H4D

  Tethered to a computer

When tethered to a computer, you can control many camera functions using Phocus software. All captures are saved as 3F files (as opposed to 3FR files from a CF card) and can be immediately exported to other formats if desired.

Connecting to a computer

To connect to a computer, attach a FireWire cable from the FireWire port on a computer to the port on the side of the sensor unit. The port is protected behind a hinged cover. Please note, however, that the camera still needs a charged battery attached to function properly.

Shooting with Phocus running

When you are connected to a computer, the following rules apply:

The destination medium and location are controlled from Phocus.

All exposure settings, including ISO, aperture and exposure time, are controlled from Phocus if you choose to expose from Phocus. In addition extra tools such as Live Video, remote focus control etc are available. See Phocus user manual for full description.

The menu system on the sensor unit is disabled.

The sensor unit will take power from the FireWire cable if it is available (not all computers can supply power, notably laptops). This will help conserve the battery power of the H4D. However, you must still have a charged battery connected as the camera body needs it in order to operate.

When initiating a shot from Phocus, the computer sends a signal to the sensor unit, which triggers the shutter (and strobe/flash, if any). The unit then sends the capture back over the FireWire connection to the computer, where it is displayed on the computer screen and saved as a 16-bit 3F file in the currently selected folder on the computer hard disk.

3FR is a proprietary Hasselblad format for storing raw captures. It contains the complete raw image exactly as it was captured by the camera, plus technical details that enable Phocus to process and display the image correctly, amongst other things. This 3FR file is converted into a 3F file (denoted by each file now bearing the suffix “.fff”) that furthermore stores a complete history of the Phocus settings that you have applied to each image and stores metadata such as camera settings, image name, photographer, copyright, etc.

If you prefer not to correct and adjust your captures in Phocus, then you can export 3F files from Phocus (and Aperture/Mac OS 10.5.2) directly to DNG, TIFF or PSD and use Adobe

Photoshop,­ for example.

Finally, some raw processors (for example, Adobe Camera Raw 5.4 onwards and Adobe Lightroom 2.3 onwards) can directly open 3FR files without the need for Phocus. Please note,

however,­ that a direct 3FR export will not include DAC, HNCS etc, and those benefits will therefore be lost.

To clarify:

For maximum quality and benefits, retain 3F files (for the eventual opportunity to re-­ process files utilizing any future Phocus improvements).

3F files exported to the DNG format will not include DAC, HNCS etc.

3FR files imported directly to a raw processor (see above) will not include DAC, HNCS etc.

Please refer to the Phocus user manual for further instructions about using Phocus.

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Hasselblad 70480533, 70380554, 70480542 Tethered to a computer, Connecting to a computer, Shooting with Phocus running