Hasselblad 501CM Review

I do... among other MF options, including rangefinders.

Thanks Trevor, I printed it so I can read it when time permits.
 
I thought the review was fair. The Hassie was always just beyond my reach until I bought an older model about twenty years ago.

My only suggestion for the review would be a paragraph setting forth your "workflow" (it wasn't called that in the days of film). For instance, did you approach your subjects first and then meter? Or did you take a general reading at a particular time of day and then just forget about it? Did you use an incident or reflective meter? Medium format is currently such an "old school" technique, I would also like to hear how the camera figured in your interactions with your subjects. Did it make approaching "Hannah" easier or more difficult? ;-)

I liked the portraits. They put the subjects in their environments but have just enough formal composition not to seem like snapshots. Bravo!

Ben
 
Benjamin Marks said:
I thought the review was fair. The Hassie was always just beyond my reach until I bought an older model about twenty years ago.

My only suggestion for the review would be a paragraph setting forth your "workflow" (it wasn't called that in the days of film). For instance, did you approach your subjects first and then meter? Or did you take a general reading at a particular time of day and then just forget about it? Did you use an incident or reflective meter? Medium format is currently such an "old school" technique, I would also like to hear how the camera figured in your interactions with your subjects. Did it make approaching "Hannah" easier or more difficult? ;-)

I liked the portraits. They put the subjects in their environments but have just enough formal composition not to seem like snapshots. Bravo!

Ben
Click to expand...

Thanks for the ideas. In case you're still curious, I generally just meter a scene before I go out, and remember the settings. In Florida, I was taking a meter reading for the shade and for the sun, and remembering the settings for each. Film is forgiving enough that I had no issues, and I find that the 'Blad takes long enough that I don't want to make the person wait even longer while I meter the scene.

I'm glad you liked the portraits, too. They aren't my forte, but I am trying to be a more well-rounded photographer 🙂
 
Nice piece, thanks for posting.

I bought a 500cm only 10 days ago. Went shooting with it for the first time on Saturday and fell right into the grove. Have used a Bronica 6x6 before and a few TLRs, but this was a nicer experience all round. I also have a Mamiya 6, which I love, but I find it inspires a slighty 'looser' and 'freer' method of shooting compared to the 'blad. With the slower (I find) focus and reversed image of the waist level finder, I shoot at a different pace and compose far more carefully. Funnily enough, I can actually envisage shooting the 500cm and Mamiya 6 at the same time, with the the latter being for quicker street shots, and the former for more considered shots when time isn't quite so important. Madness? Maybe.
 
I shoot a 500C/M and SW/C and love them. Also have a Fuji GW690II so I do the SLR and Rangefinder thing with 120.

Nice write-up. Wonderful colours too. What film did you use there?
 
Hi Trevor, nice write up. If I may add, somehow the photos are compressed, enough to make me think 'Is this really what a Hasselblad and Zeiss lenses can do?'
But upon further reading, I clicked the sample images at the bottom, and it's showing that great details we expect from a 6x6. So you might want to check your Wordpress settings or something, I'm not too well versed in this.
Again, thanks for the review!
 
Hi, nice write-up and photos. I'll be going Florida in 2013 and am inspired to at least consider bringing my Hasselblad instead of 35mm.

I'm also curious what film you used.

Also, it apparently didn't take you long to go from shooting to Blurb book, while it always takes me ages... Did you scan the film yourself? How many hours did it take you to make the book, if you had to guess?

Thanks for the onfo.
 
sleepyhead said:
Hi, nice write-up and photos. I'll be going Florida in 2013 and am inspired to at least consider bringing my Hasselblad instead of 35mm.

I'm also curious what film you used.

Also, it apparently didn't take you long to go from shooting to Blurb book, while it always takes me ages... Did you scan the film yourself? How many hours did it take you to make the book, if you had to guess?

Thanks for the onfo.
Click to expand...

I took two films with me: Fuji Provia 100F and Acros 100.

I made the Blurb book relatively quick, but it was at least a month to six weeks before it was done. I had the film processed and scanned (if you're in the States I can give you the name of the company), and was quite happy with the results. Total hours in making the book--including editing and selecting images, and creating the book--was probably 15-20 in total.
 
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