Hasselblad H1 - any good? Reliable?

[Huss]

Anyone have any experience with this camera? Is it reliable? Can it still be serviced?

Thanks!

 

[Sirius Glass]

My Hasselblad repairman at Samys Fairfax has advised me to stock to the V Series [500, 502, 503, ...] because the focal plane shutters are too fragile. Also shutter parts supply may be a problem. I have been using a 503 CX and 903 SWC for years. I do not need no stinking power winder.

 

[Huss]

Thanks for that reply Sirius, I think that applies to the 'regular' Hassies vs the 2000 series. The H1 was made my Fuji so I'm not sure if the same applies. Anyone know how they are?

 

[mshchem]

My Hasselblad repairman at Samys Fairfax has advised me to stock to the V Series [500, 502, 503, ...] because the focal plane shutters are too fragile. Also shutter parts supply may be a problem. I have been using a 503 CX and 903 SWC for years. I do not need no stinking power winder.

I bought one of the silly winders for my 503cw, it works. It's a bit like putting lipstick on the Mona Lisa. The new multi grip thing isn't as nice as the all metal original Hasselblad. Sunpak worked on the new grip, Sunpak provided the quick release for the grip. Any nice 500 CM or newer would be my recommendation as well.

 

[mshchem]

Thanks for that reply Sirius, I think that applies to the 'regular' Hassies vs the 2000 series. The H1 was made my Fuji so I'm not sure if the same applies. Anyone know how they are?

Fuji is poor at supporting it's digital stuff. I would be wary of spending a lot. Very tempting. I'm sorry I'm not answering your original question.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Fuji is poor at supporting it's digital stuff.
...

In what way? Even after the X-100 was discontinued and supplanted by newer models, they continued to offer (free) firmware upgrades to correct its flaws and initial idiosyncracies. The firmware upgrades to the original X-Pro1 were likewise valuable and added features Fuji's customers asked for.

Early on, Fuji provided a "roadmap" for their current and projected lens lineup and not only have they kept their promises, they expanded it.

Long ago, my new 23/1.4 lens had a foreign object it it. I found their support may be slow and communication with the support center may be unsatisfying, but I still think Fuji has one the best relationships with its customers in the photographic world today.

 

[trendland]

Anyone have any experience with this camera? Is it reliable? Can it still be serviced?

Thanks!

Yeah it is expensive, it has a good resolution, and it has a lost of money of 60% after2 years.
Because within 2 years (after max. 2 years) you are a proud owner of an Dinosaurier.

If you need this electronic Hassi you should rent it day for day - think about.

with regards

 

[trendland]

Aha - I see the H1 alowed also film (remember 1. Generation of hybrid Hassi). That will smaler the Problem.
But seriously you should hear what Mr. "Hassi" Serious Glas have said.

with regards

PS : The only day in my live I remember to think of to buy a Hassi was the day were a selected Option on CM Version was smaler priced compared to regular.

 

[Huss]

Soooo.... no-one has any experience with this camera? It is a 6x4.5 film camera, a competitor to the Contax 645 and Mamiya 645. Made by Fuji.

 

[locutus]

I've loaned one....

Its nice, with the usual MF AF SLR caveats, Autofocus is slow and singlepoint, Ergonomics are a bit weird and its a big beast, builtin flash is handy for fill.

Its a nice setup, but as a system too expensive for non-professional use. You can get a base H1+80mm setup at a not impossible price, but once you price up extra lenses and accessories it quickly escalates.

In the end, if you want AF 645, Pentax and Mamiya are a lot more realistic.

 

[Huss]

Thanks for your comments! How did you find the viewfinder?

 

[locutus]

Very good, big and bright as you would expect, don't know about screen suitability for manual focus, I only used AF.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

Huss, back in the day the Hassy was a bridge camera. Some pros used them with film and digital too. I haven't had my hands on one in a long time, but the rentals I used were beat up and still worked. IIRC the buttons were a little fiddly. All around though it was a solid camera. I seem to recall the viewfinder being pretty nice, but it was a long time ago. Autofocus was alright, but not a Canon of course. If I was going to buy a 645 i think I would get the Contax first depending on the price, the Hassy second and the Pentax third. Never was too fond of Mamiya.

Hope that helps you.

 

[Huss]

Thanks Locutus and Patrick, that does help.

 

[Huss]

...If I was going to buy a 645 i think I would get the Contax first depending on the price, the Hassy second and the Pentax third. Never was too fond of Mamiya.

Hope that helps you.

Contax 645 now is insanely expensive! About double the price of the Hasselblad. I currently use a Mamiya 645 ProTL, and while it is great for the money it is really difficult to focus accurately. The manual screen is not very good. I have no problem with manual focus with any of my other cameras.

 

[Miller]

I have an H1 and two film backs. I bought mine secondhand, because I already had a couple of lenses with my H3DII, which does not support a film back. And they are not too expensive secondhand (the lenses are). There is an adapter for V lenses, but I have never used one.
I felt the urge to shoot black and white film again. The plan was to scan the negatives, but the result is a proper darkroom.
I love to shoot with this camera, never experienced problems.
If you go out to buy one, try getting one with the latest firmware that supports the use of HCD lenses (and the HTS). Mine had to go back to Sweden for an update, but it was worth it.
As far as I know, there still is full support from Hasselblad for body and viewfinder. Not entirely sure about the film backs. Although the H6 supports the use of film backs, I don't think new back are available at the moment.

 

[NortheastPhotographic]

It's a very reliable camera and the H1s are not too expensive at the moment. You might also check out the Pentax 645N/NII. If you're not planning to use a digital back the Pentax really gives Hassy a run for it's money. The Hasselblad lenses are probably better, but not by much. The really desirrable Hassy H glass remains very expensive, such as the 100/2.2.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

Contax 645 now is insanely expensive! About double the price of the Hasselblad. I currently use a Mamiya 645 ProTL, and while it is great for the money it is really difficult to focus accurately. The manual screen is not very good. I have no problem with manual focus with any of my other cameras.

I was aware of the Contax going up in price but I haven't priced them. That is why I wrote depending on the price. Lol. The lenses on the Contax are amazing. No doubt about it. If the Contax is twice the price of the Hassy then I would get the Hassy, or look at the Pentax.

 

[Huss]

Excellent! Thanks so much Miller, NorthEastPhoto and Patrick.

 

[Huss]

Ok, with the experiences here, and after reading some reviews, I ordered one.

Now to sell my excellent condition Mamiya 645ProTL! (with 80 1.9, 45mm, 150, power winder, power drive, AE head, flip head, manual crank, lens hoods, backs, inserts etc etc)

 

[film_man]

I owned one for a short period. As a camera it is amazingly capable. The autofocus is not 35mm SLR fast but it does the job and it is accurate, the controls are all in the right place. The viewfinder is amazingly clear and bright but the only issue I had with it was that it sort of had a tunnel vision look unless you were bang on in the centre. The images I got with the standard 80/2.8 were brilliant. I believe Hasselblad will still service them. You can probably get the H1 firmware updated which makes it a H2.

I only bought mine because it was a bargain basement price, tried it but in the end I am not a 645 person so sold it to a friend 3 months later. Would have loved to try the 100/2.2 but that's just silly money.

Given Contax prices it is a no brainer.

 

[GarageBoy]

Definitely a bargain compared to the contax 645 - too bad the v to h adapter is stupid expensive