Sony’s new Medium Format CMOS sensor is changing the MF world. Now, you can add yet another MF back, making use of that sensor to an ever growing list. Today, Hasselblad announced a new digital back for their V System, the CFV-50c.

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The new CFV-50c has been designed to work on almost any Hasselblad V system camera made since 1957, and will go on sale for just under $15,000. Not quite as inexpensive as the Pentax 645Z, but still very affordable when compared to Hasselblad’s other MF offerings.

[REWIND: Hasselblad Announces First MF CMOS Sensor Digital Back]

“Our research has shown that although we no longer manufacture V models, there is a big demand from our dedicated V System users who want to be able to continue to use their classic cameras but also desire access to our latest technology.” Ian Rawcliffe, Hasselblad CEO said, “The new CFV-50c, with its supreme image quality, is our response to that demand. Photographers using V System vintage cameras can now realize the true potential for these definitive capture devices.”

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CFV-50c Features

  • CMOS sensor with ISO values up to 6400 provides lower noise levels, guaranteeing crisp clean images and picture-perfect colours.
  • Long exposures with clean, noise-free images.
  • Simple operation: no external cables required. (The CFV is the only digital back to offer this for V cameras)
  • Live Video in Phocus in colour: Plus much higher frame rate than earlier CCD-based CFV backs.
  • Larger LCD screen with higher resolution.
  • New menu system and button layout.
  • Ninety degree viewfinders. Now photographers can use the PM90 and PME90 viewfinders. (Easier portrait or vertical shooting)
  • 12.5 MPixel JPEG option (in addition to the RAW file).
  • New programmable button – a shortcut to a photographer’s most frequently used function.
  • Classic Hasselblad square crop option.
  • Remote control option from Phocus using a 500EL-type or 503CW with winder.

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I personally think that this is awesome! Now, I don’t own an old V system camera, and I don’t plan on having $15,000 to spend on a digital back for one even if I did. But I think that it is really cool that Hasselblad saw a demand for their old system and decided to bring those old cameras back into relevance.

Leading German portrait photographer Arne Weychardt is one of the first to test the new digital back. “CFV-50c gives me superb fusion of old with new; the traditional and classic look and feel of the V System body linked to Hasselblad’s advanced image capture technology.” Weychardt said, “It’s just a perfect mix.”

If you would like to learn more about the CFV-50c, you can head over to Hasselblad’s website for the full press release, the official product page. As of this post there is no availability information yet available for the new CFV-50c, so stay tuned and we will update you once we know more.

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What are your thoughts on Hasselblad bringing their vintage V system cameras into the future? Can you think of another time something like this has happened? Leave a comment below.

[via Hasselblad]