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I want A Hasselblad. Talk Me Out Of It!

Arthurwg

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Using the normal 645 back on its side in vertical orientation requires a 90-degree prism finder.
 

campy51

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Buy the 500c/m for $1800-$2300 and buy a Bronica SQ-A for $500 and see which one is easier to use hand held and compare pictures.
 

Pieter12

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Buy the 500c/m for $1800-$2300 and buy a Bronica SQ-A for $500 and see which one is easier to use hand held and compare pictures.
Sure, if the funds and comparable cameras are available. But that says nothing about the reliability or serviceability of the cameras. One camera my feel better in your hands, but if it breaks down it's not making pictures.

There may be service available for the Bronica, but what is the turn-around time? How many techs within a reasonable distance? These are mechanical cameras that require regular service and that must be factored in. There seem to be a greater number of technicians working on Hasselblads from my observations.
 

MattKing

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FWIW, I never had problems with choosing either a portrait or landscape orientation while composing using my Mamiya C330 with a grid screen.
It is similar when using 35mm - you need to be able to visualize the 4:5 aspect ratio while shooting, if your expected output is an 8x10 print.
It is a skill one acquires through experience.
 

skahde

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Get a second body for the Bronica and you are still at a fraction of the money for a Hasselblad and instantly back in business if one body fails and working replacements cost about equal the money you would pay for the repair of a blad. The price-difference between them is just that big while the difference in quality is not. For my GS I bought another body just because it was cheap and in my vicinity.
 

Pieter12

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You might just end up with two non-functioning Bronica bodies and nowhere to repair them anytime soon. I've been there with the Rolleiflex Hy6 and 6008. Except there are probably more Bronicas out there.
 

BrianShaw

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Good grief, I wish Andy would just buy a camera to put a close to this dilemma!
 

mshchem

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I had enough Bronica stuff when I sold it all I was able to afford two Hasselblads. SQAi and the ETRSi systems served me very well. But the Blads are pretty freaking cool.
 

MattKing

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skahde

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You might just end up with two non-functioning Bronica bodies and nowhere to repair them anytime soon. I've been there with the Rolleiflex Hy6 and 6008. Except there are probably more Bronicas out there.

At one point or another I will definitely pull the plug on the system provided nobody has pulled the plug on me already. Given the number of Bronicas offered as "for parts" I can keep my calm and just expose film as long as things last. The don't seem to die in numbers yet. The Rolleiflexes from the 6000-series including the Hy6 are still serviced by Paepke in Düsseldorf btw. Expensive from reputation and propably the last option?
 

mshchem

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I never had any trouble with my Bronicas. They were all the final versions of the SQ and the ETR series. More technically advanced than the 500 aka V series Hasselblad, outstanding lenses AE spot/averaging metering the motor for the SQAi works great. The thumb speed winder for the ETR series is fun.
 

John Wiegerink

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Maybe you could find some dumb kid, whose parents are filthy rich, to tutor? Better yet, find one who's parents have a complete Hasselblad system that they don't use anymore since they went digital. There's always male prostitution?.............any rich old ladies in your area? You'll get there Andy and remember, patience is a virtue.
 

Pieter12

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Paepke doesn’t have parts and only one relatively unreliable technician to work on the Hy6. The turnaround time is atrocious when they can make a repair.
 

campy51

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Who says the Hasselblads are reliable? Everytime they are mentioned as a purchase one of the first things mentioned is you should send it out for a cla. A cla on the body, back and lens is not going to be cheap, and if they are as reliable as people say, they shouldn't need one as long as it's functioning they way it should. How many stories have you heard, that someone sent in for a cla only to come back with a new problem? There is a lot of truth to leave well enough alone. It certainly applied to the my 50 plus years of servicing copiers. The more a camera is taken apart the chances increase of doing damage.