Handheld Test: Hasselblad 500 CM vs Mamiya RZ67 vs Rolleiflex 2.8F

[Sandeep]

Since my original posting I've shot a few more test rolls comparing handheld use between the Mamiya RZ67 and the Hasselblad 500 CM. With and without a monopod the Hasselblad gives inconsistant results at shutter speeds of 1/125sec or slower compared to the RZ.

In another set of handheld tests comparing the Hasselblad with 60mm against the RZ with 50mm and Hasselblad with 160mm vs RZ with 180mm at shutter speeds of 1/30sec, 1/60sec and 1/125sec the RZ consistantly produced sharper handheld results, especially at shutter speeds of 1/60 sec where it was razor sharp. So it looks like the Hasselblad belongs on a tripod if you want to take advantage of it's fine optics and the camera in general. While the RZ has revealed that for sharp consistant results it can easily be handheld at 1/60 second with no additional support and even go down to 1/30 sec with a monopod.

 

[Ara Ghajanian]

No one has made any mention of the stiffness of the shutter release affecting the photographers ability to hold the camera motionless. I have both a Blad and a Rollei TLR. The Rollei is much, much easier to fire, whereas the Blad's shutter release requires much more finger pressure.
Ara

 

[Sandeep]

I used those screw in soft shutter release buttons on all three cameras in the testing. I find they make a difference especially on the Hasselblad and the Rolleiflex which have very narrow shutter release buttons.