I confess, I sold my Hasselblad today...

[blockend]

Any time. I'm always happy to add a positive spin on a paragraph of stereotypes and sarcasm. Have a lovely day.

Which stereotypes did I deal in? Hasselblad's being delicate? I don't consider that stereotypical, just born of experience and not only mine. Any photographer on the circuit would have confirmed the same with a few expletives, they were chosen for their lenses, not their ruggedness. So far as sarcasm goes, I think you were first with that. If you've been lucky with yours as a street or war camera, the best of luck to you.

 

[film_man]

Which stereotypes did I deal in? Hasselblad's being delicate? I don't consider that stereotypical, just born of experience and not only mine. Any photographer on the circuit would have confirmed the same with a few expletives, they were chosen for their lenses, not their ruggedness. So far as sarcasm goes, I think you were first with that. If you've been lucky with yours as a street or war camera, the best of luck to you.

Something about models, pouting and assistants. Anyway...carry on.

 

[blockend]

Something about models, pouting and assistants. Anyway...carry on.

That was the Hasselblad milieu, back in the day.

 

[flavio81]

The Rolleiflex SL 66 is a more versatile and capable machine than your Hasselblad

So true. The best 6x6 SLR ever.

And the Mamiya RB67 a totally valid alternative to the Hassy, and less expensive.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Well, at the ripe old age of 74, I've decided that fitness programs are for the very young, and my Hass etc constitutes cruel & dangerous punishment !

I recommend reducing your age. You will live longer and enjoy life more.

 

[Sirius Glass]

There are too many straw men to even begin putting a match to there. Come back when you want to engage me on the details of what I said.

Hasselblads are the kind of camera you take from a foam lined case, mount on a tripod, and check the horizontals. At best the sort of camera you hold in the palm of your hand and ask the model to pout while your assistant changes backs. I never got the impression they would endure the dangly end of a shoulder strap for too long.

1.

Hasselblads are the kind of camera you take from a foam lined case.

I carry my Hasselblad in a pack just like many other people. I also carry Voigtlanders, Nikons, Graphics and Graflexes in a pack but not all at the same time.

2.

Hasselblads are the kind of camera you ... mount on a tripod

I use it hand held, just as I use Voightlanders, Nikons, Graphics and Graflexes hand held except for available light night photography.

3.

Hasselblads are the kind of camera you ... check the horizontals.

I do that for EVERY camera. I do my cropping BEFORE I take the photograph. That is considered a good practice. Maybe you like crooked photographs; I do not.

4.

At best the sort of camera you hold in the palm of your hand and ask the model to pout

I have never taken photographs of models. Why model pout is beyond me. I never understood it and never could understand why one would want a photograph of a pouting model.

5.

... while your assistant changes backs.

I never had an assistant and would not know what to do with one. I change the backs myself. I can even load film by myself.

6.

I never got the impression they would endure the dangly end of a shoulder strap for too long.

It is a neck strap not a shoulder strap, and I have not had a problem with Hasselblads on a neck strap. I have never had a problem with Voightlanders, Nikons, Mamiyas, Contaxs, Canons, Rolleis, Kodak, Fuji, Minolta, Ansco or Argus cameras on neck straps. I do not use a neck strap or should strap for Graphics and Graflexes.

 

[blockend]

1.

I carry my Hasselblad in a pack just like many other people. I also carry Voigtlanders, Nikons, Graphics and Graflexes in a pack but not all at the same time.

2.

I use it hand held, just as I use Voightlanders, Nikons, Graphics and Graflexes hand held except for available light night photography.

3.

I do that for EVERY camera. I do my cropping BEFORE I take the photograph. That is considered a good practice. Maybe you like crooked photographs; I do not.

4.

I have never taken photographs of models. Why model pout is beyond me. I never understood it and never could understand why one would want a photograph of a pouting model.

5.

I never had an assistant and would not know what to do with one. I change the backs myself. I can even load film by myself.

6.

It is a neck strap not a shoulder strap, and I have not had a problem with Hasselblads on a neck strap. I have never had a problem with Voightlanders, Nikons, Mamiyas, Contaxs, Canons, Rolleis, Kodak, Fuji, Minolta, Ansco or Argus cameras on neck straps. I do not use a neck strap or should strap for Graphics and Graflexes.

Your straw men were here:
"It is one thing to be wrong about something or have a differing opinion. It is another thing to attack a product, film or camera blasting it on multiple points that have no basis on fact to discredit it based on what they ate for breakfast or whether or not they had a fight with their spouse.

If Hasselblad were as bad as it was stated, it would not have sold so well for over fifty years. Even cameras that have a reputation for being troublesome have their good points and people do get some units that have perform well for years. The attack on Hasselblad was out of line and others have said so in this thread".

I suggested they were among the more delicate MF cameras based on 1) The college store manager who leased them on a regular basis, 2) the photographer I assisted, 3) my own use, 4) the opinions of other photographers over the years. Hasselblads clearly had their good points or people wouldn't have continued to use them. Did they ever break? Of course. Were they expensive to repair? Damn right. Did people put up with their thoroughbred tendencies for their optical qualities? Absolutely. Now unless you want to call me a liar or a madman I suggest we put the subject to sleep and think of puppies. It's just a camera.

 

[removed account4]

I can't recall how many rolls of film I put through Hasselblads over the years, first as an assistant and then as a photographer, but it was very, very many. I also remember how often they had to go in for servicing and how frail and expensive some of the parts were. I also remember the lenses were sharp. Whether they were sharper than the Mamiyas and Bronicas I also used over the years, I couldn't say.

i assisted for someone who lived off his hassy back in the 1980s and
the experience seemed very much like yours. nice camera, sure
but the film backs cost $800 each .. and he had to have more than 4
because 2 were often the shop being calibrated ... before
the great film camera glut that began in the 2000s, they were
expensive even used, and extra backs didn't cost only a few hundred dollars used .. ( like in the times of the glut )

i worked for someone else who used bronicas and his chromes seemed about the same sharpness ...

the hassyguy did photograph pouty models too ...

OP

if you decide one day you need another hasselblad,
i am sure you can get another ... its not like they are exceptionally rare or hard to find used

 

[blockend]

The moderators stole my sarcasm. I demand a refund. That stuff doesn't write itself you know!

 

[Frankly Unsharp]

i assisted for someone who lived off his hassy back in the 1980s and
the experience seemed very much like yours. nice camera, sure
but the film backs cost $800 each .. and he had to have more than 4
because 2 were often the shop being calibrated ... before
the great film camera glut that began in the 2000s, they were
expensive even used, and extra backs didn't cost only a few hundred dollars used .. ( like in the times of the glut )

i worked for someone else who used bronicas and his chromes seemed about the same sharpness ...

the hassyguy did photograph pouty models too ...

OP

if you decide one day you need another hasselblad,
i am sure you can get another ... its not like they are exceptionally rare or hard to find used

Hello! And yes, I think it will be easy to buy another one, but right now I'm happy with my Hasselblad-situation (having no Hasselblad at all). The problem with this camera is not the camera itself, but the money it would take to build a big enough system. A couple of lenses, and bankruptcy would be my middle name!

 

[Roger Cole]

And that's the heart of why they aren't more popular even with film camera prices still down. The bodies and backs now (or a couple years ago, haven't looked in a while) aren't THAT bad, nor are the 80mm lenses. But any other lenses are still outrageous compared to the competition. A full system is still very spendy.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

The moderators stole my sarcasm. I demand a refund. That stuff doesn't write itself you know!

Haha!

 

[BrianShaw]

I know a rather prominent Hasselblad photographer who pouts when he shoots models so he will look as alluring as do they.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I do not find pouting alluring. Nor do I find the glazed look of boredom interesting. If the model is that bored modeling, the model should find a more suited occupation. Looking bored or pouting cannot be improved by any camera regardless of price.

 

[Jager]

Well, I for one am royally pissed at myself for missing out on the Exc++ Hasselblad kit I want (later model 503CW w/Acute D screen, 80 Planar, A12 back). Box, manual, and strap. Looked nearly new. $2100 and change. Fiddle-farted around for most of the day reading and watching videos about 'blads. Spent an hour making a couple of really nice prints (captured with a Leica, but still serve to give that "oh wow" burst of inspiration and excitement that leads to the notion that dropping another two grand on photography stuff is a good idea). Went over to Amazon and ordered the 5th edition of Wildi's manual. By the time I had finally summoned the courage and moseyed back over to the auction site, it was gone. F*ck.

Maybe those deals are common, but I haven't seen anything quite that good.

At least now I know. Keen eye fixed upon that rabbit hole. Sometimes addiction is a good thing...

 

[Sirius Glass]

Well, I for one am royally pissed at myself for missing out on the Exc++ Hasselblad kit I want (later model 503CW w/Acute D screen, 80 Planar, A12 back). Box, manual, and strap. Looked nearly new. $2100 and change. Fiddle-farted around for most of the day reading and watching videos about 'blads. Spent an hour making a couple of really nice prints (captured with a Leica, but still serve to give that "oh wow" burst of inspiration and excitement that leads to the notion that dropping another two grand on photography stuff is a good idea). Went over to Amazon and ordered the 5th edition of Wildi's manual. By the time I had finally summoned the courage and moseyed back over to the auction site, it was gone. F*ck.

Maybe those deals are common, but I haven't seen anything quite that good.

At least now I know. Keen eye fixed upon that rabbit hole. Sometimes addiction is a good thing...

My experience and the experience of others at APUG is that after something like this has happened, one will quickly come across a better opportunity. So fret not and it will happen for you too.

 

[yorbard]

Sold it? Very sensible. However, people keep clamouring to get me to join various closed groups ( a sop to my vast ego?) and I just might need mine in the near future, and anyway, I heard that Hass film kit is not selling for much, these days, perhaps it will eventually attain antique collectors value , should I live long enough to reap the reward....,


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[philipus]

You did good. $2100 is a lot of money. Something better will come along.

I'm certainly no expert but I agree that seems a tad high.

 

[Neil Poulsen]

The Rolleiflex SL 66 is a more versatile and capable machine than your Hasselblad should you ever consider returning to the square format and desire superb macro and tilt capabilities with only the basic camera. And it shares the exquisite Zeiss glass with the Hassy. Of course it lacks the smaller size and elegant simplicity of the TLRs, but can be had with several backs and lenses for less money than a recent vintage Rollei TLR, and will shoot rings around the TLR when it comes to versatility and quality, hand held or on a tripod. But unfortunately when well tricked out a bear to lug around.

Just a heads up about an SL66. Like the S2a I sold, it has a focal plane shutter with a flash synch of about 1/40th second. So, it takes that length of time for the slit to traverse the film. For me, this makes it strictly a tripod camera for subjects that don't move.

 

[frank]

Just a heads up about an SL66. Like the S2a I sold, it has a focal plane shutter with a flash synch of about 1/40th second. So, it takes that length of time for the slit to traverse the film. For me, this makes it strictly a tripod camera for subjects that don't move.

Here's an iPhone pic of a recent print of a portrait done with an S2a and handheld.

 

[flavio81]

Just a heads up about an SL66. Like the S2a I sold, it has a focal plane shutter with a flash synch of about 1/40th second. So, it takes that length of time for the slit to traverse the film. For me, this makes it strictly a tripod camera for subjects that don't move.

Good observation, but note that there are lenses available for the SL66 which sport a leaf shutter.

As for being a "tripod camera", the original 500C series has such a strong and brute mirror slap (compared to the RB67 and SL66), that it's often repeated that you shouldn't go below 1/125 speed on those cameras. On the RB67 i can use 1/30 handheld without problems, and i have many handheld shots at 1/15 speed that are just fine. So i would say that the 500C is the real "tripod" camera.

Just as an observation, one of my friends is now selling his (perfectly fine, beautiful) Hasselblad. He obtained a latest-model Mamiya C220 and a Mamiya 7, and has no love left for the Hassy anymore. But he is still looking for a SL66.