First Hasselblad

CAPTKEVIN · Jul 22, 2009

I just bought a Hasselblas 500CM with three lens. One 50mm one 80mm and one 150mm it has three backs. Alife long dream of owning and using one. I paid $500.00
I thing it was a good deal. The camera is in great condition. If any one has any tips for me with this camera that would be great. I was using a C330 TLR
So this will be a big change. It came with a Davis & Sanford tripod B floating action. To big for this camera I have two 4x5's and have a tripod. so if any one wants it make me an offer.
Any info on the Hasselblad would be great and how would I find out the age of the cameras and lens.
Kevin

mike c · Jul 22, 2009

Here's some advice Captevin,"YOU GOT A GREAT DEAL" and start shooting.I've the same set up as you,even a Davis& Sanford tripod (a smaller one).I don't know the kind of photography you do but for me I use the tripod most of the time and use the waist level finder with a accumatte screen (which I got dirt cheap). have a old meter pentaprism but don't use it much,its bulky and heavy. Find a good Hassel. repair man an have it cleaned once every 2 to 4 yrs. A set of filters and lens shades ebay or criags list, you are set my friend.

Mike

Anscojohn · Jul 22, 2009

CAPTKEVIN said:
I just bought a Hasselblas 500CM with three lens. One 50mm one 80mm and one 150mm it has three backs. Alife long dream of owning and using one. I paid $500.00
I thing it was a good deal.
******
I think you made out like a bandit.

Jeff Bannow · Jul 22, 2009

Awesome deal. That would have been a good deal at $1000.

Can you provide more information on the lenses? We could give a better age estimate that way.

fschifano · Jul 22, 2009

I hope you ran, not walked away after you made the deal, pal, 'cause you stole it at that price. Congratultions. You're gonna love it. I have a couple of Mamiya C220's and an assortment of lenses. My Hasselblad outfit has the same focal length lenses as yours. There is no comparison. The Mamiya glass is very good. The Zeiss glass for the 'blad, superb.

Ira Rush · Jul 22, 2009

CaptKevin

Congrats on your purchase, and welcome to the moneypit known as owning and using a Hassy.

All joking aside, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

The following link will provide you with more information that you will know what to do with.

http://www.hasselbladhistorical.eu/Index/HWIndex.aspx

Once again, congrats and enjoy

Ira

Tori8x10 · Jul 22, 2009

Dear Kevin,

I hate you.

LOL, just kidding, kinda, no, really. I just bought a Hassy to replace one that was stolen 8 years ago. I got one lens and one back and felt like I got a pretty good deal, now I don't think so. I may go drown my sorrows in a nice cool glass of Pyro.

Just having one of those days, LAM.

Sirius Glass · Jul 22, 2009

Welcome!

When I get a chance I will post some useful websites for you.

Steve

Sirius Glass · Jul 23, 2009

Some useful Hasselblad websites:
Learning to load a Hasselblad can be an adventure. Take a look at this how to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op6hDyMmkqA

Here are two sites explaining the next most asked question, "How do I clear my jammed Hasselblad":
http://www.dmin-dmax.fr/photoe2b.htm
http://photoweb.net/pw_tech/hassy_unjam.html

Replacing light seals on the film backs:
http://www.hasselbladhistorical.eu/HT/HTSeal.aspx

And finally, a good Hasselblad repairman [I do not know any bad ones! ]
http://www.david-odess.com/

Steve

naeroscatu · Jul 23, 2009

As said above this is a steal. At this price I would be cautious and check if the shutter on the body as well as the ones on the lenses works well specially at lower speeds. With very few exceptions no one sells such equipment below the market value. If one or more of the lenses need CLA then there is the explanation. I hope everything you got works so you can fully enjoy it.

Q.G. · Jul 23, 2009

Sirius Glass said:
Some useful Hasselblad websites:
Learning to load a Hasselblad can be an adventure. Take a look at this how to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op6hDyMmkqA

I still get very uncomfortable when i see how the retaining clip is used during loading in this video.
The thing is meant to pull the film down a bit, to prevent it from snagging on the edge of the sheel when the insert is put back into the shell.
Not to hold the film tight, so you can shake and wave it about as shown in the video.
So i would not try that bit of the instruction.

Instead of unrolling the film until you see the start mark, just pull it across the pressure plate, underneath the clip, and slot the end of it in the take up spool.
Rotate the take up spool to wind the leader around it, until you see the start mark appear.
Only then put the retaining clip back down, and slide the insert into the shell.

Sirius Glass · Jul 23, 2009

Q.G. said:
I still get very uncomfortable when i see how the retaining clip is used during loading in this video.
The thing is meant to pull the film down a bit, to prevent it from snagging on the edge of the sheel when the insert is put back into the shell.
Not to hold the film tight, so you can shake and wave it about as shown in the video.
So i would not try that bit of the instruction.

I agree. Do not wave it around.

Q.G. said:
Instead of unrolling the film until you see the start mark, just pull it across the pressure plate, underneath the clip, and slot the end of it in the take up spool.
Rotate the take up spool to wind the leader around it, until you see the start mark appear.
Only then put the retaining clip back down, and slide the insert into the shell.

That is what I do.

I posted the website because the video with its drawbacks is clearer to the new users.

Steve

BrianShaw · Jul 23, 2009

Me too!

Q.G. · Jul 23, 2009

Sirius Glass said:
I posted the website because the video with its drawbacks is clearer to the new users.

I absolutely agree! Much better than the official manuals.
Just that business mentioned above. It makes me cringe.

CAPTKEVIN · Jul 23, 2009

Thanks for all the help and info. I shot my first roll it came out fine. I got the camera from a older gentlemen who I had done some work at his house and had a 4x5 camera that I bought and he told me he had a Hasselblad if i ever wanted it. He call me up last week and told me his health was failing and wanted me to have the camera. He said $500 for it and I said yes (of course).
I do mostly outside shots landscape things like that. But I think with this camera I will be doing lots more.
I think the camera is incredable. It is better then I thought it would be. I just hope I will still want to use my 4x5 camera
Kevin

Fred De Van · Jul 23, 2009

mike c said:
Here's some advice Captevin,"YOU GOT A GREAT DEAL" and start shooting.I've the same set up as you,even a Davis& Sanford tripod (a smaller one).I don't know the kind of photography you do but for me I use the tripod most of the time
Mike

I have been using Hasselblad cameras for 40 years, and have a lot of different tripods. Four of them are Davis & Sanford A and B models with various heads. I cannot imagine a tripod better suited to the Hasselblad system than the D&S floaters. What "too Big" means escapes me. Maybe you have a 8x10 head and have not figured out how to use it. There is a readily available smaller head if you prefer.

The D&S is perfect at buffering all the shock and twisting forces which are part of the Hasselblad. Lightweight spindly tripods are a joke with any serious camera system or use, and create more problems than they solve. In general, a good tripod does a lot more than separating your camera from the ground.

Use your Davis & Sanford and you will see just how much better it is than most of the pretenders which fill the marketplace. They look clunky. They do not fit the modern image but they perform better than almost anything.

CAPTKEVIN · Jul 23, 2009

Fred De Van said:
I have been using Hasselblad cameras for 40 years, and have a lot of different tripods. Four of them are Davis & Sanford A and B models with various heads. I cannot imagine a tripod better suited to the Hasselblad system than the D&S floaters. What "too Big" means escapes me. Maybe you have a 8x10 head and have not figured out how to use it. There is a readily available smaller head if you prefer.

Yes it does have the 8x10 head on it. I will try it out see how it works
I will try it for my 4x5 cameras then also. I guess it is maybe better then what I have now. But yes it was the head I was talking about.
But everyones says there that good then I will try it
Thanks for that info
Kevin

JRJacobs · Jul 23, 2009

Let me add to the congrats on your new kit - you got a great bargain and I am sure you will enjoy it.

I have a similar kit, and just returned from a trip to the Tetons with it - it performed very well.

First Hasselblad

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