The R5II/24-105Z combination performed flawlessly. Way back in the days of film I was probably one of the few photographers in the world shooting Hasselblad air to air. They were manual focus/manual exposure and, much as I loved them, very clunky in that application. But when I everything came together the image was spectacular. The X2DII is light years ahead of those vintage Blads, and I plan on lots of air to air shooting with mine when I get it, but based upon all that I learned yesterday, the R5II will be right along side it on most assignments with speed involved. Hasselblad lens options pretty much rule out actual air show work, but it will be killer for sunrise/sunset ramp work and performer/pilot portraits. The Hasselblad effect is, as I have alluded, three dimensional, and I haven't even begun to explore the Hasselblad HDR feature which looks amazing.Hasselblad HDR appears to be perfection of the HDR effect, like everything Hasselblad, not over the top recognizable HDR, just very deep and rich imagery.
So, to give credit where credit is due, the Canon R5II........................
Difficult to accurately assess the difference based on the images on the web, but the Hasselblad image is very striking. There is also the fact that this is a 300MB file and could be printed, literally any size one might desire. Once again, like buying the RF600/4, the Hasselblad is a lot of money so one can create images that really could be considered "hair splitting" when compared to the top of the line Canon/Nikon/Sony cameras but, for me personally, owning and shooting with gear that motivates me to shoot at the next level, is worth the investment. In addition to the personal desire to have the best of the best equipment, I have to believe that discerning clients value that slight cutting edge difference even if they don't know exactly what the effect is, or how you create it.
Um, Jim, the first one looks more vibrant. It may be the difference due to the distance to the subject, (in the first the subject is larger) although the background is more appealing in the second.
Wow, Jim. Those images are impressive. You're going to have to rent another hanger for all the storage drives you're going to need for those 300mb files
Something that occurred to me the other day, the X2DII is really not much larger than the R5II. The sensor is a Sony sensor, why hasn't Canon made good on Theo promise to create a large MP camera? To have that sensor in a Canon body with all the available lensing would really be something...........I'm sure someday.
The R5II/24-105Z combination performed flawlessly. Way back in the days of film I was probably one of the few photographers in the world shooting Hasselblad air to air. They were manual focus/manual exposure and, much as I loved them, very clunky in that application. But when I everything came together the image was spectacular. The X2DII is light years ahead of those vintage Blads, and I plan on lots of air to air shooting with mine when I get it, but based upon all that I learned yesterday, the R5II will be right along side it on most assignments with speed involved. Hasselblad lens options pretty much rule out actual air show work, but it will be killer for sunrise/sunset ramp work and performer/pilot portraits. The Hasselblad effect is, as I have alluded, three dimensional, and I haven't even begun to explore the Hasselblad HDR feature which looks amazing.Hasselblad HDR appears to be perfection of the HDR effect, like everything Hasselblad, not over the top recognizable HDR, just very deep and rich imagery.
So, to give credit where credit is due, the Canon R5II...........................Show more →
Beautiful work Jim, and you're right about "Rule #2..........Don't stop shooting until you are too weak to mash the button"...I did that all day today at the Air Force Base, F-15 flying and static Sandman, couldn't have asked for a better day and and better hospitality. Pictures look great out of both cameras from you and that Hassy will be superb for portraits as well.
Thanks Joe! Indeed!! The little guy continues to amaze me. This afternoon he was very inquisitive re: the Hasselblad so I let me shoot with it a little. He loved it, but got a little frustrated because the camera is not as easy to manage as his EOS R. He walked back over to me, doing his best to control his frustration, he said "Papa, I really like this camera, but I have to remind myself that it is new to me and I have to take time to learn it....." This little guy is barely seven, he continues to touch my heart and amaze me with his insight.
I explained that the Hasselblad wasn't the perfect camera for every photo shoot, that he would learn where and when to use it and that he would learn to love it, but that he needs to stick with his camera to really hone his skills. He had the shot he's been wishing and hoping for this afternoon. He was at the end of the yard out in the forest and a Red Shouldered Hawk flew in and perched on a branch.James quietly composed and shot away with the Hasselblad, he was ecstatic as he carefully carried the camera back to me to show me and tell me what happened. We had to go right to the computer to look at the shots. Unfortunately his heart sunk and we looked through them and determined that the Blad focused on a branch and not his prized Hawk. I explained to him that we all miss shots on occasion and he just didn't have the right camera in his hands, but that he would have another opportunity and he'd be better prepared for it because of today. I didn't say it because it would only have rubbed salt in the wounds, but I know that he would have nailed it if he had had his R in his little hands. He will, and it will be all the sweeter, but don't we all know exactly how he felt?
Canadian performers Mike and Samantha Tryggvason perform a brilliant barnstorming style wingwalker performance with their unique Grumman ‘Showcat’. This unique adaptation of the Legendary Grumman AgCat agricultural aircraft, was modified by Smith Edgar Butlar IV for aerobatics and wing walking, and is called the Butler’s Special or the ‘Showcat’. Derived from the Grumman G-164A Agcat, it is powered by a 450 Horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-985 radial engine.
My Buddy Gene Soucy had the first "Showcat" I think that he may have retired. Those acts are a joy to photograph due to the slow/smooth routines performed and the copious smoke generated from the big radial.
