Hasselblad 553ElX love

sixby45

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Hi everyone - so had been wanting a replacement for a 500 C/m I used to use and scored a lovely holiday deal on a 553 ELX. Definitely a fan and this one is quite a bit quieter than the old 500 ELM I tried but had to return due to a defective battery hatch.

All in all a great camera and fun to use. Currently using a 60mm lens for a standard walk-around but looking forward to adding a short tele such as the 150 or 180.

Anyone else love their electronic hasselblad system? I'll post some pics and a review when I get some rolls through the system.
 

John Galt

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I have a 500 ELX I scored at an auction that is flawless, looks like it was never used. It was in an auction lot that included a 500 C, three lenses a 1/2 dozen magazines and other accessories . . . $500 about 3 years ago.. The 500 C was jammed up, sent it to Dave Odess who said it was not worth fixing. The ELX batteries were shot so I converted it to 2 x 9V Batteries. Works flawlessly but it is a back-up for my two 500 C/Ms.
 

rulnacco

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Yeah, I've got a 500CM (currently in need of repair, alas) I use for carrying around, but for a while now I have been shooting the heck out of my 553ELX, with much pleasure. I've got a small portrait studio in West Orlando, and I do a lot of work with it, with an ancient Sinarback 54M digital back stuck on it. (It's about 12 years old, it's got no screen/battery/card slot so I have to shoot it tethered, it sometimes has its own opinions about what a particular color should look like, and it's "only" 22 megapixels. But it's 22 *glorious* megapixels when the stars align, and dirt cheap on eBay at $700.) Shooting with my 553ELX brings much joy; and particularly when coupled with me 180 CFi, the results are stunning.

Here is my beloved 553 ELX, with all its trappings.

 

moto-uno

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^ Good God that's something from a sci-fi set I'm sure , but I love it ! My wife would roll her eyes if she saw something like this ! Peter
 

RezaLoghme

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I own a 553ELX and it probably the wisest choice of the range - more advanced than its predecessors, able to use AAAAA batteries, that TTL flash thingie, comes with better AM screen and walk on the moon release button. Still much cheaper than the 555ELD.
 

Frigge

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In the beginning, I felt that my 553ELX was a little bit bulky and heavy.
Now it's really annoying to have to wind manually when I'm using another camera.
 

John Wiegerink

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Frigge said:
In the beginning, I felt that my 553ELX was a little bit bulky and heavy.
Now it's really annoying to have to wind manually when I'm using another camera.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's a little heavy and bulky, but all cameras have tradeoffs. I have a nervous system problem that includes hand tremors so the bulk and weight actually helps steady me over my lighter 500C. I have my ELX rigged up with the shutter release style hand grip and the H70 long eyepiece prism. It's a very fast and spontaneous shooting camera. That said, when I go far from home it's the 500C and SWC that go with me.
 

Sirius Glass

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I have never used one, but if I got my hands on one, I would have to run out and buy bulk 70mm film, a 70mm bulk loader or two or three, 70mm development tank and a bunch of reels, . . .
 

RezaLoghme

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John Wiegerink said:
Yes, it's a little heavy and bulky, but all cameras have tradeoffs. I have a nervous system problem that includes hand tremors so the bulk and weight actually helps steady me over my lighter 500C.
Click to expand...
Interesting aspect! Yes, despite it somewhat urgent sound, the ELX makes me feel calm.
 

blee1996

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Sirius Glass said:
I have never used one, but if I got my hands on one, I would have to run out and buy bulk 70mm film, a 70mm bulk loader or two or three, 70mm development tank and a bunch of reels, . . .
Click to expand...

My 553ELX (with the large square shutter button) is rigged with Sonnar 150/4 and 70mm back (with NASA stickers on it), and I'm ready for NASA missions.
 

bdial

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The only thing I don't like about mine is that it's a bit too heavy and bulky if I use a prism finder on it. Other than that, it's lovely, and I prefer it to its 500 C/M brethren.

A 70mm back might be fun, I have some cassettes, and I even have a 70mm bulk film loader, but haven't tried shopping for a back to go with them.
 

RezaLoghme

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Does anyone use the ELX (or EL/ELM) models without a tripod? On a strap around your neck?
 

John Wiegerink

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RezaLoghme said:
Does anyone use the ELX (or EL/ELM) models without a tripod? On a strap around your neck?
Click to expand...

Yes, I use the hand grip with the padded grip strap. It works fine for fast shots in good lighting and is pretty easy to carry that way, but I wouldn't want to use it that way for a full day of shooting.
 

Slixtiesix

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I have the 555ELD and I appreciate the automatic film advance and mirror return. Yes, I used it without a tripod successfully, even with my 180mm lens i can go as low as 1/30s, but using a tripod is better of course.
 

John Wiegerink

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Slixtiesix said:
I have the 555ELD and I appreciate the automatic film advance and mirror return. Yes, I used it without a tripod successfully, even with my 180mm lens i can go as low as 1/30s, but using a tripod is better of course.
Click to expand...
Wow! 1/30 of a second is amazing. With my hand and body tremors I could never even come close to that.
 

RezaLoghme

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What do you think of the noise? Is it inappropriate in "street" situations?
 

Nokton48

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RezaLoghme said:
Does anyone use the ELX (or EL/ELM) models without a tripod? On a strap around your neck?
Click to expand...

Battle of the Bands Hasselblad Fujiroid by Nokton48, on Flickr

Battle of the Bands. Hasselblad 500EL/M 350mm F5.6 Tele-Tessar Fuji 400 Instant Film (came from Japan). Always liked this one, instant photography is so much fun. Nobody there had ever seen it before. BTW our Band won the competition.
 

RezaLoghme

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i have to say that i love mine a lot. it is somehow the unloved stepchild of the whole range, i dont know why. its like a 503 cw.
 
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