.  The Hasselblad is sporting a 31mp sensor with a physical size of over twice the format of the 35mm- 48 x 36mm. 
 

We’re going to go into all of the ramifications of these differences in our feature review, but for now, let’s just see some files.  They certainly don’t tell the whole story, but they do, just as certainly, answer the simple question we see so often: “Is there a difference?” 
Here’re the three shots:  Hasselblad, Nikon and Canon.
 

As luck would have it, at the same time that we're working with the big Hasselblads, notably the H3D II 39, I stumbled on my Dad's vintage 500CM kit.  This is a circa- 1970 camera with the older-version 80mm lens and the 45 angle finder.  The leather case was not included- unlike the snappy cordura case you get with the new cameras.  The old leather cases had a camera-base bracket mounted on the inside that you could just slide the camera into- holding it securely, and vertically. 
 

This has got to be the ultimate Head-2-Head.  We got together the Canon 5D Mk II, Canon 7D, Canon 50D, Hasselblad 31, Hasselblad 39, Nikon D3s, Nikon D300s, Nikon D700 and pulled together a willing (and patient) model and shot with every one of the cameras for three basic sets- a head-and-shoulders shot, a full-body shot (both with strobe) and a tungsten-lit portrait. 
 

It was a blast- but not without some hurdles.  You know, think of the last shoot you did with a model, and then asking her to just "do that thing you just did again", only 6 more times! 
 

It also was really interesting from a camera evaluation, hands-on shooting perspective.  Even with an assitant prepping the cameras, and some pretty good experience handling all of these products, there were some cameras I didn't like based on simple feel and controls alone.  We're working on a few comparison reviews including the big-chip Hasseys compared to the smaller DSLRs, a comparison between brands, and even a shootout within a brand's product line.  Stay tuned, but for the time being, take a look at some of the shots we did.