Hassie SWC

[Phantomas]

I'm full of excitement as I'm contemplating picking this baby up on Sunday. I've been longing for this camera ever since I started shooting with 500 C/M and have finally bit the bullet (selling 70% of my camera "collection" to concentrate shooting with the ones that feel good in my hands).
So while I'm waiting for Sunday 12PM let's talk about this camera a bit.
I'm getting the older non-T* coated version, but I'm guessing that should be OK (it comes with the hood). Is there any difference to for example contrast in the photo between coated and non-coated models?
How is scale focusing working out for you? I read that plenty of DOF should cover substantial margin of focus error (even at f/4). What's the minimum focus distance by the way?
Viewfinder - I read it's not the best. There's this Voigtlander finder, which is rare/impossible to find. Any other alternatives?
One thing I'm a bit uneasy about is how such wide angle would fit me, but it comes with the territory and I hope we'll get along.
Oh, and one more thing - I hate to be asking the dumb strap question, but what would you recommend? I quite like the A&A strap, but can't seem to find it sold anywhere. Original strap is to ghetto and too expensive. Gordie strap I see makes me nervous with those string attachments, and op/tech are just too ugly 🙂 What else is out there?

OK, share your pics and thoughts while I fantasize about Sunday shooting.

 

[ChrisN]

I find the standard finder OK, but then I haven't used any other finder on my SWC. For a strap I prefer the thin leather Hasselblad strap. And scale focusing works wonderfully once you get in the groove. Sometimes I just forget. With 400 iso film I can shoot at f16 in good light with 1m to infinity DOF. Do try to get a hood for it. Even the T* version suffers from flare if the sun gets near the edge of the frame, and with that wide lens that's a regular occurance. I got a round hood from Heavystar. Practice using that bubble-level (beside the viewfinder) while shooting hand-held, so you can keep the vertical lines straight when you want to. But don't be afraid to shoot up or down when that's required. And remember to get close to your subjects; closer than you are used to. Have fun!

 

[ChipMcD]

YMMV, but this is my favorite camera in a too large stable of cameras. Scale focus is no problem because of the great depth of field. For REALLY short focusing distances, I bought a laser ruler to set the lens focus very accurately. For anything else, your judgment will be enough. Also, if you pay attention to getting the camera level, there is no lensy weirdness, and because of the negative size and the excellence of the lens, the photos pop with sharpness. Check out the Italian Market set on my Flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/eselsbruecke/ to see what this looks like. As you can see from those shots, the camera is very usable on the street. It's also obviously good on a tripod too. Some of my White Clay Creek shots on the Flickr site were on a tripod.

I use the Hassy strap, which I bought used from Keh. Still too expensive, but the clips to the camera are secure. Fotodiox also sells straps with the correct clips. I'd want to have them.

I have the 903 SWC, which has a slightly different viewfinder than yours will, but I used to have a SWC, and found that finder OK too.

Unless you are just not a wide angle shooter, you are going to love this camera. If you don't they hold their value well. It is a total joy.

 

[monochromejrnl]

Congrats. I also have a non-T* early silver version of the SWC and while the original vf isn't comparable to the more modern vf or the Voigtlander, it is very useable. I find that I use the bubble level almost as much as the vf since the FOV is so wide, you can always crop in post, but keeping your camera level will eliminate distortion.

It's probably my favourite camera.

I use the thin leather Hassy hand strap with clips when it's the only camera I'm carrying and a longer 'domke style' rubberized Hassy strap with clips when I'm carrying more than one camera/body.

 

[mfogiel]

The camera (or rather the lens), is a treat. I find it great for "meditative" shots, but it can also be used in the street, but I'd recommend to load it with Tri X rated at EI1000, and try shooting at1/500sec to freeze the motion - a yellow filter is also handy, as the sky gets into the picture very easily. I Use a handgrip with flexible releas for really fast street shots. You can also get a 4,5x6 magazine for extra mileage with film:

As you can see, flare will often be a problem.
However, this camera in a slower setting or ona monopod/tripod, will deliver its best:

 

[Tim Gray]

I had one for about 5 months. It's an awesome camera. The OP-Tech strap was great on it. I also had the luxury of getting an SWC with both the old style finder and the Voigtlander one.

The Voigtlander one was a joy to look through - it really is fantastic. BUT, it's at an angle, which I found to actually cause some issues for me framing some times. There's no level in it either, which further complicates using it. It's a great finder when you are using the camera on a tripod; not quite as much using it hand held. I think I'd look for one of the new style finders instead - I've seen them on ebay for about $400.

I eventually sold the camera because at the time it just wasn't what I needed. I also don't have a scanner that could handle the film, nor did I have an enlarging lens for 6x6, etc. So unfortunately, to make full use of it, I was looking at outlaying even more money. At some point I might eventually get another one.

But, it's a totally awesome camera that I love seeing images from. Check out Gary Gumanow and terrorkitten on flickr for some great SWC work.

 

[rodt16s]

I had the VC right angle finder.. didn't like it because it reverses the image, so I sold it. Overall the SWC is a joy.. and the lens set's a very high stanadard others dream of.

 

[Phantomas]

Thanks guys, quite positive response, but doesn't come as a surprise. I'm mostly picking up SWC because I love the results from my 500 c/m, but it's not the handiest camera for the street so I wanted something that would suit that purpose and produce similar Hassie/Zeiss quality. Disregarding the focal length I hope SWC will do the job. I'm aware that it's more of a landscape camera, but I found 120 RFs too bulky and in-your-face, so turned to SWC to get streets in MF.
I think that fact that it's a scale focus and considerably smaller should make it faster and less obtrusive, plus of course the quite leaf shutter.
Any comments on SWC as a street shooter? Or am I fooling myself?

(I've never held one, so I'm hoping it's not too heavy).
?

 

[bigeye]

Put a 80mm lens against your A12 back and that's about its scale.

.

 

[venchka]

Would y'all PLEASE stop it! I still regret not buying the one I actually held ages ago in a camera shop in New Orleans.
Enjoy! Share your photos.

 

[rodt16s]

It's a fab street tool..

 

[Matthew Runkel]

Popflash.com has the A&A Hasselblad acrylic straps and woven silk straps on sale right now. I have the acrylic, which is great.