Is it OK to pick up a Hasselblad by the prism?

pete_mod · Apr 19, 2016

Did a quick search, couldn't find anything on the topic. Not sure if the prism mount is robust enough to be picking up the camera by the prism. Stupid question, but rather be safe than sorry.

Thanks!

frank · Apr 19, 2016

Sure. They're built and put together solidly. By the lens too. I imagine that there may be some out there who are more fussy about that.

Kevin Caulfield · Apr 19, 2016

I'm not really sure why you would want to do this. It's not very safe.

canuhead · Apr 19, 2016

If you mean a 45° or 90° prism then yeah, I do that. I wouldn't try out with a wlf however as it could get bent out of shape and is not as solid obviously.

BrianShaw · Apr 19, 2016

It's not a stupid question. But I'm fussy and won't do that.

pete_mod · Apr 19, 2016

Kevin Caulfield said:
I'm not really sure why you would want to do this. It's not very safe.

It's just easier to grab it out of my bag by the prism the way I have things arranged.

Kevin Caulfield · Apr 19, 2016

pete_mod said:
It's just easier to grab it out of my bag by the prism the way I have things arranged.

Okay, I now understand. They are quite robust, so as long as you're not going to be twisting it sideways at the same time, you should be fine.

Kawaiithulhu · Apr 20, 2016

What I learned while messing about with my rescue body is they're built like smartphone safety cases: a hard shell on the outside and an inner shell with all the precision aligned bits. No rangefinders to get out of whack, all the working gears are thick and substantial, and nothing sticking out from the exterior profile to hang on things and get bent. Even the basic waist level finder folds down to a nice, aerodynamic hump.

A good bit of industrial design genius when you look at the decisions made.

Slixtiesix · Apr 20, 2016

I think it all depends on the model and the lens mounted. A friend of mine frequently picks up his 2000FC by the lens. I think it´s okay but I would not do that with my much heavier 555ELD. Picking up the camera by the prism may work well with one of the manual bodies and say the 80mm lens, I would not do it with a motorized body mounted to a 350mm lens.

JW PHOTO · Apr 20, 2016

You might think twice about picking it up by its prism. I remember LBJ picked his beagle dogs up by their ears and took a lot of negative flak for doing it. So, if you do pick your 'blad up by the prism just make sure nobody is looking.

Sirius Glass · Apr 20, 2016

+1 on what has been said by JW Photo, APUGuser19, BrianShaw et al.

But still not my favorite way to lift the camera.

Ian Grant · Apr 20, 2016

+2 what a stupid risk to take with expensive equipment.

Ian

Theo Sulphate · Apr 20, 2016

JW PHOTO said:
... I remember LBJ picked his beagle dogs up by their ears and took a lot of negative flak for doing it. ...

That was the very first thing I thought of when I read the title of this thread.

That was a while ago...

Ai Print · Apr 20, 2016

I don't go out of my way to pick up my Hasselblads by the prisms ( NC2, PME90 ) but if I have to, I do it until I can get another hand on it and I have not had a single problem with this in about 30 years.

JW PHOTO · Apr 20, 2016

Theo Sulphate said:
That was the very first thing I thought of when I read the title of this thread.

That was a while ago...

That was a while ago....................Don't remind me! You have to be about my age to remember that. If so, you are older than dirt just like me. I still remember the picture showing him lifting a full-grown beagle by his/her ears. Of course the do strange things down there in Texas, but it's just normal to them.

Sirius Glass · Apr 21, 2016

JW PHOTO said:
You might think twice about picking it up by its prism. I remember LBJ picked his beagle dogs up by their ears and took a lot of negative flak for doing it. So, if you do pick your 'blad up by the prism just make sure nobody is looking.

Back then I wanted to pick up LBJ by the ears. His ears were big enough for that.

frank · Apr 21, 2016

Prince Charles was popular with the ladies.

(If you know the joke about his ears...)

Sirius Glass · Apr 21, 2016

When Prince Charles was much younger, I thought that he looked like Alfred E. Newman.

Theo Sulphate · Apr 21, 2016

JW PHOTO said:
That was a while ago....................Don't remind me! You have to be about my age to remember that. If so, you are older than dirt just like me.

I was 12 in 1964. The beagle incident caused quite a lot of controversy!

When taking my Hasselblad out of its carrying case, the insert material surrounding the camera is soft and flexible enough that I can reach down and grasp the sides of the camera body.

JW PHOTO · Apr 21, 2016

Theo Sulphate said:
I was 12 in 1964. The beagle incident caused quite a lot of controversy!

When taking my Hasselblad out of its carrying case, the insert material surrounding the camera is soft and flexible enough that I can reach down and grasp the sides of the camera body.

Theo,
Yes, many people were very upset with him when he did that, but soon switched their attention to his Vietnam policies and the beagles were forgotten. Maybe the reason the "Hound" family (Basset, blood, coon, fox hound) all have long, floppy ears is because everybody picks them up by the ears. After hundreds of years of ear picking up this is what we got. For me, I'll pick my Hasselblad up the safest way I can. Oh, I was 14 when LBJ did it so I got a couple on you Theo.

jeffreyg · Apr 21, 2016

Maybe the history of human evolution is wrong and that's why we walk on two legs. I pick up my cameras by the straps just in case.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

BobMarvin11225 · Apr 21, 2016

They don't like it; if you listen carefully you'll hear the poor Hassie whimper

Is it OK to pick up a Hasselblad by the prism?

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