Any Hasselblad photographers have or use HC3/70 prism viewfinder?

harlequin · Apr 29, 2023

Hello,

I did a bake sale car wash so I could get a clean 500c 80/a12 and waist level. My next accessory will be a prism and the HC3/70 piqued my interest as it shield extraneous light and looks to have adjustable diopter.

Pros
Cons

Not the most common but useful?

Harlequin

Sirius Glass · Apr 29, 2023

I use the 45° PME.

Philippe-Georges · Apr 30, 2023

I have an ARAX from Kief (Oekraïne) which works perfectly...

Axelwik · May 9, 2023

The only negative about the prism finders is that they make the camera kinda heavy. With the W/L finder it's a manageable carry-around camera. I only use the prism in a studio setting.

Sirius Glass · May 9, 2023

Axelwik said:
The only negative about the prism finders is that they make the camera kinda heavy. With the W/L finder it's a manageable carry-around camera. I only use the prism in a studio setting.

I deal with the weight and would not be caught with out the 45° PME. In fact the WLF was removed at the store and replaced by the 45° PME. The WLF has never been on by camera since. Why? The 45° PME gets rid of the left right reversal, making it easier to follow the subject.

bags27 · May 9, 2023

My prism also has a light meter which works well. But it is not only heavy, but a bit ungainly. When I travel, I use the WLF. It's lighter and looks a lot cooler.

Philippe-Georges · May 10, 2023

bags27 said:
My prism also has a light meter which works well. But it is not only heavy, but a bit ungainly. When I travel, I use the WLF. It's lighter and looks a lot cooler.

I too prefer the WLF for traveling, and when the circumstances make it difficult (disturbing ambient light, rather awkward situation, etcetera) , then I use zone focussing counting on the DOF and the skills of C.Z. to perform well when closing the aperture even more...

On the other hand, I use the prism finder a lot on the flexbody.

Besk · May 10, 2023

I used a HC4 (eye level finder) was my favorite for years. Dim without a bright screen and hard to use with glasses.

MarkS · May 10, 2023

I have trouble with waist-level finders, I just don't care for them. When I used Hasselblads on the job, I convinced management to get a 45-degree PME? prism finder (one without meter). It transformed the camera into a fantastic working tool.

Sirius Glass · May 10, 2023

MarkS said:
I have trouble with waist-level finders, I just don't care for them. When I used Hasselblads on the job, I convinced management to get a 45-degree PME? prism finder (one without meter). It transformed the camera into a fantastic working tool.

That would be a 45° PM, not a 45° PME. E stands for built in exposure meter. I too did not like the light intruding from the sides of the LWF, but the left right reversal of the WLF is even worse for me following a moving subject.

Eff64 · May 10, 2023

For a prism I like the 45 degree, but as someone mentioned it does add weight and size to the kit. I am almost always on a tripod, and the waist level is fine there. Personal preference.

I have prisms with and without a meter. Initially I thought I wanted the meter, but it is cumbersome to use since it isn’t coupled to the body. An incident reading gives me everything I need to know. For a company with such brilliant design capabilities, the way the meter was added was not up to standards.

John Salim · May 11, 2023

I also use the HC3/70 prism as standard.

It has a very big image ( great with an Intenscreen installed ), but unlike modern prisms, these are soft in the corners and your eye needs to be in an exact central position - at the right distance. I installed a better round eyecup for this.
It also has a greater range of dioptre corrections which I need.

John S

Edgy01 · Aug 11, 2023

45 PME for me. Sure, it’s a bit larger but I get accurate metering.

Any Hasselblad photographers have or use HC3/70 prism viewfinder?

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