Hypothetical: What would you give up...

[venchka]

...for a very late, very good Hasselblad 501CM and 80mm CFE T* lens? I've had the camera about a month now and put 12-15 rolls of film through it. It's nice. I'm just not sure how nice. I would definitely keep the Pentax 6x7 for the 45mm and 150mm lenses. I can't afford equal Zeiss lenses for the 501.

1. Factory 3 lug upgraded M5 with a DAG CLA and M6ish 35-135, 50-75, 28-90 frame lines? A.K.A. Bubba.

2. 28mm M-Hexanon?

3. 35mm UC-Hexanon?

4. All of my LTM gear including goodies like the 35mm above, Nikkor 50/1.4 & 85/2.0, Canon VI-T, C/V 75/2.5, Canon black 135/3.5.

#4 would probably allow me to keep Bigfoot & Bubba and 3 M-mount lenses: 28-50-90.

What say ye?

 

[maddoc]

I would keep both M5, the assorted M-lenses and for sure the 35mm UC-Hexanon.... 🙂 If you don't use the LTM-mount cameras a lot or at all then I see no need to keep them except for sentimental reasons perhaps.

 

[venchka]

That is the big stumbling block: I've owned the VI-T, Canon 35/2.8 & Nikkor 50/1.4 since the mid-70s.

The UC-Hexanon might fetch enough to pay for the Hasselblad.

Sell some or all of the 4x5 hardware???????????????????????????

 

[venchka]

What to buy?

What to buy?

If I asked, "Which one of 2-3 dozen 35mm lenses should I buy for my Leica M23456789?" I would get 8 or 11 zillion replies. 🙂

Ask which 35mm rangefinder gear to sell in order to pay for a medium format SLR and everyone turns stone deaf, dumb & blind. 😱

That's cool. Perhaps 80+ of you have provided my answer.

 

[Mablo]

Keep your fine 35mm camera bodies. Sell lenses first. You can always buy back a lens but a good camera body is another thing.

 

[ferider]

Keep your fine 35mm camera bodies. Sell lenses first. You can always buy back a lens but a good camera body is another thing.

I completely disagree. It's the other way around.

What uses of your Ms will the Hasselblad replace, Wayne ? High resolution, landscape stuff ? Sell the Hexanons.

Portraits ? Sell the Nikkors.

Also, maybe an older 80mm C-Planar is good enough ?

 

[venchka]

Mablo,

My biggest problem is deciding which of my highly desireable lenses to part with. I have oned a couple of them for a very long time. During that long time, they were virutally unused. I know exactly where they have been and how much use they have had for over 30 years. I'm also only the owner.

Roland,

Truth be known, I can do without the Hasselblad. However, just like the M5 & 50mm Summicron, I have wanted one since forever. I hate to pass on the opportunity.

Do I need a Hasselblad & 80mm Planar lens? Does anyone? Really? Probably not.

Is it nice to have a Hasselblad? So far, yes.

Could I live without a Hasselblad? Of course.

Should I live without a Hasselblad? That's the problem.

I need a beer.

 

[ruby.monkey]

I need a beer

... and a later-model Rolleiflex SLX. Get the lenses you want, and a more user-friendly package, for little enough that you can keep your current cameras if you so wish.

 

[Merkin]

it sounds like you are actively using and enjoying your hasselblad. it sounds like you have gotten to that painful spot where you are trying to decide between being an active shooter and an active (passive?) collector. both have different merits, and both trigger seratonin in different ways. which is more important to you, and if using your equipment is important, what do you use? if collecting is important, i think what to keep would probably be fairly obvious to you, judging from your comments. if it is somewhere in between, cull the least collectible things that you use the least, even if you are sentimental.

 

[FrankS]

Wayne, IMO definitely get the Hasselblad. Go with option #4 if there is no other way to raise cash. (Part time job?)

 

[Gid]

Blame it on the Hassy Possee

Blame it on the Hassy Possee

There are some very good images in that thread - had me thinking that I needed a Hassy. You've got MF covered with the Pentax - is the Hasselblad better egonomically, easier to shoot with, does it produce better images? Or, is this just belonging to the club? If you really believe that it will make you shoot more and improve your enjoyment of photography, then, just sell the stuff you use least, otherwise, give it back with the pleasure of having had the experience.

Good luck, gear angst causes sleepless nights.

 

[FrozenInTime]

The second hand market is awash with cheap 150 CF lenses for the hassy so they can be bought especially cheaply if you can live with some handling and paint ware on the barrels.

If you are starting to get hooked on the square aesthetic - I would go for option #4 and keep Bubba (M5) and the M lenses as a compliment to the more deliberately handling hassy.

 

[dazedgonebye]

To sell or not to sell....

I have a bunch of 35mm gear that I don't often use. I should sell it to buy more medium format that I hope to use. Still, I can't bring myself to letting go of my good basic 35mm outfits. (r3A +3 lenses and Hexar AF).
I'm not shooting 35mm much now, but that's a sold kit I've got and who knows where I'll be in a couple of years.
You know my choice...I sold some LF gear that it seemed less likely I would miss.

Hard choices. A lottery win would solve it all.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Keep all your gear!....err - how are you getting along with the wife? 😀
Dave😉

 

[tbarker13]

I feel some of your pain. I am likely about to sell my own copy of the 35 UC hexanon in a paring down of gear.
I only want one 35mm lens for simplicity. That means I keep either my 35 pre-asph lux or the 35 uc hexanon. And I have really grown to enjoy the lux.

 

[venchka]

Thanks everyone. Thoughtful help all around. It hasn't gotten to the point of loosing any sleep. Yet.

 

[maddoc]

Another idea (not sure if it works easily because I have never tried it myself ... 😱): Try to sell some photos, get the money for the lenses you want and don't sell any of your equipment. 🙂

That is the big stumbling block: I've owned the VI-T, Canon 35/2.8 & Nikkor 50/1.4 since the mid-70s.

The UC-Hexanon might fetch enough to pay for the Hasselblad.

Sell some or all of the 4x5 hardware???????????????????????????

 

[venchka]

That's a thought. It's slow going. I've sold 2 in 4 years. Barely enough to keep me in film and chemicals.

 

[maddoc]

At least it is a start ! 🙂 As I mentioned, I have no experience selling photos (just the one or other "paid" job ...) but before selling equipment that I like and own for such a long time I would try to sell some more prints or get a paid photography-related job to finance new gear.

On my recent trip back to Germany, I used my old Nikon FM again. That was my first "serious" camera, bought ~ 27 years ago. I would never sell this one to buy new equipment ...

 

[ZeissFan]

Get rid of that Canon stuff. It's dime a dozen.