First Hasselblad

Leigh B · Apr 1, 2012

One factor that _might_ influence your choice of C vs. CF lenses is the filter size.

The C-series lenses standardized on the B50 (Bay-50 or bayonet 50) attachment, which as one might suspect is a 50mm bayonet.

The later CF (and subsequent) lenses standardized on a B60 60mm bayonet.

If you use filters you can standardize on B60 for the CF lenses, and use them on the earlier C lenses with a B50/B60 adapter (the lens hoods won't fit), or
you can get all B50 filters and use them only on the C-series lenses.

There are a couple of lenses in each series that use larger filter sizes, notably the short FL wide-angle ones.

- Leigh

S.larsson · Apr 1, 2012

Firstly, Thank you everyone for your comments! I must say, after looking a bit at the Mamiyas I'm not too impressed, as said they're heavier but they also appear to be rather complicated in their design, rather unergonomic. I prefer the simplicity of the hassy's, but at the same time the Rollei's look interesting (6003 & 6008). I'm definitely going to have to have a little play with them. Not sure if I can find any dealers in town though, Gothenburg is obviously more of a Hasselblad City...

Also I found the comment about the contrast levels in the Mamiyas compared to the Hasselblad lenses rather interesting. I have heard of different optics manufacturers performing differently before, but does anyone know why this is the case?

ChristopherCoy · Apr 1, 2012

Leigh B said:
Sorry to disagree with Dan, but I don't think 6x7cm is the "ideal" format.

I like 6x6 because you don't have to rotate it; it is what it is.

If you're shooting MF chromes, you won't find slide mounts or a projector for 6x7, but they're readily available for 6x6.

- Leigh

Since I was just talking about this with a photog friend of mine. Is it possible to add crop lines to the WLF of an RZ67, so that when you compose in camera you're looking at a square?

Trond · Apr 1, 2012

If you are considering a Hasselblad, you should also have a look at the Bronica SQ. Very similar systems, but Hasselblad cost a lot more. I'm using an older Bronica S2A. Great camera with great lenses!

Trond

S.larsson · Apr 1, 2012

Haha, It's funny everybody is trying to get me away from Hasselblad! Am I being warned away from a trap?

Paul Goutiere · Apr 1, 2012

S.larsson said:
Haha, It's funny everybody is trying to get me away from Hasselblad! I'm I being warned away from a trap?

We are just showing you how practical we are in hindsight. Most of us have Hassys and are wondering why we did it.

The truth is Hasselblad has always had their lenses made by Bronica, not Zeiss, as so many of us have been led to believe. I discussed this very fact with David Odess, the famous Hassy tech, and
reluctantly he confirmed what I have told you.

All the Hasselblad lenses are old stock manufactured in the 70's from the Bronica factory.

Buy a Bronica.

Chris Lange · Apr 1, 2012

I have 3 Hasselblads (a 500C, a 500EL/M, and a 500EL). I also own a Rolleiflex Automat, and a Pentax 67. They're all used for totally different things, but the Hasselblads are the most enjoyable cameras to use in a variety of situations. My 500C is a dream on the street, a no-brainer in the studio, and a hit at parties. I would say 90% of my photographs are taken on that one body.

If you want one, get one, shoot a few rolls, and if you like it, keep it. If not, sell it back at the same price you paid for it.

ChristopherCoy · Apr 1, 2012

S.larsson said:
Haha, It's funny everybody is trying to get me away from Hasselblad! I'm I being warned away from a trap?

The only trap you're being warned about is the money trap. Hasselblads, whether new or old are expensive, but worth the money. They keep their value, they are excellent camera systems, and they are still serviceable.

Since they were compared to cars, the guy with the Mercedes is always going to say that the Mercedes is the only way to go. The guy with the Toyota is going to tell you that the Mercedes is over priced, and his Toyota does the same job equally as well. Each car has 4 wheels, and each does essentially the same job, it's just a matter of how comfortable you want your ass to be during the journey. Heated leather seats with lumbar support are much more comfortable than run of the mill sponge covered spring seats.

And then there are always the guys who are going to say that its the driver and not the car.

Willie Jan · Apr 1, 2012

S.larsson said:
Haha, It's funny everybody is trying to get me away from Hasselblad! Am I being warned away from a trap?

Everybody wants that you buy the camera they use. because than they think they made the good choice themselves...

Willie Jan · Apr 1, 2012

ChristopherCoy said:
the guy with the Mercedes is always going to say that the Mercedes is the only way to go. The guy with the Toyota is going to tell you that the Mercedes is over priced, and his Toyota does the same job equally as well.

My citroen 2cv was the best car ever!
Completely analog, no computer inside

Leigh B · Apr 1, 2012

Paul Goutiere said:
I discussed this very fact with David Odess, the famous Hassy tech, and reluctantly he confirmed what I have told you.

That's a bare-faced lie.

****************************************************************
I contacted David when I read that statement, and here's his reply:
"Leigh,

Very interesting. Please believe me when I tell you that I never said that Hasselblad lenses were made by Bronica. It just isn't true.

Hasselblad lenses were always made by Carl Zeiss.

Regards,
David Odess
www.david-odess.com"

****************************************************************
And this is his response when I requested permission to quote that email here.
"Leigh,

Yes, I would appreciate it if you would quote my e-mail in the APUG thread.

I wouldn't want anyone to think that the Hasselblad lenses are manufactured by Bronica.

Regards,
David Odess
www.david-odess.com"
****************************************************************

You should be ashamed of yourself for making up such nonsense.

- Leigh

ChristopherCoy · Apr 1, 2012

W.....O.....W....!!!!

Chris Lange · Apr 1, 2012

Leigh B said:
That's a bare-faced lie.

****************************************************************
I contacted David when I read that statement, and here's his reply:
"Leigh,

Very interesting. Please believe me when I tell you that I never said that Hasselblad lenses were made by Bronica. It just isn't true.

Hasselblad lenses were always made by Carl Zeiss.

Regards,
David Odess
www.david-odess.com"

****************************************************************
And this is his response when I requested permission to quote that email here.
"Leigh,

Yes, I would appreciate it if you would quote my e-mail in the APUG thread.

I wouldn't want anyone to think that the Hasselblad lenses are manufactured by Bronica.

Regards,
David Odess
www.david-odess.com"
****************************************************************

You should be ashamed of yourself for making up such nonsense.

- Leigh

have you checked your calendar today?

Paul Goutiere · Apr 1, 2012

Chris Lange said:
have you checked your calendar today?

Gad, this was too easy.

I can't believe anyone wouldn't get this one> "All the Hasselblad lenses are old stock manufactured in the 70's from the Bronica factory."

Jeez!

S.larsson · Apr 1, 2012

Ooh, controversial! Lets keep a calm tone anyway guys! I still think Hassys are the way to go, but it appears that all the lenses apart from the 80mm are slower than f/2.8! What impact does this have? (Obviously I'll be using tripods on most of my landscape shots but never in the city!)

erikg · Apr 1, 2012

Bronica indeed. Good one. If you want faster lenses you'll have to go with one of the focal plane shutter bodies, which certainly is an option, they can use both types of lenses. Is it an issue? Depends on what you shoot and how you shoot it but you probably will be stopping down some anyway.

Paul Goutiere · Apr 1, 2012

I bought my Hasselblad 501CM with a 80mm CB lens, privately. It will need to go for a CLA some day, but I figured that into the price of the Camera when I bought it.
Since I don't use my cameras professionally this service could be all I will ever need.

If Mr. Odess will ever forgive me for using his name in a bald faced lie, I will send it to him. He did a overhaul on my SWC and it has never been better.
I have seen cameras on his site for sale and if I were to look for a 500CM I think I might check him out first.

I'd go for a CF lens.

Too old to care · Apr 1, 2012

S.larsson said:
Haha, It's funny everybody is trying to get me away from Hasselblad! Am I being warned away from a trap?

I am not. When I was working as a wedding photographer 30+ years ago before finishing college, I used Mamiya TLRs (C3, C220 and C330's) and my boss used a RB67. I told him I wanted to buy a Hasselblad but could not afford one so I had settled on the RB67. He said before I do, try one of his and shoot a wedding or two. One wedding was enough. I returned to the C330 and never looked back until last year when I could finally afford a Hasselblad, well after I left the photo industry and moved to engineering, then retiring. Go for what you want, but I think you will be happier with a Hasselblad.

Leigh B · Apr 1, 2012

Paul,

Falsely attributing a blatantly incorrect statement to a known authority is NOT a joke. It's an insult, and quite likely slander.

You need to grow up.

You realize everything here is archived and available to anybody who wants to search for it in the future?
How many people bother to read dates on posts when reading search results? I certainly don't.

I asked David to read my reply above, and here's his response:
"Leigh,

Thanks again. It may have been an April Fools joke, but there are some idiots out there who might believe it!

Regards,
David Odess
=========="

He didn't think it was a joke either.

- Leigh

S.larsson · Apr 2, 2012

...and I always thought april fools jokes were false statements that took a bit of extra thought to realize they sounded preposterous. Maybe its just a european phenomenon...

ChristopherCoy · Apr 2, 2012

S.larsson said:
...but it appears that all the lenses apart from the 80mm are slower than f/2.8! What impact does this have?

It doesn't impact anything, unless you're regularly shooting in low light situations such as weddings in church etc. I would suspect you wouldn't shoot landscapes lower than f8 anyway.

Paul Goutiere · Apr 2, 2012

I think you might like to investigate "Acute Matte" focus screens, for your Hassy as well. They are a rather expensive addition but I think they really are worth it.
Just a thought.

film_man · Apr 2, 2012

Hasselblad lenses are "slow", just like all leaf-shutter lenses. You generally get f/2.8 on the standard lens and then it is f/4-5.6 on everything else. If you want faster lenses get a focal plane body. But...the lenses are "fast" enough for DOF control. You don't want faster than f/2.8 unless you can really focus very very finely. As for darker conditions, yes it is limiting just like anything else. Add the fact that an SLR (vs your TLR) will need faster speeds and you are "worse-off" compared to a 35mm SLR or a TLR or whatever. But you don't buy a Hasselblad/RB/RZ for hand-held night shots.

1/500? Well it can be limiting in bright daylight if you have 400 or faster film and you want wide open shooting. On the other hand most negative 400 films can be shot as 200 or 100 without issues.

I love my Hasselblad. It is expensive, pretty, fantastic to hold and the contrast and colour rendering is wonderful. Would I be happier with a RZ67? Don't know, I'd probably be happy with anything. I was happy with a Bronica SQ. It is just that the Hasselblad makes the whole experience nicer.

Another thing, I really don't know why people compare the RZ/RB vs the Hasselblad. You either want 6x7 or 6x6. If you want 6x7 get the Mamiya. If you want 6x6 get the Hassy/Bronica. Yes, if you have 6x7 you can crop to 6x6 and still have the original 6x7 to play with but then again I never wanted 6x7 to begin with.

Which 80? As with anything camera related, the most expensive one you can afford. Go for newest/best condition till you can't afford it. Otherwise you'll forever agonize whether you should get a "better" one. I have a 80CB. It is great. I also have a 50CT, 150CF and 250CT. They are all great. If one day I can afford to upgrade the 250 to a CFi I will. But I love the finish of the 50. Whatever that metal they made the old CTs from is is fantastic to hold. The 250CT is like that but the ergonomics are a bit lacking due to the size.

Basically, get a newish-body then get the lenses, send it all for a service and use them. They are mechnical cameras. They can be fixed and work like new.

First Hasselblad

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