Giving some thought to trading in my Mamiya 7 for a Hasselblad

I went from a Hasselblad to the Maminya 7ii, then back to the Hassleblad, then back to the Mamiya again. It is never ending! I think the second time around with both cameras finally helped me make up my mind (this time).
 
@pevelg: Thanks for the input, I think I'll see about a trade myself. The Mamiya takes amazing pictures, but I'm just not feeling it's the one for me.
 
I have a Mamiya 6, a Rolleiflex and a Hasselblad. A few nights ago I have been outside with the Hassi, two lenses, four loaded backs and a tripod. It was not that much gear and I still love my Hasselblad - but I am glad that I have two other options to use other cameras when I want to do 6x6 - if not needed for special work (close ups, night work, very special landscape photography) I will let the hassi stay at home.
 
Double Negative said:
Just call me an enabler. 😀

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That's just mean! 😉

What a great looking kit.
 
Considering your subject matter; do you use a tripod?

If your answer is yes, the world's your oyster! Mamiya RZ, Bronica sq/etr/gs, Rolleiflex slr and even Fuji gx680 are dirtcheap for the images they produce.

Don't be frightened by the Rollei and older GX680 battery problems, they are easily fixed.

pm me for more info on that matter.
 
At the moment I rarely use a tripod, but I want to change that. I do a lot of long exposures and find myself looking for flat walls...

I think I'm set on a Hasselblad, my gut tells me it's the right choice, and it does not let me down all that often...
 
thegman said:
At the moment I rarely use a tripod, but I want to change that. I do a lot of long exposures and find myself looking for flat walls...

I think I'm set on a Hasselblad, my gut tells me it's the right choice, and it does not let me down all that often...
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Then go for it, you won't need an enormous tripod if you flip up the mirror 😀
 
Double Negative said:
I haven't needed to service anything on my 503CW (or three CF lenses) since getting it over a year ago... I think the biggest issue are the light seals on the backs (I've had no problems so far though) - and it's a cheap fix (<$10) for new seals. If you exercise the gear regularly, I suspect it'll be fine, like any.
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I guess you're lucky then. I bought my 501 back in 05 and had it until last year. It was a 99 model but needed a CLA right as I got it due to a hanging mirror. That was ok as I got a partial refund from the seller. Since the CLA the camera body didn't give me trouble. The three C type lenses that came with it worked at the beginning but started to fail me one after the other after about six months to a year so I replaced them with CF lenses from KEH. They worked fine for the most part although one of them started having a sticky aperture after about two years. Mind you, I did excercise them regularly even when I didn't use them. I also had about 4 back, two new, two old. The old ones I didn't use much but the new ones got used regularly. After about three years one of them started giving me uneven frame spacing.
Anyways, maybe I just had bad luck. However, since most people buy used Hasselblads the possibility of bad luck has to be taken into account. A CLA is not the end of the world but it can add up quite quickly.
 
Double Negative said:
Ugh, sorry to hear of all your troubles. Indeed, a CLA can get expensive - especially if you have to do all this. Part of it might be the C lenses, being older than the CFs and even older than the CFe/CFi/CB lenses. The backs can also be troublesome if they're older. I stuck with the latest ones with the darkslide holder (though still used).

When I picked out my gear, I did try to stay with stuff that was in mint condition (mindful of deals, naturally). So maybe I just lucked out, but I've been 100% trouble free so far...
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Yeah it gave me quite a headache even though I got quite a good deal on my Hasselblad. A guy sold me his complete kit for a thousand bucks which included a 501cm, three C lenses, two 12 and two A12 backs, a couple of Acute Matte D screens, a bunch of accessories and fiters and through in a Pentax Digital Spotmeter for $50. When the C lenses started failing me I traded them in at a shop for other gear I needed (tripod, etc.). I sold the Pentax Digital Spotmeter for $250 and one of the Acute Matte Ds for $150 so all in all I didn't pay that much even considering the camera had its faults. Nevertheless, even a good deal is too expensive when you're broke 🙂

Anyways, if it were't for the square format I'd consider getting another Hasselblad despite all the hassle I had with it. And given the appropriate funds for digital MF I suppose my dream set-up would be a Hasselblad 503CW with CW Winder and one of the rotating Leaf backs.
 
[
Jamie123 said:
I think the Mamiya Super Press is a nice camera but it's quite big, ugly and, frankly, other than price it doesn't have much going for it compared to a rangefinder equipped LF camera.
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Blasphemy!! Since I consider myself the challenged party, I choose my Super Press against whatever other RF interchangeable back MF RF you choose. 😀 😀

Actually, it is bigger than the Mamiya 6 or 7 series cameras. But it does in fact have interchangeable backs, lenses, extension tubes, takes cut film, and has GG backs. I suspect there is a bit more types of film available as well. Cost per photo is less in roll film. Cost is often a big factor in choice of photo gear.

All that said, choice of camera gear is very personal. Probably people get frustrated at me mentioning the Universal/Super Press cameras so often, but I do so since they (and other MF RF press cameras) get such little mention here on RFF. They are fine photo producers. Of course, they have disadvantages along with their advantages, as does any other camera system.

But ugly sir, that was unkind. 😛 😀
 
thegman said:
It's decided! The Mamiya is on the classifieds now!
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Oooh, impulse decision! But life's too short so go for it.

As for the Hasselblad, one piece of advice: Get the newest one you can afford from the start. Otherwise you'll be constantly 'upgrading'.
That means a 501CM or 503CW body, an Acute Matte D screen (preferably with split image), a new A12 back and a newer type lens. If you get the 80mm get either the CF or the CFE/CFi versions. Skip the C and the CB version. If you get a 65mm you can get either a CF, CB or CFE/CFi version.
 
oftheherd said:
[

Blasphemy!! Since I consider myself the challenged party, I choose my Super Press against whatever other RF interchangeable back MF RF you choose. 😀 😀

Actually, it is bigger than the Mamiya 6 or 7 series cameras. But it does in fact have interchangeable backs, lenses, extension tubes, takes cut film, and has GG backs. I suspect there is a bit more types of film available as well. Cost per photo is less in roll film. Cost is often a big factor in choice of photo gear.

All that said, choice of camera gear is very personal. Probably people get frustrated at me mentioning the Universal/Super Press cameras so often, but I do so since they (and other MF RF press cameras) get such little mention here on RFF. They are fine photo producers. Of course, they have disadvantages along with their advantages, as does any other camera system.

But ugly sir, that was unkind. 😛 😀
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Hard choice!

What about a Graflex XL modified to accept Mamiya RB backs? (Easy mod and FAR better backs than Graflex's own.)

As for Hasselblads: love 'em with an 80, tripod or studio with anything else.

Cheers,

R.
 
oftheherd said:
[

Blasphemy!! Since I consider myself the challenged party, I choose my Super Press against whatever other RF interchangeable back MF RF you choose. 😀 😀

Actually, it is bigger than the Mamiya 6 or 7 series cameras. But it does in fact have interchangeable backs, lenses, extension tubes, takes cut film, and has GG backs. I suspect there is a bit more types of film available as well. Cost per photo is less in roll film. Cost is often a big factor in choice of photo gear.

All that said, choice of camera gear is very personal. Probably people get frustrated at me mentioning the Universal/Super Press cameras so often, but I do so since they (and other MF RF press cameras) get such little mention here on RFF. They are fine photo producers. Of course, they have disadvantages along with their advantages, as does any other camera system.

But ugly sir, that was unkind. 😛 😀
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Well, I must admit I personally find it quite charming in all its ugliness 😉 Recently, I even debated getting a Polaroid 600 that was in the classifieds! That being said, if the OP finds the Mamiya 7 ugly I suspect he won't be very pleased with the Mamiya Super Press.

I admit, for a medium format RF it's quite versatile but, I repeat my argument, at that size you might aswell go LF which is arguably even more versatile. Remember, you can get all sorts of roll film backs for LF cameras and accessories are probably easier to find.
 
Roger Hicks said:
Hard choice!

What about a Graflex XL modified to accept Mamiya RB backs? (Easy mod and FAR better backs than Graflex's own.)

As for Hasselblads: love 'em with an 80, tripod or studio with anything else.

Cheers,

R.
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Never had or seen anyone else with the Graflex, but have read a lot of happy people's reviews. I didn't know they could take the RB backs.

Truthfully, there was a time when I considered Hasselblad, but cost put me off. I was going to get a Mamiya C330 once before I got the chance at the Super Press. I have never regretted it, but that is just me.

Jamie123 said:
Well, I must admit I personally find it quite charming in all its ugliness 😉 Recently, I even debated getting a Polaroid 600 that was in the classifieds! That being said, if the OP finds the Mamiya 7 ugly I suspect he won't be very pleased with the Mamiya Super Press.

I admit, for a medium format RF it's quite versatile but, I repeat my argument, at that size you might aswell go LF which is arguably even more versatile. Remember, you can get all sorts of roll film backs for LF cameras and accessories are probably easier to find.
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I can't argue the ugliness of the Super Press against the Mamiya 7. 😀

I understand your arguement for LF, but I think cost has to be taken into consideration. Most of us have to do that. In which case, older 9x12 might be a viable choice. The lenses won't match all the newer 4x5 lenses available, but you can still get some really nice photos for less.

Actually, considering cost of a Hassy system against 4x5, maybe you are on the right track after all. 😉
 
Jamie123 said:
Oooh, impulse decision! But life's too short so go for it.

As for the Hasselblad, one piece of advice: Get the newest one you can afford from the start. Otherwise you'll be constantly 'upgrading'.
That means a 501CM or 503CW body, an Acute Matte D screen (preferably with split image), a new A12 back and a newer type lens. If you get the 80mm get either the CF or the CFE/CFi versions. Skip the C and the CB version. If you get a 65mm you can get either a CF, CB or CFE/CFi version.
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I agree with getting the newest one, I know you can get hassies which are 50 years old pretty cheap, but I know there is a reason they are cheap!

I have my eye on a 503cx, which I understand is similar to the 503cw, and not that old.
 
I can't understand all the Hasselblad bashing going on here.
I've never had any issues with mine.

My 501C must be 15 years old and has been round the world several times backpacking.
Never needed a service, never missed a beat - despite frost,snow,dust,rain, sulphur springs ...

I love the compact size and they way it hangs on the shoulder.

The my only dislike is as you move away from the 'optimal' 80mm with WLF package
to two lenses and a prism; a couple back and a tripod it then becomes a short walk from the car only system.
 
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Show some love for the Hassy!🙂 I love mine, it has never missed a beat and always delivers.

Sure, it doesn't do streets or candids well due to its heavy shutter slap, but horses for courses I guess. But it does shine whenever I want a portrait of the girlfriend or macro of a flowers and such.
The Zeiss lens just blows me away.

I love mine. hehehe.


Some macro shots here if anyone's interested. Taken with the Hassy and Velvia.
 
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