Medium format digital photography has long been the space of the working photographer. And we're not talking about your friend who has an SLR and shoots weddings on the weekends—we're talking about top-level artisans earning a living shooting fashion, commercial work, and fine art. And, while camera prices have come down in general over the past few years, high-end models like the Hasselblad H6D-50c ($25,995, body only) still command a premium price. The H6D is a compelling upgrade for owners invested in Hasselblad, especially those using older CCD-based systems, and the company offers a trade-in program to help offset the cost of a new body. There are reasons to choose a medium format system that's as robust and versatile as the one offered by Hasselblad, but for the time being we're going to leave our Editors' Choice award with the Pentax 645Z ($5,080.82 at Amazon) , which has a much lower cost of entry and uses the same 50-megapixel image sensor as the H6D-50c. DesignThe H6D-50...
You pay a premium for medium format cameras like the Hasselblad H6D-50c, but are rewarded with incredibly detailed 50-megapixel images, a tough build meant to endure daily professional use, and a versatile modular design.
50MP medium format image sensor; 16-bit Raw image capture; Large optical viewfinder; Pop-up flash; Dual memory card slots; Rugged construction; Leaf-shutter lenses; Detachable digital back; Quick image review; Wired and wireless tethered shooting; Trade-in program for existing Hasselblad owners
Expensive; Slow focus and operation when compared with 35mm format SLRs; Image sensor smaller than 645 film; No autofocus in Live View or video mode; Metering bug under certain LED lighting conditions