Is that a Hasselblad?

Sirius Glass · Jun 30, 2009

Tony Egan said:
Steve - if you are referring to my avatar I must sheepishly admit it is was a Yashica D TLR which I sold at a camera market a few years ago to help fund a Mamiya 7. I do have a Hasselblad (XPan) but when people see that they usually say is that a Hasselblad in that hesitant and sceptical manner which translates to, well, it doesn't look like a Hasselblad!
You just can't win at this game!

Yes, you can! Do what I plan to do. When I am reincarnated, I want to come back as independently wealthy instead of being so incredibly handsome.

Steve

nuckabean · Jun 30, 2009

Not quite ITAH?, but I was walking around the local indoor mall today with my Yashicamat while waiting for someone and a man walked up and told me he used to have one. I said it was a good camera and mine is still kicking after who knows how many years. He said "You have Tri-x in there right?". I told him no, and that I had a color film from Fuji in it at the moment. He said "oh yeah I used to shoot vericolor." He told me to keep up the good work and that I was using a "poor man's rolleiflex" and then walked away.

So I got "ITTX?" (Is that tri-x?)

cknapp1961 · Jun 30, 2009

In the not too distant futureIs that one of those NHI devices? (Non-holographic Imaging).

Bosaiya · Jul 8, 2009

Last week my daughter and I chartered a fishing boat in Ft. Lauderdale. The Mate asked if my C330 was a Hasselblad, I explained what it was, and he said his dad owned one (a Hassy, not a Mammy). That was kind of funny. Got some nice photos during a huge storm.

The fishing was great, my daughter caught a bunch of bonita, I got a king mackerel and a 25lb barracuda, which she photographed with the aforementioned Mamiya-not-Hasselblad.

quick scan of the negative:

Sirius Glass · Jul 26, 2009

Saturday was the day I got my Hasselblad 903 SWC. Four times it was noticed:

1) At the Annenburg Space for Photography [http://www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org/], the security guard came up behind me and said, "I am really envious of your Hasselblad.

2) When I left the Annenburg Space for Photography outside the front door was a man with a Hasselblad who called out, "Nice SWC! Is that a 903 or 905?"

3) On the sidewalk before I entered a camera repair store a man with a child said to his child, "That is a really expensive camera."

4) After I left the store, just before I got to my car, two men were walking the other way and one said to the other, "I really like that camera." I called out, "Thank you."

Steve

E76 · Jul 26, 2009

My 500C/M never gets that kind of attention! In fact, I think it gets more when I don't have it with me.

Jesper · Jul 26, 2009

It seems that in Sweden people tend to recognise what is a Hasselblad and not (I have never been asked that question in error).
I have been asked "is that a Leica" when I was using a Fed I, but from a distance anyone could make that mistake.

But the annoying question that I get on a regular basis is when I'm shooting large format (8x10" and 4x5" both bought new) - "How old is that camera?"
I have no idea how many times I have been asked this question, but whenever someone approaches me when I out taking pictures I know that this will be the first question.

arigram · Jul 26, 2009

Sirius Glass said:
Saturday was the day I got my Hasselblad 903 SWC. Four times it was noticed:

1) At the Annenburg Space for Photography [http://www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org/], the security guard came up behind me and said, "I am really envious of your Hasselblad.

Now, that's a security guard!
No harassing from this guy, but actual appreciation and admiration!
Someone should give him a medal or at least something edible!
I imagine he is a photographer trying to make ends meet...

Augied · Sep 15, 2009

Hi there, new member here. This thread is awesome, I've been reading it obsessively for the last few days. I've never had an ITAH, but just last week, I was taking pictures with my RB67 of people reacting to a cow grazing at Harvard yard (long story) and one of them asked me if I was with the newspaper. It interested me that he didn't specify which paper he thought I might be from. It was just "are you with the newspaper?"

Bosaiya · Sep 15, 2009

Multiple inquiries lately about the C330, latest while on a helicopter operation.

Lately I have found a new corallary while carrying my Graflex RB: "Is that a Brownie?" I get that one a lot, too.

mikebarger · Sep 15, 2009

Welcome to APUG Augied

Mike

dentkimterry · Sep 15, 2009

I was asked if my Hasselblad was a video camera.

jp80874 · Sep 15, 2009

"Have I been asked if that is a Hasselblad?" Yes, while shooting an 8x10 in front of several water color painters. The woman who asked is married to a man who shoots weddings with three digital cameras.

John Powers

Jeff L · Sep 15, 2009

I just got asked on Saturday if my Rolleiflex was a Hasselblad.
Usually I'm asked if my Yashicamat is a Rolleiflex. Go figure...

Bosaiya · Nov 17, 2009

It's been a little while so I thought I'd add another entry. Last week I was at an outdoor training course with my RB67 and one of the instructors asked if it was a Hasselblad. Apparently he used to shoot 4x5. Some of the students told him about the camera I usually use (a Graflex RB) and he was disappointed I hadn't brought it along.

Thanasis · Nov 19, 2009

I was recently asked by an onlooker "What sort of a camera is that?"
"Its a Hasselblad", I replied.
"Oh so thats what they look like!" she said. She then told me about a swedish crime novel where an old hasselblad camera was crucial to the plot of the story and she wondered what these cameras looked like.

sly · Nov 19, 2009

I used my Hasselblad often on my recent 2 month holiday in Germany and England. Never got asked ITAH. In Germany I was told by a number of admirers that I had a VERY GOOD camera. In England a man crossed the street to tell me he was glad to see someone using a Hasselblad. The best moment was in Bristol - I was approached and had my hand shaken by a lovely man with a huge smile and a Rollei.

lxdude · Nov 19, 2009

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...

I would have said "No, and don't call me Blad".
Or maybe "Yes, and I'm emptying my Hasselbladder."

Angelo di Mango · Nov 20, 2009

I was asked if my mamiya 7 was some kind of apparatus to detect the presence of fish while I was taking some shots in a mountain stream!

Roberto V. · Nov 20, 2009

One day i ran into a friend from school while shooting with my DSLR. He said "Oh, nice camera, i love vintage cameras"
I've also been asked if i was a reporter, paparazzi and stuff like that when shooting 35mm, and i don't even use long lenses.
I haven't been asked about my Kodak 3A, but i guess it'd be too stupid to ask if it's digital. But you never know...

Halford · Nov 20, 2009

Within a day or two of getting my RB67, a neighbour sees it when we're in the elevator:

"Is that a Hasselblad?"

I point at the big "MAMIYA" label.

"No but really? Is it a Hasselblad?"

I mumbled something about it being pretty much the same idea but not actually a 'blad.

Actually I do appreciate that people take an interest. Just need to be a bit more confident in replying and engaging them. These are opportunities to share an enthusiasm and educate people.

Still funny though.

Bosaiya · Nov 20, 2009

Angelo di Mango said:
I was asked if my mamiya 7 was some kind of apparatus to detect the presence of fish while I was taking some shots in a mountain stream!

Not only to detect, but to record for later analysis.

Bosaiya · Nov 20, 2009

Roberto V. said:
I haven't been asked about my Kodak 3A, but i guess it'd be too stupid to ask if it's digital. But you never know...

I do get asked about the digital part when using older cameras. It's not as stupid as it could be, some people know that there are digital backs for film cameras so I can see how they might wonder about it. I usually try to say something funny without sounding condescending, something along the lines of "You should see the batteries!"

Alexander Ghaffari · Nov 20, 2009

I have had about three dozen or so people who told me that I have a nice Mamiya in public, and indeed, I was shooting with my RB67. One time, in the dark, someone on the street shouted "Nice Hasselblad," but when I turned, they saw the side of the camera and remarked, "Oh, my bad, nice RB67!"

Sirius Glass · Nov 30, 2009

I was at a National Park photographing with my Hasselblad and a man proudly told his girl friend that I was using a "Hasslehoff"! I choose not to correct him.

Steve

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!

Sirius Glass

nuckabean

cknapp1961

Bosaiya

Sirius Glass

E76

Jesper

arigram

Augied

Bosaiya

mikebarger

dentkimterry

jp80874

Jeff L

Bosaiya

Thanasis

sly

lxdude

Angelo di Mango

Roberto V.

Halford

Bosaiya

Bosaiya

Alexander Ghaffari

Sirius Glass

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!

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