2 weekends with a 501cm & I'm ruined!

[venchka]

I am currently providing foster care for a Hasselblad 501cm & 80mm Planar. I knew when I first peered through the WLF that the image was bright. The pop up magnifier and split image rangefinder made focusing with my old & tired eyes an easy task.

Last Saturday I had the Hassy and the Pentax 6x7 out in the field. The Pentax had the wide 45mm lens attached. I got into a situation that the 80mm Planar couldn't handle.

"No worries. I'll get the Pentax."

I put the Pentax up to my eye and "YIKES! Where is the image?" It was so dark that I double checked to make sure I wasn't looking through the lens stopped way down. Nope. Wide open. f/4.0. Just like it's been for the last 3 years. I really couldn't focus and had a hard time composing.

I knew that I might be spoiled by the Hasselblad. I didn't know that I wouldn't be able to use other cameras. The fancy screen in the 501cm is like using one of my Leicas.

I'm ruined. 😎

 

[ferider]

Well, the Planar is faster, too. Do not try an MF RF. 🙂

 

[Gumby]

I'm ruined. 😎

Yes you are. Soon you'll enjoy that "ruined" feeling... do whatever it takes to rid yourself of the guilt. 😀

 

[KenR]

As this is RFF I would recommend a Mamiya 6 - bright viewfinder, superb optics, no mirror to worry about locking.

 

[david.elliott]

You could contact Bill Maxwell and see if he can make a screen for your pentax 6x7.

I have one of his screens in my rolleiflex. It is -amazing-.

 

[venchka]

Thanks everyone.

The sickness is so consuming that rather than change the Pentax's screen, I'm thinking of converting the Pentax stuff into another Zeiss lens.

 

[Livesteamer]

Enjoy the Hasselblad, it is my first choice in medium format. The Pentax 6x7 is a great camera but after years of using Leica's, the 6x7 about gave me whiplash the first time I fired it. The 6x7 is best on a tripod but the Hasseblad is an incredible little package. Joe