Hipsters and hasselblads

NB23 · Nov 9, 2020

A young 25ish hipster, just a few moments ago in front of a Tattoo shop, to me:

-Is this a hasselblad
-No, it’s a Rolleiflex. You see, it has 2 lenses. A hasselblad has only one.
-Oh. Is it Old school? (With a now worried look on his face)
-Of course it is!
-(this brought a smile to his face, the worries disappeared instantly). Nod of approval.
—-

So there it is.

BradS · Nov 9, 2020

Did you let him look through the finder?

Sirius Glass · Nov 9, 2020

This should be on the "ITAH?" thread [Is That A Hasselblad?]

Dan Daniel · Nov 9, 2020

BradS said:
Did you let him look through the finder?

Did this with a hipster, Rolleiflex with a nice Maxwell screen....

"Whoa!! What an amazing LCD!"

Cholentpot · Nov 9, 2020

ITAH?

'No it's a Speed Graphic. I skipped the Hasselblad stage and went straight to the real deal'

'what?'

'Made in 'merica!'

jerrybro · Nov 9, 2020

Cholentpot said:
ITAH?

'No it's a Speed Graphic. I skipped the Hasselblad stage and went straight to the real deal'

'what?'

'Made in 'merica!'

Graphiblad. Love it.

Tel · Nov 9, 2020

Scout's honor, the whole truth: A couple of years ago I was out on a Sunday morning with my 5x7 Gundlach Korona and a guy in his 40s walks up and asks the same question. I just showed him the name plate (decal) on the front standard rather than try to explain the ways in which a wooden view camera and a Hassy are different.

removed account4 · Nov 9, 2020

Tel said:
Scout's honor, the whole truth: A couple of years ago I was out on a Sunday morning with my 5x7 Gundlach Korona and a guy in his 40s walks up and asks the same question. I just showed him the name plate (decal) on the front standard rather than try to explain the ways in which a wooden view camera and a Hassy are different.

Maybe that guy was thinking about Victor Hasselblad's Universal view cameras ( made by Szilárd Szabad )
https://sites.google.com/site/prittsel/szilardszabad

Cholentpot · Nov 9, 2020

Tel said:
Scout's honor, the whole truth: A couple of years ago I was out on a Sunday morning with my 5x7 Gundlach Korona and a guy in his 40s walks up and asks the same question. I just showed him the name plate (decal) on the front standard rather than try to explain the ways in which a wooden view camera and a Hassy are different.

On the positive side, I never get questioned about what I'm doing when I lug around a press camera.

Lovable lunatic instead of threatening wacko.

NB23 · Nov 9, 2020

So far I’ve never been called a pedophile with my rolleiflex. Just yesterday I was shooting in a park filled with kids. I could point anywhere. I was “creating” and people let me “create”.

With my Leica? Forget it. Would have been into at least 2 fights.

Cholentpot said:
On the positive side, I never get questioned about what I'm doing when I lug around a press camera.

Lovable lunatic instead of threatening wacko.

Mainecoonmaniac · Nov 9, 2020

Hipsters like anything old and retro. Not a bad thing.

Huss · Nov 9, 2020

NB23 said:
A young 25ish hipster, just a few moments ago in front of a Tattoo shop, to me:

-Is this a hasselblad
-No, it’s a Rolleiflex. You see, it has 2 lenses. A hasselblad has only one.
-Oh. Is it Old school? (With a now worried look on his face)
-Of course it is!
-(this brought a smile to his face, the worries disappeared instantly). Nod of approval.
—-

So there it is.

it was nice meeting you.

Tel · Nov 9, 2020

To be fair, for every one who approaches with a "what's THAAAAAT?" I get ten who show genuine interest and ask intelligent questions. And a few who have shot large format or know someone who has. I had a long and pleasant conversation about lens technology and bellows extension last week with a guy who designs software. At the least, my Korona is a great conversation-piece. And a camera!

Cholentpot · Nov 9, 2020

Mainecoonmaniac said:
Hipsters like anything old and retro. Not a bad thing.

I like old and retro stuff, I'm not a hipster though. I recognize the shortcomings of old and retro stuff. It's not 'better' it's different.

blockend · Nov 9, 2020

Round 'ere it's much more likely to be the pierced and inked carrying a film camera, than the chronologically challenged. They'll tell you chapter and verse on your Leica history. Oldies carry hernia inducing DSLRs, for the most part.

NB23 · Nov 9, 2020

Huss said:
it was nice meeting you.

You’re a Black Dude?

Mainecoonmaniac · Nov 9, 2020

Cholentpot said:
I like old and retro stuff, I'm not a hipster though. I recognize the shortcomings of old and retro stuff. It's not 'better' it's different.

I think like old stuff is not just about stuff. It's more about the processes involved with old stuff. New technology creates convenience and creates victims of convenience. How many photographers know how to focus and expose with a camera? Knowing makes you aware. This awareness makes you a better photographer.

GRHazelton · Nov 9, 2020

A few months ago in the High Museum here in Atlanta I was shooting my Nikon S2, lovely box! A guy perhaps in his early 40s asked, "Is that the new mirrorless Nikon?" "No," I replied. "Its a film camera." He said "Oh," and walked away. Sad....

thuggins · Nov 9, 2020

A few months ago while in the park with a Zeiss Ikon, a young man asked if it was a Leica. I explained that Leica did not make medium format cameras.

He was a "professional" with an opto-electrical doohickey, waiting for his client to show up. He did have some sort of stabilized, hand held mount that was admittedly quite cool.

wyofilm · Nov 9, 2020

A couple of years ago I asked the wife of a Japanese couple visiting Moab to a take picture of my family and me using my Bronica RF645. As I was briefly explaining the camera, her face lit and said, "Oh! A traditional camera."

I've had probably only a dozen questions about cameras when shooting film, but always pleasant. Sometimes knowledgeable. An a couple of times envious: they wanted my camera (Mamiya 7 II).

Cholentpot · Nov 9, 2020

wyofilm said:
A couple of years ago I asked the wife of a Japanese couple visiting Moab to a take picture of my family and me using my Bronica RF645. As I was briefly explaining the camera, her face lit and said, "Oh! A traditional camera."

I've had probably only a dozen questions about cameras when shooting film, but always pleasant. Sometimes knowledgeable. An a couple of times envious: they wanted my camera (Mamiya 7 II).

I like that term, Traditional Camera. I'm going to start using it.

wyofilm · Nov 9, 2020

Cholentpot said:
I like that term, Traditional Camera. I'm going to start using it.

Yeah, I liked it, too.

itsdoable · Nov 9, 2020

GRHazelton said:
A few months ago in the High Museum here in Atlanta I was shooting my Nikon S2, lovely box! A guy perhaps in his early 40s asked, "Is that the new mirrorless Nikon?" "No," I replied. "Its a film camera." He said "Oh," and walked away. Sad....

... but the S2 is a mirrorless Nikon!

Huss · Nov 9, 2020

NB23 said:
You’re a Black Dude?

y r u so surprised?

M Carter · Nov 9, 2020

MD folders are great for starting conversations, too.

Hipsters and hasselblads

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