Hasselblad SWC anything to watch out for?

[Deleted member 88956]

You answered the question on use of a totally useless grip on a perfectly functioning body. Nice film back; I do not have one that new.

Sure, just the question was: is there one, so there was and is, that will fit and reach the release button nicely. So it looks like made for SWC too, but than dark slide issue makes it suspect it was the idea in the first place. Then, if one wanted to shoot SWC with shoe mounted flash, this would do nicely.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Sure, just the question was: is there one, so there was and is, that will fit and reach the release button nicely. So it looks like made for SWC too, but than dark slide issue makes it suspect it was the idea in the first place. Then, if one wanted to shoot SWC with shoe mounted flash, this would do nicely.

Having a wide enough flash will be hard. One would have to use a bare bulb in a fan flash with the fan flat, not clipped as normal.

 

[Pieter12]

I have never paid attention to the spirit level and not noticed any flagrant distortion in my shots taken with the SWC. I also am quite comfortable using the shutter release button as it is on the camera and never felt the need to compose or focus with a ground glass back. I think people are overthinking this. Too bad the days of rental houses are gone, it would be simple enough to rent an SWC for a week to try it out.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have never paid attention to the spirit level and not noticed any flagrant distortion in my shots taken with the SWC. I also am quite comfortable using the shutter release button as it is on the camera and never felt the need to compose or focus with a ground glass back. I think people are overthinking this. Too bad the days of rental houses are gone, it would be simple enough to rent an SWC for a week to try it out.

View attachment 262793

Samys on Fairfax still rents cameras and lenses.

 

[Pieter12]

But no SWC, at least in the catalog online. Plus, it wouldn't help the OP in Poland anyway.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

It's possibly possible for SWC to be rentable in Poland but not where I live, so I won't be even checking on that. But frankly since I posted this thread I've looked at many shots taken with SWC and with no reservations I'm jumping on this train. All the questions I do now is on user nuggets. So good to know going hand held is a non issue as this would make for lightest kit. On other times tripod use I will. Ground glass focusing as well.

On spirit level it seems to be there primarily for architecture shots not distortion related since it is so well controlled and where most money is.

As for grip, I wish there was one made Bronica style, right hand with film advance, just as compact as possible. But it isn't there so no more questions on that.

 

[eli griggs]

You should try the Hasselblad pistol grip for the bottom plate tripod screw hole, sans flash bracket, or similar.
If you've got to have a flash mount, look for one which lays in line with the bottom plate, with only a release between vertical or horizontal locking the upright side into place.

IMO.

 

[etn]

While I don't see how this would not be true, can anyone confirm that viewfinders on SWC are interchangeable between models? I see some offers of SWC WITHOUT finder, as strange as this is they are out there. Getting one like that would give choice of finder. So even if say an M or C body already has bubble level in top plate, nothing prevents using a newer finder with its own bubble, so long as there are no differences preventing that. Finder is nothing that makes me go after newer or later body model, just in case body comes sans one ...

All finders mount on a flash-type shoe and are interchangeable. The square ones have the bubble level built in while the older, round ones rely on the level on the camera. You might end up without a level if you have an old finder on a newer camera.

Be aware that finders can be difficult to find!! so all those offers for an SWC without finder are only valid if they are offered for a very low price! It seems to me that the seller is selling the camera and the finder separately to increase the total selling price. A condemnable practice IMHO.
(in other words: forget about an SWC without finder unless you are really sure what you are doing!)

Voigtlander made an angle finder specifically for the SWC. Those are great but not cheap anymore those days.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

All finders mount on a flash-type shoe and are interchangeable. The square ones have the bubble level built in while the older, round ones rely on the level on the camera. You might end up without a level if you have an old finder on a newer camera.

Be aware that finders can be difficult to find!! so all those offers for an SWC without finder are only valid if they are offered for a very low price! It seems to me that the seller is selling the camera and the finder separately to increase the total selling price. A condemnable practice IMHO.
(in other words: forget about an SWC without finder unless you are really sure what you are doing!)

Voigtlander made an angle finder specifically for the SWC. Those are great but not cheap anymore those days.

Agreed, I'm no longer interested in considering one without a finder. I'm still on a fence with earlier versions and Compur shutter related to internal scratching of lens element. This is due to Compur shutter leaves having raised end point with clearance to glass so small, any movement of them slightly out of working plane can touch the glass. The scratching is apparently slight and very hard to see.

Prontor eradicated this possibility, so this is model M and later.

 

[etn]

Prontor eradicated this possibility, so this is model M and later.

If you are not afraid to spend over 4k€ I can look for you into that 905SWC I saw at the local store. Let me know in pm if interested!

 

[Deleted member 88956]

If you are not afraid to spend over 4k€ I can look for you into that 905SWC I saw at the local store. Let me know in pm if interested!

I'm not going to buy 905, plastic front ring ??? While the said detrimental lens redesign is probably at least some hog wash, this kind of money for any plastic is not going to convince me. But appreciate the offer. I'm currently looking at an M and 903 in the 3kEUR range.

 

[Paul Ozzello]

I'm not going to buy 905, plastic front ring ??? While the said detrimental lens redesign is probably at least some hog wash, this kind of money for any plastic is not going to convince me. But appreciate the offer. I'm currently looking at an M and 903 in the 3kEUR range.

It's actually a nylon/Teflon type material. It's very nice. I retrofitted my SWC/M with one years ago. The lens shade and filters screw on smoother and the ring stays BLACK.

 

[Paul Ozzello]

One annoying aspect of the 903 vs SWC/M is that the bubble level is integrated into the viewfinder - unlike the SWC/M that had it built in to the body. So if you like using the ground glass and like to keep the camera level you need to have both the viewfinder and the groundglass adapter installed at the same time; and when you look down through the groundglass adapter the viewfinder has a tendancy to poke you in the eye.

 

[Paul Ozzello]

Best camera ever by the way.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Best camera ever by the way.

View attachment 262830

Great shot and I was also seeing M's body mounted bubble as advantage.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

It's actually a nylon/Teflon type material. It's very nice. I retrofitted my SWC/M with one years ago. The lens shade and filters screw on smoother and the ring stays BLACK.

That's good to know but lens redesign remains a trubled story for 905. Anyways they go for a lot more and I see no reason to pay extra for last model.

 

[NB23]

I don’t look through the finder, I somehow know exactly what I’m framing as soon as I raise the camera. Square is easy.

However, the finder is on the camera and I never take it off, but I could/should. I’ve just developed my own intuitive way of seeing the field of view. And the camera is lovely to hold, no grip. You will kill the feeling with a grip.

At last, i wouldn’t buy without a finder. Those are impossible to find and it will always be a pain to sell the camera or find a finder.

 

[Arthurwg]

Having a wide enough flash will be hard. One would have to use a bare bulb in a fan flash with the fan flat, not clipped as normal.

I've always wanted to know how Lee Friedlander's SWC flash set-up works. Many of his "Western Landscape" pictures are flashed in the foreground.

 

[Paul Ozzello]

Great shot and I was also seeing M's body mounted bubble as advantage.

Thanks

That's good to know but lens redesign remains a trubled story for 905. Anyways they go for a lot more and I see no reason to pay extra for last model.

Agreed on the lens design but if I remember the mdf graphs correctly - the 905 was better under certain circumstances. But I doubt anyone would notice it. The Biogon in an outstanding design - all versions. I have my film drum scanned and I print at 42" x 42; there are even details at that size that are only visible at 60+ inches. The camera is remarkable and I doubt anyone would notice any picture quality difference with the 905. And there aren't very many so it makes kind of unique - but it does cost more.

The issue of the scratches on some is real. I spoke with Bob the head tech at hasselblad NJ several years ago when I had my serviced - they are very hard to spot but I remember him saying you could see the scratches if you looked at it closely with a loop and sing a light through the lens. I'm thankful mine wasn't effected since parts aren't available.

 

[NB23]

Yes it’s a scratch right in the center. But unharmful.

 

[Pieter12]

While the said detrimental lens redesign is probably at least some hog wash

My understanding is a certain chemical was not longer available to make the same glass formula.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

My understanding is a certain chemical was not longer available to make the same glass formula.

Another story suggests it was lead that had to go. I don't know and I'd be surprised Zeiss would allow new version to be noticeable in images. But price of 905 is another grand at least over 903, let alone M.

 

[Arthurwg]

The only reason SWCs are sold without a finder is that an unscrupulous and greedy seller thinks he can get lots of money for a finder. I've only seen one for sale and that was $600.00.

 

[Pieter12]

Another story suggests it was lead that had to go. I don't know and I'd be surprised Zeiss would allow new version to be noticeable in images. But price of 905 is another grand at least over 903, let alone M.

Well, lead is a chemical...

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Well, lead is a chemical...

Chemical is broad, lead is specific.