Hasselblad worth it?

nicefor88 · May 5, 2009

Thank you all for your advices/comments.
Now, I have to get one!!

Serge

adsantos13 · May 8, 2009

I do 90% of my work walking around on the street and a hasselblad 500cm with 60mm distagon is my preferred camera. It is a lot easier to do with a WLF, though.

I love my hasselblad and wouldnt trade it for anything.

kandikills · May 8, 2009

I use my Hasselblad handheld mostly, and do portraiture shots on the street. People look at you differently with the Hassie. Nowadays they're so used to digital photography, that as soon as a lens turns to them they change. However, they usually seem to be helpless when you point a Hassie at them, and I love that. I used it for everything! Living in Amsterdam, I cycle everywhere, and the Hasselblad comes with me at all times, and I don't find it at all heavy or "big". O love the results and the use I gave it, but mostly, our "relationship" is just right, and I think that is the most important, use a camera you feel connected too!

Phillip P. Dimor · May 8, 2009

It's not a magical camera. Honestly, it's a good system camera. There are a lot of options available for it. You can get similar results with other systems.
It all comes down to nitpicking and elitism. I like mine but it's nothing to write home about. It's just a f*****g camera. It takes pictures that are very similar to lots of other cameras..

Q.G. · May 8, 2009

Phillip P. Dimor said:
It's not a magical camera. Honestly, it's a good system camera. There are a lot of options available for it. You can get similar results with other systems.
It all comes down to nitpicking and elitism. I like mine but it's nothing to write home about. It's just a f*****g camera. It takes pictures that are very similar to lots of other cameras..

You're right.
Yet, you find it necessary to tell us all that.

Sirius Glass · May 8, 2009

The initial post asked "Hasselblad worth it?"

In a word: yes

Steve

Ranger Bob · May 8, 2009

I just looked in my file cabinet and found my receipt for my Hasselblad. Dated August 5th, 1997 from Jim Kuehl Camera in Iowa. Within a week of using my new/used 500C/M, I sold my RB67 and my FM2 and have basically used nothing else since. I will admit to having a brief but intense affair with a Rollei 2.8E2, but that ended 6 years ago. Best camera decision I ever made buying the Hasselblad.

PKM-25 · May 9, 2009

To me, a single camera and lens does not make me want to buy it or not. The totality of the system and what is offered in that, how it works is what makes me pull the trigger or not.

In the case of Hasselblad, everything works exceptionally well. The camera is very light and as a landscape shooter who totes gear into high, remote places, Hasselblad is unsurpassed.

The lenses are second to none. I have even held them in front of my D700 for a few fun test shots and they are incredibly consistent from lens to lens in terms of color, contrast and sharpness.

But the best thing of all? The stuff is freakishly cheap now days. I picked up a mint to new condition 60 and 80 CF for less than $900. Backs are next to nothing as well as 500 C/M's.

So for less than 6 grand, I built up a monster Hasselblad system that will emerge as my workhorse system for years to come.

Hasselblad was worth it before the prices dropped, now it is a bargain.

Phillip P. Dimor · May 12, 2009

Q.G. said:
You're right.
Yet, you find it necessary to tell us all that.

Phil's APUG Rule #24, don't post under the influence.
Phil's APUG Rule #25, don't post when your significant other continually mocks posting on APUG as 'incessant Hasselblad (in a Swedish accent) ego boosting similar to guys going on about Warcraft or V8 Engines'

(she hasn't seen the Leica forums yet..)

I didn't mean to come off all mean to the original poster but in retrospect I definitely did and i'm sorry. It's a legitamite question, of which I've asked before.

Pumal · May 13, 2009

I like mine. I got a 500 C/M with a couple of lenses pretty cheaply. It's a lot lighter than my Mamiya RB6X7 Pro S. So; I use the Hasselblad to shoot the street (hand held) and the Mamiya on the Tripod.

IloveTLRs · May 13, 2009

I got a 500C/M at a fair a few weeks ago. I had been waiting for a long time to get one (wasn't willing to shell out $2000.) For me, the camera has been very much worth the $1000 I paid for it. The Plannar 80/2.8 lens is fabulous for both B&W and color.

I came from a Bronica S so there were a few things to get used to like focusing with the lens barrel, and how the back and shutter cock independently, etc. Also the Bronica was heavier and louder and I've found old backs to be prone to breaking (in my experience.)

I don't like carrying around heavy equipment but the photos my 500C/M produces are well worth the trouble.

Ranger Bob · May 13, 2009

IloveTLRs said:
I got a 500C/M at a fair a few weeks ago. I had been waiting for a long time to get one (wasn't willing to shell out $2000.) For me, the camera has been very much worth the $1000 I paid for it. The Plannar 80/2.8 lens is fabulous for both B&W and color.

I came from a Bronica S so there were a few things to get used to like focusing with the lens barrel, and how the back and shutter cock independently, etc. Also the Bronica was heavier and louder and I've found old backs to be prone to breaking (in my experience.)

I don't like carrying around heavy equipment but the photos my 500C/M produces are well worth the trouble.

You got a Hasselblad that you have to cock the shutter and back independently?

Sirius Glass · May 13, 2009

Ranger Bob said:
You got a Hasselblad that you have to cock the shutter and back independently?

I think he means that if the back and body get out of synch, you have to get them back in synch.

Steve

Q.G. · May 14, 2009

Sirius Glass said:
I think he means that if the back and body get out of synch, you have to get them back in synch.

Or (appears more likely to me) Bob is confusing Hasselblads with Mamiya RBs?

gerryyaum · May 14, 2009

I have bought 3 blad bodies recently, 501c, 500cm and a 503cx...all are wonderful, most blad lens, backs etc are interchangeable. It is a great system with great optics and cheaper than it has ever been.

GO FOR IT is my opinion.

Gerry
gerryyaum.com
gerryyaum.blogspot.com

Ranger Bob · May 14, 2009

IloveTLRs said:
I got a 500C/M at a fair a few weeks ago...
...I came from a Bronica S so there were a few things to get used to like focusing with the lens barrel, and how the back and shutter cock independently, etc....

I don't think it's me that is confused.

Q.G. · May 14, 2009

Ranger Bob said:
I don't think it's me that is confused.

As one of the people who is, i can affirm that you indeed were not.
Categorically.

Sorry for that, Bob!

dougjgreen · May 14, 2009

Q.G. said:
Or (appears more likely to me) Bob is confusing Hasselblads with Mamiya RBs?

That reminds me of the movie where Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito played identical twins.

blankk · May 15, 2009

My 500C/M is not too much harder to handhold than my DSLR. Not much heavier, either, depending on the lens combinations. I mostly use it handheld and I love it. DSLR gets hardly any use nowadays.

Sirius Glass · May 16, 2009

blankk said:
My 500C/M is not too much harder to handhold than my DSLR. Not much heavier, either, depending on the lens combinations. I mostly use it handheld and I love it. DSLR gets hardly any use nowadays.

I have been told that old DSLRs make great door stops and paperweights. Is that true?

Interested readers want to know!

Steve

k_jupiter · May 16, 2009

I'll chime in here. You always wanted a hassey, go for it. They are cheap! I did the same thing with a Deardorff 8x10. I surely could have bought a cheaper camera that would do the same things as the V-8. But... there is nothing like a Deardorff and there is nothing like a hassey if you want one.

That said, I own a pretty complete rb67 system and have no need to go to a 501 system. The rb is more camera than I am a photographer of.

My love affair with my Nikon FM2 of 20 years is long past. Not much 35mm gets shot any more. As you tame the MF and LF worlds, 135 has diminished returns in satisfaction of results. While i appreciate the works of photogs like H.C.B., my life does not include the time to continue to master that format.

jmho

tim in san jose

sage · May 18, 2009

What about the Flexbody? Or are they at a pricepoint where just going into full large format is more useful?

Thomas Wilson · May 18, 2009

My experience with a Flex-body proved frustrating, to say the least. I rented one from Lens & Repro many years ago.

While the Flex-body is very well built, and mounted to a heavy Gitzo it proved rigid enough to swap the screen & magazine without altering the shot, it has very limited movements.

I ended up purchasing a roll-back for my 4x5 to finish the job.

Paul Goutiere · May 18, 2009

Sirius Glass said:
I have been told that old DSLRs make great door stops and paperweights. Is that true?

Steve

Be careful with this statement. In about 20 or 30 years these cameras will become "classic". Aficionados will discuss at length the extraordinary merits of the sensors and autofocus characteristics. There will be discussion groups on the internet (or whatever) and great arguments will ensue etc.

mikebarger · May 18, 2009

I think Tim hit it on the head, there are probably more of us that are the weak link in making outstanding photographs, not the camera.

Or, maybe that only applies to me and Danny ( aka Vincent)

Mike

Hasselblad worth it?

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