Anyone here shooting with a Hasselblad SWC ?

david b · Oct 14, 2008

Just curious if anyone is using a Hasselblad SWC on a regular basis?

Paul Goutiere · Oct 14, 2008

When I first acquired my Super Wide C a few years ago I wasn't sure. There were a few issues but considering the camera was made in 1959 it responded well to a
new shutter spring and a good CLA.

I am not a professional but I use the camera quite a bit. Near my home are a few narrow canyons where it is hard to get back far enough with a 80mm on my 501cm.

These Super Wides are special cameras to be sure. If you like them (I do) and the price is right the camera is a joy. I'm not sure I'd spend the $$$$ for a new one without checking the alternatives however.

Philippe-Georges · Oct 15, 2008

The Biogon 38 mm is about the best wide angle ever made for medium format (and as a 53 mm for Linhof's Master Technica 9 x 12 cm).
Yes, the SWC/M costs a fortune, luckily, second-hand this camera can sometimes be affordable, and as they are well build, there are hardly worn out.
But this gem is worth each cent, and it fits in to the wonderful Hasselblad system.
As there are no moving parts (mirror) I can use it handheld in low light conditions (like a RF).
About 80% of the pictures I shoot on film are shot with Hasselblad and almost half of them on SWC. I could not survive whit out this camera.
A little tip, use the water-level in the viewfinder, particularly for the horizontal lines...

Perhaps, I should change my forum name in Biogon ore SWC/M...

Good luck with it,

Philippe

PamelaHL · Oct 15, 2008

I hope I'm not hijacking here ... I bought an SWC [from KEH, in Excellent condition] and finally gave-up on it. I've had it checked and cleaned etc., and I've had my light meters checked, too. All of my images are way underexposed. I also thought it'd be easier for me to capture moving objects but haven't been able to figure that one out yet. I'd appreciate any tips!
Thanks
Pamela

TheFlyingCamera · Oct 15, 2008

I had one for a while, but traded it in towards a 5x12 outfit. When I was shooting with it, I loved it. You get used to scale focusing with it, and then even shooting wide open is pretty easy to keep in focus.

Philippe-Georges · Oct 15, 2008

Dear Pamela,

No, you are not hijacking...

This sounds strange (but what is not? ).
There is a little light fall of in the corners, typical for symmetrical wide angels, but the centre of the picture should be good.
A reliable test is to expose a roll of colour slide film, do some bracketing, and have it processed in a good lab. A practical way to do this is to shoot some, to you, well known subjects, near your place, so if there might be some doubts, you can always refer (compare) to the real subject.
For colour slides, the incident light metering is somewhat more reliable.

Then, we shall see what is the matter.

Good luck,

philippe

edtbjon · Oct 16, 2008

I use a SWC with a black T* lens. It is a user camera which was quite worn when I bought it a couple of years ago for around $1200. Anyhow, it's my most used lens(camera that is), the 50mm sees much less use. It's often easier to step a few steps forward to fill the frame with the SWC, than to swap lenses on my ordinary 'blad. I think that this camera has something special which is hard to define, but I really do trust it.
(My second most used lens is the good old 80mm.)

//Björn

PamelaHL · Oct 18, 2008

Sorry--I didn't get the email notice of a response.
Thanks for the suggestion. It occurred to me yesterday that I've been using B&W [processed by hand at the lab] and maybe would have better luck with color?

takef586 · Oct 18, 2008

I do use the SWC/M, although not as frequently as I would like. This is a dream camera, and Pamela, do not give up on yours! I believe there is a woman photographer who uses this camera exclusively nowadays, but I forgot her name, maybe will come back on this.
Start with reading this:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/galleries/essays/001117.htm

Then you can take a look at this group on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/hasselbladswc/

And finally, if you feel, you can look at my images here:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=swc&w=59177039@N00

Do stop and enlarge the shot "Droplets on cabbage" to see what this lens can deliver on a good film (Delta 100)...

The SWC is one of the best photographic tools of its kind... as Lee Friedlander's work can testify...

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2008/07/random-excell-1.html

Claire Senft · Oct 18, 2008

I would suggest that a 53mm Biogon would be good for 6x7-6x9 and use a 75mm on 9x12 or 4x5.

Philippe-Georges · Oct 19, 2008

Claire Senft said:
I would suggest that a 53mm Biogon would be good for 6x7-6x9 and use a 75mm on 9x12 or 4x5.

Dear Claire,

Yes, you are right, the 53 mm should be better on the 6x9 cm format, but Linhof suggests that it might fit the 9 x 12 cm sheet film, with the restriction that the image circle is limited to 11,5 cm what might, I guess, be good for a decent 9x9 cm image.
Of course, the Biogon 1:4.5/75 mm is ideal for 4"x5".
The attachment is a fragment out of a 1972 Linhof catalogue.

Philippe

John Jarosz · Oct 21, 2008

I have a model made in '66 that I purchased in 1980. I'll say it took me a few years to get used to the view/perspective/scale/whatever. Once that happened, I used it as my only camera until the late 90's. I used it along with a Fuji 6x9 until about 5 years ago. Mine is really tired, the viewfinder is cracked, but it still is an awesome camera. I don't think I will ever be able to sell it.
I feel it's best use is to make transparencies and then project them. It really gives you a startling image at that scale. The B&W shots are great too, it's just that people are used to a certain effect with slides, and the SWC changes that experience.

Work out your exposure issues which are really unrelated to the SWC (unless the shutter is off), and just run a lot of film thru it. You eventually will bond with it. It's such a different camera from the mainstream that you need change how you work with it in order to get optimum performance.

But having said all that, the finder really sucks, especially for all that money.

John

Sirius Glass · Oct 21, 2008

david b said:
Just curious if anyone is using a Hasselblad SWC on a regular basis?

Only in my dreams!

Steve

nik4s · Oct 22, 2008

I have a Hasselblad SWC/M in really excellent condition that I still like to use especially for black and white. I did use it for some commercial jobs, but everybody wants immediacy today so I use it less frequently there. But once last year I shot on digital and I used the SWC as well and then showed the client the two. He really was amazed at the quality of the Hasselblad.

iljungdahl · Feb 12, 2015

I'm shooting with the SWC on a regular basis, and having no problem with my 1961 model. I shoot film and digital with it. Since I'm lazy it's mostly digital. I use the PhaseOne 45+ for the digital shots. If shooting landscape I usually go by Sunny-16 rule, if more challenging light conditions I use my Sekonic L-308S. If shooting with film I always use the Sekonic, with digital I get a chance to quickly adjust the EV.

Trask · Feb 12, 2015

I have a chrome-lens SWC that I use frequently. I've got the diagram that shows the difference in view between the viewer and the taking lens, which is a big help. I like to use the camera with a focusing handle, sot of like a big, fabulous point-and-shoot.

Here's a shot of the polished grill of a classic Maserati, shot last Fall, Ilford Delta 400 in 510-Pyro:

Trask · Feb 12, 2015

Hey, Iluvmycam, great pictures via your link. There must be quite a story about how you took some of these. I could see that some of the people made a living by exposing to or perhaps using their bodies with the public, so the idea of letting you just photograph might not have shocked or surprised them. The Burt Reynolds photograph, well, I can't imagine how you got to that one... I like them all, quite revealing of the time and place.

Theo Sulphate · Feb 12, 2015

I use my old SWC regularly, maybe a bit more than my 500-series - which is a bit of a surprise. I'm finding myself in situations where the wide angle is just what I need. Mine's an old one, with a black C lens, that I've had for about 15 years.

Sirius Glass · Feb 12, 2015

iljungdahl said:
I'm shooting with the SWC on a regular basis, and having no problem with my 1961 model. I shoot film and digital with it. Since I'm lazy it's mostly digital. I use the PhaseOne 45+ for the digital shots. If shooting landscape I usually go by Sunny-16 rule, if more challenging light conditions I use my Sekonic L-308S. If shooting with film I always use the Sekonic, with digital I get a chance to quickly adjust the EV.

Welcome to APUG

Sirius Glass · Feb 12, 2015

david b said:
Just curious if anyone is using a Hasselblad SWC on a regular basis?

Sirius Glass said:

Only in my dreams!

Steve

Click to expand...

My dreams were answered a few years ago when I got a Hasselblad 903 SWC

JW PHOTO · Feb 13, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
My dreams were answered a few years ago when I got a Hasselblad 903 SWC

I'd love a 903SWC, but I'll have to just stumble along with my old SWC. I should have said, "Happily" stumble along. Great camera and I find it very easy to use, but maybe that's just me? John W

Anyone here shooting with a Hasselblad SWC ?

Membership Council

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency