Please help me choose a prism for Hasselblad...

[Juan Valdenebro]

Hi everybody...

I use a Hasselblad 2003FCW years ago, and have always used it waist level with the image sides inverted when focusing and composing... Now I'd like to try an unmetered prism to see the image as it really is... Used, of course...

I have absolutely no idea on this subject. Could someone please recommend me a few models?

I don't care if it's Hasselblad or other brand... If there's a cheap one, metered, maybe I would go for it too, although I always meter handheld...

I just saw written on line (without more detailed information) “hasselblad meter prism”, “hasselblad pm42307”, “hasselblad pm5 42308”, “kiev nc2” and “kiev ttl”, all of them cheap, below $100...

Do all of them flip the image to see it corrected? Are all of them 45º?

Any preference or advice?

Thanks a lot!

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

I already ordered, thanks!

 

[venchka]

That was quick. What did you order? Where did you order?

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Hi venchka,

I had some quick advice, from Q.G. de Bakker, another forum member:

"All prisms flip the image left-right.
Not all of them are 45 degree.
I find the 45 degree angle the most convenient to use. There are several options for Hasselblad, both with and without meter.
The oldest one is the Hasselblad NC2 prims. It's the one with the rounded top. Works great, but not with a Polaroid back on the camera.
To clear the Polaroid back, a slightly higher cut Hasselblad NC2 100 prism was available. They look almost identical to the NC2 prisms, and you need to see both types side by side to tell the difference. They are rather rare.
The NC2 prisms are perfectly fine, and often available for little money. It is the model Kiev copied for their metered prism.
The first metering prism available was the Hasselblad Metering Prism (imaginative name ;-). It looks rather klunky, quite a few facets, with straight edges. Almost like a stealth fighter.
It has a CdS cell meter inside, which is very accurate, but slow. And it takes mercury batteries.
These were superseeded by the line of PM(E) prisms. The line with the flash (cold) shoe on top.
The first of this line was first called VFC-6, later PME, and contains a silicon cell meter. Works well. It is calibrated to work with the older, dimmer focussing screens.
Some of the older PME's were recalibrated to work with the brighter Acute Mate screens. The ones who are were given a sticker underneath to say so.
You can find these for not too much money as well.
The next in line was the PME3. Also with a meter, but now calibrated to work with the brighter Acute Matte screens.
The next was the PME5. Again with meter, but now with slightly improved metering electronics. And it has a cutout in the base to clear the viewfinder display of some 200-series Hasselblad cameras.
It was replaced by a PME51. Again slightly improved viewfinder electronics.
There also were two unmeterd versions: the PM and the PM5. The PM5 differs in that it has the foot that fits 200-series cameras without damging the display.
All these PM(E) prisms look very similar, and you have to check for the type name on the prism to tell (most of) them apart. The type name was silk screended on the housing, and rubs off very easily, so it can be a bit of a challenge to identify them.
All the PME metered prisms offer center weighed metering only, and display the EV value on a scale.
Next are the PM45 and PME45.
The PME45 again has a meter, which offers lots of settings, and an LCD display with lots of info. It also does incident light metering through a dome on top of the prism.
The PM45 is the unmetered version of the PME45.
Both, being the latest models, are still quiet expensive even used.
Kiev also makes a prism with meter that will fit Hasselblads. Their calibration more often than not needs some seeing to before they work properly at all. Some may never work properly."


So I ordered a Hasselblad 45º unmetered prism from KEH... I'm so happy: I have never shot my or any other Hassie seeing a non inverted image... I guess it will be relaxing in some way...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Rob-F]

The 45 degree prism is a good choice, especially for handheld shooting. The Hasselblad is too big and heavy (for me) to hold all the way up to eye level with the 90 degree prisms. I have a 90 degree prism, the one with the long pipe to clear the 70mm magazines. It stays home in the drawer in favor of my PME 45 degree model. Mine has the meter, but I seldom use it. That's what handheld meters are for! So I think you chose well. Enjoy.

 

[fbf]

The PM5 should do the job.
I personally like the NC2 and PM5 prism though I use the WLF the most.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Thank you all for being there...

Cheers,

Juan.

 

[Benjamin Marks]

Juan: One other thing to consider. Having the prism on a Hasselblad really changed the way I held the camera. Unless the camera is on a tripod or unless you use a grip, holding the camera to your eye with a prism, your elbows are extended out from your body and your wrists are bent back to the maximum. I don't find it all that comfortable -- a recently bought a Bronica SQ-Ai (same problem) that came with a metering prism. I wound up getting a grip for it so I could shoot without the minor discomfort. And even though I have the Kiev prism for a Hassie, I wind up using it with the waist-level finder most of the time. Just my two cents. Good luck with your choice.

Ben Marks

 

[Keith]

This an interesting thread ... straight after I got my 500cm I was hell bent on getting a prism and spent a fair amount of time musing on which one to get.

A few rolls of film on I have changed my tune somewhat, which is interesting because when I was asking Hasselblad questions here recently, a few people warned me not to jump into buying a prism as they found the WLF the best over all method of shooting a Hassy.

I think I have to agree ... I'm now very comfortable with the WLF! 🙂

 

[venchka]

WLF is an acquired habit. Easily acquired I reckon. My first 6x6 camera was a Mamiya TLR. I only owned it a few months. I have some rather nice negatives from it. Ground level perspective is easy with a WLF.

Eye level perspective is good too. That's why the Pentax 6x7 exists. A WLF for the Pentax might overcome my Hasselblad Lust.

You think??????????????

 

[andredossantos]

I have an older style metered prism, albeit one that takes silver oxide batteries, and the WLF.

I do the majority of shooting with my hasselblad handheld and the eye level prism is awkward. I use the WLF 90% of the time with a separate meter or sunny 16. Its just more comfortable and less of a hassle to compose.

 

[venchka]

I had both the Pentax and Hasselblad out last Saturday. Swapping back forth. Each did something better than the other. I found the Pentax with 150mm lens best for photos of the ladies.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Interesting... In a few days I'll know if I find it OK shooting with the image corrected...

By now, I have always felt there are lots of situations in which the waist level finder isn't comfortable at all... For others it's cool and effective.

Also, sometimes, I find it is not positive for composition having the image inverted... Anyway I have done it only that way for many years... I find less complicated the large format upside down image: in that case it's positive because we MUST view only the real scene as there's no other option usually, but the Hasselblad's left and right inverted image, keeps taking my vision of reality away. I've had many cases where a slide I made with the Hassie looks interesting or even better inverted on the light table, as I saw it in the WLF...

Cheers,

Juan