Is that a Hasselblad?

Sjixxxy · Feb 6, 2005

A spin off of the "Looks you get" thread. Who here has received the infamous "Is that a Hasselbald?" remark from a bystander?

I just got my first ITAH? this Friday while carrying my Speed Graphic around, and was very excited since I've only heard about 26,000 other photographers say they have received that comment. I was starting to feel like I was doing something wrong by not being asked.

An while we are on the subject why is it that whenever a bystander seems to know something about cameras, they ask if it is a Hasselblad? Why not "Is that a Deardorf?" or something similar? Thoughts?

bobfowler · Feb 7, 2005

Sjixxxy said:
A spin off of the "Looks you get" thread. Who here has received the infamous "Is that a Hasselbald?" remark from a bystander?

I just got my first ITAH? this Friday while carrying my Speed Graphic around, and was very excited since I've only heard about 26,000 other photographers say they have received that comment. I was starting to feel like I was doing something wrong by not being asked.

An while we are on the subject why is it that whenever a bystander seems to know something about cameras, they ask if it is a Hasselblad? Why not "Is that a Deardorf?" or something similar? Thoughts?

Ahhhh... Welcome to the ITAH club! Let us know when someone asks if your Speed is the newest digital!

Kevin Caulfield · Feb 7, 2005

The reason they ask that is that Hasselblad happens to be a design icon, like Levi Strauss and Harley Davidson.

noblebeast · Feb 7, 2005

Yeah, but the really weird part of it was I was standing at a urinal at the time, and didn't have a camera with me...

Kevin Caulfield · Feb 7, 2005

I've heard of living, dreaming photography, but never p****ing it.

Galaxens President · Feb 7, 2005

I was asked the question by a person who came up to me when I was using my Kiev 88cm mlu with a ZCJ 180mm f/2.8. It turned out he was working as a architecture photographer who was waiting for the evening light which would light up a certain building from the right angle. We had quite a nice chat for about an hour.

"Is that a Kiev?" Never heard that.

BradS · Feb 7, 2005

noblebeast said:
Yeah, but the really weird part of it was I was standing at a urinal at the time, and didn't have a camera with me...

hmmmm, so...its a size thing?

rogueish · Feb 7, 2005

I had the camera on the tripod and was about to trip the shutter. This guy walks up and stands right in front of the camera and asks "Is that a Hasselbald?" He's standing there looking at the camera that has YASHICA, in bold, right on the front. Right above the twin lens. I said something like, if you stand over here to the side you'll catch the light glinting off the name above the lens. He actually moved and looked closer. I got the shot and told him it was a Yashica C made around 1958. The next I saw coming from a mile away. "Is that one of those 3-D/STEREO cameras?" He then proceeded to tell me all about his new digicam (circa 2004) and all the great things it can do. So I had to ask, Can it shoot in 3-D too? :rolleyes:

modafoto · Feb 7, 2005

GaussianNoise said:
hmmmm, so...its a size thing?

Was it the 80mm?

TPPhotog · Feb 7, 2005

You know your talking to a real expert when they ask "Is that a Hasselbald?" when your shooting with you HOLGA

NikoSperi · Feb 7, 2005

No. But I was once asked "Are you making a movie" when I was out shooting with my Hasselblad.

Also had the "Is that digital" when the Sinar was out in the street. I couldn't resist and had to say "Yes, it's a 480 megapixel."

jovo · Feb 7, 2005

TPPhotog said:
You know your talking to a real expert when they ask "Is that a Hasselbald?" when your shooting with you HOLGA

Cool idea...I think I can fit HOLGABLAD (or maybe just HOLGABAD) on the front of our little plastic holga. I've never been asked, but I can offer OLYMPABLAD, PENTABLAD and TOYOMEGABLAD as well.

BWGirl · Feb 7, 2005

Oh, I'm SO hoping that someday, someway, when I least expect it...someone will come up to me and ask "Is that a Hassleblad?" My reply will be "But of course...is there anything else?" haha

Jeffrey A. Steinberg · Feb 7, 2005

Kevin Caulfield said:
The reason they ask that is that Hasselblad happens to be a design icon, like Levi Strauss and Harley Davidson.

Actually, I believe its because nearly everyone (who makes that comment) has been to a wedding and that was the name that was a few feet in front of them. For most people, professional photographer = wedding photographer (that is not meant to disparage any wedding photograhers).

David Brown · Feb 7, 2005

Kevin Caulfield said:
The reason they ask that is that Hasselblad happens to be a design icon, like Levi Strauss and Harley Davidson.

They're also famous for having gone to the moon.

David Brown · Feb 7, 2005

NikoSperi said:
No. But I was once asked "Are you making a movie" when I was out shooting with my Hasselblad.

I've had this question with my Kowa Six!
But, but, why hasn't anyone ever mistaken my "poor man's Hasselblad" for a (ahem...) Hasselblad? :confused:

Cheers y'all

David

dr bob · Feb 7, 2005

Twice: once with my Koni Omega Rapid, "I know good equipment. That's a Hasselblad, ain't it?"; and once with my Speed Graphic tripod and all, "I didn't know they still made film for them Haz-sail-bads." My reply, "Actually, they don't."

mark · Feb 7, 2005

Nope. Can't say it has ever happened to me. Not even when I have my hartblei out. A "pro" did notice what it was and laugh once though. Told me if I wanted to make real photographs I would have to get a "pro" quality camera. SOme people were just born jerks.

Tom Hoskinson · Feb 7, 2005

Recently some one asked me "Is that an antique camera?" No, I replied; It's a Hassleblad. That got a blank look followed by "Well it looks like an antique."

A couple of years ago I was shooting some pictures in Zion and a young lady came by and said "Ah, I see you are using a Pentacon 6TL - - nice camera!" Indeed, it was a Pentacon 6TL (with 50mm CZJ MC Flektagon).

Eric Rose · Feb 7, 2005

That's ok, when I was out shooting my Blad I was asked if it was the newest Nikon digital. I told them it was and it was a 125 mega-pixel capture.

kwmullet · Feb 7, 2005

A family friend came over one day and I hauled out our prized 'Blad to show her, thinking the coolness was self-explanitory. She said very enthusiastically "Oooh neat! is that a Brownie?".

Bear in mind this was before I started playing with cheap/simple cameras and grew to love Brownies as well. I didn't take the comment very well.

-KwM-

KenM · Feb 7, 2005

When I made Dead Link Removed photograph, I had a few people walk over the bridge, peer over the edge, and ask me if my 4x5 Gandolfi Variant L3 was a 'video' camera.

Yup, it's a video camera. With bellows.

Pretty funny.

Sjixxxy · Feb 7, 2005

BWGirl said:
Oh, I'm SO hoping that someday, someway, when I least expect it...someone will come up to me and ask "Is that a Hassleblad?" My reply will be "But of course...is there anything else?" haha

Better yet, play ignorant and say "No. It is a camera."

John McCallum · Feb 7, 2005

"Is that a Hasselblad?"

Yes . . . . . I was holding a Leica at the time. :rolleyes:

BruceN · Feb 7, 2005

Sorry - I can no longer resist!

"Don't ask a photographer if they're shooting a Hasselblad. If they are, they'll tell you. If they're not, don't embarrass them!"

Is that a Hasselblad?

Ever been asked "Is that a Hasselbad?"

No.

Yes, while shooting 35mm or smaller.

Yes, while shooting Medium Format

Yes, while shooting Large Format

Yes, and it was a Hasselblad!

Sjixxxy

bobfowler

Kevin Caulfield

noblebeast

Kevin Caulfield

Galaxens President

BradS

rogueish

modafoto

TPPhotog

NikoSperi

jovo

Membership Council

BWGirl

Jeffrey A. Steinberg

David Brown

David Brown

dr bob

mark

Tom Hoskinson

Eric Rose

kwmullet

KenM

Sjixxxy

John McCallum

BruceN

Is that a Hasselblad?

Ever been asked "Is that a Hasselbad?"

No.

Yes, while shooting 35mm or smaller.

Yes, while shooting Medium Format

Yes, while shooting Large Format

Yes, and it was a Hasselblad!

Membership Council

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Privacy & Transparency