Hasselblad 500ELX vs 1000F

Hello!
Hope all are doing well.

I am being offered 2 Hasselblads; one is the 500ELX, other one 1000F and to be honest, I am not a Hasselblad expert.

From what I can gather, the 500ELX would be the better performer, especially due to the leaf shutter application, but the electronic part concerns me in the long term when compared to the 1000F mechanical build.

Both units look good, the 500 looks physically in better condition.

Any feedback on preference and why, and what to look for in the units? Possibly seeing them in person this Friday.

Appreciate your time and input!

Just a reminder 1000F is the model that was copied for the Russian 88. And they copied the faulty curtain shutter && finicky speed knob .....
So, it is special ???
500ELX-[with motor drive] where used in fashion - at 50 rolls per 1/2 hour . Most likely toasted electrical shutter ????

The 500ELX is essentially a 500 with an attached motor - just as serviceable and good as a 500c/m. Bigger and heavier, though.

The 1000? Most people will tell you to avoid buying them because they cannot be serviced. Very few people will attempt to fix them, apparently.

joho said:

Most likely toasted electrical shutter ????

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It doesn't have an electric shutter.

Don_ih said:

The 500ELX is essentially a 500 with an attached motor - just as serviceable and good as a 500c/m. Bigger and heavier, though.

The 1000? Most people will tell you to avoid buying them because they cannot be serviced. Very few people will attempt to fix them, apparently.



It doesn't have an electric shutter.

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Can the motor be removed from the ELX, just as you could on, let’s say, Olympus or Nikon SLRs, or is the motor an integral part for the body, thus no manual advance option?

Thanks!

The 1000F is basically the first modular 6x6 SLR. There aren't many lenses for it and they have a preset aperture system (not automatic stop-down). You can likely adapt the soviet lenses for it? I never used one but my Kiev-88 copy had a pretty crude feel to it (shutter release and advance knob), plus many mechanical issues. Maybe the Hassie is better.

The 500ELX has a clunky and heavy motor but there are plenty of lenses and accessories for the system. You *can* remove the motor and operate it manually but it's a tricky mod that requires custom parts, I did it for my 500ELM that had a toasted motor.

OAPOli said:

The 1000F is basically the first modular 6x6 SLR. There aren't many lenses for it and they have a preset aperture system (not automatic stop-down). You can likely adapt the soviet lenses for it? I never used one but my Kiev-88 copy had a pretty crude feel to it (shutter release and advance knob), plus many mechanical issues. Maybe the Hassie is better.

The 500ELX has a clunky and heavy motor but there are plenty of lenses and accessories for the system. You *can* remove the motor and operate it manually but it's a tricky mod that requires custom parts, I did it for my 500ELM that had a toasted motor.

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Thanks!

What are the mods required for the ELX? Just curious about what is involved/custom parts needed. Any link? Thanks!

Here's my build. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6314205

There's a pawl to prevent the gears from spinning back but it's too fragile. It should be replaced with spring steel. Instead I installed a one-way bearing in the winding knob.

If that is your complete field of choices, the ELX would be it for me.

The 1000 would only be appealing if I were assembling a historical collection. From a user standpoint there is no case to be made.

But the ELX is heavy, there may be battery issues you have to solve, and overall why not look for a clean 500CM or something newer than that?

The EL series and the C models are quite different. The EL's are not just a C with a motor. a LOT of things are completely different. I'm surprised a previous poster states he had his EL converted to a C. Yes, I suppose it could be done. Just like a Harley Davidson motorcycle could be turned into a bicycle.

1000F is very old (about 70 years); IIRC,550EX needs a battery which is no longer available (you need to do a mod so it accepts battery type which is currently available)

wiltw said:

1000F is very old (about 70 years); IIRC,550EX needs a battery which is no longer available (you need to do a mod so it accepts battery type which is currently available)

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You can buy new battery adapters for all 500EL models on the big auction site. No modification needed.

The 1000f is a 70 year old camera that had a few variations - does it have a black or silver shutter curtain? Which version of Tessar? If it has an Ektar, I'd pick it up if the price is reasonable (there are different versions of the Ektar too...).

The ELX is only 40 years old. Very different cameras.

I have both the Kiev-88 and 1000f, and the 1000f is a much nicer camera. For instance, winding the Kiev feels like you are grinding walnuts, the 1000f feels like a smooth light action ratchet. 1000F lenses are far and few, and can be quite expensive due to their scarcity. You can use Kiev lenses (plentiful and there are some are very good), but you have to modify the mount (transpose the Keiv mount to the Hasselblad, which is reversable) to make it work properly, they mounts are close but not identical. A working 1000f is very nice to use. Stop down shooting only, no automatic aperature.

There is nothing "faulty " about the 1000f shutter, most 70 year old shutters need a CLA. To fit the shutter in such at small body, the curtains need a precision brake, which is the 1st to wear, resulting is the second curtain capping. 70 year old lube is not that great for accurate shutter speed if it has not been serviced. And 70 years is a lot of time for someone to stick their finger through the shutter, or drop something on the shutter curtain (like the film back!) and damage it.

The 500ELX was a professional camera meant to run multiple rolls of film per shoot, so check the wear. If it was the second camera, then it's probably in great shape - it's not really electronic as it is primarily a motor driven c/m with discrete components - but there are some electronic for the TTL flash. The batteries will be a problem, as the original NiCads will likely be dead. There are adapters to use 9 volt batteries, and it's not that hard to modify it to run off Lithium batteries. The electric motor is way over spec'ed, so if it's working, it's the mechanical gears and start-stop detectors that will be the issue. Much bigger and bulkier than the 1000f, but usually a more reliable workhorse (depending on it's shape of course!). And much younger.

Thanks for the info - itsdoable !!
"faulty " about the 1000f shutter is gossip I heard years on end about the 1000F... older photographers- collectors, and so on!
The 500ELX was a more of an studio camera, there where 7 at a studio where I was once 40 years ago-all ELX 's worked to the bone!!!

The 1000f is an older camera and you will have problems getting it serviced especially if the body shutter needs work. Of the two the 500ELX would be a better choice unless you just want to collect classic old cameras.

Based on your replies, I think I'll wait for a 500C series... Something less bulky then than the 500ELX.

Thanks for your advise/observations!

F4U said:

The EL's are not just a C with a motor.

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In practical terms, they are. Same accessories, same lenses, same use. Of course there are some mechanical differences - one of them has a motor built into it.

Maximus966 said:

Based on your replies, I think I'll wait for a 500C series... Something less bulky then than the 500ELX.

Thanks for your advise/observations!

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Wise decision. Look at the Hasselblad 503 CX is you will never be interesting motorized film advancement.

I would go for the 500ELX, especially as it seems in better condition. The 1000F is rather a camera for collectors these days, which of course does not mean you could not put a working example to occasional use. The used market for lenses and accessories is also way, way bigger for the 500 series than for the 1000 series. These motorized Hasselblads are great fun if you don´t mind the additional weight and size. However, please consider that with a studio camera, the internals can be worn out even if the outer casing looks pristine.

itsdoable said:

You can use Kiev lenses (plentiful and there are some are very good), but you have to modify the mount (transpose the Keiv mount to the Hasselblad, which is reversable) to make it work properly, they mounts are close but not identical.

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Hi itsdoable! Did you try to use Kiev 80 lenses on 1000F without mount transplant? Yes, I know that lens latch will not engage. I have 1000F with 80 and 135 and would like to add Kiev's 45mm lens. It looks to me that it needs to be mounted with focusing index and scale pointing down (180 degrees)?
PS are you on West Coast?

gorbas said:

Hi itsdoable! Did you try to use Kiev 80 lenses on 1000F without mount transplant? Yes, I know that lens latch will not engage. I have 1000F with 80 and 135 and would like to add Kiev's 45mm lens. It looks to me that it needs to be mounted with focusing index and scale pointing down (180 degrees)?
PS are you on West Coast?

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Hi gorbas, the threads in the Kiev are set a little deeper in the mount than the Hasselblad, but the flange back distance is the same. Thus when a Kiev lens in mounted, only ~1/4 of the thread engages, so the lens is not very secure, but you get infinity focus. There are a few other issues, the index pin is often too long on the Kiev lenses to mount on a Hasselblad, and the spring loaded auto-diaphragm pin can jam inside the Hasselblad such that you cannot dismount the lens. This varies from lens to lens as the Kiev lenses have a lot of variation.

I wrote up my findings a while ago in that other medium format forum : https://www.photo.net/forums/topic/522571-saluyt-s-kiev-88-lens-on-a-hasselblad-1600f-1000f/

Converting the mount actually worked better, as the 4 screws holding the mount onto the body are identical between the Hasselblad and the Kiev, so it is a direct swap, and solves the secure lens mount issue. Of course you need a doner Kiev lens mount - back when I did this, broken Kievs were a dime. You still have the same issues with the index pin and the auto-diaphragm pin.

I wrote this up in that other meidium format forum too... : https://www.photo.net/forums/topic/...0f-salyut-mount-and-back/#findComment-5603994

However, I managed to pick up a 3.5/135 sonner and a 5.6/60mm distagon for the 1000f at a reasonable price a while ago, so I've put back the Hasselblad mount on my 1000f. But you still get a wider range & availability of lenses with the Kiev.

I grew up on the West Coast, but I'm in Ontario these days...

Thank you very much itsdoable!
I was aware of your first link but not of the 2nd and it was nice to see you here too.
All the best
Goran