Hasselblad announces new 50-megapixel camera

Yes, you read it right

9 July 2008 10:47 GMT / By Verity Burns

We haven't heard much from Hasselblad since the release of H3DII-39, but now the high-end digital camera manufacturer has announced another industry-leading DSLR with the launch of the 50-megapixel H3DII-50.

Following the success of the Hasselblad H3DII-39, the market's most advanced DSLR, Hasselblad wanted to take its H camera system even further and thanks to the release of a new Kodak 50-megapixel sensor, twice the size of the largest 35mm DSLR sensor, were able to do that with the Hasselblad H3DII-50.

Christian Poulsen, Hasselblad chief executive officer said: "Having huge amounts of megapixels does not help your photography much if you are not using a camera system that can reap the benefits of these resolutions".

"What we are most proud of is the fact that the unique resolution and optical quality of our H-system lens line, combined with our digital lens correction and UltraFocus accuracy, has made it possible for Hasselblad to take our system even further with regards to the accurate capture and recording of image detail."

The new Kodak KAF-50100 image sensor, which measures 36 x 48 millimetres, will be implemented in the same size housing as the H3DII-39 camera and will comprise the core of the new H3DII-50.

The new sensor size is also be optimised to work with Hasselblad's new HTS 1.5 tilt/shift adapter, which enlarges the image circle by 50% to bring the benefits of tilt/shift photography into medium format DSLR cameras.

Kodak has also added a set of entirely new features on the 50MP sensor, such as new dyes, which will result in even better, richer colours and quick flush technology to enable faster capture and lower power consumption, resulting in longer battery life.

The H3DII-50 camera will be available from October 2008 at a whopping price tag of £21,995 excluding tax. Certainly puts my compact to shame...