Hasselblad 500C/M woes..

The repairer/dealer I bought the camera from originally let me trade in my (faulty?) body for a newer ('86), cleaner body plus an Acute Matte screen for $150.

..But not before informing me that SLRs, especially medium format SLRs, will never be as easy to focus as rangefinders, and recommending I use a Mamiya 6 if quick and accurate focusing was my top priority. I don't doubt him, but I've never been too keen on RFs. And I want to stick with the system I've already invested in.

mattbellphoto said:

The repairer/dealer I bought the camera from originally let me trade in my (faulty?) body for a newer ('86), cleaner body plus an Acute Matte screen for $150.

..But not before informing me that SLRs, especially medium format SLRs, will never be as easy to focus as rangefinders, and recommending I use a Mamiya 6 if quick and accurate focusing was my top priority. I don't doubt him, but I've never been too keen on RFs. And I want to stick with the system I've already invested in.

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This is a good ending for you. Enjoy!

I didn't read one other possibility but have you had your eyesight checked recently? I've had a few blown shots I *thought* were focused but it turns out my shooting eye is getting softer as I cruise past my mid 40's. My left and right eyes need different strength diopters so I can't focus on a waistlevel anymore.

Eric

I too have been struggling a bit with focusing my 500CM. It's easy enough on a tripod but when I try to shoot hand-held, especially wide open I find that I'm often missing focus. I am positive my kit would immensely benefit from a good CLA, but I figure to get everything done it's going to cost around $500-ish from Mr. Odess (if I want everything done). I know that I would honestly prefer the Mamiya 7 as a system as I'm more of a RF person at heart anyways, but I literally couldn't say no to this 'blad for the deal I got.

I don't particularly want to get a Prism for it as I like how compact it is with the WLF, but is there a better screen to buy that isn't horrendously expensive? The one I have right now is a plain matte with a large central microprism dot. I think I would like it better if it were brighter, or perhaps I just need to stop shooting in such low-light conditions! Ha (I'll leave that to my Hexar AF)

Problem fixed.

My Hasselblad is as sharp as a tack now.

mattbellphoto said:

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Nice work! Great subject!

mattbellphoto said:

Problem fixed.

My Hasselblad is as sharp as a tack now.

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Sorry, but it still looks a little fuzzy! I think you should send the camera body, lens and back to me and I'll test it for you. It might take a few years, but will be well worth it. For me anyway! When you have a good working "Blad" you can no longer blame the equipment. I moved up from a Bronica S2A(many moons ago) to a Hasselblad 500C outfit and have been smitten from then on. It's not that the Bronica wasn't a very good camera/system, but the V-Blad system was just that much better. It was also that the Zeiss glass rendered a "look" that always made me smile. I will admit that I've had two bodies(EL and ELM) that I've had problems with, along with several lenses that had to be "tuned-up" from time to time. A photo-nut friend of mine, the one who I bought the 500C from, said it was an investment. I don't know about that so much anymore, but it is a pleasure. JohnW

No camera, in and of itself, has ever been an investment for me either. I'm just far too rough on my gear. It's why I can never justify buying new/mint equipment. If someone tomorrow, out of the blue, gave me a flawlessly mint condition original Lecia M3 kit, I'd be afraid to even touch it. It'd go straight up on ebay/craigslist.

But yeah, what led me to start obsessing over "blads" was one, I already had a love for 6x6/square-format images from being taught film photography on my Mamiya C220, and two, almost every truly brilliantly rendered photo I would find online, especially ones of fairly average subjects, seemed to come from Hasselblad users, and especially if they were shooting chrome.

I still love and rave over my C220, but I just really appreciate that extra umph I get from my 500CM and T* lens.