I want A Hasselblad. Talk Me Out Of It!

[Pieter12]

Just what you put the viewfinder in.

You would have to have a rig like the one Lee Friedlander used for his strobe.

 

[flavio81]

The largest strike against the Bronica is that the last systems (SQ) uses electronic shutter. This is great, as they are likely consistent and time-accurate, but the electronic shutter is unrepairable so a problem will yield purchasing a new lens.

This is a myth. I service those cameras and lenses.

The lens has an electric (not electronic) shutter. A shutter that is 99% mechanical except for a solenoid, a couple of simple passive components, wiring, and contacts. The actual electronics are on the body.

Everytime i've found issues in a shutter, the cause has been mechanical, specifically lack of cleaning and lubrication.

The body is electronic, yes, but the electronics are extremely simple and reliable.

Oh I see... I already have a tank. The RB67. Thanks!

Or consider a Rolleiflex! They're beautiful cameras that are very fast to use and shoot.

You already have a RB67, just crop the negs if you want 6x6.

"Talk My Out Of It" ? oh that's easy; just buy a Rolleiflex SL66SE and you never look back.....

Andrew, your Mamiya RB67 camera is already a better, more versatile, and more productive camera than any Hasselblad.

+1

All true.

 

[retina_restoration]

And the fervent fascination with Hasselblad is...what particularly??

People either love it or hate it. Nobody is ever indifferent about one. Andy clearly knows how he feels about a Hasselblad. Let him have this.

 

[Kino]

I don’t know if there is a way to use a lens flag with the SWC. I don’t think it has an accessory shoe. Plus it would probably block the viewfinder.

I remember in the distant past there once was one with a thin plate that went between the tripod and the camera and had a long, flexible shaft for the flag. However, that was cinema related...

 

[Ai Print]

Oooohhh, you have dug a rabbit hole here bud, lol!

I have been using Hasselblad in my work as a photographer since 1988. I also use Nikon, Leica, Sinar, Chamonix and have digital components and bodies in Leica, Nikon and Hasselblad. You are getting a lot of back and forth here and everyone has a medium to strong opinion about Hasselblad, that is to be expected.

What I can say about them is this...

I have made some of the best images of my career with Hasselblad cameras and lenses. I have no problem getting sharp images out of my 501CM bodies hand held. I love using my Flexbodies so much that I question the need for LF at times. Some of the lenses are so good that when put in front of a state of the art 102MP digital sensor, they flat out smoke the top shelf XCD mount lenses that are native to that end of the system.

There is a fluency that is somewhat demanded of you in owning a Hasselblad in terms of care and operation. But once you become very fluent in that, almost nothing else feels as good or second nature to use. The more you use it, the better the camera, lenses and you feel. Everyone is healthy, happy and in sync.

I have owned the Mamiya 6 kit with all three lenses, the battery issues kept me from relying on it and I did not like the lack of framing precision. The battery seemed to die off in terms of what the camera needed well before the battery it self was actually dead. I have owned a Rollieflex 2.8D, I just could not get along with the parallax and it was not all that reliable.

So I own and use an absolute army of Hasselblad gear and get to enjoy both digital and film with it. Whether you just get a good late 500 series body with a clean matching insert A12 III magazine and 80mm CF or go full tilt and build a five figure arsenal, you are buying into a camera system that is legendary for a reason.

P.S. Square is my favorite way to look at the world..it only makes sense because the world it self is round and fits perfectly in a square...;-)

 

[bjorke]

knock yourself out, bro

 

[John Wiegerink]

We now await Andy's first square Hassy print!

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Uh oh...

 

[mshchem]

Heck Yeah. I was playing with my Nons back a couple days ago. Not the one with the weird spacer but the original. Very nice, Instax is so slow it's hard to use like the old peel apart stuff. Still amazing 6×6 Instax

To accommodate the 6x8 back RBs are enormous compared to the 500 series Blad.

My first big time medium format purchase was a new RZ67II, year 2000, still have it, wonderful camera, I use my slimmer Hasselblad more.

 

[eli griggs]

Sorry Andrew - I can't do as you ask...but can provide a few thoughts to the contrary:

The Hasselblad lenses are very precise to focus because of a great viewfinder and smooth and precise helicoid pitch.

Most components (other than the latest lenses, backs, and bodies) are not unreasonably expensive (some more recent CFi lenses are downright affordable), and are likely to hold their value well over time.

The more newer lenses and bodies which are more expensive should hold their value well over time.

...and with you often shooting different films of the same subject, swapping backs like likely a mandatory functional requirement as with your other MF setups (and was a deal killer for my use of a Pentax 645).

Also, worthy of note are the some stellar Hasselblad-unique components that are not available for any other system:

1. 38mm f/4.5 Biogon on any SWC (an amazing wide lens which fits nicely as a relatively compact super wide, and is really nice to use either on tripod with a ground glass focusing screen, or with its finder as a point-and-shoot).
2. 100mm f/3.5 Planar (nothing more need be said)
3. 180mm f/4 Sonnar (same)
4. 250mm f/5.6 SA (ditto)
5. Flexbody - give you tilts and modest shifts with ALL Hasselblad lenses other than an SWC

Oh, and a 45 degree prism, with or without meter, is really nice to shoot with as well.

My 500 CM is as valid a quality camera as when it was when it first hit the original market as new equipment.

Quality made, today it takes large megapixels digital backs (I have yet to afford one) and Instax square backs, I have two, one for color, one for monochrome, which I like better than the original Polaroid back and I expect the Instax to continue to evolve until it betters the original Polaroid film specs.

I had cause to handle or own other medium format camera systems and Hasselblad out paces them all, in design, handling, lens quality and aftermarket kit, etc, over my 67 years and if I were a young man today, I’d buy it all again, just for the pleasure of owning/shooting it all again.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

The Nons back does look intriguing...

 

[Besk]

The Hassy with a 60mm or 80mm lens and HC4 eye level finder makes a nice combo for handheld shooting. I made some wonderful transparencies while Kodachrome was available in 120 size.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Uh oh...

Yup, now you went and done it Andy! After all these tips and mostly encouraging tidbits you have no choice now. You have to save face since you've pretty much committed yourself to square and Hasselblad. Besides, you have to buy something with all the money you've saved cutting back on donuts. Truth is, I can't wait to hear what your verdict is on something like a 500CM or whatever model you choose.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Let's face it, a Hasselblad is a MUST.

But only if you can afford it without making great sacrifices.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Some - but no new parts of course.
Which applies, of course, to Hasselblads.
Bronicas were much more common in certain markets than in others.

When I brought my first Hasselblad [circa 2005] I had been looking for a Rollei but Samy Cameras directed me to Hasselblads because of the availability of parts and service. Unfortunately, even though Hasselblad still has parts for the 200 and 2000 series cameras, they still refuse to sell or service them.

 

[retina_restoration]

I'm betting Andy has already bought a 500 C/M and just isn't telling..... heh.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I'm betting Andy has already bought a 500 C/M and just isn't telling..... heh.

He's a sneaky devil! He's probably setting at the kitchen counter having a cup of coffee and a donut while fondling his new toy.

 

[E1hoodlum]

This is my fav shot ever taken on a hassy. I love that bloody camera you definitely WONT get the crispiest photos of your life or be really happy with the results… stay away…

 

[John Wiegerink]

This is my fav shot ever taken on a hassy. I love that bloody camera you definitely WONT get the crispiest photos of your life or be really happy with the results… stay away…

I bet you're tooooooo late and the damage has already been done.

 

[E1hoodlum]

I bet you're tooooooo late and the damage has already been done.

Yay!! one of the hardest and most loyal cameras I’ve ever worked with. You won’t be disappointed

 

[BrianShaw]

I'm betting Andy has already bought a 500 C/M and just isn't telling..... heh.

Unless he's keeping the discussion going with the hopes that someone offers him a Hasselblad in exchange for a barleycorn, or was it a dollar...

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I saw the kit that I want today. The owner brought it to our darkroom meeting. It is a good thing that Matt was sitting between me and it...

 

[Melvin J Bramley]

I want a 6x6 SLR.

I will be interested in your verdict of the 645 system you just had given ?

 

[mshchem]

I saw the kit that I want today. The owner brought it to our darkroom meeting. It is a good thing that Matt was sitting between me and it...

So Matt bought it? Scoundrel!

 

[mshchem]

But only if you can afford it without making great sacrifices.

Beans and Rice. That's my approach to GAS!