Hasselblad X2D New Face Detection AF Tested!
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- Опубліковано 29 лис 2023
- In this review, Karl Taylor runs through the new 'Face Detection' autofocus firmware update for the Hasselblad X2D.... Karl has been waiting for this new upgrade for some time and was super excited to put it to the test.
Bringing 'Face Detection' focusing to this stunning medium format camera will be a big plus for wedding, portrait, beauty and fashion photographers that wish to shoot the highest quality medium format images. In this video you'll also see the multiple face tracking options and switching as well as see the results of the tests.
The Hasselblad X2D's exciting new face detection focusing feature with firmware version 3.1.0, is available for download from their website. This enhancement is a boon for fashion and beauty photography, eliminating the need to manually select focus points on the screen. It drastically speeds up the workflow by accurately tracking faces.
The face detection function, available in the autofocus settings, offers options for auto, manual, or no detection. In the auto mode, the camera identifies and tracks faces seamlessly, simplifying the process of locking focus. However, unlike some advanced systems, this feature doesn't continuously update focus as the subject moves. Activating focus requires a half-press of the shutter.
During testing in this video, Amber, a photography assistant, served as the subject to evaluate the accuracy of face detection. The camera impressively tracked Amber's movements, maintaining focus even with rapid shifts. Furthermore, it accommodated multiple faces, allowing for easy selection between individuals simply by swiping on the screen.
The face detection feature proved effective even when using older lenses, albeit with slightly slower focusing compared to newer ones. Handheld shots showcased the system's ability to track subtle facial movements, demonstrating its potential for portrait and beauty photography.
Testing involved multiple subjects-Amber, Emma, and Joseph-moving simultaneously to assess the system's ability to track and switch focus between different faces accurately. The results were promising, with the camera adeptly following and locking onto each subject's face as desired.
Analyzing the captured images revealed an impressive success rate in maintaining sharp focus on subjects' eyes, even at shallow depths of field. However, occasional misses were observed, as is common even with advanced focusing systems.
In summary, the Hasselblad X2D's new face detection autofocus is a game-changer for portrait and group photography, significantly streamlining focus acquisition while maintaining a high success rate in capturing sharp, detailed images. Despite minor limitations, it presents a substantial leap forward in Hasselblad's capabilities for photographers in various genres, particularly fashion and beauty.
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Several reviews out on the new lens and firmware. Karl is the only one that goes into detail on how to set up the new features and gives a demonstration on its use. Thank you sir
Thank you.
Just a perfect demonstration. Tks Karl for taking the time to teach the comunity.
Glad it was helpful!
Always professional and really useful information, thanks Karl.
My pleasure!
thanks Amber for your smiles
Thanks again for another informative video Karl!
My pleasure!
Wish they update the firmware on the X1d II too… it is still on sale and an amazing camera ! I wish that they will not let down the first users… too bad because we don’t all want 100mpx files.
Thank you for the detailed review video!
Glad it was helpful!
Absolutely brilliant, thank you!!!!
You're very welcome!
Good refresher course. Something to consider in buying a new or used camera. This be good for a trade show banner, website, or social media.
My favorite reviewer!
Karl, you are not just a great photographer, you are gifted in articulating knowledge so clearly. Thank you! I just got my X2d yesterday and this was a very pleasant surprise!
Thank you and I hope you enjoy your X2D!
I’m happy !
Good video. I’m looking forward to your review of the xcd90v … I have it and love it! When you review, can you also look at the Live View mode, also introduced with 3.1.0
Great explanation Karl, like we use to get from you.
It's good they increased the reliability of the AF system but still it is one of the last cameras that has a more or less reliable AF NOW but not eye auto focus which is also commonplace nowadays.
From a brand like Hasselblad (and that price) one would expect a bit more quality.
Anyways thanks for sharing
Hi thanks RS, although it's called 'face detect' my understanding is that it is prioritising the eyes but I just don't think on this first firmware release they are happy to lock it down as 'eye detect' just yet. I expect further upgrades as we move along.
I hope dat Hasselblad has put in a powerful enough image processor to do eye tracking. It takes a lot of processing power to do that. Excellent video by the way 👍
Thank you.
Finally!! It’s happening 😅
Great review of the new firmware. I’d be interested in a video that discusses best practices to optimize the 16 bit colour from the Hasselblad sensors. Is it best to use Phocus first then export a TIFF or DNG to Lightroom or Photoshop? In other words, is there any image quality penalty for going straight to Lightroom or Photoshop & bypassing Phocus? To my knowledge, no other cameras are using 16 bit colour so that’s what begs the question. There doesn’t seem to be a lot/any information on this, but perhaps I haven’t searched hard enough.
I have this same question.
And me too. I just got the X2D and was wondering the best way to import.
Thanks for reviewing the new firmware. At 12:41, changing the lens the camera powered on doesn’t cause issues on the X2D?
no issue at all
We need AFC 😗
Thanks for the information, particularly since there are no instructions yet from Hasselblad.
One question- does it matter whether we are in Single or Continuous drive mode?
Also, not sure I understood the difference between Auto & Manual, and when one would use one or the other.
I shouldn't matter, the only thing to keep in mind is that as it's not continuous focusing at this time then of course you have to half press the shutter to focus so shooting in continuous drive mode shooting may not work at optimum speed.
hi Karl, I have just received my new X2D and I can't figure out how to replicate a 'one shot' focus mode so I can recompose once I have selected my focus point. I have set up back button focus but how do you take away focus function from the shutter button? cheers, Damien
You're moving the camera though!
Not sure why I’m watching since I can’t afford the system anyway 😂. But a great video nevertheless, thanks a lot Karl 👍
Thanks and fair enough!
Hello Karl, did you know why the tracking system cannot used when tethering with Phocus and Phocus Mobile 2?
I don't know why but I know they are working on it.
@@VisualEducationStudio thx! i’ll looking forward.
hasselblad has always been the camera that impressed every photographer with great image quality and lots of features but I think sony has dominated this part with mirrors and has now come to have the best autofocus systems in cameras
Sony have definitely dominated the mirrorless portion of 35mm cameras and their tech is incredible, we also use Sony. The sensor in the X2D is also made by Sony but it is much bigger as this is a medium format 100mp camera which means the images it delivers are much higher in quality especially when coupled with Hasselblad lenses for this camera. Most medium format photographers are happy to sacrifice some of the tech for the advantage of medium format image quality.
I would totally agree, I'm also about the quality of the image@@VisualEducationStudio
hai, question ; how do y load your firmware on the X2D100 , do you use that CFexpress type B card ,with card reader? So yes, do y use a thunderbolt 3 card reader? Also for firmware lenses? Can't do it with SSD., maybe I do something wrong .regards Theo.
So do Face Detection can detect mask and sun glasses?
Having had all of the XCD lenses except the 120mm, I’d love to get your thoughts on that lens - I assume you prefer it for its focal length? It’s supposed to be slower focusing than most XCD lenses. Is the rendering of the lens better than other XCD lenses in your opinion? Kind of like the 80mm 1.9? I have a 90V on the way and can’t wait. Thanks for the video!
Hi, the main reason I use the 120mm is for close up product work as it's a macro lens and it's excellent for that. If my new 90mm arrives I'd would be mostly using that for beauty, portrait, fashion work.
Love Hassleblad, shame about Capture One not support it for tethered shooting making it a non-starter for our studio.
Hi I use the Phocus software for the Hasselblad which performs well and gives me all the features I need. I use Capture One if shooting on Sony.
How do you do fashion photography with a model moving about as they do without continuous focus? Do you just set a wide depth of field?
Hi models move into a pose and then hold it and then you shoot, they don't really move around non stop as no photographer could really keep up with that or getting the correct 'moment'
Really? have you watched a Peter Lindbergh shoot?@@VisualEducationStudio
Hi every photographer will have their own way of shooting, if a photographer needs to shoot a moving subject in a given area and the only solution for that is rapid shooting with rapid flashes then of course that designated area would need to remain in the 'relatively sharp' zone. There is always only a single point of focus, anything in front of that and behind that is a range of sharpness called depth of field and I'm sure as you know this zone is increased by a smaller aperture. Most photographers would not want to shoot fashion smaller than f11/f16 because of problems caused by diffraction. As such you'd have to run some tests on where your predicted focus point will be and then calculate what your acceptable depth of field sharpness zone will be either side of that point. Occasionally you could reset your focus point if the model is moving into a new set of poses and you again would estimate that you might have 30cm forwards and backwards that you could accommodate. Modern cameras with eye tracking focus might be able to keep up but it's unlikely something Peter Lindbergh would have been using as he sadly died a few years ago and I don't think he was shooting fashion that regularly in later life. Personally I shoot most fashion and beauty at f16 to ensure that most things are sharp and I used manual focus for the most part, accepting that there will be a few misses. If you'd like to learn more about how I shoot fashion/beauty then you can view that here: visualeducation.com/fashion-photography-courses/ but as stated every photographer will have their own way of working.
Were you disappointed they decided to stop supporting the H cameras? Is this your new main camera?
Hi, no not really. My tests have shown this cameras images to be superior, my problem (and the reason this can't be my main camera for everything yet) is that they haven't got the lenses out yet that I need. The new 90 is just released and I'm awaiting mine, that will be my main lens along with the 120mm macro, but I would have like extension tubes and a couple of other new lens choices released but it looks like we're going to have to wait as they develop these new lens choices. When I have the lenses I need for the X2D then I will be selling my H series stuff.
@@VisualEducationStudio I'd love to see a comparison of the H versus the X2D. I wasn't sure if reducing the sensor size would be a compromise or not. But I guess they can do a lot more with newer sensor technology and don't need quite as much surface area. I'm still shooting with a Canon 80D and will probably never touch a medium format anything, but high end cameras still fascinate me. Kind of like how people lust after Ferraris and drive a Camry. I do appreciate that you use these impressive cameras to their fullest. You never waste a pixel, Karl. Always impressed with your images.
@@VisualEducationStudio Whoops! I just found you doing a comparison. You're way ahead of me.
When do you think X3D will come out
Hi Karl, the face detect option disappears when connecting to Phocus.
Massive let down.
I haven't tested this tethered yet but if that is true then it's only going to be a temporary problem because Hasselblad going to accept that so it's likely just a software issue.
Now we need eye detect.
The system still uses an eye detect as the basis for the face detect.
does this camera have focus stacking or focus bracketing ???
Yes it has focus bracketing in the software when shooting tethered you can program it to take series of shots in increments
@@VisualEducationStudio ok thank you for the reply, focus is hasselblad software I believe.
Yes but spelt 'Phocus' - it comes with the camera.
@@VisualEducationStudio yes yes great thank you !!
13:56 At that kind of focusing distance, not really worth testing the eye's focus using the face detection AF. Most of her face and hair are in focus anyway.
Need a longer lens like the 90mm or closer focusing distance to test how sharp the eyes can get when face detection is used.
If you wait until the results at the end you will see that the DOF was very minimal even at this distance as we were shooting full aperture so certainly worth doing, additionally we tested and showed lots of different focusing distances as well as also using a longer 150mm lens.
@@VisualEducationStudio Don't get me wrong, I like your videos, I also did a test after the firmware update, but I will wait till I get the 90mm to Australia (where I am)
Don't get me wrong, but the lack of the focuspoint-joystick makes this camera so useless, or let's say "inefficient for portrait photography". I don't know who was the genius behind the idea of removing the joystick, but it is an absolut design blunder. If all cameras in the market have it there must be a good reason. How do you know where I want to focus? Of course, you can stick your finger between your face and the camera to fumble a touch point... ridiculous. I find and prefer one-point true focus system much more efficient and practical in most of the shooting scenarios.
Hi, you can also move the focus point with the control wheels on the camera
@@VisualEducationStudio I know that. But there is two problems with that: 1- It is very counter intuitive. The move of the wheels do not match the move of the focus point plane. A joystick mimics the exact directions: Left-Right / Up-Down. 2- When you assign the wheels for focusing, then , you loose the ability to use them for main controls such as Aperture and Shutter speed.
To overcome a problem it creates other problems.
I wonder how the future of this type of cameras would be.
I appreciate your review, but this technology was available in other cameras at least a decade ago.
I think the future looks very bright, this particular model has been selling extremely well simply because of the quality of the images it delivers (see other reviews to compare). When you use a medium format camera you know you aren't going to get the sort of gizmos such as high fps or as fast focusing that you get on modern 35mm cameras but you accept that for what they deliver elsewhere. So of course when they can add functionality such as 'face detection' AF as in this case then it's a bonus, we're also seeing this model camera being superior in image quality to the previous flagship H6 100mp but for much less cost.
You’re comparing apples to oranges.
I watched this channel for now more than a decade. And Hasselblad brings (new )facedetection?!?!?!?!?!?! My D700 had Facedetection and like he said Sony had the most advanced tracking on the market, but now clapping for Hasselblad to bring this feature in the latest model after 10-15 years of excisting is naaaaaaahhhhhh...i dont know. Cant we expect from a OEM that sells cameras for around 50K+ that this feature allready in since years???????????????? I really dont know.....
Hi of course I'm clapping, I chose medium format for image quality and in doing so you often have to sacrifice tech like this or the fastest focusing (because the lenses are bigger etc) or eye detection. And I'm happy to do that because my number one priority is the quality of the image, I can work around the other stuff but I can't squeeze a better image out of a 35mm system to match medium format. You have to consider that the Nikons, Sony's, Canon's are huge brands selling millions of units so they have the R&D to go with that and the budget! Medium formats sell in just the thousands so it's much harder for them to integrate or develop this type of tech, so when they do of course I'm going to be happy. I think you misunderstand why I chose to shoot medium format when I also have every other top tech 35mm camera at my disposal too. These things aren't stuff to drool over, to me they are just tools like a spanner or a cooker etc, I'm choosing the tool based on what it can do for me and nothing else. If the tool that I choose to use then ads a feature that only comes on the cameras that I chose less to use then of course I'll be happy.
You misslean me, of course i know why medium format, no doubt about that and why you use it. I know i really know. But a company like Hasselblad could implement this for years.Its not a new invention its existing for years. This here looks like Nikon trying to do Video(doesnt work for decades). Why on earth and my OEM (big automotive OEM) does unfortunately the same, why not bring this feature whens its FINALLY ready. Every time i hear from all of the fotografers yeeeee.... we need a firmware to fix this and here we need also a firmware to fix that. And this in nearly every regards. Mobilephones the same, batterielife is still not good there must be a firmware update. The problem here most likely they never come. And the best proof of this is Sony, they had a lot of issues with the first A7 series. All was shouting we need firmware updates aaaaand whats happen. NEW MODEL. Of course Hasselblad could be different but the past has shown, dont expect updates. @@VisualEducationStudio
sorry but the Fuji counterpart has absolutely superior autofocus
You don't need to be sorry, I haven't tested the Fuji focus it currently may well be superior but I choose the X2D for a superior image quality and it seems that most people who have tested both medium format cameras agree that the X2D delivers better tonal range, colour and sharpness. For me this update to the focusing on the X2D is a bonus and as it's a brand new feature this video has simply been made to demonstrate this new feature.
They gave us half focus 😂
i dont buy a camera system without servo focus.
That would probably be essential for a wildlife or sports photographer but if you're neither of those then that single perspective decision means you have no need for medium format. I personally select the right tool (any tool) for the requirements of the job and not worry about specifics other than the quality of the images that I can deliver.
@@VisualEducationStudio That's true, the current full frame cameras are good enough for almost all applications. My customers never ask for more megapixels and I don't get paid more for higher resolution. 40-60mp is more than enough for me. Buying a camera specifically for studio photography is overkill for me. Do you also use the camera for jumping models or animals in the studio? I realize that it is possible to focus manually with very small apertures and a lot of flash power, but Servo AF is still extremely practical.
Of course, if you want the best image quality ever, you still have to make compromises. But as I said, when I use my Broncolor flashes in the studio with a very fast flash duration, the image quality with the latest full frame cameras is so good that I don't need more. But every photographer probably has different needs.
Is this the same guy who just a couple of videos ago was making jokes about focusing systems and insisted with full conviction that all he ever needs for photography is a single center AF point…? 🤔
Hi it would be great to know where you heard that? I can't remember saying that, for example I also use Sony and Canon 35mm systems and love the focusing tech of the Sony. In medium format I've only ever had the option of a central focusing point on the H6 and often used manual focus, since the X2D I've been able to select a focus point and now they've added face detect. If I said anything then it would have been more along the lines that I've managed perfectly well with a central focus point or manual focus to deliver the images I create but that doesn't mean I don't welcome a better option on a camera that can deliver the image quality I like.
@@VisualEducationStudio It was a video where one of the major brands just released a new model and you were sitting at your table reading the spec sheet and making fun of the amount of AF points it featured while stating that you only ever need one. I think at that time you were still mainly using the H5D system. I'm actually not thrilled at all how manufacturers are currently trying to outcompete each other by putting buttloads of computational aids into their products. In fact I just sold all of my gear that felt more like a PlayStation than a photography tool to fully invest in a manual focus only system and I never looked back ever since. It's just that as a long term viewer this is something that immediately stood out to me.
Hi yes I do remember that and I stand by it because I was talking about the time when some cameras advertised that they had 200 focus points but that was before eye or face detection and my point of the video was that yes you only need one and typically people get wrapped up in features that they will hardly ever need or use and they should focus on making better pictures instead. It sounds like you've experienced a similar feeling where you just want to get back to basics and focus manually and use a camera manually more as a craft with your own decision making too but if there is any feature that has been a blessing it was eye detect focus and tracking on the Sony which at first I was dubious about but when I realised how many images it 'saved' in terms of focusing on a model shoot then I thought 'this is really good tech' and that's the same here with the X2D, it's tech that is actually purposeful, useful and increases your ability to 'get the shot' - I guess that's the bottom line; does the tech increase your ability to 'get the shot' or does it just get in the way and becomes a distraction.
overpriced camera. buy fuji instead