The future of my hobby - practical gear

[Krzys]

First of all I am a poor student so budgets are tight.

I currently own a Leica M2 and a Hasselblad 500C/M. I scan my photos with a (crappy) Canoscan 8400f since it is too hot to be in my darkroom printing for more than 30 minutes. I love the Canon 1.4 ltm that I recently bought here and the detail blows me away. I can't imagin what its like to shoot fine leitz lenses.

I use the Hasselblad for in house portraits, landscapes and night photos. Always on a tripod. Generally the Hasselblad goes out for special occasions only, where negative size is a real treat. I have taken it handheld in the street and it works but I would perfer a TLR for this job.

I am thinking of selling my Hasselblad kit and using the money to buy a nice epson V700. Some will complain about the lack of quality with this scanner but for me it is a huge and adequate step up.

Then later down the track I will invest in a 4x5 field camera (not rail). Since I only ever use my Hasselblad on a tripod it really is a small transition to putting a larger camera on there, since I already carry alot. I love large format and have shot with various cameras at a friends place. I have never owned one myself though.

So I will have a Leica M2 and 4x5 camera. The quality of the 35mm shots I am getting now is pleasing me even with the crappy scanner. So I think that the combo will serve my intentions well.

If I miss medium format I will get a Yashica 124G. But will I miss medium format? Will I miss the Hassy?

I am currently in Australia but plan to relocate back to Canada from where I am from next year. The job I am aiming for though uni will involve traveling via car to remote locations and a 4x5 camera seems like the best companion. This is my dream.

What do you think?

 

[Bingley]

Can't say whether you'll miss the Hassy or MF, but from your description an upgrade in the scanner department sounds like a very sensible plan. Keep the M2 + Canon 50/1.4, though. 🙂

 

[Krzys]

I will definitely keep the M2 and 50 1.4. If the grain is fine enough (and I love fp4) I think that the quality of 35mm scans with a V700 with match the quality of 120 scans with the 8400f. Though this is pure uninformed speculation.

 

[Keith]

I like my V700 but I do long for a scanner that is capable of better 35mm results ... the Epson's only OK here IMO. Medium and large format ... it's excellent.

On the positive side for the Epson it's not hugely expensive and so far mine has been perfectly reliable!

And oh yes ... down the track you may kick yourself for selling the Hassy but then again it won't be hard to replace because film's nearly dead don't forget!

 

[coelacanth]

Hmmmm. I've got similar gear setup, although I probably have a tiny bit more flexibility with budgeting as I work full time and my only dependent is my cat. 😛

I use the same cheapo Canoscan 8400F, but I can stay in darkroom longer as SF won't get that hot year around. 🙂

Now that stated, I don't know if I'd trade my Hassy for a scanner. Well, actually, I know I will never do that. Whenever I think about trading something for something totally different, say not from M4 to M4-P, but OM-1n to LCD display or something like that, I think twice. And really rarely I pull that off if the trade-in is a mechanical thing of beauty that will serve me for years or even a lifetime, and the other end is an electronic device that's expensive but won't hold value or durability/technical advantage for long time.

Personally, I'd keep the hassy, and invest in Vuescan or SilverFast for the Canoscan. For serious B/W prints, I'd still force myself to go into the darkroom.

Just my 2 cents.


P.S. (personal note) Let me know when you receive the magnifier. 😉

 

[ully]

Maybe that why you are a poor student, a Hassy and a Leica?

 

[Krzys]

I think If I educate myself and make an informed purchase of a 4x5 camera I won't miss the Hassy. The thing is slow to focus as it is, really not far off from peering into a loupe on large format.

Personally, I'd keep the hassy, and invest in Vuescan or SilverFast for the Canoscan. For serious B/W prints, I'd still force myself to go into the darkroom.

I use Vuescan and the darkroom is TOO HOT 🙂 I am not designed for this weather as it is.

Maybe that why you are a poor student, a Hassy and a Leica?

I saved and saved during school and bought guitar equipment, sold and that bought camera equipment. Plus I took a year off between school and uni to earn money and look into who I am personally and what I want to do for msyelf in life.

From what I've spent the Hassy and Leica only add up to around $1200-1400aud. Your average junior DSLR photog spends way way way more.

I am poor because I just bought a car and paid for insurance and rego in less than a month! 😀

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Keep the Hasselblad. I've shot medium format since I was 16 with a Mamiya 645. A few yrs ago I got a Hasselblad. When I was younger, I wanted a 4x5. I had a darkroom then. I spent the money for one and found that I preferred the 645 camera. Why? Because even a folding field-type 4x5 is big and heavy and requires big heavy film holders that you have to lug about. I'm a little skinny guy with a lot of health problems, carrying all that is just out of the question. The 645 and now the Hassy are perfect. Big enough to give great quality, far better than 35mm, yet small and light enough to carry a whole kit in a single shoulder bag, including many rolls of film! Thankfully I did not sell my 645, I still have it and still use it alongside the Hasselblad I later got. I'd have hated myself if I'd sold my medium format system in favor of 4x5 only to find that I couldn't carry the 4x5 setup easily.

Also consider that processing 4x5 film is a GIGANTIC pain. It takes practice to get good even development with no scratches if you process in a tray. Daylight 4x5 tanks all suck, none give even development. A jobo system does work great, but when I was young they were mucho expensive and now they are no longer made.

 

[Krzys]

Christopher,

I also had a Mamiya 645. Hated the format, especially positioning for portrait orientation.

I am a big guy and I am always carrying around a lot of crap. Weight and size is no issue since it is all going on a tripod in the end.

I also love processing film, it is one of my favorite parts of the hobby. If it is hard then it is rewarding.

I don't know aye. I just think that for what I shoot hand held the Leica is perfect and for when I go for landscapes and portraits I am wasting space not shooting a larger and more versatile (fun) camera.

 

[Krzys]

I have to goto work now, back in 6 to 7 hours. Thanks to anyone sharing their advice and opinions.

I just want to add that I have (thought only recently enforced) the mentality of focusing on minimal gear which gets the job done. If I am using a lens and it is working for me I will get the most out of its success and refine my technique.

My idea focal lengths are 28 and 50 for 35mm and 75/90 and 150 4x5 (obviously). Perhaps a tele for portrait shots though I don't have much experience with those lengths.

 

[maddoc]

Thanks for confirmation that you have received the lens and glad to hear that you like it ! A short reply to my PM would have been nice, though .... 😉

I love the Canon 1.4 ltm that I recently bought here and the detail blows me away.

 

[Krzys]

Sorry, message box was full:bang:

 

[MatthewThompson]

I've "upgraded" by selling a Hasselblad in the past and I still regret it. I've just moved back to MF and I couldn't be happier. Still, there's MF and then there's Hasselblad. Whatever you buy for a scanner will lose value and utility far quicker than the 500C/M could dream of in comparison.

If you're looking for a change in your process, sell the M2 for a decent Canon RF setup with a few lenses (edit: or just a 50 Distagon and/or a 150 Sonnar for the big SLR: own that system) and keep an eye out for a second hand air conditioner for your darkroom. Flexibility and utility. Then again, I'm not a Leica fanboy by any stretch.

 

[maddoc]

Actually .... I have similar thoughts about my Hasselblad 500 C/M. I don't use it very often since it is heavy and I shoot a lot around night time. This works best with a Hassy / tripod (heavy) or Leica and fast lenses. Since I am not really into portrait / studio work (where the Hassy really shines), I thought about swapping it for a 4x5 field camera. I use a Coolscan 4000ED to scan 35 and an Epson V700 for 120. I have used the V700 before for both, 135 and 120 and while the Epson is great for 120 (and maybe larger), it is not as good as my 4000ED for 135.

If your scanner that you have now serves your well for 135 it should be even better for 120 and very good for 4x5 (resolution wise, dynamic range is a different story ...) If I were you I would sell the Hassy and get a 4x5 now instead of the V700.

Only my 2 cents of course ...

Whatever your choice is, keep the M2 + 50/1.4. Selling that you will regret ... 😉

Cheers,

Gabor

So I will have a Leica M2 and 4x5 camera. The quality of the 35mm shots I am getting now is pleasing me even with the crappy scanner. So I think that the combo will serve my intentions well.

 

[pakeha]

So krzys, what is your `hobby'? is it scanning or taking pictures?🙄
Sorry for the mild sarcasm

Keep your cameras, spend the residual on film.

 

[Krzys]

pakeha, are you insulting me?

My darkroom is too hot - this isn't APUG, scanners aren't illegal.

Scanning is the alternative. This is Australia and my darkroom is in the laundry. I am Canadian, not really used to the heat.

I cant swap out my Hassy for 4x5 because I cannot scan or enlarge 4x5. The max at the moment is 6x9.

I have been thinking. I should save a couple grand for a 4x5 outfit then after that is sorted I will decide on the swap.

Perhaps...

 

[katgut@earthlink.net]

I would never sell a hasselblad for a scanner that will be obsolete and worth zilch in 5 years. I'd rather use a crappy scanner for proofing and send out the winners for scanning.

 

[mfogiel]

I think that the V700 is only satisfactory for 4x5 or larger, so in terms of scanning there are 3 good options:
1- get a top 35mm film scanner and stick to 35mm only
The CS5000 or Minolta 5400 will get you optimal results, although they are not very gentle with the grain. With time buy more good quality lenses for your M2, and some good resolution film. The results will be better than Hassy shots scanned on a poor flatbed.
2- get the V700 for the LF, and use the Leica for shooting slides - the very best ones can be scanned in a lab.
3- save money for a Nikon CS9000 (or a used CS 8000)+glass holder. This scanner will give you the best quality for both 35 mm and MF without exaggerating the grain, as it has a diffuse light source. This will get you covered for enlargements up to 24x24, at which point using the LF is redundant.

My take is, that getting the LF camera + V700 only could make sense if you are a committed B&W landscape photographer, otherwise it is too much of a pain. If you don't mind using a tripod, but want to shoot more varied stuff, then reducing your kit to 35mm might make more sense. With a sharp lens, good scanner, camera on a tripod and Delta 100, Tmax 100 or Efke 50 you will get very competent results for prints up to 11x14.

 

[Krzys]

Thanks for all of the information mfogiel. I have lots to research now.

My question is why is LF a pain for general use? Given that carrying is not a problem and I enjoy fiddling with gadgets and taking my time. I tend to find that for my dedicated adventures when I specifically use the Hasselblad, 12 frames is much more than enough and usually hard to finish.

I would never sell a hasselblad for a scanner that will be obsolete and worth zilch in 5 years. I'd rather use a crappy scanner for proofing and send out the winners for scanning.

That is a really good point. But I don't like to put my work in the hands of a third party.

 

[mfogiel]

The LF takes a long time to set up, the ground glass focusing and composition are lengthy, the requested f stop to get adequate sharpness and dof requires usually slow shuter speeds, so all this makes almost anything except for still life, architecture or landscape without wind impractical. There are also many more things that can go wrong in the shooting sequence, and finally there is the bulk and weight and extra cost of the large film. As I said, if you are not into the Ansel Adams type of stuff (and even Adams switched to Hasselblad when he grew old), just skip it. If you are not convinced, look up Michael Kenna or Ladislav Kamarad.