A significant milestone has been reached in the realm of professional photography software, as Capture One has officially incorporated support for Hasselblad's .3RF RAW image files. This development, a response to persistent user demand over many years, initially caters to Hasselblad's advanced 100-megapixel medium-format camera systems. This integration represents a major evolution for Capture One, addressing a long-standing request from its user base.
The journey to this collaboration was not without its historical complexities. For years, Capture One's previous ownership by Phase One, a direct competitor to Hasselblad, fostered a deep-seated rivalry between the two prominent camera and imaging technology companies. This intense competition meant that supporting each other's proprietary formats was largely out of the question. However, with Capture One operating as an independent entity since 2020, the focus has shifted entirely to meeting the needs of photographers. Rafael Orta, CEO of Capture One, emphasized that the decision to support Hasselblad was driven by the consistent feedback from photographers across various platforms, highlighting the company's commitment to its user community.
Bringing support for the .3FR format into Capture One was a comprehensive undertaking, far exceeding a simple file reader implementation. The team at Capture One was dedicated to delivering professional-grade RAW file processing for Hasselblad users. This involved the meticulous creation of specialized color profiles for each of the three Hasselblad cameras supported at launch: the X2D II 100C, X2D 100C, and CFV 100C. Furthermore, extensive lens profiles were developed for all of Hasselblad’s XCD lenses to ensure precise optical distortion correction, chromatic aberration reduction, and vignetting elimination. This intensive engineering effort, born from a genuine collaboration with Hasselblad, underscores a shared commitment to uncompromising image quality. Hasselblad also confirmed that this partnership is not intended to replace its own Phocus software, which will continue to be developed alongside the new Capture One integration.
This strategic alliance between Capture One and Hasselblad underscores their mutual dedication to the professional photography sector. By providing a seamless, high-quality workflow for Hasselblad users, both companies are reinforcing their positions as leaders in the industry, ultimately benefiting the creative community with enhanced tools and capabilities.