Hasselblad and Capture One Make Amends: .3FR RAW Files Now Open Natively, Tethering Coming Soon
Hasselblad and Capture One Make Amends: .3FR RAW Files Now Open Natively, Tethering Coming Soon
Hasselblad and Capture One announced on July 2, 2026, a partnership that brings native support for Hasselblad RAW files, format .3FR, directly into Capture One. The support is already available in version 16.8.3 for desktop and 3.3.4 for mobile, according to the joint official announcement from both companies.
At launch, three models are supported, all featuring a 100 megapixel medium format sensor: X2D II 100C, X2D 100C, and the digital back CFV 100C. These are BSI CMOS medium format sensors measuring 43.8 × 32.9 mm with 16-bit color depth and Hasselblad Natural Color Solution (HNCS) system.
The support is not just a simple generic parsing of the file format: dedicated color profiles have been created for each model, as well as specific lens profiles for Hasselblad XCD lenses that correct distortion, chromatic aberration, and vignetting.
Tethered support, which allows for direct camera connection to Capture One for studio shooting, will arrive later in 2026, with a more precise timeframe not yet confirmed.
A Rivalry That Lasted for Years
The division between the two companies stems from the fact that Capture One was part of Phase One, a direct competitor to Hasselblad in medium format; the two companies separated when Phase One was acquired by private equity firm Axcel. Native support for Hasselblad RAW was one of the most requested features by the Capture One community for years.
Rafael Orta, CEO of Capture One, commented on the historical context: "There is a well-documented history between Hasselblad and Phase One, and we are not here to dwell on that. Capture One has operated as an independent company since 2020, and what matters to us is serving photographers. They have asked us for this for years, on forums, in feature requests, in conversations. That’s why we have been collaborating with the Hasselblad team to offer their photographers a native workflow on Capture One."
On the technical side, Orta added: "Our engineers worked closely with the Hasselblad team to ensure that the files were rendered to the standard we need, and that each team had all the necessary information to achieve this."
Bronius Rudnickas, Global Marketing Manager of Hasselblad, framed the operation as follows: "From the very beginning, Hasselblad has been driven by a passion for photography and a commitment to giving photographers the tools they need to realize their creative vision. We are excited to make Hasselblad technology accessible to a broader audience. Together, we are providing more creatives with top-tier tools to bring their vision to life and create exceptional photographs."
Phocus Remains in Development
Hasselblad clarified that the partnership with Capture One does not replace Phocus, their proprietary editing software, which will continue to be developed: "This partnership is not a substitute for Phocus." On the occasion of the announcement, Capture One is offering a 7-day free trial.
Capture One now supports over 550 cameras and 700 lens profiles, although the updated software documentation already indicates over 600 models. The software is available by subscription between €20.50 and €52.92 per month, while the Pro license, without new updates or hardware support, costs a one-time fee of €391.