Hasselblad 503CX or 503CW??

TheToadMen · Sep 10, 2014

I'm thinking of getting me a Hasselblad (sometimes), maybe even just to be able to say I used one (although I have a Bronica SQ-B and a Hassy SWC).

It seems the 503CX is cheaper than the 503CW. Is there a big difference between these to cameras? What model should I get from the 500 range?
I'm also thinking to use it with a 50 mm lens or so.

cowanw · Sep 10, 2014

Just the gliding mirror and winder. and newer of course. And comes in colours.
http://www.gilghitelman.com/501colors.html
The 503cx has a time exposure catch.

Slixtiesix · Sep 10, 2014

Do you need Flash TTL and the Winder option? If not, a 501cm would be a solution too. Gliding Mirror but not as expensive as the CW.

TheToadMen · Sep 10, 2014

cowanw said:
Just the gliding mirror and winder. and newer of course. And comes in colours.
http://www.gilghitelman.com/501colors.html
The 503cx has a time exposure catch.

Thanks for the tip. I've send them an email to inquire.

Edit: just cot a reply "Sorry but those color cameras were sold."

TheToadMen · Sep 10, 2014

Slixtiesix said:
Do you need Flash TTL and the Winder option? If not, a 501cm would be a solution too. Gliding Mirror but not as expensive as the CW.

No need for winder or flash, so I'll check out prices for a 501cm also. I'll probably do mostly landscapes or street photography in B&W. Thanks.

Dave Swinnard · Sep 10, 2014

Based on my experience, if you're going to use anything longer than the 100mm the longer mirror of the bodies with the GMS would be useful.

I've got a 50 that I love but I also use a 120 and a 250 with enough frequency to wish I had one of the newer GMS bodies. I find the image cut-off at the top of the screen annoying with both these lenses. I can work around it relatively easily,with the 120 but the 250 is a real pain. (I'm always on a tripod photographing things that aren't going anywhere in a hurry so I can fiddle up and down, left and right to try and see what I'm not seeing...)

That said, I'm very happy with 500C/M.

cowanw · Sep 10, 2014

TheToadMen said:
Thanks for the tip. I've send them an email to inquire.

Edit: just cot a reply "Sorry but those color cameras were sold."

Aw sorry, I really just sent that link for you to see the colours available other than black. I have a canary yellow 501; it's makes me feel better just to look at it.

TheToadMen · Sep 10, 2014

cowanw said:
Aw sorry, I really just sent that link for you to see the colours available other than black. I have a canary yellow 501; it's makes me feel better just to look at it.

They look nice indeed. I'll see if one pops up here sometimes.

Rolfe Tessem · Sep 10, 2014

If you don't need the winder or TTL flash, then the 501CM is what you should be looking for. Cheaper than the 503CW, maybe a little more expensive than the 503CX, which I'm guessing was designed for wedding photographers using on-camera flash. Hard to say which market these were aimed at, but the 503CW was used by a lot of studio/fashion guys burning though lots of film with an assistant loading mags as fast as they could shoot them.

takef586 · Sep 11, 2014

You should look for 501C/M or 503CW - they both have the longer mirror, CW can be used with the winder and flash synchro, if you need that.

brbeck · Sep 11, 2014

For me I wanted a newer camera. I found a good deal for the CW at Calumet so that's what I got. I really think regardless of what I purchased I would have been happy. I love my camera and since they basically all have the same feel and work the same you will be happy with whatever you get.

jeff.blackwell · Sep 11, 2014

You can contact cameraleathers.com and make any Hasselblad any color you like.

TheToadMen · Sep 11, 2014

jeff.blackwell said:
You can contact cameraleathers.com and make any Hasselblad any color you like.

Thanks for the tip. I thought of that. (the correct site name is: http://www.cameraleather.com)
Another possibility is http://aki-asahi.com/store/index.php
So I don't need a cosmetically perfect camera, just a technically good one.

BTW: they don't have the yellow kit.

k.hendrik · Sep 11, 2014

TheToadMen said:
So I don't need a cosmetically perfect camera, just a technically good one.

BTW: they don't have the yellow kit.

http://www.omnifoto.nl/index.php

They have a 'new' yellow 503 CW for sale.

Happy search

TheToadMen · Sep 12, 2014

k.hendrik said:
http://www.omnifoto.nl/index.php
They have a 'new' yellow 503 CW for sale.
Happy search

I called them just now, but it isn't for sale
It's an eye catcher in their store ...

TheToadMen · Sep 12, 2014

Since I have many "normal" looking cameras and I don't really need a Hasselblad 500 series, I think I'll wait till a nice and affordable colored one comes by. And maybe sell some other cameras first (like Rollei SL66 or Pentax 67 set).

I haven't seen these in real live, but I think I like the yellow best. It stands out (don't know like what though), doesn't it?

Or maybe I just get me an old 500C with chrome lens made in 1967 or so (the year I was born) ...
With just one lens: a 50 or 60 mm lens I guess.

I like the chrome lenses better (just for the looks, silly me) than the modern black ones and I don't mind the "lesser" coating for I shoot mostly B&W.

There is one offered here in Europe (made in 1968) with 80 mm lens and one A12 back for Euro 800 ($ 1024) that looks nice. It comes with a Planar 80mm f2.8.

But it is a 4 hour drive just to go look at it. It's offered as fully functional and new light seals, but a CLA might be in order anyway due to its age.

Any reason (troubles) why I shouldn't get a 500 series body? It's just for occasional amateur photography (mostly landscape or street photography).

frank · Sep 12, 2014

I was going to suggest a 500cm. No need for the newest bells and whistles. (Gliding mirror and TTL flash)

Richard S. (rich815) · Sep 12, 2014

frank said:
I was going to suggest a 500cm. No need for the newest bells and whistles. (Gliding mirror and TTL flash)

100% agree with this. Even a well-cared for and recently serviced 500C would be fine.

Hasselblad 503CX or 503CW??

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