Is that a Hasselblad?

[bobfowler]

My favorite ITAH moment wasn't an actual ITAH - it was when a local "pro" saw me with my F3/MD4 and asked "Wow!, Is that the latest Nikon digital?!?"

So sad...

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Not exactly "ITAH," but today I was out for a walk in Central Park with my Tech V 4x5", shooting handheld, and was approached in two separate incidents by guys with Leica rangefinders (one with his friend shooting a Nikon SLR). They all seemed particularly impressed by the Grafmatic filmholder, and one asked, "Is that a new thing?" I told him they've been around for at least 60 years (probably about as long as he'd been around), and explained their even older ancestor, the bag mag.

 

[Jorge]

Well hell, I had my Hasselblad out and someone asked me if it was a digital camera?.....can anybody tell me how to remove teeth marks and blood from the leatherette?...

 

[MikeS]

... They all seemed particularly impressed by the Grafmatic filmholder, and one asked, "Is that a new thing?" I told him they've been around for at least 60 years (probably about as long as he'd been around), and explained their even older ancestor, the bag mag.

David:

Grafmatic's are in fact a fairly new device. I'm pretty sure they came out either in 1950, or a year or so later, so they're in fact NOT at least 60 years old, but rather a new device obviously designed for young folks that have a need for speed!

I have a bunch of them, and love them! At the moment I only have a couple of bag mags, but both of them are the new style, with patent dates from 1920! I used to have one of the older style plate bag mags, but I sold it along with my Super D.

Another back that's kind of interesting is the Kinematic back. It's similar to a grafmatic (in fact some of the parts are SO similar that I often wonder if they weren't made by the same company), except they hold 10 shots, and don't seem to be made quite as nicely as the grafmatics are (the mechanism seems cheaper). I have a couple of them, but only one is usable, the other needs work.

About the only comment I've gotten when out taking pictures was from my neighbor, she looked at some of my pictures, and then asked why anyone would want a camera that only 'does' black & white? I tried to explain that the camera would 'do' any type of film I put into it, but realized fairly quickly that I was wasting my time.

Oh, one time when I was photographing a street festival here in town a person asked if I was from the newspaper, but that was it.

-Mike

 

[Sparky]

I'd like a bumpersticker that says "my other car's a hasselblad".

 

[gnashings]

Well. guys, I know a lot of what is in this thread is tongue-in-cheek, and I can certainly understand the feeling - having had equivalents of that question in other hobbies of mine ( like cars: "what do you have in that thing?!" about a completely bone stock car. answer: "a driver..." or model airplanes "is that one of them ready to flys?" about a model that I spend months crafting...). So I am no stranger to the sentiment, and no, I don't have a high tolerance for stupidity - quite the contrary. But let me propose a little theory:
A person asking you this question is trying their darnest to get your interest by attempting to show some knowledge, or perhaps knowing the status of a Hasselblad - trying to flatter you. Now, however back-handed or foot-in-mouth it comes out, lets cut these people some slack. If they are just looking to start a "my digital is better than that really expensive old thing" argument - you will know soon enough and can insult them and their intelligence until they run away crying - please, please do! But if they are not, why not share your knowledge with them? Why not let them have the benefit of your knowledge, at least a little? You know, our love for traditional photography is fallen on hard times as it is - we should be good ambassadors for the hobby (and in many cases profession). Take a second or two (I know, you don't always have it - I am not saying put up with someone who is an inconsiderate pest - see the digifreak point above) and give them some input. Not knowing does not equal stupidity. Often, this may be the only exposure these people will have to a knowledgeable afficionado of traditional photography - if each one of us at least plants the seed with one newcomer asking silly questions, it will be of benefit to all of us down the road and to photography itself. What do you say guys - lets not be so harsh - there is new bloodout there, lets use our knowledge to bring it in! A little explanation may go a long way towards sparking a genuine interest, or blowing some air on a dormant spark.

I know I got a little too serious, perhaps - but I think I have a point - don't you?

Peter.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

David:

Grafmatic's are in fact a fairly new device. I'm pretty sure they came out either in 1950, or a year or so later, so they're in fact NOT at least 60 years old, but rather a new device obviously designed for young folks that have a need for speed!

I have a bunch of them, and love them! At the moment I only have a couple of bag mags, but both of them are the new style, with patent dates from 1920! I used to have one of the older style plate bag mags, but I sold it along with my Super D.

Another back that's kind of interesting is the Kinematic back. It's similar to a grafmatic (in fact some of the parts are SO similar that I often wonder if they weren't made by the same company), except they hold 10 shots, and don't seem to be made quite as nicely as the grafmatics are (the mechanism seems cheaper). I have a couple of them, but only one is usable, the other needs work.

I think you're right, Mike. I checked on Graflex.org, and Les, who knows such things, says the Grafmatic was introduced in 1950.

I've also got bunch of Grafmatics and a Kinematic holder. I think the Kinematic was manufactured in Cleveland, Ohio. It's nice to have 10 sheets in one holder for an afternoon stroll, but it is flimsier than the Grafmatics. If I'm not careful, it's possible to pull the inner box right out of the holder and watch the loaded septums go flying. Fortunately that only happened when I was testing it the first time.

For the 5x7" Press Graflex, I've got a plate bag mag with film sheaths and a film bag mag. That plate mag must have weighed a ton with 12 glass plates in it!

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

But if they are not, why not share your knowledge with them? Why not let them have the benefit of your knowledge, at least a little? You know, our love for traditional photography is fallen on hard times as it is - we should be good ambassadors for the hobby (and in many cases profession).

I agree and always take the opportunity to demonstrate the big cameras (after I get the shot) when asked, and I suspect many of the people here do too, but we still get to post their comments up on the funny board when we get home.

 

[gnashings]

I know - I didn't mean to be a stick in the mud - a laugh is always good. If we handle these things correctly, some of these being laughed at may well be joining us in doing the laughing in the future.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Sunset at the beach across from the condo where we're staying on Maui, I've got the Tech V, shooting some patterns in the sand and water

--Is that a Hasselblad?

--It's a 4x5" camera.

--Have you got black and white in that?

--Yeah.

--I like the textures and the patterns and the light and all that. Over at Kam I [another beach down the road] there was this guy who made a sculpture in the sand of a shark biting a naked lady on a surfboard, and I shot a whole roll of that.

 

[arigram]

When I go out to shoot with my Hasselblad the comments are usually either
"Must be a very old camera" (and they don't believe its a year and half old)
"Looks very professional indeed" (considering I don't)
but once in a blue moon I get very surprised and excited when somebody exclaims
"Is that a Hasselblad? It is!" (like that guy on my last visit at Madrid's Reina Sofia museum)

 

[colrehogan]

I took my 4x5 to a local balloon glow last year and was asked twice if I was with one of the local television stations.

 

[dr bob]

I agree and always take the opportunity to demonstrate the big cameras (after I get the shot) when asked, and I suspect many of the people here do too, but we still get to post their comments up on the funny board when we get home.

Just last night my 15 year old Granddaughter was visiting and spied my Speed Graphic on the table. She ask a few questions (none about a Hasselblad however) so I took the opportunity to go over the camera in some detail. She then surprised me totally by stating that she would like to learn about traditional photography. You see, we gave her a d-camera for her birthday in March and she has been using it since. To say I was overjoyed is an understatement.

Now the problem is: what format should we begin with? We both would like to begin using the 4x5 but she needs one she can handle more easily at first. I’m thinking about the C330f – a compromise at this point. She actually said, “We can’t control the development of individual frames with roll film.” That about floored me!

I can’t wait!

 

[esanford]

I got an interesting comment about 3 years ago is when I was photographing a running stream with ice early one winter morning.... it had to have been 15 deg... An elderly hiking couple came out of nowhere and the gentleman saw my 20 year 500 C/M with a chrome 150 sitting on the tripod and said "oh my god that's a Hasselblad, you must be rich! Of course my answer was, everybody has their vices, this one happens to be mine...

 

[atmoshpere]

I was shooting on the banks of the Thames last year.

I had a Lubitel 1 on a tripod with my home made lens hood,cut from a black film canister, and a cable release...

A young guy walked by with his girlfriend and as they passed me she said to him something like "Look at the old camera" and I heard him confidently telling her "That's a Hasselblad"...

I think the Lubitel is basically the anti-Hasselblad ...

i once was asked the "is that a hasselblad" question when i was shooting with a lubitel (2 to be exact) too. and that was from someone who was shooting b&w with a nikon f100and doing his own printing, so you would expect that he knows his gear.

also people has asked me several times for which newspaper i worked while shooting with a holga...

 

[benjiboy]

Impediment

got it two days ago with my Mamiya rz67 ... 'hasselblad' basically means SLR medium format - I answered that it was a Mamiya and the guy seemed disapointed - I wonder what 'mamiya' meant to him ...

He probably thought you had a speech impediment, I have been using Mamiya gear for a long time, and I know the reaction.

 

[laz]

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...

Many times we write "LOL" and don't really (more like a chuckle) This time I seriously choked on my tuna sandwich and have still have not stopped laughing!

Thankyou to whomever resurrected this thread!

 

[benjiboy]

Nice to see you

Of course you may! I stole it from some movie, anyway.

I think if anyone ever asks me the question again, I'll paraphrase Mae West and say "no, just pleased to see you".

 

[ajuk]

I hasven't had that but I have had

"Let me see it"
"Can I see the picture, on no of course I can't its not digital is it?"
"Good to see somone using a film camera!" "Would you like a press release"
A 15 year old chain smoker I met in Clifton (Bristol, UK) was telling me how when she made prints she "didn't dilute the chems!!" She was so posh
"oh your shooting XP2 do you proccess it in C41 or normal B&W chems"
"Waaaahhh TAKE OUR PICTURE!!!!!"

 

[gbroadbridge]

Just She actually said, “We can’t control the development of individual frames with roll film.” That about floored me!

I can’t wait!

I would say that you have a brilliant technician there who should and will learn everything about film. Her knowledge will serve her well in both analogue and digital fields.

Digital is nothing more than an approximation of an analogue universe (tm GB)

Graham B

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

New co-op art gallery opening here on Moloka'i, Linhof Tech V 4x5" over my shoulder, sure enough-- "Is that a Hasselblad?" So I explained that it was like a Speed Graphic with a few more features (he seemed old enough to know what a Speed Graphic was), and the next question, "Can you get a digital back on that? That would be neat wouldn't it?"

 

[Markok765]

No ita a large nikon with 300 2.8 and motor drive

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

About 2 years ago in Bryce Canyon, I had just taken a picture with my Pentacon 6TL with my 30mm Arsat, when a young woman walked up to me and said "what a nice Pentacon! is that the 30mm Ukrainian lens?" Turns out she was from the Czech Republic.

 

[DBP]

In fairness to the questioner, it was an ARAX, so the mistake was pretty easy to make. I've also been asked "is that a Leica?" while carrying Canon rangefinders, Voigtlander Bessas, Yashicas, Zorkis, Feds, Kiev 4as and even an Argus or two. I was somewhat more impressed when someone asked if the Argus C-44 was a Contax, as at least he showed enough knowledge to have noticed the focusing wheel. And usually when someone asks if that is a Speed Graphic the answer is yes, unless it is a B&J Press instead.

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

On the other hand, about a year ago I was out taking pictures in the Santa Monica mts of Southern CA with my Arax MLU 88CM and 45mm PC Hartblei lens. A stroller walked up and asked "is that an antique camera?" I told him no - it was a new Ukrainian camera. He responded "Why don't you get a digital camera." I responded that I prefer film to digital - that baffled him.