The joy of Hasselblad

[Godfrey]

I've been needing to shoot another roll of Washi 120 film with something other than a pinhole camera to get a better feel for the film and its processing. So yesterday I pulled out my Hasselblad 500CM, the 120mm Macro lens, and the 50mm wide angle.

I shot a variety of still life images around the house (all long exposures since the Washi 120 film is about ISO 8) and included two exposures of a tri-tone exposure chart and an Xrite Color Checker (at nominal and +1 EV exposure settings). This time I'll double the development time for the Washi film to see what that does to the total density and overall tonal curve. Might be hopeless, might be great...

But really, what moved me to write, is to celebrate just how lovely this forty year old camera is to use. The body and back are 1978 vintage, I don't think either has ever been serviced, and they just feel so wonderfully precise and well-made it's delightful. I used two lenses, the bubble level attachment, hoods, and filters; every piece just works right, feels right, and makes you feel as if you are working with something special. Utterly utilitarian in design, yet beautiful and classic to look at.

It doesn't get much better than this. 🙂

G

 

[dave lackey]

I've been needing to shoot another roll of Washi 120 film with something other than a pinhole camera to get a better feel for the film and its processing. So yesterday I pulled out my Hasselblad 500CM, the 120mm Macro lens, and the 50mm wide angle.

I shot a variety of still life images around the house (all long exposures since the Washi 120 film is about ISO 8) and included two exposures of a tri-tone exposure chart and an Xrite Color Checker (at nominal and +1 EV exposure settings). This time I'll double the development time for the Washi film to see what that does to the total density and overall tonal curve. Might be hopeless, might be great...

But really, what moved me to write, is to celebrate just how lovely this forty year old camera is to use. The body and back are 1978 vintage, I don't think either has ever been serviced, and they just feel so wonderfully precise and well-made it's delightful. I used two lenses, the bubble level attachment, hoods, and filters; every piece just works right, feels right, and makes you feel as if you are working with something special. Utterly utilitarian in design, yet beautiful and classic to look at.

It doesn't get much better than this. 🙂

G

Godfrey, you are Blad to the Bone! And I can't agree more!!!

Carrying my 503 with me everyday for months now. Absolutely loving it.

Where did you get the Washi film?

 

[Godfrey]

Godfrey, you are Blad to the Bone! And I can't agree more!!!

Carrying my 503 with me everyday for months now. Absolutely loving it.

Where did you get the Washi film?

I wrote the manufacturer in France and obtained a ten-roll pack of it direct from him last September. I'm finally getting around to working with it. It produces very intriguing results.

The firs roll I shot with a RealitySoSubtle 6x6 pinhole camera. This was my favorite of the four exposures that 'almost' worked:

​

The other three are in an album on flickr: https://flic.kr/s/aHskWWZVev

G

 

[LarsAC]

Fully agree - took my 'blad out this afternoon to the garden to take a shot or two of my lovely wife and kids. Ended up pulling through the complete roll of Delta 400. The waist level finder makes it easy to be on eye level with kids and the image size makes composing and focusing a great experience.

Lars

 

[MCTuomey]

thanks for sharing - and for the reminder to pull mine out and get shooting, such a fine pleasure indeed

 

[Jake Mongey]

I just got my first blad - a 500 EL and I cant wait to get a lens and use it. Its 1969 and feels amazing.

 

[dave lackey]

I wrote the manufacturer in France and obtained a ten-roll pack of it direct from him last September. I'm finally getting around to working with it. It produces very intriguing results.

The firs roll I shot with a RealitySoSubtle 6x6 pinhole camera. This was my favorite of the four exposures that 'almost' worked:

​

The other three are in an album on flickr: https://flic.kr/s/aHskWWZVev

G

Thanks, Godfrey, interesting film company there and I will be looking forward to your further testing!

The Joy of Hasselblad, after all these years, is still there!!!😀

 

[sepiareverb]

Just ordered from Washi the other day, looking forward to trying it, and some other slow duplicating film of his I got tempted by.

Couldn't agree more about a hasselblad, I only have the SWC/M now, but it too is a joy to use.

 

[Godfrey]

Just ordered from Washi the other day, looking forward to trying it, and some other slow duplicating film of his I got tempted by.

Couldn't agree more about a hasselblad, I only have the SWC/M now, but it too is a joy to use.

Just processed my second roll of Washi 120; this time I used paper developer. It's hanging to dry now. Looks a little better than the first ... can't really tell until it's dry and I scan it. I think it should really be rated ISO 3 in this developer, however, so next roll might be the charm. 🙂 (I'm glad I bought 10 rolls; I knew it was going to take two or three rolls at least to figure out what to do in exposing and processing it.)

BTW, the Washi film thread I've been posting to is here:
http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2731148#post2731148

Might as well keep it going... there are few enough of us playing with this material that it's better to keep it all together than scatter it in different threads.

G

 

[Nokton48]

I agree using a Hasselblad is a joy.

Today I was out testing some old 70mm Plus-X and it was a delight to use the camera.

Jake is right; They do "feel" amazing.

 

[Nokton48]

Hasselblads are system cameras. There are no other options in medium format when it comes to these capabilities.

Hundreds of accesories means that you can configure the camera into whatever you need to do a particular job.

If all I needed was an 80mm I would probably use a Rollei TLR 🙂

002 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Here is an example of what I mean

 

[Godfrey]

I've finished and posted the Washi 120 second roll now. Results are posted in the Washi development thread I linked to before... Here's a link to my latest post:
http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2731541&postcount=13

enjoy!
G

 

[gnuyork]

I've used Dave lackey's 503 and I really want one now!

 

[sepiareverb]

Washi enroute to me, looking forward to it. I quite like the Hippolyte Bayard look you have in many of them Godfrey!!!

 

[Uncle Bill]

Shot on my 500 C/M and 80 f2.8 Planar lens. The film is Ilford HP5 processed in HC110 B for five minutes flat.

Haven't used my Hassie in a while and thought it was time for a workout.

Building Curves by Bill Smith, on Flickr