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H4D
Tethered to a computer
When tethered to a computer, you can control many camera functions using Phocus
software. All captures are saved as 3F files (as opposed to 3FR files from a CF card) and
can be immediately exported to other formats if desired.
Connecting to a computer
To connect to a computer, attach a FireWire cable from the FireWire port on a computer
to the port on the side of the sensor unit. The port is protected behind a hinged cover.
Please note, however, that the camera still needs a charged battery attached to function
properly.
Shooting with Phocus running
When you are connected to a computer, the following rules apply:
• The destination medium and location are controlled from Phocus.
• All exposure settings, including ISO, aperture and exposure time, are controlled
from Phocus if you choose to expose from Phocus. In addition extra tools such as
Live Video, remote focus control etc are available. See
Phocus
user manual for full
description.
• The menu system on the sensor unit is disabled.
• The sensor unit will take power from the FireWire cable if it is available (not all
computers can supply power, notably laptops). This will help conserve the battery
power of the H4D. However, you must still have a charged battery connected as the
camera body needs it in order to operate.
When initiating a shot from Phocus, the computer sends a signal to the sensor unit, which
triggers the shutter (and strobe/flash, if any). The unit then sends the capture back over
the FireWire connection to the computer, where it is displayed on the computer screen
and saved as a 16-bit 3F file in the currently selected folder on the computer hard disk.
3FR is a proprietary Hasselblad format for storing raw captures. It contains the complete raw
image exactly as it was captured by the camera, plus technical details that enable Phocus to
process and display the image correctly, amongst other things. This 3FR file is converted into
a 3F file (denoted by each file now bearing the suffix “.fff”) that furthermore stores a complete
history of the Phocus settings that you have applied to each image and stores metadata such
as camera settings, image name, photographer, copyright, etc.
If you prefer not to correct and adjust your captures in Phocus, then you can export 3F files
from Phocus (and Aperture/Mac OS 10.5.2) directly to DNG, TIFF or PSD and use Adobe
Photoshop, for example.
Finally, some raw processors (for example, Adobe Camera Raw 5.4 onwards and Adobe
Lightroom 2.3 onwards) can directly open 3FR files without the need for Phocus. Please note,
however, that a direct 3FR export will not include DAC, HNCS etc, and those benefits will
therefore be lost.
To clarify:
• For maximum quality and benefits, retain 3F files (for the eventual opportunity to re-
process files utilizing any future Phocus improvements).
• 3F files exported to the DNG format will not include DAC, HNCS etc.
• 3FR files imported directly to a raw processor (see above) will not include DAC, HNCS etc.
Please refer to the Phocus user manual for further instructions about using Phocus.
