Help! What did I do to my "new" 503cxi?

[Ed Sukach]

If it's not Zeiss (for all formats) or Leica (35mm specific), then it's just not worth it. Personally, I refuse to shoot with any other glass. And you can't tell me there's no difference.

Schneider made Hasselblad lenses - Tele-Arton (?) in at least one instance.
Rodenstock, Cooke, .... a bunch of other non-Blad lenses are pretty damned good as well. There are some wonderful images made with Holgas ... I don't know who makes their lenses...

"CAN'T tell you ..." ?? Pretty obvious. Why should I try?

 

[copake_ham]

For Hasselblad lens unjamming info, go here:

Dead Link Removed

That's a great camera you've got there; get a manual and enjoy the fun of knowing that every screwed up photo is totally your fault and not the equipment's!
Bob

Yes, I figure I've reduced the situation to where "operator error" will be the ONLY explanation for bad pics!

 

[Terence]

Cameras don't take pictures, people do, the camera is just a light tight box that allows the film to be maintained in a light tight storage area until such time as a person decides it is time to push the shutter button and allow a specific amount of light in to make the exposure.

Dave

True. But the police won't arrest you fondling your PHOTOGRAPHIC equipment in public places.

 

[Dave Parker]

True. But the police won't arrest you fondling your PHOTOGRAPHIC equipment in public places.

Terence,

I have not idea of what you are talking about....

Dave

 

[Terence]

Terence,

I have not idea of what you are talking about....

Dave

My excuse/justification for why I covet cameras when I already have too many.

 

[Bromo33333]

Very interesting Dave, but I do take exception with your quote of "concentrate on the photo not the glass".

If it's not Zeiss (for all formats) or Leica (35mm specific), then it's just not worth it. Personally, I refuse to shoot with any other glass. And you can't tell me there's no difference.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/B][/FONT]

Interesting philosophy - and I think you are right to some degree. My wife and I share cameras and she is a much better photographer than I am - and we use the same tools. Even using a cheap disposable camera she produces amazing stuff to my mediocre (most of the time) results.

However ... in her hands an Hasselblad becomes an amazing instrument, and she insists upon Zeiss as her preferred glass, too (even over Leica!). But a good camera won't "make" a artist anymore than a $10,000 guitar will make a great musician - just I feel that good tool enable better art than bad ones.

 

[Bromo33333]

What? Nikon, Canon, Minolta, Fuji, etc glass, isn`t good enough?

Ridiculous statement!

Once you go Zeiss ... nothing else is nice !
[I can and do use the other glass, but Zeiss really knows their stuff and doesn't make junk. I can't say that about Nikon, Canon, Minolta, Fuji - they all can and do make great glass, but some of it is built to lower quality I think]

Plus Copake_ham has just bought a Hassy - are you going to try to tell him that his Zeiss lens is the same as a Minolta?

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Zeiss - rhymes with overpriced.

But seriously, I have a 501 CM Hassy system with Zeiss Glass and I also have 3 Fuji
MF Rangefinders. I like the results I get with my Fuji MF glass better than the results I get with my Zeiss MF glass.

Ditto for my Schneider MF glass.

 

[Bromo33333]

Zeiss - rhymes with overpriced.

But seriously, I have a 501 CM Hassy system with Zeiss Glass and I also have 3 Fuji
MF Rangefinders. I like the results I get with my Fuji MF glass better than the results I get with my Zeiss MF glass.

Ditto for my Schneider MF glass.

I would agree that Zeiss is expensive - but Schneider isn't too far behind, though my experience with pricing and Schneider has been with LF where Schneider and Rodenstock are both somewhat pricey...

 

[Dave Parker]

Plus Copake_ham has just bought a Hassy - are you going to try to tell him that his Zeiss lens is the same as a Minolta?

Simply Amazing,

Of course, I don't know why, but at one time, Leica and Minolta were working together both on glass as well as camera bodies...

Now if your going to tell me that my pictures suffer after the 25 years I have been making a living with my Minoltas, I can guarantee you what I am going to tell you!!!!!! There is a big difference between being a snob for yourself and using your equipment to make a living!

So, going into the Mine is better than your is pure an unadultraited bullSh*T

As a working photographer, the biggest thing I worry about, is what I can sell, that puts food on the table..

Dave

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

I would agree that Zeiss is expensive - but Schneider isn't too far behind, though my experience with pricing and Schneider has been with LF where Schneider and Rodenstock are both somewhat pricey...

All the Good LF & MF lenses are expensive. But compare the current new equipment prices of the 47mm Schneider Super Angulon XL and the price of a 55mm Apo Grandagon (and both of these lenses will cover the 6cm X 9cm format with coverage to spare). Compare these Schneider and Rodenstock lens prices against the current new equipment prices of the 50mm and 40mm Zeiss Distagons for the Hassy.

 

[copake_ham]

Aw cripes!

I ask a simple question about my "new" camera and some guy starts turning it into one of those "German glass is the only REAL glass" threads like I used to see on RFF!

Unbelievable that this site would fall into this crap trap!

Both Daves and anyone else with any sanity I am about end this cacca.

Since I started the damned thread, and since I got my answer, and since I don't want this to turn into one of these friggin' "glass" wars, if Ican do so - I'm killing it in 10 minutes!

 

[ineffablething]

You can make some pretty nice pictures with Pentax 67 glass.

 

[copake_ham]

Well, if there is a way for a thread starter to "kill" a thread - I cannot figure out how to do so.

So this is likely to turn into one of those ugly German v. Japanese "glass wars".

I've seen them on RFF and they are ugly.

FWIW:

I am a Nikonian in 35mm format (both RF and SLR - and even DSLR) and think they make some of the best "glass" in the world!

I am now a Hassey in MF format (SLR only) and think that the Zeiss lenses they use is some of the best "glass" in the world!




EDIT: P.S. ineffablething - that is a spectacular picture!

 

[Dave Parker]

Geroge,

There is no reason to kill the thread, there is a lot of good information in this thread, but some people, just need to pay attention to what the heck is comming out of their mouth, these guys that start this crap about mine is better than yours are not photographers, they are gear heads...gear heads don't take pictures they worry about what the front of the lens says! and that is absolutly stupid!

That is like saying a Pinto won't get you where your going as well as a Ferrari, just ain't true....the Ferrari will get you there faster, but the Pinto will give you a chance to enjoy the sights!

And I agree, ineffablething, that is a real nice shot!

Dave

 

[copake_ham]

Geroge,

There is no reason to kill the thread, there is a lot of good information in this thread, but some people, just need to pay attention to what the heck is comming out of their mouth, these guys that start this crap about mine is better than yours are not photographers, they are gear heads...gear heads don't take pictures they worry about what the front of the lens says! and that is absolutly stupid!

That is like saying a Pinto won't get you where your going as well as a Ferrari, just ain't true....the Ferrari will get you there faster, but the Pinto will give you a chance to enjoy the sights!

And I agree, ineffablething, that is a real nice shot!

Dave

Yeah, Dave,

I hear you on this. It's just that I saw how nasty these "glass" arguments can get. Heck, I was stupid enough on that website to actually participate!

Now, what's really interesting to me about ineffableting's shot is that, given the angle of the Sun (e.g. the shadows of the sign's framework against the facade), the flags are actually backlit to the shooter!

Yet the highlights and tonality etc. are wonderfulyl balanced.

 

[Bromo33333]

Simply Amazing,

Of course, I don't know why, but at one time, Leica and Minolta were working together both on glass as well as camera bodies...

Now if your going to tell me that my pictures suffer after the 25 years I have been making a living with my Minoltas, I can guarantee you what I am going to tell you!!!!!! There is a big difference between being a snob for yourself and using your equipment to make a living!

So, going into the Mine is better than your is pure an unadultraited bullSh*T

As a working photographer, the biggest thing I worry about, is what I can sell, that puts food on the table..

Dave

Peace - I didn't mean to offend - I was trying to make a little humor that apparently fell flat on its face. (Given the large price differential between the two - saying to someone that they oughta have bought some other, cheaper glass is likely to be a bit rude and I was _trying_ to make light of it)

I will admit that I am not a profesisonal photographer - though I enjoy it as a hobby. I also like nice equipment. This does not make me a snob, as I like well engineered things regardless of brand. I am well aware that you can get great results from simple equipment (I started on an instamatic!) as well as some equipment meant for more mass market (I own a Nikon FM2 - and a couple of older AIS lenses - and this is my primary kit!).

Everyone (even me) knows that a well designed lens is a well designed lens - and is only a tool to get a good photograph. But I was also saying that Zeiss is a great company that generally wouldn't put out something to hit a price target - but hit a quality target. As companies trying to hit a more general market (such as Nikon, Canaon, Minolta and so on) they have lenses of a variety of quality.

In my business Nikon makes some terrifyingly good lenses (though the application is industrial) - as does about every other manufacturer.

I apologize unreservedly if I caused offense, and meant no harm by my comments.

 

[Bromo33333]

You can make some pretty nice pictures with Pentax 67 glass.

What a great picture!

 

[Mark Feldstein]

George, you mentioned: "Since I started the damned thread, and since I got my answer,. . ." So, who finally answered your question, btw??

 

[jd callow]

Dave Wooten. First post.

 

[André E.C.]

Zeiss is a great company that generally wouldn't put out something to hit a price target - but hit a quality target.

Wrong again, what about those Zeiss CB series?
Quality?

Cheers

André