I want A Hasselblad. Talk Me Out Of It!

[BrianShaw]

When's the next photo club meeting? You might need as well get the ball rolling. Of course anticipating the treasure is as sweet as receiving. (Up to a point!)

… and bring a bag of money. Not necessarily the asking price but definitely the fair price you’re willing to offer. Believe me, a bag of money helps close a deal.

 

[braxus]

Andy. Forgive me if I haven't read past pages (its long). But what are you gaining or needing with a Hassy that your RB can't do? Other then the square negative and the superb Zeiss lenses?

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Andy. Forgive me if I haven't read past pages (its long). But what are you gaining or needing with a Hassy that your RB can't do? Other then the square negative and the superb Zeiss lenses?

You just answered your question

 

[chuckroast]

You just answered your question

There is no "why", only "do"

- Zeiss Zu And The Art Of Gear

 

[Maris]

The Mamiya RB67 camera can shoot square negatives. How? Easy!

Take off the revolving R-Adapter. Then attach the
P-Adapter but instead of putting on a Polaroid back attach the
M-Adapter followed by the
Model K roll film holder from the Mamiya Press system.

The Model K roll film holder is multiformat offering 6x9, 6x6, and 6x4.5. There's your square.
A casual glance at the market place suggests the Mamiya adapters and back could be had for maybe $250.
Much cheaper than the sinfully priced Hasselblad gear.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Andy, don't listen to anybody here, just go with your gut feeling. Listen to what your gut tells you and you'll be fine. Any gut that loves Tim's coffee and donuts is a gut to listen to. Really, I think you'll enjoy your "new to you" 500CM. Much easier to lug around and easy to like. Yes, there are few negative points with the Hasselblad, but very few. Enjoy while you can, life's to short.

 

[Arthurwg]

The Mamiya RB67 camera can shoot square negatives. How? Easy!

Take off the revolving R-Adapter. Then attach the
P-Adapter but instead of putting on a Polaroid back attach the
M-Adapter followed by the
Model K roll film holder from the Mamiya Press system.

The Model K roll film holder is multiformat offering 6x9, 6x6, and 6x4.5. There's your square.
A casual glance at the market place suggests the Mamiya adapters and back could be had for maybe $250.
Much cheaper than the sinfully priced Hasselblad gear.

Wow Maris, thanks for that.

But as both a Hasselblad and RB67 user I must say I much prefer using the Hasselblad. I'm very comfortable using the Hassie hand-held with a 60mm lens, and I find the weight, ergonomics and accessories much superior. For one example, the newer Hasselblad quick release tripod coupling is a thing of joy, offering complete security when I carry the rig over my shoulder in the field. I also find the Zeiss glass to have better tonal separation than the more contrasty Mamiya glass.

 

[raucousimages]

Just do it. Hasselblads just work with fewer compromises than other brands. And there are so many great lenses available. In inflation adjusted dollars, today’s prices are pretty good.

 

[Craig]

Hasselblads just work with fewer compromises than other brands.

That is rather personal to preferences, workflow and subject matter, among others. For my tastes a Fuji GW690 has far fewer compromises than a Hasselblad. Mind you, a Hasselblad does make a better door stop.

 

[mshchem]

I figure the seller is flying a float plane in from some remote archipelago near Vancouver for photoclub meetings. Constantly getting buzzed by Navy F-18s off the Nimitz makes things more exciting.

Must be patient, Andy needs his Blad intact not full of shrapnel from an errant Sidewinder missile.
Whoops

 

[John Wiegerink]

Shhh! Andy is busy counting his accumulated pocket change he had stashed in his dresser sock drawer.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

@mshchem Well, the kit does come in a big aluminum case...with handcuffs.
@John Wiegerink my garage is full of pop bottles. I've got to rent a U-Haul to take them to the recycle shop. Should be worth a pretty penny!

 

[John Wiegerink]

@mshchem Well, the kit does come in a big aluminum case...with handcuffs.
@John Wiegerink my garage is full of pop bottles. I've got to rent a U-Haul to take them to the recycle shop. Should be worth a pretty penny!

Good plan Andy! When all our kids and grandkids come up to our cottage they bring a semi truck load of beer, wine coolers and pop. When they leave Gramps gets the empty cans. The revenue those cans generate goes for film and paper to feed an addiction. Waste not, want not!

 

[chuckroast]

That is rather personal to preferences, workflow and subject matter, among others. For my tastes a Fuji GW690 has far fewer compromises than a Hasselblad. Mind you, a Hasselblad does make a better door stop.

I've owned both simultaneously. The GW has a great piece of glass on it and I love 6x9 as a format. But I so hated the clunky mechanical design of that body and the wonky film advance, I sold the camera.

So while the GW is an outstanding optical performer, it's not even on the same planet of build precision as a 'Blad.

In a perfect world, 'Blad would have made a 6x9 camera.

 

[chuckroast]

Just do it. Hasselblads just work with fewer compromises than other brands. And there are so many great lenses available. In inflation adjusted dollars, today’s prices are pretty good.

And I thought I had it bad

Any favs amongst that lot?

 

[chuckroast]

Wow Maris, thanks for that.

But as both a Hasselblad and RB67 user I must say I much prefer using the Hasselblad. I'm very comfortable using the Hassie hand-held with a 60mm lens, and I find the weight, ergonomics and accessories much superior. For one example, the newer Hasselblad quick release tripod coupling is a thing of joy, offering complete security when I carry the rig over my shoulder in the field. I also find the Zeiss glass to have better tonal separation than the more contrasty Mamiya glass.

+1

A 500C/M with that 60mm f/3.5 Distagon and an A12 back is - to my hands at least - more comfortable to use than even a Fuji GW690. That lens is, far and away, my most used Hassy lens. As just one recent example:

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/theres-no-business-like-snow-business.217189/post-2953078

I also finally gave up on Hasselblad's own very strong but very uncomfortable neck straps, and got a couple of clips to use with my neoprene Optek wide strap. What a difference. I can carry the camera happily for a very long time that way.

 

[mshchem]

@mshchem Well, the kit does come in a big aluminum case...with handcuffs.
@John Wiegerink my garage is full of pop bottles. I've got to rent a U-Haul to take them to the recycle shop. Should be worth a pretty penny!

10 cents per bottle or can! You're rich!

 

[John Wiegerink]

10 cents per bottle or can! You're rich!

I don't know what the deposit is in Canada, but it adds up fast here at 10 cents a can. Many folks in Michigan didn't like it when they brought back the 10 cent deposit per can, but it helped cleanup our roadsides real fast. My father had a refuse business and never had to take money out of his pocket to buy his refreshment after a hard day of pitching garbage. He loved it when people balked at returning cans. What upsets me is my own kids are too dang lazy to take them back and just throw them away. They weren't raised that way that's for sure. Oh well, it helps support my photography habit at least.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

10 cents here. 2 cents when I was a kid collecting them from the roadside. Had to wash them before taking them to the confectionery, otherwise the old guy there wouldn't take them. Then we'd spend our earnings on penny candy! If I had enough, I'd get me some Popeye Candy ciggies or a KooKoo bar! Now I want a camera!

 

[etn]

And Andy, did you buy the Hassy?

(sorry I have not read the last 27 pages...)

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

And Andy, did you buy the Hassy?

(sorry I have not read the last 27 pages...)

Not yet but... we're close! A few more pop bottle runs and I'm there!

 

[etn]

Great! and enjoy. You won't regret it buying it, as has probably been written 100's of times in the last 27 pages
And if you don't like it (which I doubt), prices are not going down like electronic appliances (read: digital cameras)

Which lenses does the kit come with?

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Great! and enjoy. You won't regret it buying it, as has probably been written 100's of times in the last 27 pages
And if you don't like it (which I doubt), prices are not going down like electronic appliances (read: digital cameras)

Which lenses does the kit come with?

The point of this thread was for people to talk me out of it...
I already have a D850...which a barely use, so don't need anymore digital. I'll save that for film...especially LF film.

 

[mshchem]

The point of this thread was for people to talk me out of it...
I already have a D850...which a barely use, so don't need anymore digital. I'll save that for film...especially LF film.

I have a D850 I barely use! Maybe if I sold all the stuff I don't use I could afford to buy something else I wouldn't use

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I have a D850 I barely use! Maybe if I sold all the stuff I don't use I could afford to buy something else I wouldn't use

I have thought about letting the D850 go. The reason I got it (back in late 2019) was for tri-colour gum... but a couple of years ago, I started shooting colour film, and developing it myself. Sadly, the D850 has been relegated for snaps... I've got piles of other cameras I really should try and sell...