Do I sell some shares and buy a NEW Hasselblad?

[Matt5791]

I've had some shares for ages and ages in the company called Laura Ashley - those from the UK will be familiar with the name and their chain of shops selling womens clothing and homewares like furniture and curtains.

They have had a pretty rough time for years and 5 years a go I bought a load of shares thinking that they must eventually rise - and they went down - until recently they have just managed to creep about 7pence above what I paid for them.

As I'm now shooting weddings etc. and I feel my old 500C/M is not really reliable enough (although it has not let me down), and needs a major servicing this winter anyway, I'm thinking I might just sell the shares and buy a NEW 503CW!

I see Robert White offer the kit for £2000+vat - which seems to me like a good deal (especially when compared to digital!) as it will probably cost me something like £350 to have the 500 serviced anyway.

so do I sell the shares and buy the blad?

Matt.

 

[arigram]

Sounds like a better investement to me, unless ofcourse you have a better place to put the money in.

 

[DBP]

Unless you have reason to expect the stock to go higher, sell the shares. What to do with the money is a separate question.

 

[Mike Kovacs]

If you're shooting weddings as a paid pro, you really do need one reliable body plus a working backup (500c/m ideal).

 

[gr82bart]

so do I sell the shares and buy the blad?

I would say YES!, but you have to do your own cost/benefit analysis...

Regards, Art.

 

[Paul Sorensen]

I would probably look at a very nice used one, if it is enough cheaper I would probably get that, if it isn't all that much cheaper, I would get the new one. Either way, I agree that you need a very reliable body and your current one would be a nice backup.

Edit: I just priced a like new to excellent plus kit at KEH, a body (LN-), A12 back (LN), and 80 2.8 CFE lens (EX+) and it came to about $2500. B&H sells that new for $4000. Not sure if this is exactly what you are looing at, and the customs and shipping will probably about kill you, but at least it gives you an idea about price. Stuff that is in such good condition has surely not been used ny a pro, at least not much.

 

[naturephoto1]

I agree with Paul. I think a really excellent used Hasselblad would make more economical sense. Just make sure it is great working order and hopefully if from a dealer or camera shop has a good warranty.

Rich

 

[Jerevan]

Looking from my own perspective, if I was paid for doing photographic work, I would invest some money in having good, reliable equipment. And yes, I would probably be buying it new. Or maybe a mintish, demo unit to chop off some of the price and buy a brick of film, too.

 

[Zen]

Certainly go for mint as new, or brand new. One of the things that many people do when thinking of making an expensive purchase is pondering over it too much, as if needing to convince themselves? You only get one life, if there's a little voice inside saying you should do, then go for it!

 

[André E.C.]

I`ll second the investment in good condition second hand gear, what`s the point to pay premium, if you can get great quality used material?
Maybe you stay with more money to invest on that extra optic?

Up to you, good luck!

Cheers

André

 

[BradS]

Definitely go for it. Used is ok when you just playing around "doing your own work" but, if you're shooting weddings profeesionally, I can't imagine there's even a hesitation to buy a new hassy.


(never look back).

 

[ecalpemos]

I really hate to steal threads, but this is probably the most sensible thing that I have heard for a long time. Thank you for that!

Certainly go for mint as new, or brand new. One of the things that many people do when thinking of making an expensive purchase is pondering over it too much, as if needing to convince themselves? You only get one life, if there's a little voice inside saying you should do, then go for it!

 

[narsuitus]

Whether you buy the Hasselblad or not, sell the shares.

 

[A.C.]

If its a straight business decision, its probably dependent upon whether you can defray the cost against your business. If its not a business decision, then a carefully selected used one will probably be fine.
If you find you DO need it, my experience is that Hasselblad UK service is exemplary, even if it IS costly.
I hope that I'm not breaching protocol by mentioning two suppliers, but I have had good experiences with two used dealers myself. I do NOT recommend these people on any other basis than that, but you may find a guide to price there.
Peter Walnes from Somerset, (who I have seen advertises on APUG, take note) and Paul Waller of Commercial Cameras at Ludlow, Shropshire. (not too far away from you)

 

[Mark Feldstein]

Used vs. New

Sorry I'm a tad late getting to this thread. But I agree with those suggesting that you consider used "preowned" Hasselblad equip. vs. new. KEH.com in Atlanta is a good, reputable place to buy used gear. Their prices are reasonable, their warranty is good, their return / exchange policy is quite reasonable, great and their rating system, IMHO, is excellent. I've always bought bargain grade from them and it seems better than every one elses good or excellent minus.

Service is available at KEH or David Odess, who runs his own shop. http://www.david-odess.com, whose repair and maintenance work is excellent too.

Take it light.
Mark

 

[zenrhino]

Count me among the "hate to swerve the topic" crowd, but if you use the Hassy professionally, can you somehow write off the purchase price on your taxes? Capital investment and all that? (please note: I am neither a CPA or a tax attorney so I could be talking out my ass on this)

If so, hell yes buy a new one. And whatever extended warranty you can get. Then ride that thing like a rented mule. Make it pay for itself.

 

[kjsphoto]

Shooting wedding or portraits professionally I prefer to have one NEW body and then a used backup. That way I know the wear and tear is from me on my terms not of the previous owner. Used is fine but I still prefer to have 1 body that is new if you can afford it.

 

[leeturner]

I was going to ask the same thing as Zenrhino. If this is your business then you can claim the VAT on purchases and claim depreciation on the new equipment.
If it's not your main business I would still buy new as it's very hard to explain to someone on their wedding day that your secondhand camera is playing up a bit. I you do buy used then I would also spend the money saved on a CLA for your existing camera so you've got a backup.
OT - I have utmost respect for anyone who does wedding photography. I won't even attempt it for friends.

 

[Bromo33333]

As I'm now shooting weddings etc. and I feel my old 500C/M is not really reliable enough (although it has not let me down), and needs a major servicing this winter anyway, I'm thinking I might just sell the shares and buy a NEW 503CW!

I see Robert White offer the kit for £2000+vat - which seems to me like a good deal (especially when compared to digital!) as it will probably cost me something like £350 to have the 500 serviced anyway.

so do I sell the shares and buy the blad?

Whether you sell your shares or not - really couldn't say if it was the best (I have no idea about LA's future prospects and such).

You want to keep in mind that if you were to buy a new kit for GBP2000 (appx USD3800) and had to sell it right away the loss would be higher than if you buy something in 8+ to 9+ condition and went through the same exercise.

The benefits are, of course, that you will have the full life of the product ahead of it, and as a working photographer, this might be very important.

We just went thorugh the same thing with a 30 year old 500CM - though we didn't need a light meter and so on, so got a circa 2000 501CM with the 80mm T* lens and sold off the 500CM to finance this.

 

[Bromo33333]

Forgot to add: As a side note, it is nice to see that there is still some film based wedding photography around. My sister is getting married in April '07 and she had to get one digitally based since that was all that was affordable. When I got married 13 years ago - this was not an issue!

(I suggested that she and her hubby-to-be get some studio portraits done on a LF camera - drum scanning if she *had* to have a digital format in additon to a large print)

 

[raucousimages]

Sell Sell Sell. I delt with them on a corporate level. I REALY dont like them. The Hassy will out live Laura Ashley Ltd.

 

[c6h6o3]

I bought my Hasselblad body and back new and all four of my lenses used. New Hassy equipment comes with a 3 year warranty. If you're using it to make money, this can be really important.

It has served me well for more than 10 years now with no repair, and I've beaten it up pretty well. By acquiring my equipment this way, I conservatively estimate that I saved at least $7,500 over the cost of new lenses.

 

[Mark Feldstein]

Used Hassie Gear

Insofar as I'm aware, whether you buy your equipment new or used, if you're using it to generate income and it's considered a "reasonable, necessary expense" the IRS says it's deductible. [Or, my accountant's motto is 'when in doubt, deduct]. :>)

And while new gear with a 3 year warranty is great, I actually prefer using my heavily used, but regularly maintained, equipment, lenses, bodies and backs to shoot assignments. Everything goes through the shop and gets a CLA once a year. Interestingly, I can't recall over the last umpteen years when the shop has actually found anything significant to fix in any of the equipment and I KNOW that's not a testimonial to the way I shoot but rather the way Hasselblad makes their equipment.

Parts....line 1, parts......
Mark

 

[c6h6o3]

Interestingly, I can't recall over the last umpteen years when the shop has actually found anything significant to fix in any of the equipment and I KNOW that's not a testimonial to the way I shoot but rather the way Hasselblad makes their equipment.

If ever the phrase "built like a brick shithouse" should be a applied to a product line, it should be applied to Hasselblad's.

 

[bladhassy]

SELL SELL SELL....i like my 503CW...i had the winder on it but took it off...i shoot weddings as well....you can't beat the BLAD and Carl Z lens......go for it..what do you have to loose...not like your buying a digital and will be out dated with in months of buying...get the HASSY.................wayne