The new H3DII-50 from Hasselblad packs in Kodak's 50-megapixel sensor. This measures 36mm x 48mm, and is thus double the size of the largest 35mm DSLR sensors, and even more than double the sensors used in low-mid range DSLRs. The sheer size of the sensor means it takes about 1.1 seconds per frame, but clearly you're sacrificing speed for professional ultra-high quality. It's got a 3-inch screen, integrated CCD cooler and can shoot up to ISO400. There's no word on pricing, so you'll have to wait until closer to its October launch to find out how much cash it'll cost you (rather a lot.) [Hasselblad]

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While a $37K DSLR is out of the range of even most of our dreams, there is some tech here to be admired beyond the 39MP, 48x36mm sensor it shares with last year's v1.0 of the H3D. (So similar otherwise, it shares the same press photo as last year's model.) Firstly, it gains a 3-inch LCD, a top-line RAW converter, a heatsink attached to the CCD that lowers the temp of the system, which they claim helps reduce noise. Strangely, it also features an integrated GPS for geotagging images, and software on the desktop allows you to map your shots out on Google Earth for flybys of your photos. Weird, and appropriate for the pro who also happens to read Robb Report at $37K. Wannabes who don't need the camera's 5412x7212 pixel shots can opt for the H3D-31II and 22II for with 31 and 22MP respectively. Suddenly, my beloved Canon doesn't feel so good in my hands. [Lets Go Digital]

Just a quickie to mention that in all the excitement of PMA, there was one stand that just made me weep with envy.

The Hasselblad H3D-39 was on show, with its Full Frame 48mm CCD sensor producing 39 Megapixels of technicolour magnificence. It is slow like a truck (over one second per frame), but when you make images this good it is quality, not quantity, that matters. If you have a spare $46,999 lying around, you can have one for your own studio.

These massive-yet-perfect high-res prints were the only images my camera could take at the edge of the Hasselblad event horizon. Seriously, my camera was magnetically repelled from its presence, such is its power. -Seamus Byrne

[ Hasselblad ]