Hasselblad or Mam645? My wife is too generous !

I've used both and used to work in a camera store where I had access to all the glass from both systems. The Mamiya 645 lenses are not the best MF glass by far. Hasselbad lenses,arguably are among the best, if not the best.

The 645 would be great for snapshots or situations where you need to shoot quickly and have a light set up. The Hasselblad would be better for situations where you're on a tripod. All these opinions are of course mine and not worth a tinker's damn, but there you have them!

W.

Hi, Glenn, Your wife is a very caring and generous lady who has given you a wonderful gift, I would advise you to keep it at all costs " Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned ".

My first M/F SLR was a Mamiya 645 1000s. I could not afford a 'Blad. I humped that camera over 13,000 ft. in the winter in the Alps. Everything I shot came back overexposed. The cold just sucked the life out of the battery/shutter. And, yes I was using fresh batteries. I swore then I would find a way to buy a Hasselblad. I could not afford to go to europe again without one. By the way, the Mamiya will dent from a drop about ten times easier than a Hasselblad.

I dumped the 645 and bought a 500CM. It is a much better camera. Sell all the Mamiya stuff and buy another lens or two. The price of used Hasselblad gear makes it a deal.

For a long term hobbyist who wishes to make a good choice I would recommend the Hasselblad. I own an RZ67 camera and it is quite competent but I feel that a square leaf sheutter camera with CF lenses is going to serve you very nicely indeed and should be very trouble free. The photo quality of good film, Hasselblad primes and a very stable tripod is an extremely competent device.

Whatever you do though stick to one or the other. The cameras are different enough to make switching back and forth a confusing PITA. Better to be adequately equpped with one camera than somewhat adequately equipped with trwo cameras.

A gift is a gift, and especially coming from your wife you shouldn't attempt to get rid of it. Granted, for some items we give each my gf and I have an agreement that exchange or new gift is possible, but that's mostly with clothes and such stuff.

You also have to take her to the restaurant, tell her how much you love her, rub her feet and all the other things you don't have to speak about here.

Having a camera with only one lens can also be a good opportunity for you to slow down your shooting (if you were fast, that is), or to work on composition under constraints.

At any rate, USE your gift. Don't think about money, because gifts are not supposed to be about it. Your expenses haven't gone up because you have a new camera. And make with it a photo that she'll be happy to receive mounted so that she'll see for herself what good use you can make of her gift.

The big investment is over, all you absolutely have to have for it is film and at this point you can split the difference between the two cameras--they aren't like kids that eat twice as much. They can eat twice as much, but don't have to.

I'll admit that I am greedy when it comes to cameras and would keep them both and say Mine, Mine, Mine, all Mine!!!!!! But I'm just shallow like that

Sunny

OK folks, thanks a lot for the various suggestions, they are helpful in shaping my thoughts.

Some posts deserve responses, so here goes:

1) She does have a sister. That sister is married to a guy who LOVES his 1.3 megapickel floppy drive storage Sony digi-snapper. 'nuff said
2) I already have too many old cheap cameras apart from the Mam's and my Nikon 35mm gear. I also have a 6x9 Ziess Ercona folder. (Thanks for that suggestion)
3) Some have pointed out that "It's a gift so there's no cost?!?" Well, kind of, except that we have a pretty tight budget paying off a big mortgage in Sydney (Australia's most expensive city for real estate) so I didn't have spare cash just lying around to throw at new camera gear. I also would like a wide angle and a moderate tele for the Hasselblad if I keep it and I *know* they will be more expensive that the Mam glass so if I stay with the Hasselblad, the Mam gear must go to fund the Hassy bits.
4) I'm well aware that it would be *unwise* to ditch the gift horse. My wisdom in the things-that-make-darling-happy is what leads her to do nice things for me, like buying me a 503, just cause she thought I'd like one
5) You can bet I have been VERY thankful to her . . .
6) I've been out shooting with it twice now and have produced my first work prints. Simply outstanding quality in the hands and in the negs/print. You knew this, I suspected it, now I know it. Sorry Mamiya...
7) Re item 4, 5 and 6, my very first print is of my darling. Seemed the right thing to do if you ask me.

So unless something dramatic happens, I will probably sell off the Mam645 gear over coming weeks and work on getting more familiar with the new but definitely second lady in my life.

Thanks again for the comments.

Regards
Glenn