Hasselblad SWC anything to watch out for?

[Sirius Glass]

@Sirius Glass I have just found instructions for cut film holder. Sheet size is 6.5x6.5, so a 6.5x9 is one cut away, but does not look most economical, except Hasselblad made cutter does not seem to go well with anything but 6.5x9 sheet. Image size appears close to frame size on roll film. I'm not sure, perhaps not a bad way to go individual shots, but I thought 6.5x9 is already in small department for single shots. At least it's good it has such an option, good for me anyways.

Regarding that slide keeper, is this like an add on you can put on older backs too or these late backs are also different in other ways?

I do not understand the need for sheet film on a Hasselblad and I do not have experience with it.

When I buy a film back without a darkslide holder, I immediately order a Lindahl darkslide holder. Otherwise I misplace darkslides or damage them.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Sheet film is always about single shots, shot at will to suit a situation, so that is why I like the option. I may never use it as I still think that in such a comparatively small format it is a bit too far from giving the freedom single shot offers. While looking at SWC I am still seeing it on a tripod more often than not, especially the screen focusing was an important find of today for me.

 

[Luis-F-S]

Sheet film is always about single shots, shot at will to suit a situation, so that is why I like the option. I may never use it as I still think that in such a comparatively small format it is a bit too far from giving the freedom single shot offers. While looking at SWC I am still seeing it on a tripod more often than not, especially the screen focusing was an important find of today for me.

I bought my SWC new in 1979. Never had the need to use the sheet film adaptor (dumb on a 6x6) or use a tripod. If I'm going to lug a tripod, I'm going to use 4x5 or 810. The focusing screen back is a great accessory for people who want to look at the SWC instead of use it. Just get one, it's probably the best camera made. L

 

[Sirius Glass]

I cannot ever remember using my SWC on a tripod. I love using it handheld. When I was in the Greek Islands I used the SWC 80% of the time, the 50mm was used the rest of the time. The 80mm enjoyed the trip as ballast.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

Another V-system question would be Hasselblad tripod mounting plate. I have to assume this is a solid way to mount the camera on a tripod. Anyone not liking this or using some sort of substitute going into Arca plate or something?
?

http://clearsightusa.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=52

I use this instead of the Hasselblad system for tripod mounting, as it is very solid and clips into an arca head, just like everything else I have, so I prefer it to the stock system since I usually have one tripod with me and multiple different cameras all with arca baseplates attached. Having said that, like others, I usually use it handheld even though I do own the ground glass back, etc, because it’s so much fun just to use it handheld. I don’t know why, just is. I had all those plans to use it carefully on a tripod, but it has not worked out that way. Maybe that’s just me.

 

[Pieter12]

The SWC is not a complex camera. It has a few of the Hasselblad quirks, but otherwise it is straightforward. It seems silly to use a focusing screen adapter that slows everything down with such a great grab and shoot camera. Look at what Lee Friedlander has done with it. The viewfinder is pretty accurate except maybe at close distances, and It is easy enough to zone focus the 38mm--it is very sharp and great depth of field. And film is not that expensive that you can't afford to shoot a whole roll and get some variations rather than fuss with some sheet film adapter.

 

[etn]

@etn Yeah, I hear you.

On the film backs, I see a kit with later film back that has dark slide keeper built in. Are these backs otherwise the same to older, SNs have to match etc. ?

Hasselblad introduced backs with dark slide holders (usually called A12N) sometime in the late 90’s (I think 1997 but don’t nail me on that number). They obviously cost more than earlier versions, the current price I observed is around 300€ for an A12N is good condition, sold separately. The dark slide holder is a useful addition indeed.

Third party slide holders also exist. You can differentiate those from genuine A12N by extracting the manufacturing date out of the serial number (details are on hasselbladhistorical website)

Hope this helps and all thebest to everyone for 2021!!!

Etienne

 

[4season]

With Hasselblad in general, check for proper operation of slower shutter speeds, because if not functioning, it may indicate a broken slow-speed escapement, and a replacement won't come cheap.

 

[etn]

I cannot ever remember using my SWC on a tripod. I love using it handheld. When I was in the Greek Islands I used the SWC 80% of the time, the 50mm was used the rest of the time. The 80mm enjoyed the trip as ballast.

Sirius is right here (as always.) The camera is great handheld (although I use it on a tripod from time to time, mainly for low light pics though.) It is also a terrific travel camera. I made many trips with only the SWC and was super happy with the results, didn’t miss any other camera. Of course, I had to adapt to the “wide angle mindset” to be able to use it as a single camera. Shooting with it is also quick enough that your photography does not become a burden if you travel with a group.

 

[etn]

With Hasselblad in general, check for proper operation of slower shutter speeds, because if not functioning, it may indicate a broken slow-speed escapement, and a replacement won't come cheap.

The Prontor shutter of the CF/CFi can be easily serviced, spare parts for C-type lenses are not available anymore.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I would use a tripod for the SWC when shooting star trails. And the same for the 30mm Fisheye lens. [Must keep up G.A.S. pressure]

 

[Sirius Glass]

Buying my Hasselblad 903 SWC is one of the most exciting photographic expensive purchases I have made.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

I see where SWC on a tripod feelings come from, so looks like I may end being one a few thinking little wrong with using it that way. Good to know though all are happy hand held. I need to see how that top mounted shutter release works out with me, probably the only thing I'm not sold on.

I see quite a bit usefulness out of ground glass focusing though, even if that is like shooting LF with a camera that does not have to be in most cases.

As for single sheet use I'll leave that out of discussion. But I do wish they would have this made to accept 6.5x9 sheet direct, as that would have been a lot more logical from every perspective, form loading to processing and printing.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Has anybody used side grip with SWC? I'm not sue if one even fits it properly, but if there was an option with built in cable release, since that is the only way to connect a grip to top button. Grip without trigger would have made no sense with this body.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

http://clearsightusa.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=52

I use this instead of the Hasselblad system for tripod mounting, as it is very solid and clips into an arca head, just like everything else I have, so I prefer it to the stock system since I usually have one tripod with me and multiple different cameras all with arca baseplates attached. Having said that, like others, I usually use it handheld even though I do own the ground glass back, etc, because it’s so much fun just to use it handheld. I don’t know why, just is. I had all those plans to use it carefully on a tripod, but it has not worked out that way. Maybe that’s just me.

Clearsight plate looks good, thanks for the tip.

 

[Sirius Glass]

1. The lenses cover 6x6 so 6.5x9 would not be covered with the image. More than enough said.
   
2. Since as a rule of thumb one can comfortably take a hand held photograph as slow as 1/[lens focal length] means that 1/38 second ~= 1/30 second. At 1/30 second, one has all the time in the world to compose and adjust viewfinder to exclude photographing the top of their shoes.
   
3. If using the viewfinder was a problem, the camera would not cost so much because the camera would be undesirable. All one has to know is the viewfinder shows the field of view and the marks on the screen are for the 645 frames and should be ignored [Red Lines]. The viewfinder shows the lens in the way and one must learn to look at the bottom left and right to line up the bottom of the frame.
   
   ​

 

[Sirius Glass]

Has anybody used side grip with SWC? I'm not sue if one even fits it properly, but if there was an option with built in cable release, since that is the only way to connect a grip to top button. Grip without trigger would have made no sense with this body.

Why?? It is so small that a side grip would be bigger than the camera.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Images with prisms attached to the back.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

1. The lenses cover 6x6 so 6.5x9 would not be covered with the image. More than enough said.
   
2. Since as a rule of thumb one can comfortably take a hand held photograph as slow as 1/[lens focal length] means that 1/38 second ~= 1/30 second. At 1/30 second, one has all the time in the world to compose and adjust viewfinder to exclude photographing the top of their shoes.
   
3. If using the viewfinder was a problem, the camera would not cost so much because the camera would be undesirable. All one has to know is the viewfinder shows the field of view and the marks on the screen are for the 645 frames and should be ignored [Red Lines]. The viewfinder shows the lens in the way and one must learn to look at the bottom left and right to line up the bottom of the frame.
   
   ​

View attachment 262677​

I was not clear, I did not mean covering anything larger than 6x6, but rather larger cut film holder to take 6.5x9 direct with no trimming required, so if one wanted to use it, there would be no wasted time to trim, no wasted expanse to buy or make a trimmer, developing remained standardized etc. Even Hasselblad's own manual mentions their cutter as made for trimming 6.5x9 sheet. What would one do with the cut-offs? It's a waste either way.

 

[Sirius Glass]

You may find this article interesting.
https://photographysgoldenage.wordpress.com/2018/08/01/hasselblad-wide-angle-photography/

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Thanks. I have a number of Hasselblad pubs, including quite a few Hasselblad Magazines. I came across Daniel Theoli while poking through Archive.org, a ton of scanned photographic pubs from him.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

At this point thanks to all for great insight into SWC. I'm sure this could be an endless talk. Things are getting warmer here for a SWC/503 combo, as I am rethinking my shooting gear, and largely for unspecified reasons. I've been more than happy with the plethora of brands on hand, fun to play with different engineering ideas and seeing different results, yet mostly successful in one way or another.

SWC does look like great compact travel/hiking set up when LF or focal variety won't matter, and having a fixed lens takes care of important decisions before packing up. But going into SWC kind of draws one into V system, so it would be immature (knowing myself) that I could get SWC and stop there. With that approach however, I do need to make some mental adjustments and get out of gaseous atmosphere, focusing instead on few I want to keep, leave collection important to me, and let others have the rest.

Happy &Better New Year !

 

[Maris]

The few times I've used a SWC for deep focus landscape pictures I've shot it upside down. The lens intrudes into the viewfinder frame so near detail is blotted out. Typical question "Is that flower near my feet in or out of the frame?". Can't tell if you can't see it. In upside down mode the framing error is in the sky where critical detail is unlikely.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

The few times I've used a SWC for deep focus landscape pictures I've shot it upside down. The lens intrudes into the viewfinder frame so near detail is blotted out. Typical question "Is that flower near my feet in or out of the frame?". Can't tell if you can't see it. In upside down mode the framing error is in the sky where critical detail is unlikely.

Good point, user's manual should have it in.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

In case anyone is unaware yet looking for Hasselblad catalogs/brochures, this ought to do it