Working Digitally - Hasselblad 503CW User Manual

Working digitally

If you have only worked with film before, you will find that working with a digital capture unit is
not so very different in many ways. Several changes in routine are needed and a certain amount
of experience with digital products and computers is advantageous to lower the learning curve
at the beginning. However, practically all of your analogue photographic knowledge is still
relevant to achieve optimum results.
The following is in no way intended to be a digital primer but simply aims to highlight some main
differentiating points to get started. There are many excellent books on the market that explain
in great detail the various aspects of digital photography and post-capture processing.
1. It is essential to ensure you have a fully-charged battery, a spare fully-charged battery,
access to battery recharging or access to a computer, depending on how you work.
Remember too that a film magazine can act as a reserve for emergencies.
2. If you intend to work with a CF card, you must ensure you either have enough capac-
ity on the card for the job in hand or have access to a card reader/separate hard disk/
computer to off-load the images.
3. The sensitivity ("ISO /film speed") of the sensor can be altered according to circumstances
just as you would choose a fast or slow film, thereby providing a range of "speeds".
Just as with film, the lower "speed" settings produce finer quality.
4. Always check the three basic settings before starting:
• ISO ("film speed")
• White balance (color temperature)
• Media (where the captured images will be stored).
5. Remember the size of the sensor causes an 'increase' in the focal length of lenses in
practical terms. Compose within the masking on the focusing screen.
6. Remember there can be specific restrictions regarding longer exposure times and
working with flash/strobe.
7. The display screen produces an image as a visual guide only. A histogram display will
provide you with the technical information about the optimum exposure.
8. Minor color casts on the preview screen can be ignored as there are opportunities to
adjust the files later in processing.
9. Be extra aware when photographing surfaces with a small regular pattern in the color-
ing or structure (for example, fine-weave fabrics) as a moiré effect can be produced
in certain circumstances. However, some of this can be removed in Phocus in many
cases.
10. Most other usual photographic practices apply such as using a lens shade, using a
tripod when you can, checking for depth of field etc. However good your post-capture
skills are on the computer, for optimum results you should still aim for optimum image
capture!
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