your thoughts on this, please

[FrankS]

I am just toying with the idea of trading my Hasselblad kit (CM body, 80mm lens, 2 film backs, chimney finder, folding waist level finder, 2x extender (not HB), and HB filter) for a Leica M series camera (2,3,4, or 6) and 50mm Summicron.

The HB is not being used much as I have other MF cameras that I seem to use more, and I'm starting to really enjoy my Canon rangefinder but lack a premium fast lens for it.

Alternatively, I could trade some other kit (Super Ikonta B, Mamiyaflex TLR + lenses) for a collapsible screw mount Summicron at a local shop, to put on the Canon.

What do you guys/girls think about this idea?

My only condern about getting rid of the HB, is that at some point in the future, an affordable digital back may be made for it, and not for any of my other MF cameras.

 

[back alley]

search your soul frank and think hard on this.

and remember that if you go over to the dark side (leica) that your canon can always have a warm and safe home here in alberta.

that's a tough call - a bayonet mount is certainly alot easier than a screw mount if you change lenses often enough during a shoot.

i sold my medium format stuff cause i wasn't shooting anything at all. when i bought the bessa my enthusiam returned and now all i can think about is photography. (and apparently buying every canon lens on ebay)

i know leica has some kind of devil hold on people and after using one many are helpless in it's grasp.
i will never touch one because of this. 😉

as far as leica, i love the old ones - m2/m3.

search your soul frank...

joe

 

[peter_n]

Frank I use an M6ttl and it's just a very practical camera to use. It has the .72 mag which suits me as I have lenses from 21 to 90. I would think about the M6ttl because they are relatively new so no CLA needed for many years. Even the "classic" M6's are beginning to need CLAs and the electronics are starting to need repair in the earlier ones.

You may get a good deal. There's an M7 on eBay at the moment, ending tomorrow and the current winning bid is ~$1300. If that remains close to the selling price you might be able to get an M6ttl body for <$1K.

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Hi Frank,
I don't know the market value for any of the cameras that you've mentioned, but wonder if you would come close to Leica territory by selling your Mamiya kit? I can only compare your Hassy with my Rollei SL66 (similar) and I wouldn't consider parting with it because of the overall quality of the camera and the lenses. Added to that is the versatility of the Hassy system. Of course only you can decide what is most important to you -- good luck with the decision (it always seems like "Sophie's Choice" when these decisions have to be made).

D2

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Collapsible Summicron is well worth having for the Canon! I keep a Summarit on a Canon 7, and am quite pleased.

If you have any doubts before parting with a camera, you will pine away for another one.

 

[rover]

I don't know what you have in addition to this stuff, but it seems to me your need/want is for a lens (fast lens), and you are being wooed by the sirens from Solms. I think you have enough stuff there to sell/swap to get your lens, the question may be too part. Do you really want that Leica? Do you really want to get rid of that Hasselblad? I don't use my 500 c/m a whole lot, but it isn't going anywhere.

 

[FrankS]

Thanks for all your replies so far. I'm listening.

 

[Stu :)]

The very thought of me selling/trading my beloved 'blad for Leica gives me the willies.
I'm not sure what 'other' MF gear you've got, but I'd sooner trade other MF gear in for a Leica then give it up the 'blad. You may not use it very often, but a 'blad is a 'blad. I bet you'll miss it when it's gone too.
In some way's it is the Leica of the MF world when you think about it.

Currently I'm thinking of ditching my 8x10 and getting myself a Canon 20D + lens. However if someone offered a 20D for my 'blad, they can go jump in the lake.

Cheap digi MF backs... what's your idea of 'affordable'?
I've seen some 4MP 4x5 backs go for stupid prices recently.

Stu 🙂

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Frank, I'd keep the 'blad. A Hassy is a hassy, whereas a Leica is a rangefinder. Not to sound dismissive (and much less of Leicas) but the M-series isn't that grand. One of my bodies has a very capricious light leak. The other (knock on wood) has no problem whatsoever. However, ditching a Hasselblad kit for a Leica body and glass doesn't strike me as a good idea.

Sorry if you were expecting something else from me, but selling the Hassy now will make you pretty sad tomorrow, when the digital back comes up and its abundance lowers the price enough for you to grab one.

 

[back alley]

heretic!

start the fires, now!

joe

 

[wlewisiii]

I'm going to vote for keeping the Hassy as well. I went with Mamiya 645 instead, because of cost, but if you've got that already, hang onto it because there are some things that a MF SLR can do that are much more difficult with a 35mm RF.

Now, if I wasn't so near broke, I'd be more than happy to help you find a good home for that Super Ikonta B... Now _that's_ my idea of a rangefinder 🙂 6x6 and a Tessar is heaven...

William

 

[FrankS]

Thank you all for your voices of reason!

All I really want is a premium faster lens for my Canon rangefinder. I can trade in other gear for that collapsible Summicron, and keep the 'Blad.

 

[Rich Silfver]

I love my Leica M and I love my Hasselblad 500c/m.
Would not give up either of them as I feel that they excell at different style of photography. I also use the polaroid back on the 'blad quite a bit.

BUT - If you feel that you have other MF cameras that you like/use more than the 'blad then maybe the decision is already taken there and its not a Leica vs 'blad decision but rather a matter of selecting what MF body you want to favour going forward.

 

[back alley]

frank,
how fast a lens are you wanting?

kevin cameras has some nice looking canon (& leica) lenses in their ebay store right now.

joe

here

 

[Honu-Hugger]

40mm f/2 Kinoptik?

40mm f/2 Kinoptik?

Hi Frank,
Are you looking for 39mm thread mount? If so, may I suggest a 40mm f/2 Kinoptik? There is a seller on eBay that seems to have a large supply of these lenses -- he has listed one a week for a while now. I am so enamored with Kinoptik lenses that I've considered buying an older Leica just to use one of these, but cooler heads have prevailed (at least for now). I haven't been to eBay for a while but I'll check when I get over there, if you're interested.

D2