User manual HASSELBLAD 500C

[. . . ] It is an all-rounder, being as easy to use on location as in the studio. Entry into the new millenium naturally offered the opportunity of digital capture. Even though the camera design is mechanical, the modular concept allows the integration of a digital back to secure the optimal combination. There are many who prefer a more traditional design of camera while wishing to exploit the latest in technology and that is where the Hasselblad 503 CWD comes in. [. . . ] To enter menu mode, press the menu button. See `Working with the Menus' for details. 39 The standard preview display The standard preview display is the one shown when you first turn on the camera. It features a preview of your most recent shot and basic information about the digital back settings and the image itself. Using the histogram The histogram provides a graph that indicates the total number of pixels at each brightness level, with brightnesses going from black on the left to white on the right. It is a valuable tool for evaluating your exposure. A well-exposed shot usually has a full range of levels, while under- and overexposed shots tend to show levels concentrated at the left or right part of the scale, respectively. For example: A Underexposure A A histogram that is cut-off at the left with few pixels elsewhere indicates a likely underexposure. Many details will be lost in the shadows. Even exposure B B A histogram that is spread across the full range indicates a likely good exposure. There may still be a few pixels at the extremes, indicating a few spectral highlights and saturated shadows, but this is often normal in a good exposure. Overexposure C A histogram that is cut-off at the right with few pixels elsewhere indicates a likely overexposure Many details will be lost in the highlights C The histogram is only an indicator that should be interpreted--there are many situations Full-details mode D in which a questionable histogram will match an exposure that is perfectly fine for the intended effect (and vice-versa). D In full-details mode, you can read a complete list of camera settings, plus see the histogram and, in the background, a darkened preview of the image. The camera-setting details are stored with the image, so you can refer to them using FlexColor even after you have loaded the image to your computer and stored it in your archive. 40 Battery-saver mode In this mode, the digital back is fully responsive, so you can take pictures but the screen is not lit up, thereby saving battery power. See your Imagebank or hard disk documentation for details. Transferring to an Imagebank The CFV enables you to work in the field, shooting to the internal card, and then transfer images to an external hard disk even if you do not have a computer with you. In this way, you can combine the total flexibility of shooting without any external connections with the massive storage capacity of an external hard disk. When the internal card gets full, just connect the camera to a Imagebank, transfer the images, clear the card and return to shooting. Images are not automatically deleted from the card after copying. If you want to delete some or all images to free up some space, then use MAIN MENU > STORAGE > Delete. See also MAIN MENU > STORAGE > Delete. 42 Working with the menu settings . 501 503 CWD Menu system overview The main menu contains those settings that you will need to access most often as you work on an assignment. It also provides sub-menus that give you access to all other settings, most of which you will need less often. Entry name (in white) and current setting in yellow Sub-menus show a right pointing arrow, press the rightarrow on the navigator button to open the sub-menu (or, in some cases, a dialogue window) Selected entry. The + and signs indicate that you can use the (+) and (-) buttons to change the value -button label (Here shown inactive) -button label (Here shown as EXIT) Current menu name (shown in upper case) Navigating the menu system To enter to the menu system, press the MENU button on the panel. Any image visible is then replaced by the first level of the menu. Use the navigator button to scroll through the menu items and use the and buttons to change the selected setting. See also The Control Panel for button diagrams and descriptions. [. . . ] Keep the guarantee document carefully, but fill in the registration card and return it to your Hasselblad distributor. DISPOSAL If you need to dispose of the 500C, Imagebank and/or batteries, please do so in an environmentally friendly manner at the local waste plant/ recycling centre or similar. · · Never cover the ventilation openings on the 500C when in use. Never try to remove the glass IR filter from the front of the sensor; this will probably ruin the sensor. If dust manages to get between the sensor and IR filter, please contact your Hasselblad dealer for assistance. · Avoid frequent and severe temperature changes and be particularly careful 80 Further reading World class results are possible with Hasselblad cameras, witnessed by so many front covers, international advertising campaigns, famous portraits, historical events, etc. [. . . ]