Photographers should not be defined by the gear they use – but it is fun to think that a better camera would make me a better artist. Well, I am going to be spending my time making myself a better photographer. I read books, I watch tutorials on the interwebs, I practice my photography and my retouching skills. I will make myself improve in both skill and creative vision. Oh, but it is fun to drool over a $20,000 camera. I could buy a car for the camera.

The Hasselblad HD4-40 - my dream camera

What makes the camera better? The size of the sensor is one reason – medium format cameras are the luxury sports car of the photography community. Mmmmm.

Hasselblad HD4-40

I just registered for an event at my favorite local photography store, Pictureline. They will be hosting Hasselblad and the new HD4-40 camera. That camera has 40 megapixels!

Now, people will say the number of megapixels don’t matter – that it is the skill of the photographer and the type of lenses you use and other factors. And for the most part megapixels don’t matter – but not all megapixels are created equally. I would prefer a 10 megapixel DSLR camera over a 10 megapixel phone camera or even a point-n-shoot camera.

And medium format cameras have pixels that blow the pixels of DSLRs out of the water. And most every single portrait and wedding photographer shoots with DSLRs. And DSLRs are perfectly capable in photographing a wedding and they are great at photographing in low light situations like wedding receptions and even some wedding ceremonies.

Phase One

But in the back of my mind I think it would be so cool to have a medium format digital camera for portraits. Bridal sessions and even engagment sessions where I drag out my big studio lights on location – that would be so cool. Can I do this now with my digital cameras? Yes.

However, the amount of detail that is captured by the Hasselblad or the competition Phase One camera would be jaw dropping. These are the kind of cameras used to photograph models, magazine covers and the high end fashion shoots. So when you see a model’s photograph who has been retouched to within an inch of their life – they were shot with a medium format digital camera.

So I am saving some money for that – well, saving money in general is good. And it is fun to dream of something better but use the tools we have right now.