Hassy??

Welcome aboard Ed, great story!

Gene, congrats on the 'blad! I know exactly the pre-purchase anguish you went through... in fact, I'm experiencing it myself, as the camera store right by my house has a Bronica 6x6 SLR (not sure of the exact model, but it's a newer one that only had 3 rolls run through it before the guy went digital) with 75/2.8 lens, the eye-level prism, and a speed grip for $600. I will be strong... haven't mastered my TLRs... 🙂

In all seriousness, I'm actually contemplating ditching my digital camera and my 35mm gear, keeping only my K1000 (sentimental value, it was my dad's outfit) and one RF for casual shooting (yes Joe, I'm planning on keeping the Konica 🙂) and moving over to MF if I can find an RF I can afford in the 6x6 format. Any recommendations, anyone?
 
Doug - you could probably afford a super ikonta 533/16 with a 80 mm 2,8 Tessar - it would make your K1000 and the Konica look modern, and in case anyone tries to rob you - you will be equiped with one heavy brick to deffend your self 🙂
 
Hmmm, camera and self-defense tool all-in-one, nifty idea! 🙂 I've actually looked at the Bronica rangefinders before and they seem very interesting, but I really like the perspective provided by the square format (not to mention that I'm on a pretty tight budget). I'll keep a watch on both the Bronica and Super Ikonta for when my tax refund comes back 🙂
 
Doug, I am with you 100 % on the Square format - especially with "normal" focal lenght lenses I feel much more comfortable with the Square - As soon as I get the 50 mm off and put a 35 mm on my Leica the rectangular format feels right again - By the way What do you do when the tax refund is not a refund - I will be damned if I was to hand over one of my cameras to the IRS (is that the right name)
 
Doug, you might also want to start looking for an Iskra from a reliable seller - very good lens, great, clear, contrasty coupled rangefinder, a very sophisticated camera - and probably more affordable than an Ikonta; make sure you ask about whether the film transport is working correctly (the only weak point of that great 6x6 folding RF).

Roman
 
Good tip, Roman, thanks! After doing some more web research, I'm actually starting to look at the remanufactured Kiev 60s and 88s by Arax Photo (http://www.araxphoto.com/). I love to do macro along with my landscapes and RFs just aren't suitable for that type of work. It looks like Arax does a lot of work to bring these cameras up to snuff and the prices seem more than reasonable. Matt Denton seems to have good things to say about the company on his website but I'd sure like to have multiple confirmations of that before I think about plunking down my cash. Of course, this still assumes that I actually get a refund from the IRS ... one never knows for sure 🙂
 
You might also check out the modified Kiev 60s from Ebay seller 'grizzly33bear' - a friend of mine got one from her (modified with MLU), and is quite satisfied; I personally woul be hesitant about the K88 - even getting a modified one is asking for trouble... I chickened out and got a Mamiya 645 Super instead (though I'm happy with my unmodified Kiev 60 and my Pentacon Six TL).
Roman

PS: Another place to look for modified MF Kievs is www.kievcameras.com , and you should check out www.kievaholic.com and the KievReport (link is on the Kievaholic site).
 
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I got that feeling about the 88s as well from what I've been reading. I think I'd be more comfortable with an SLR that handles like a.. well.. SLR 🙂, so I'm definitely leaning towards the 60. Knowing me, I'll probably wind up over at the local store and picking up the Bronica after all this research, but at least I'll know what my options are 🙂.

Looks like the kievcameras.com site is down, or at least I can't reach it right now. Now I have something to read tonight, thanks again Roman!
 
I find the Hassleblad experience allmost magical., it provides the total photographic experience from strat to finish.
Prior to leaving the house for a session you check the Mag's, load the fims you contemplate shooting, I useually take an A16 (645) with 50 velvia, A12 with B/w of which the brand varies, an A12 with provia 400. The simplicity of just the standard 800mm, and a tripod, and off I go. Finding the right shot, contemplating the best angle or view, setting up the camera, measuring the light, measuring the grey card, contemplating any variances.... it's total Zen ... so very relaxing. And maybe the biggest pleasure is awaiting the final results, deciding which pics to print.... I must say 80% of my shots I like, they are well thought through, this opposed to my other equipment (35mm)
I can recomend a 500 c/m to anyone who photographs because of the shere pleasure of photography....
 
Magnus, I had a taste of that yesterday on my first outing with the 'new' C/M and 80mm lens. It was foggy and I used a tripod and incident light meter. Here's one of my first Hassy pics from a roll of 120 (HP5+)

39452505.jpg


Gene
 
I presently have a Mamiya-645 that I've owned since the mid-1970's and a Kiev-645 from Kievcamera that I've owned roughly a year. The Kiev has had a mirror lock-up installed. My only problem with the Kiev has been frame spacing which I believe I've corrected using the instructions on a site called "KievKalibration".

I'm seriously considering a 6 x 6 SLR but haven't decided between the Kiev-60 and the new Kiev-88 CM that's been reworked by Hartblei or maybe just the new reworked Kiev-60 body from Arax. Regardless of which I eventually buy, they will all use the same lens..... the Pentacon-Six mount. I have an adapter that allows use of the P-6 lenses on the Mamiya-645 and that's a plus.

The attached picture was taken with the Kiev-645 and a 30mm Arsat-C fisheye lens and orange filter. I cropped the negative to include only about 35 or 40% of the full frame. The film was JandC Pro-100 developed 1:50 in Rodinal for 13 1/2 minutes.
 
Ed Whitney said:
Just a note of caution for you. I owned a 500C with an 80 f2.8 for a while, really enjoyed using it. A real "back to basics" approach. For months my wife kept telling me the images from the Hassie were the best I'd ever done. Then one day that all changed. We were walking around at a blues festival, I had the Hassie in my hand, and this cute young lady with way too much midriff showing walked by and said "Oooooo a Hasselblad" and started asking me a bunch of questions about it, naturally I told her everything I knew and even made up some stuff. Wasn't long after that the Hassie was on the auction block. That's the last time any young lady complimented me on my equipment.
Click to expand...

Damn ! I knew there was something wrong with me chosing rangefinders :bang:

😛

Welcome Ed !!! 😀 And Gene, that's a SIR shot ! Beautiful !!!
 
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