I want A Hasselblad. Talk Me Out Of It!

[etn]

The point of this thread was for people to talk me out of it...

Honestly, you really expected that from us? When did it ever work
(joking, no personal offense meant of course)

 

[Craig]

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.

The (ridiculous, in my opinion) assertion was that "Hasselblads have fewer compromises than other brands" - that's design choices, and I find the statement unsustainable. Whether a camera has fewer compromises or not depends on who is using it and for what purposes.

What is a poor design choice to one person is a positive advantage to another. You mentioned "wonky" Fuji film advance that I think is smooth and I've never had any reason to give it a second thought. I find loading a Hasselblad tedious though, I never want to go through that ordeal again. It's Horses for Courses, no camera is the universal answer to all users and all situations.

 

[mshchem]

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...

I have 2 D6 bodies as well. I use to photograph my cats with the 1st generation Nikon 400 AF-I 2.8(heaviest autofocus lens ever by Nikon ), w/ 0.7x yields a 550 f4. Perfect for interior Cat pictures. DSLRs are dinosaurs. Beautiful to see through but too noisy and eye tracking is not 1st class.
I won't buy mirrorless, ugly things. None of the Nikon stuff is made in the home country (Japan ). Mirrorless viewfinders are ugly, people tolerate them because a press photographer can photograph a player, and the camera will then stay locked on to the guy during play. Takes the fun out of it.

 

[chuckroast]

The (ridiculous, in my opinion) assertion was that "Hasselblads have fewer compromises than other brands" - that's design choices, and I find the statement unsustainable. Whether a camera has fewer compromises or not depends on who is using it and for what purposes.

What is a poor design choice to one person is a positive advantage to another. You mentioned "wonky" Fuji film advance that I think is smooth and I've never had any reason to give it a second thought. I find loading a Hasselblad tedious though, I never want to go through that ordeal again. It's Horses for Courses, no camera is the universal answer to all users and all situations.

As you say, any engineered product will be made from a set of design choices and tradeoffs, Hasselblad included. But their level of build quality and precision outstrips anything else in the category, except perhaps, for the Rollei SLs. Even the RB feels inelegant by comparison, at least to my paws.

I sooo wish the GW had been the camera I was looking for. On paper it was perfect for what I wanted to do. But after having it professionally checked and watching notable problems with interframe spacing, I just couldn't bring myself to live with that double stroke advance and the lack of a T setting.

Mine was purchased essentially unused and I sold it for about what I had in it. I might give it another go if I find a well used one cheap to see if the issue was just my particular body or how I was using it. It certainly made superb pix.

 

[mshchem]

As you say, any engineered product will be made from a set of design choices and tradeoffs, Hasselblad included. But their level of build quality and precision outstrips anything else in the category, except perhaps, for the Rollei SLs. Even the RB feels inelegant by comparison, at least to my paws.

I sooo wish the GW had been the camera I was looking for. On paper it was perfect for what I wanted to do. But after having it professionally checked and watching notable problems with interframe spacing, I just couldn't bring myself to live with that double stroke advance and the lack of a T setting.

Mine was purchased essentially unused and I sold it for about what I had in it. I might give it another go if I find a well used one cheap to see if the issue was just my particular body or how I was using it. It certainly made superb pix.

I've had an RZ-67 II for 25 years, never an issue used for hundreds of rolls, wonderful product.

I have migrated back to Hasselblad because I love these cameras. Totally it's own character.

Still I'm hanging on to my RZ.

 

[chuckroast]

I've had an RZ-67 II for 25 years, never an issue used for hundreds of rolls, wonderful product.

I have migrated back to Hasselblad because I love these cameras. Totally it's own character.

Still I'm hanging on to my RZ.

Oh, I probably wasn't clear. I think the RB/RZ stuff is very well made. I just think the 'Blad is in a league of its own with precision engineering (well, and the Rolleis too).

 

[mshchem]

Oh, I probably wasn't clear. I think the RB/RZ stuff is very well made. I just think the 'Blad is in a league of its own with precision engineering (well, and the Rolleis too).

Mamiya made there own lenses that are superb Hasselblad relied on others. Don't get me wrong a 500 is perfect in my hand

 

[Craig]

I sooo wish the GW had been the camera I was looking for. On paper it was perfect for what I wanted to do. But after having it professionally checked and watching notable problems with interframe spacing, I just couldn't bring myself to live with that double stroke advance and the lack of a T setting.

My Fuji has a T setting. I have the GW690III. I've run a lot of film through it over the last 15 years and it's been flawless. I had a Blad for a year and it was a shop queen, never was anything close to reliable. I got tired of constantly fixing it.

I think the Fuji lens is amazing, I didn't get negs out of the Blad as nice as the Fuji ones.

 

[chuckroast]

My Fuji has a T setting. I have the GW690III. I've run a lot of film through it over the last 15 years and it's been flawless. I had a Blad for a year and it was a shop queen, never was anything close to reliable. I got tired of constantly fixing it.

I think the Fuji lens is amazing, I didn't get negs out of the Blad as nice as the Fuji ones.

I had a II because common wisdom was that is was the better built model. Mebbe I'll look for a III if the price is right. Is the III a double stroke advance like the II?

A 'Blad will be a shop bitch if it's either been heavily used in a pro setting (they will eventually just wear out, but it takes a LOT of shooting) or if they've been unused and have never been serviced.

 

[mshchem]

If I could only have one camera it would be the GW690III HANDS DOWN

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

The Texas Leica!

 

[raucousimages]

And I thought I had it bad

Any favs amongst that lot?

The 120 macro.

 

[Craig]

I had a II because common wisdom was that is was the better built model. Mebbe I'll look for a III if the price is right. Is the III a double stroke advance like the II?

Yes, the III is a double stroke. I've used the camera enough I don't even think about it anymore, I just automatically do it.

The nice thing is I can leave the camera sit for 6 months and it picks up where it left off. It seems far less temperamental than a Blad. Same could be said for my Pentax 67ii. They just work.

 

[Craig]

If I could only have one camera it would be the GW690III HANDS DOWN

I would be very tempted to agree with that. I do wish it had a lightmeter in it though. I'm a bit surprised that Fuji didn't put a meter in them, as they did put one in the 645 cameras.

 

[Arthurwg]

Yes, the 60 followed by the 120 are my two most used lenses. For the first time the other day I wished I had an 80, but only because I couldn't move closer or further away from my subject and the 80 would have been perfect.

And BTW, no one has mentioned the 200 series. That would be the perfect camera if it had been perfected.

 

[Craig]

That would be the perfect camera if it had been perfected.

True of any camera!!

 

[MattKing]

If I could only have one camera it would be the GW690III HANDS DOWN

The GW680 is what attracts my longing .
And just a reminder Andy, the 10 cent deposit and refund system applies to carboard 1 litre and 2 litre dairy cartons - milk and cream - as well!
Just not the ones with an added screw top

 

[Craig]

And just a reminder Andy, the 10 cent deposit and refund system applies to carboard 1 litre and 2 litre dairy cartons - milk and cream - as well!

25 cents in Alberta for the 4 litre milk jugs!

 

[itsdoable]

And BTW, no one has mentioned the 200 series. That would be the perfect camera if it had been perfected.

I thought the 201F and 203FE was just about perfect.

I have a 203FE, and without a battery, it works with every C/CF lens in C-mode. With a battery you get every lens, and a meter...

 

[mshchem]

The GW680 is what attracts my longing .
And just a reminder Andy, the 10 cent deposit and refund system applies to carboard 1 litre and 2 litre dairy cartons - milk and cream - as well!
Just not the ones with an added screw top

I have a GW680III and you are to blame. 9 frames, 3 strips of 3 fit nicely in a printfile, it's a lovely camera, bought it from Japan seller before, all the nonsense.
I love these cameras!

 

[Sirius Glass]

You just answered your question

I am in the same camp.

 

[mshchem]

I need to get rid of stuff not accumulate. But not right now

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I used to keep my camera cabinet in the living room. A few years ago, I moved it into one of the spare bedrooms, that I use as my lightroom. Out of my wife's sight, out of her mind heh heh heh...
But... eventually, I will have to start the purge...That'll be the big dilemma...what to let go. What to keep... I'll keep the LF gear, a couple MF kits, my K1000 (it's been with me most of my life so...), Grand dad's Target Six-20, my Holgas, and a couple quirky collectibles.

 

[Roger Thoms]

I have a GW680III and you are to blame. 9 frames, 3 strips of 3 fit nicely in a printfile, it's a lovely camera, bought it from Japan seller before, all the nonsense.
I love these cameras!

Love the 6x8 negatives!

 

[Kodachromeguy]

I used to keep my camera cabinet in the living room. A few years ago, I moved it into one of the spare bedrooms, that I use as my lightroom. Out of my wife's sight, out of her mind heh heh heh...
But... eventually, I will have to start the purge...That'll be the big dilemma...what to let go. What to keep... I'll keep the LF gear, a couple MF kits, my K1000 (it's been with me most of my life so...), Grand dad's Target Six-20, my Holgas, and a couple quirky collectibles.

The truly rational person (what, we photographers???) might pare it down to two types in each size:

1. 4×5" monorail and folding field.
2. Med format SLR and rangefinder.
3. 35mm SLR and rangefinder.

But who is rational or has purged GAS permanently? Regardless, one day our offspring/surviving spouse might need to clear away our possessions. Make it easy for them.