Hasselblad 500C

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Melvin J Bramley

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I have the opportunity to purchase a Hasselblad 500C and lenses at a reasonable price.
My current SLR MF is a Mamiya 645 pro, which is nice but I prefer the square format.
Talk me into it or out of it!

Pro's and cons.

Size weight portability metering etc!!

It won't be available long at the advertised price.


TB
 

AnselMortensen

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My first Hassy was a 500C that I bought 'piece by piece' scouring Shutterbug ads for rock bottom prices...because College Student.
It was a noticeable step up from my Kowa 6, image quality-wise...because Zeiss.
When a good deal came around, I upgraded to a 500C/M...because Newer.
The 500C doesn't have user-interchangeable viewing screens, the C/M does.
 
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Melvin J Bramley

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My first Hassy was a 500C that I bought 'piece by piece' scouring Shutterbug ads for rock bottom prices...because College Student.
It was a noticeable step up from my Kowa 6, image quality-wise...because Zeiss.
When a good deal came around, I upgraded to a 500C/M...because Newer.
The 500C doesn't have user-interchangeable viewing screens, the C/M does.

How good is the C screen?
 

AnselMortensen

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It was too long ago and too many cameras ago to give a fair analysis, sorry.
500C screens can be upgraded, but by a qualified tech, from what I understand...(no first-hand experience with that).
 

4season

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If two of those lenses are the 30 mm fisheye and 50 FLE, the outfit could be a great buy.
 
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Melvin J Bramley

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It was too long ago and too many cameras ago to give a fair analysis, sorry.
500C screens can be upgraded, but by a qualified tech, from what I understand...(no first-hand experience with that).

I found this..


Upgrading screens can be done, no problem.
 

guangong

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A Hassy fits in your hand like no other MF single reflex camera. You won’t be disappointed. Go for it. I have a C/M. Never had a need for interchangeable screens. Also have a 2000 FCM, will use until its premature unfixable death. The screen should be just fine for general photography.
 
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Melvin J Bramley

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If two of those lenses are the 30 mm fisheye and 50 FLE, the outfit could be a great buy.

I think there is a 50mm which would suit my needs.
That said my wife is not happy that she will have to wait until she is 81 to retire!!
 

Hassasin

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A Hassy fits in your hand like no other MF single reflex camera. You won’t be disappointed. Go for it. I have a C/M. Never had a need for interchangeable screens. Also have a 2000 FCM, will use until its premature unfixable death. The screen should be just fine for general photography.

That is going way too far, everyone is different. Haselblad hardly fits so well. It might for some individuals, but just as well can feel awkward too. I only say this because having handled all MF SLRs but Rolleiflex 66SL, things are not all roses In handling department.

if you want 6x6 SLR try some choices before plunging into 2k+ investment. For the little info provided this may or may not be a good deal. 500c is long in the tooth, lenses - Which ones? Which magazine does it come with? Can you return it? The latter because you may be unpleasantly surprised, or feel underwhelmed, but also very happy.

For metering you got handheld meter as a choice unless you spend at least 400-500 on PME finder.

weight with Hasselblad is another trap, body is lighter than most in that size, but put on a lens and things may surprise you, of course depending which lens. With old C 80 things are re rather light and compact, with several other lenses it’s in my view worse than most competition.

keep in mind you have a great 645 camera, you are going larger, heavier and far more expensive. Square is a nice format, cropping 645 into square is obviously not ideal.

look into Bronica EC, body is larger and heavier than H, but with lens things get turned on their head.

look into Bronica SQA, my second alternate suggestion.

and may I suggest Mamiya 330? A TLR but square and swell.
 
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Melvin J Bramley

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I had a Bronica SQA and also Mamiya C330, both too cumbersome.
The Mamiya fits well in the hand but I do prefer the square format as tilting 645 is awkward.

Maybe I will just stick with the Mamiya and it's wonderful viewfinder!
 

Hassasin

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I had a Bronica SQA and also Mamiya C330, both too cumbersome.
The Mamiya fits well in the hand but I do prefer the square format as tilting 645 is awkward.

Maybe I will just stick with the Mamiya and it's wonderful viewfinder!

If you showed some pics and tell condition of that H deal, it would have helped a lot commenting

note that 500C was factory upgraded to interchangeable screen before CM hit market, and there was an upgrade kit to do same on earlier Cs, so it is possible this offer already has that in. Original screen is darker compared to later screens, but that is not necessarily worse for actual focusing. I like 42250 screen quite a bit even if not as bright.

if the 330 and SQA felt cumbersome, I frankly don’t see how 500C will not. It could be your use of 645 that made you feel that way though.

I mentioned EC because even larger and heavier, I like it a lot more than Hasselblad in the hand. And you can have basic kit for under 500.

On most accounts the EC was an engineering marvel compared to Hasselblad, but it was replaced by SQA when Bronica went on to provide three bodies to cover 645/66/67. So I think of EC as something that was extremely well thought out, just never became a pro choice, hence demand did not support it’s further refinement and continued production (there was EC TL before it all ended).
 

Steven Lee

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That is going way too far, everyone is different. Haselblad hardly fits so well. It might for some individuals, but just as well can feel awkward too.

Ouch... First you must evolve into conforming to the Hasselblad ergonomics. Until you ascend to that level, you aren't qualified to have an opinion of a Hasselblad. You spoke too soon, with some growing up to do. Will be awkward for you in the future to have this embarrassing liability of a comment stored on the Internet forever.

At least you've done this anonymously.

@Melvin J Bramley I won't talk you out of it. Getting a Hasselblad is the end of your GAS journey. There's nothing after. A Hasselblad is the final destination. You now have everything. From now on you only have your skill and bad luck to blame for not becoming rich and famous.
 

Hassasin

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Ouch... First you must evolve into conforming to the Hasselblad ergonomics. Until you ascend to that level, you aren't qualified to have an opinion of a Hasselblad. You spoke too soon, with some growing up to do. Will be awkward for you in the future to have this embarrassing liability of a comment stored on the Internet forever.

At least you've done this anonymously.

@Melvin J Bramley I won't talk you out of it. Getting a Hasselblad is the end of your GAS journey. There's nothing after. A Hasselblad is the final destination. You now have everything. From now on you only have your skill and bad luck to blame for not becoming rich and famous.

I own several Hasselblad's, 7 lenses, I know what I mean when I say it.
 

Steven Lee

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I own several Hasselblad's, 7 lenses, I know what I mean when I say it.

Of course you do. Just be aware of limitations of your knowings and meanings! Everyone can own a Hasselblad. But ascending to its level requires a lot of dedication, self-reflection, a healthy diet, and stable surroundings free of harmful distractions.
 

MattKing

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Of course you do. Just be aware of limitations of your knowings and meanings! Everyone can own a Hasselblad. But ascending to its level requires a lot of dedication, self-reflection, a healthy diet, and stable surroundings free of harmful distractions.

It is true - any time left handed me tried to use a Hasselblad, it was the sort of torture only the really dedicated and pure would ever endure!
 

Hassasin

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Of course you do. Just be aware of limitations of your knowings and meanings! Everyone can own a Hasselblad. But ascending to its level requires a lot of dedication, self-reflection, a healthy diet, and stable surroundings free of harmful distractions.

No idea what you are driving at, maybe not my best day.

I don' t knock down Hasselblad, nor most others. Every camera is different, Hasselblad is no exception, and is not superior as some make it out to be. Key is to be open minded. Sadly, some have decided that there is a specific best of whatever and they end it there. Hasselblad is a prime example how things are being widely misrepresented in that sense. What is best for one, may be quite a challenge to accept by another.

I enjoy part of Hasselblad, which is not to say I am afraid to state its superiority is overblown for the most part. And when one considers entry price into the system, argument for one is even paler.

I always say it about every camera, try it before, none was made to fit every hand and way of working.
 

Hassasin

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Of course you do. Just be aware of limitations of your knowings and meanings! Everyone can own a Hasselblad. But ascending to its level requires a lot of dedication, self-reflection, a healthy diet, and stable surroundings free of harmful distractions.

Reading this again, are you saying one needs to be insane to accept Haselblad praise at face value? This I would agree with.
 

otto.f

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What do you want to do with it? The Fuji GF670 is the most handy MF. I own a Hasselblad but know for sure that, although the lightest compared to comparative systems, it’s not a camera to carry in your Harris Tweed jacket
 

Nitroplait

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As with Leica, it is best to know, prior to the purchase, where you will send your hasselblad for service, when it needs it (it will).
And also to be comfortable with the price level of service.

Having a trustable and fair priced tech is going to make your ownership experience much more pleasurable.
 

RalphLambrecht

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I have the opportunity to purchase a Hasselblad 500C and lenses at a reasonable price.
My current SLR MF is a Mamiya 645 pro, which is nice but I prefer the square format.
Talk me into it or out of it!

Pro's and cons.

Size weight portability metering etc!!

It won't be available long at the advertised price.


TB

Go for it I've never heard anybody regretting the purchase of a Hasselblad.
 

OAPOli

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I had a Bronica SQA and also Mamiya C330, both too cumbersome.
The Mamiya fits well in the hand but I do prefer the square format as tilting 645 is awkward.

Maybe I will just stick with the Mamiya and it's wonderful viewfinder!

The SQ-A and Hasselblad have a very similar form factor.

But the Zeiss lenses are better and the 45 deg prism is more convenient (vs. 90 deg which needs a grip as well). I'd say the Bronica is a bit easier to use.
 
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