Tuscany with a Hasselblad?

[Austerby]

I'm off to Tuscany (Lucca, Pisa, San Gim etc) for 10 days at the end of August and of course am now thinking of what gear to take.

I've been considering my usual RF kit (M8 + ZM, Zeiss 21/4.5; vc28/2; Zeiss 35/2.8; Zeiss 50/1.5; Leica 135/4) but have an incredible urge to be different and just take my 500CM with the 80mm and a couple of A12 backs, and perhaps my Leitz tabletop tripod.

In some ways crazy, in others restricting, but yet intriguing and I bet I'd come home with a completely different set of photos. I'd have to resist also taking the 50/4 and 150/4 for the Hasselblad though...

Thoughts?

 

[mfogiel]

Well, if you plan to move mainly in the cities, then I would definitely go with a good basic RF 2 body kit, 28mm and 50mm lenses, on the other hand, if you plan to travel around the small country roads, the Hassy with a tripod and 50/80/150 would be great. Tuscan landscape is the most photographed in the world (maybe apart from Death Valley and Yosemite), so there has to be a good reaon. I'd put it this way: if you are travelling alone, then take the hassy, if with a woman, then take the rangefinders...
Have a look here for inspiration, this guy only uses a Hasselblad:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2477079

 

[Photon42]

[...]I'd put it this way: if you are travelling alone, then take the hassy, if with a woman, then take the rangefinders...
Have a look here for inspiration, this guy only uses a Hasselblad:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2477079

Words of the knowing 😀 Michael Seewald seems to use other equipment as well, but however the link is nice.

 

[dave lackey]

Take whatever you're comfortable with shooting. A change in location doesn't change that. Funny, I have the exact same Hassy setup (503 w/50/80/150).

I would probably still want to take the RF kit for the wide angles and faster lenses. But the Hassy would provide some great images, no doubt. Run some Velvia through that puppy...

+1 on that!😀

 

[dave lackey]

if with a woman, then take the rangefinders...

Wise words... very wise. DAMHIK. 🙂

 

[rmeskill]

Don't let the prospect of the Hassy's weight scare you-I cruised through Rome, Florence, Siena, Pisa, Venice and on through Eastern Europe around this time last year with the same setup (503 w/ 50, 80, 150) and wasn't disappointed. Sure, your shoulder hurts a bit at the end of the day, but you have 4x the negative to ogle later. Sorry about the massive picture sizes below, they're the smallest I had on hand, but I don't regret taking the Hassy for a minute!

Florence:

Rome:

 

[Austerby]

Have a look here for inspiration, this guy only uses a Hasselblad:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2477079

Thanks, that is indeed an inspirational set.

I have a box of miscellaneous 120 film that I could take - everything from Velvia and Provia 400x in colour and from Adox 50 to Acros 100 to Neopan 400 and Delta 3200 I can take.

It would be fun...

 

[Jamie123]

No real need for a tripod. There's usually plenty of light to shoot handheld.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Take whatever you're comfortable with shooting.

Or carrying. I mean, the 12x15 inch Gandolfi would be good, but iin the box it's 30 kg/66 lb.

Cheers,

R.

 

[nico]

Hi Austerby,
I live in Lucca and at end of august I'll be back from holyday. If you want to share a drink and some shooting drop me a pm,
ciao

 

[easyrider]

Depends

Depends

Perhaps should should start backwards. What end result do you want? Will you be making large prints for display? If so, take the Hassy.

Just average size (5x7 or less) prints or display online, your RF kit will do just fine.

Some decades back is traveled a lot and decided a Rollei 35 would be my only camera. It had limitations but I got some great shots and never regretted the move.

I owned a Rollei and a Leica IIIb at the time. They stayed home most of the time.

It also depends, of course, what else you have on your travel agenda.

 

[andredossantos]

Go for it. Ive gone on trips with only a Hasselblad and even just a Rolleiflex. It's totally doable and just dont think or worry about the lack of flexibility. You will come back with good shots. Dont worry, be happy 🙂

 

[rover]

If you need help carrying stuff you can take me with you.

 

[Shac]

I'd at least take the 50/4 as well - magnificent rural landscapes in Toscana - have fun

 

[Haigh]

If you can lug it around take the Hassie by all means. The most creative shots I ever took in Paris were withe Hassie and just 80mm lens. I'd always have a RF with me anyway.

 

[dave lackey]

Don't let the prospect of the Hassy's weight scare you-I cruised through Rome, Florence, Siena, Pisa, Venice and on through Eastern Europe around this time last year with the same setup (503 w/ 50, 80, 150) and wasn't disappointed. Sure, your shoulder hurts a bit at the end of the day, but you have 4x the negative to ogle later. Sorry about the massive picture sizes below, they're the smallest I had on hand, but I don't regret taking the Hassy for a minute!

Florence:

Rome:

Ryan,

I find these two images to be just stunning. Thanks for posting.🙂

 

[raid]

I'm off to Tuscany (Lucca, Pisa, San Gim etc) for 10 days at the end of August and of course am now thinking of what gear to take.

I've been considering my usual RF kit (M8 + ZM, Zeiss 21/4.5; vc28/2; Zeiss 35/2.8; Zeiss 50/1.5; Leica 135/4) but have an incredible urge to be different and just take my 500CM with the 80mm and a couple of A12 backs, and perhaps my Leitz tabletop tripod.

In some ways crazy, in others restricting, but yet intriguing and I bet I'd come home with a completely different set of photos. I'd have to resist also taking the 50/4 and 150/4 for the Hasselblad though...

Thoughts?

I went through a similar "dilemma" as I was planning for my upcoming trip to Germany, Austria, and Northen Italy in early August, and it was quite tempting to go for a MF with a wide angle lens for the mountains and lakes that we will visit. After lots of thought, and going for basic equipment that will not slow me down as I walk the streets with my family, I decided not to go for an MF camera. Instead, I opted for a film-digital combo.

M6 +35+75 Lux , Bessa T+CV25/4
EP-2 with 14-40 zoom.
All M lenses can also be used on the EP-2 with 2X cropping, and can be used on the M6 and the T. I skipped a 50mm lens since the 25/4 will be a 50mm lens on the EP-2.

It is a very efficient set-up that limits equipment and that allows multiple usage for versatlity. On the other hand, a MF is very tempting, I have to admit.

 

[Austerby]

Now I'm thinking about film - I have lots of Provia 400 and some Velvia for E6, and lots of Neopan 400 for B&W but I only have 2 rolls of Acros 100 and 3 rolls of Adox 50. Just wondering about getting some FP4+ or whether I should shoot the Neopan at 200asa? I don't want it to be an f16 type of holiday.

 

[raid]

Hi Austerby,
I live in Lucca and at end of august I'll be back from holyday. If you want to share a drink and some shooting drop me a pm,
ciao

Will you be in Northern Italy for your vacation, Nico?

 

[caila77]

I live in florence and of course..... I use hasselblad 500CM
no problem indeed..
I'll be very happy using it.