Should I sell my Hasselblad Kit to fund a used M8 and LX3?

[cplkao]

Hello All,

The price of M8 had dropped quite a bit since news of M9, and many people in the forum are selling their old M8 for an upgrade, and many are selling their RD1 or film M for those M8s.😀


Do you feel the price for M8/8.2 on 2nd hand market had stablised ? In UK, 2nd M8 cost from 1600-1900GBP in shops, which I can afford after selling my whole Hasselbald Kit and 35mm kits, M8.2 is about 5xx-6xxGBP higher than M8, do you expect the price to drop even further for M8/8.2?


There are also some negative report on used M8 like the red banning, dead pixel on sensor which the camera need to be sent back to Solmns for awhile, have you encounter any of these problem?


At the moment, I only shoot films, mainly medium format with Hasselblad for personal projects, scanning the transparencies/BW on flatbed Epson 4490, the 8x8 prints are good but does not show the full capacity of the kit. The 35mm scan from M4/GR1s is not good enough for print larger than 12x8.


The versatility offered by the kit for macro, still life, architecture and street photography as well as the Waist level shooting, square composition, and all the wonderful films available (Velvia100, Kodak E100/VS, Acros, Pan F) is great, but the cost for film, develop, scan and print is not cheap in UK, and the time from moment of exposure to the final print can be as long as few days. Also the kit is too heavy for traveling, and take too long to set up. 🙁


The idea is to change to a more compact digital system, consist of only two cameras, a M8 with a Wide angle lens/35mm/90mm, and LX3 (mainly for macro, close up, snaps) which can print up to 12x8, DSLR is not an option for me due to the bulkiness, and I can only afford one system with me.


Which one will you choice in term for longetivity, value?

I am a student film maker, not a professional photographer, but I do need camera for location scouting, stills images from shooting and hobby.

Sorry for my poor english😛

Lucas Kao



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The Hasselblad kit consist of 500C/M, Acute-Matte, WL Finder, 80mm CF, 50mm C, SWC/M 38 C, 2xA12 Back, CP/Softar I Filter, PME51 Viewfinder, 10/21/55 Extension Rings, if put on Ebay the whole kit will be more than enough for a used M8, maybe even with a VC 35mm lens.

 

[Jamie123]

How about a Canon 5DII or a 7D? I know you say a DSLR is not an option but seriously, it will be quite a bit more compact than the Hasselblad kit and since you're a film maker you'll have the benefit of being able to record HD video with lots of great lenses.

 

[Frank Petronio]

Why not get a new Leica X1 and leave it at that, it will go large and be simple, then you can spend the rest on travel?

Most likely an X1 will equal or better an M8 quality in a more compact package ;-)

 

[cplkao]

To: Jamie

I just looked at some of the footage from 7D/5D MKii on Vimeo, the video quality and the shallow DoF does looks promising, but none of them have XLR socket and an flip out screen, the aspect ratio seems not changable. Even I said that, I do believe DSLR manufacture will improve them in the future, and will be adapted by videographers, but for the moment will leave them alone.

To: Frank
X1 is basically a M8 with a fixed lens without the IR problem, no doubt it will deliver high Iso performance and good image quality, but I still need the different focal lengths. And the price of X1 is pushed way too high...

 

[johnastovall]

Forget the LX3 and get a Ricoh GR-DIII.

 

[cplkao]

To: johnastovall
Yes, GRDIII was on my list of compacts too, but the doubled price compared to LX3 and lack of the zoom ability put me off. (At least for now😉

 

[Jamie123]

To: Jamie

I just looked at some of the footage from 7D/5D MKii on Vimeo, the video quality and the shallow DoF does looks promising, but none of them have XLR socket and an flip out screen, the aspect ratio seems not changable. Even I said that, I do believe DSLR manufacture will improve them in the future, and will be adapted by videographers, but for the moment will leave them alone.

You can get external screens for the Canons but yes, it's not a substitute for real motion picture equipment. However, it is still quite a good way to try out certain camera angles etc.

My point is get the camera for the stills but take advantage of the fact that it also can be used for video when needed.

As far as image quality and high iso performance goes the 5DII runs laps around the M8. I would understand you want for an M8 if you were a rangefinder fan or had tons of M lenses but if you're going to replace all that Hasselblad gear I suggest you go for something that's considerably better than the M8.

 

[dfoo]

5D is a monster DSLR... and so are the lenses.

 

[Jamie123]

5D is a monster DSLR... and so are the lenses.

Not really compared to the Hasselblads with various lenses. It's not as portable as the M8 but for portability he could get the LX3.

 

[Merkin]

Have you considered saving up for a used digital back for your hasselblad?

 

[cplkao]

lol, I hope this will not turn to a 5D vs M8 or 5D vs Hasselblad topic 😉

5DMkii does have better high Iso performance, better image quality pixel wise, higher battery life and with large choice of lens adaptors, but I am both a rangefinder fan and have some M lens to use, thus 5Dmkii/D70 is not an option, but thanks for your effort. 🙂

 

[cplkao]

lol, I hope this will not turn to a 5D vs M8 or 5D vs Hasselblad topic 😉

5DMkii does have better high Iso performance, better image quality pixel wise, higher battery life and with large choice of lens adaptors, but I am both a rangefinder fan and have some M lens to use, thus 5Dmkii/D70 is not an option, but thanks for your effort. 🙂

 

[shadowfox]

At the moment, I only shoot films, mainly medium format with Hasselblad for personal projects, scanning the transparencies/BW on flatbed Epson 4490, the 8x8 prints are good but does not show the full capacity of the kit. The 35mm scan from M4/GR1s is not good enough for print larger than 12x8.

From what you say here, the problem is that you need a better film scanner.

Unless you just want to go digital, in that case, give one of those m4/3rd cameras a try. Those can use your existing M lenses.

Or getting a digital back as Merkin says up there. Kodak 16 mpixel digital back can be had for less than M8 for sure nowadays.

 

[johnastovall]

To: johnastovall
Yes, GRDIII was on my list of compacts too, but the doubled price compared to LX3 and lack of the zoom ability put me off. (At least for now😉

Give one a try in a shop. It's a photographer's camera. As for the lack of a zoom, as Capa said, "Get closer..." 😀

 

[Phantomas]

I wouldn't sell my Hassleblad to fund any camera. In fact if i was to keep just one camera it would be my Hassleblad. I love rangefinders, and two systems are of course no substitute to each other, but the results from a Hassie are in a league of their own.
Just saying.

 

[f16sunshine]

Love the m8 could not work with the LX3.
The damn thing is just too small. Also the mode selector dial has it's own mind. Seems like a fiddly complaint but, the selector was always moved inadvertently.
Love the M8 did I mention 😉

 

[Jamie123]

but I am both a rangefinder fan and have some M lens to use

Ah ok, in this case get the M8 if you want one. However, keep in mind that it will be more of a replacement for your other 35mm rangefinders, not the Hasselblad.
Also, if I were you I'd pass on the LX3. You're already covered for portability with the M8. For the same price as the LX3 you can get yourself either a Nikon D40 or a Canon 1000D (both with kit lense) which is fairly small and should cover macro etc.

 

[Richard Marks]

Well I sold my entire hasselblad gear to buy an M8 the first time round. I did not miss it for about a year but just looking back through pictures I had taken with medium format I suddelnly had a horrible sense of loss.

Fortunately MF prices had fallen and I was able to get back a Hasselblad for less than I had sold for!

Again sold my Hassy to fund other leica lenses and then again had to replace it.

Conculsions
1. I can live without a hassy for a little while but always come back to it. I currently have a 500Cm with 50, 100 and 180 lenses. I feel insecure without a medium format option even though other options are supposedly as good. It is so flexible and totally reliable.

2. There is so much second hand around that if you do sell it you can always buy back.

Richard

 

[cplkao]

Thanks for the massive amount of replies and thoughts! I had made up my mind now, it will be an M8 then, the money for the compact will go for a nice VC wide angle lens.

I will miss the Hasselblad for sure, especially the waist level framing, square format, the gun like double shutter sound and simply the joy of owning and using a top manual camera.

But Richard had got a solid point about the declining price for V system, especially on Ebay this week. And Digiback is not an option, mainly due to the crop factor and price, photography is a tool and hobby for me, not a profession, otherwise it would be the H system.

To : patrickjames
I start my photography journey with a Nikon D60 last year, then go back in time to learn film and all the basic darkroom process and enjoy every moment of it! It's more like going back to digital again but with more experience.

But thanks again, this forum is really helpful!

 

[Rob-F]

cplkao: I've bought, so far, six digital cameras in the process of exploring digital. I've worried about crop factors, focal lengths, zoom vs. prime, etc. to the point of nausea. One thing I have not done is to sell any film gear. Recently I have started asking myself, what is so important about shooting digital that I have to put this much energy into it?

In your case, you seem to have some reason to change to digital--or at least to add a digital camera to your equipment. You need a compact, lightweight camera for scouting locations. But does it have to be an M8? I have found that the little compact point and shoot digitals are very good. I have the Leica D-Lux 3 and D-Lux 4. The image quality is excellent! No problem printing an 8 x 10.

So rather than give up all your Hassie gear, in an all-or-nothing-decision, why not give up one piece, maybe one lens, to fund a decent digital P&S. No weird filters, no coding on lenses, etc. Or even get a very inexpensive digital P&S. I bought a Canon A590is for my wife to see if she likes digital. The LCD screen is awful and so is the battery life; but the pictures were great, and I only paid $109 USD. With a little shopping you might not have to give up any of your Hassie gear. Unless, of course, you just want the M8 as a toy . . . 😀