- Capture One has added native Hasselblad .3FR RAW file support
- Hasselblad’s X2D II 100C, X2D 100C and CFV 100C included
- Tethered capture is expected to follow later this year
Hasselblad photographers, I have the news you’ve been waiting years for: Hasselblad cameras finally has built-in Capture One support.
Support covers Hasselblad’s 16-bit .3FR RAW files and includes three of its 100MP medium format cameras: the X2D II 100C, X2D 100C and CFV 100C digital back (which is the sensor module of the 907X). You need the latest version of Capture One 16.8.3 or mobile version 3.3.4.
It really is a match made in heaven; Hasselblad’s 16-bit RAW files and ‘Natural Color Solution’ reproduce possibly the most lifelike colors I’ve seen in my 15 years of testing cameras, while Capture One is industry favorite editing software for color correction and tethered shooting.
This partnership between two Scandinavian companies was supposed to happen for a while, and now it has, with tied shooting support (a studio setup where you can control the camera via the software) also promised later this year.
That’s a big deal for both parties — Hasselblad shooters may ditch Adobe, which is less valued among professional colorists, in favor of Capture One and its precise photo-editing toolset.
The move may also attract new professional and commercial photographers who have previously been put off by the lack of Capture One support to Hasselblad’s medium format digital cameras.
As for Capture One, it could potentially attract a new wave of existing Hasselblad photographers with a seamless workflow from capture to finished image.
Letting Hasselblad cameras sing
Until now, workarounds were needed to bring Hasselblad RAW files into Capture One at the expense of color accuracy and editing latitude. Meanwhile, Adobe’s photo editing platforms, such as Lightroom, have less respect than Capture One for direct color reproduction.
Hasselblad’s 100MP medium format RAW files are now supported, with profiles for Hasselblad’s entire range of XCD lenses and the ability to organize files as well as edit them and later this year, tethered capture.
I contacted Hasselblad for comment, and a spokesperson told me: “One of the most consistent requests has been native support for Hasselblad RAW files in Capture One. This partnership is a direct response to that feedback, and we’ve been working with the Capture One team for some time to make it happen.”
Capture One echoed Hasselblad’s sentiments about the new partnership, saying “Giving Hasselblad photographers the native Capture One workflow they’ve been asking for is really rewarding. We’re both firmly rooted in the commercial and professional space, and that’s a big part of why this partnership makes sense.”
And when I asked about the challenges of bringing native support to a new format, Capture One told me, “The real challenge was less about just reading the files. Getting a new format right means dedicated color profiles for each of the three cameras, so Hasselblad’s files are rendered with the true-to-life color our users know Capture One for, plus lens profiles for XCD lenses that correct light-a-distortion and light-distortion.”
“Throughout, the priority was to ensure that the uniqueness of these cameras comes through with the image quality we are proud of.”
You can sign up for a free Capture One 7-day trial if you haven’t already, with subscriptions starting at $18 / £16.67 AU$27 per month, or a one-time purchase costing $349 / £336 / AU$523.
Look at
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds.
