Why do I want a Hasselblad 500 c/m?

[leicapixie]

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121091

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121091

i see most folks are giving you good advice! The Hassie is really a slow camera. Why shoot fast? There are but 12 exposures. i was always on no.11 !
It really is a waist level thing. The prism makes things easy BUT the joy of Medium Format in a Rollei or Hassie, is the big screen, Reversed! It helps in composing good images! You have to really work a sweat getting things straight and level.It takes time! Then you realize it's not a good shot! So you don't expose. Using 120 film i sometimes had a roll in for months.. The longest ONE Year. Started in Canada finished in South Africa doing in last 2~3 frames a shot of Olivero Toscanini of Benetton/colors.
In my professional period, used Mamiyaflex TLR, Pentax 67, the Rollei Automat, and Hassie. The Bronica-C is without doubt, the worst camera i ever owned! Later models had Nikon engineers in the factory to sort things out! Nikon didn't want their name messed.
My Mamiya were easier to use than the Hassie, i thought way sharper but more distortion than Zeiss lenses. Very reliable. The Hassie is very complex and some models like my Leicas really in the past!
A good reasonable priced Digital SLR will now equal or surpass roll film.That's my opinion. There is a feeling of magic in these old cameras.
Good luck with your purchase!

 

[sienarot]

Another vote for the Hassy here from me too!

Here's what I bring with me when I go traveling. If I'm wanting to travel light, the M6 stays home.

Like everyone said, it's all about the WLF. I bought a prism for mine and I never used it since it pretty much bulked up the camera twice as much and even then it just didn't feel the same. I got used to reverse lateral viewing pretty quickly though. The WLF is great cause you can get low, low, loooow:

I find that when you aren't looking directly at people but through the WLF, they don't get as defensive as when you're holding a camera up to your face since they're not expecting you to take a photo. By the time they realize you're not really looking at your feet, it's too late! That, to me, is a great advantage to have with street photography.

The same year I purchased my Hassy I went to Sydney, Australia. I was going to bring my 20D and a bunch of zoom lenses for the trip so two months before I was to leave I had my camera sent in for servicing. Canon dragged their asses on it and I didn't get it back until after I returned so I only got to bring my Hassy. My learned a few things on my trip with the 'blad:
1) I can comfortably travel with just one camera
2) I really don't need zoom lenses (which made my transition to RFs even easier). When I got back, I sold all my zooms and re-equiped with just primes of select focal lengths.
3) There really is a "3D look" if you can get the right contrast and lighting situations and the Carl Zeiss lens definitely helped achieve that.

If my place was burning down and I could only run in to get one camera, it'd be the Hasselblad without hesitation. I wouldn't even stop to think about my M6.


You want to talk about a camera to be obsessed with? I've been wanting a Hasselblad SWC for years but never pulled the trigger! There was a SWC/m on sale here for a smoking good price a few years ago and I kept dilly daddling. By the time I decided to pull the trigger, it was gone.

 

[john_s]

I only have the 80mm and while I enjoy it immensely, I sometime find its minimum focusing distance a bit long and for the price of the longer lens I could nearly go another camera.

The only lens longer than 80mm for the Mamiya 7 is 150mm. They are not very popular so should not be too expensive.

I just looked on ebay and the prices are all over the place. I wouldn't pay a lot for one as they seem to be difficult to sell.

But I agree with the minimum focus distance being a limitation. I use a Rollei SL66 with 120mm Makro f4 for portraits. I aaume it's the same Zeiss lens as the Hasselblad one.

 

[Johnmcd]

Thanks Derrick and Mike for maintaining the rage 🙂 Great experiences like that are what I need to hear. It also looks like you guys use the camera in a way I would, which is important in any decision.

Looks like the WLF is getting a lot of love. Maybe my fear of it is unjustified?

Thanks again - John

 

[sienarot]

Looks like the WLF is getting a lot of love. Maybe my fear of it is unjustified?

For me the big seller was the WLF. The first time I saw a buddy use a Hassy, he let me look through it and I was blown away. It was so big and bright compared to anything I had seen in 35mm. Of course since you have medium format experience already that might not have the same effect on you.

That also brings up another thing: when (not if 😉 ) you look into buying one, try and get one with the Acute Matte D screen. It's supposedly much brighter than the non "D" screens.

 

[ChrisN]

Hey, Chris. I'm fine for the 22nd. Any more details? Any other RFF's out there going?

Cheers-John

Ultimo Community Centre (link to map). Doors open at 10:00am. Small donation to get in - $2 I think. Free parking in Wattle St but need to arrive before 9:30 if you are counting on that (better yet get there at 9:00 and walk the block/take photos/get coffee at the pool on Harris St).

I usually $pend an hour or so at the show (I'm hoping to find a clean OM2n this year), then walk down to Darling Harbour to find a place for lunch. Plenty of interest there for photos too of course. I'll bring the 503cx with the 80mm lens and WLF for you to play with. Bring a roll or two of your favourite film (keeping in mind the fastest shutter speed is only 1/500).

 

[Aristophanes]

Could everyone stop posting photos in this thread. I am getting a 'thing' for the square format, and we all know where that leads.

Thank-you.

 

[Johnmcd]

Ultimo Community Centre (link to map). Doors open at 10:00am. Small donation to get in - $2 I think. Free parking in Wattle St but need to arrive before 9:30 if you are counting on that (better yet get there at 9:00 and walk the block/take photos/get coffee at the pool on Harris St).

I usually $pend an hour or so at the show (I'm hoping to find a clean OM2n this year), then walk down to Darling Harbour to find a place for lunch. Plenty of interest there for photos too of course. I'll bring the 503cx with the 80mm lens and WLF for you to play with. Bring a roll or two of your favourite film (keeping in mind the fastest shutter speed is only 1/500).

That should be fine. I'll probably catch the train down, more relaxing.

Will I be able to find you if I look for the guy in your avatar? Or should I be wearing a red carnation?

Cheers - John

 

[ChrisN]

I should be easy to spot - that's me in the avatar, and I'll probably be wearing a black vest and a tan Billingham. I'll PM you with my mobile number.

 

[Johnmcd]

I should be easy to spot - that's me in the avatar, and I'll probably be wearing a black vest and a tan Billingham. I'll PM you with my mobile number.

Thanks mate. Have I got a camera you'd like to try?

 

[ChrisN]

"On that path lies danger!" 🙂

Just looked at your list and I'm surprised that I've owned a few, including the Sony F717! Wish I'd kept that one too. If you bring the OM-D with some sort of prime I'd love to give that a try. Did you ever get to try a 6x9 back on the Crown Graphic?

Cheers!

 

[Johnmcd]

"On that path lies danger!" 🙂

Just looked at your list and I'm surprised that I've owned a few, including the Sony F717! Wish I'd kept that one too. If you bring the OM-D with some sort of prime I'd love to give that a try. Did you ever get to try a 6x9 back on the Crown Graphic?

Cheers!

I'll bring the OMD for sure. I'm enjoying it with the 24/2.8, which is pretty close to 50mm in the old language. I have no problem using the EVF to focus.

I did get the 6x9 focusing nicely BTW. The pic below is nothing special but nice and sharp. I find the lens is not as contrasting as I'm used to. Not a bad thing though.

Looking forward to catching up.

Cheers - John

 

[sparrow6224]

The hassie can be hand held don't let 'em tell you otherwise. But you can't go down to slow speeds with it without framing and focusing and then locking the mirror. It's a slow working camera no matter how you do it. It created different kinds of photographs: note the gorgeous sea coast and Rodin shots above.
PS I too would love to know the difference between F and C, to wit, do the lenses mount on either or are they different?

 

[mathomas]

...
PS I too would love to know the difference between F and C, to wit, do the lenses mount on either or are they different?

'F' lenses are for focal-plane bodies only (these bodies have a shutter speed of 1/2000 and their names start with a '2', rather than a '5'). These lenses don't have a central shutter, and generally have closer focus and larger max apertures.

Any lens with a 'C' in the name has a central shutter, and can be used on either focal-plane or "regular" (auxiliary shutter) bodies. Top shutter speed of 1/500. The C lenses are much more common and traditional.

I happen to like shooting a focal plane body when outdoors -- much more versatile in bright light with faster films.

I have a video on the topic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhaya3N-J08

 

[sparrow6224]

Those bodies are quite pricey too, I have noticed (the 2.. series, F system bodies that is...). Not to mention the lenses. I have to come up with an idea to make a fortune.

 

[sparrow6224]

I just watched the video. Anyone who is vague on the C, CF, F lens differences will have the whole thing clarified by this vid. Great job and thanks, mathomas.

 

[photo_fred]

I had 2 500 cm sets(1 chrome and 1 black) that I sold on this site.I kick myself in the ass everyday for selling them.Currently looking to replace the chrome set I sold.

 

[mathomas]

Those bodies are quite pricey too, I have noticed (the 2.. series, F system bodies that is...). Not to mention the lenses. I have to come up with an idea to make a fortune.

You're right. I got very lucky and got a 2000fcw body for very cheap. I had put a WTB out, and someone responded with a charity sale. All I had to do was donate some $$ to his charity and he sent me the body (he asked so little, I added some additional for good measure). The shutter has a slight light leak, but I just keep the dark slide in on bright days. No problem.

I'm currently kind of shopping for a 203FE. That's big bucks, but I am pretty much in love with my Hassy system, and that has maintained for longer than with any camera system so far.

 

[mathomas]

I just watched the video. Anyone who is vague on the C, CF, F lens differences will have the whole thing clarified by this vid. Great job and thanks, mathomas.

Thanks for watching, and for the props 🙂.

 

[Johnmcd]

Well I got my chance to use a Hasselblad thanks to Chris (RFF member) who kindly let me shoot a roll of HP5 following a trip down to Darling Harbour for lunch after a visit to the Camera Market. What a fantastic place the market was! Picked up a SQA grip, film back and two zuiko lenses, 100/2.8 and 50/3.5 macro. Great for the OM2 and OMD. Highly recommended for Sydneysiders.

The H'blad fun to shoot and a real challenge for somebody not used to waist level shooting. The biggest hassle was keeping the horizon straight, something I do without thinking on an eye level camera. The left to right reversal was, as always, a challenge 🙂 The other surprise was the shutter lag. Lots of things happening under the bonnet and you have to wait until it's all finished 🙂

Anyway, it has only made the wait for my Bronica SQA even harder. A couple of shots from that film. Nothing very creative but all hand held.

Chris and Ernie.