Is that a Hasselblad?

[k_jupiter]

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...

Then the answer is, "No that's my Johnson". and then walk away.

tim in san jose ( a proud member of the Is that a Hasselbald? club while shooting with a Speed) (also a mamber of the "Is that a stereo camera" and a multi member of the "What do you think of my digital camera" club)

 

[BWGirl]

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!"

I love it! hahaha If I have your permission, I may change my signature line to this!

 

[25asa]

I was out with a Mamiya 7 with the close focusing device deployed and was asked if it was a metal detector.

 

[BruceN]

I love it! hahaha If I have your permission, I may change my signature line to this!

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

 

[Bob F.]

A year ago I was asked "is that a Speed Graphic?" It was a black Gandolfi Variant field camera. Flummoxed me by displaying a confusing combination of ignorance and knowledge all in one question...

Cheers, Bob.

(Oh come ON! How can the spell checker here have "flummoxed" in its database? - but it does! I'll trip it up one day...)

 

[Ole]

I've heard it several times when using my Bronica ETRS - when it wasn't mistaken for an antique. And once when I was using the massive Linhof Technika 5x7"...

 

[blaze-on]

I ran in to a local woman pro several years ago when I was putting out my "pro" shingle. She said (quite smugly), "Oh, if you don't have a Hasselblad, no one will take you seriously".

I seriously wanted to punch her.

 

[kwmullet]

I ran in to a local woman pro several years ago when I was putting out my "pro" shingle. She said (quite smugly), "Oh, if you don't have a Hasselblad, no one will take you seriously".

I seriously wanted to punch her.

Been there. Wanted to do that. Been asked by multiple customers what kind of camera I use. Of course, now that I'm likely to have good, snappy come-backs, I doubt I'll be asked again.

Best comeback would be to (nicely) ask when they last asked about the pots and pans in a restaraunt before they ate there? The work should speak for itself.

There's what people ask/say, then there's what people really want to know. They may ask about the camera, but what they want to know is the quality of the deliverable. If you show them your portfolio projected on the wall or on a computer screen, it could still be a legitimate question. If you show them loose prints, mounted prints or albums relevant to the work they want that they can hold in their hand and sensate, I'll bet the issue won't come up.

-KwM-

 

[Ed Sukach]

The last time that happened to me ... carrying it on a shoulder strap:

"Is that a Hasselblad?"

"Huh? - Why - yes it is. How the heck did that get there?"

I LOVE those puzzled looks.

 

[Flotsam]

The question that I am always getting asked when walking about with my "fancy" cameras is: "Are you from the [local newspaper]?"

This always seems like an odd assumption to me, especially when I am photographing in a situation that is flatly un-newsworthy and without any human interest value.

 

[David Brown]

Been asked by multiple customers what kind of camera I use. ... If you show them loose prints, mounted prints or albums ..., I'll bet the issue won't come up.-KwM-

I never had a wedding customer ask about the camera when I was showing them my sample albums. I would tend to agree with you. But then, maybe I was lucky. As I get older, I never cease to be amazed at the stupidity of some humans!

(For the record, it was Mamiya TLR ...)

Former-wedding-photographer David Brown

 

[casualfunk]

Yes, once while out shooting with my EOS 3. It was mistaken for an XPan II, so at least he wasn't wondering if I had a 501 in my hands, but still!

 

[rogueish]

The question that I am always getting asked when walking about with my "fancy" cameras is: "Are you from the [local newspaper]?"

This always seems like an odd assumption to me, especially when I am photographing in a situation that is flatly un-newsworthy and without any human interest value.

Must be your cool Fedora... They are likely looking for the paper sticking out that says "PRESS".

 

[gr82bart]

Hmmm...well I shoot with a Hassey and I've never been asked "Is that a Hasselblad?" when I am shooting with it. I always get asked if it's a digital camera. Errr.... Then again, it might be the sun yellow colour. No one's asked me if it was a DeWalt either!

Art.

 

[eric]

No too long ago, I was shooting with it at my son's preschool xmas party. One of the Japanese moms (we are close to University of Ca, Irvine) saw me shooting with it and said in broken english "Hasselblad! Hasselblad!" I told her I had B&W film inside it and she was sooooo thrilled!
I guess Japanese are more tuned to different types of cameras. I appreciated her shooting with a small P&S "film" camera.

 

[captainwookie]

Most people seem to think that my Kiev 88 is either a video or movie camera. No one has ever called it a Hasselbad.

 

[Lee Shively]

No matter what I'm using, the usual question is "Is that digital?"

"Hell, no!" is the answer but I've yet to use it. I'm too polite.

 

[captainwookie]

I just thought of this, I have a black Bogen tripod bag, and after 911 the most common question that I get now is, “is that a gun?" Or I hear people muttering that question to themselves. This is staring to make me very self-conscious everywhere I go nowadays.

So, no Hasselblad remarks and way too many gun remarks. :rolleyes:

 

[André E.C.]

Once I was shooting in Helsinki city center with the camera on tripod, chimney, cable release and hand meter.
An old man passed by and said, " ahhhh, the good old times"!
I was pleased with that.

Cheers

André

 

[colrehogan]

No matter what I'm using, the usual question is "Is that digital?"

"Hell, no!" is the answer but I've yet to use it. I'm too polite.

LOL! I was out shooting at a local lake and someone stopped and asked if my 8x10 was a digital once. My answer was no and they went on their way.

 

[L Gebhardt]

I just got that question yesterday at my kids school. I had just "fixed" an old Supermatic shutter by soaking in Ronsonal and wanted to try out the Crown Graphic. As I walked up to the gate one of the other fathers there for pickup said "Is that an old Hasselblad?" I couldn't beleive it - I thought you guys were all making this up. I replied that it was an old Graphic and that was the end of the conversation because I had kids to shoot.

 

[Leon]

i had a novel if a bit annoying experience recently in Cornwall. I had set my shot of a rock stack near the Cheesering, which a family were walking around/ on at the time, so I took a few light readings, tinkered a bit with filters etc and waited for them to go - not impatiently or anything, the countryside is there for all of us to enjoy .....
After about 15 minutes, I heard the father saying (in his best southeastern accent) "'ere, Kylie (to his wife), that bloke's tryin' a get a picture ov this, lets 'ang about to get in the way". I waited a while longer (20 mins or so), doing my best not to show any annoyance as clouds were scudding across the sky towards the sun and threatening to ruin the light. The whole family then walked directly at me, very s-l-o-w-l-y so as to stay in shot and, as they got to about 4 foot infront of the camera (more than close enough to read the ROLLEIFLEX written on the top of my sl66), Mr Chav said "That's a Hasselblad, that is - they're worth about £20k. Wouldnt take much to grab it and run would it" I stared, held eye contact and they were gone ... I was left a little bemused, but managed to get my shot.

So I've had a TAHTI, not an ITAH, much the same premise though!

 

[mcgrattan]

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 ...

 

[noseoil]

This weekend (again) in Sabino Canyon. Was shooting a 4x5 Shen Hao, duh.

Also got a chance to respond to a question about "will you take my picture, which side is best?"

My reply, "Sure, I've always wanted to take a nude up here, just take your clothes off and sit on that rock over there and I'll....." tim

 

[argus]

"Sure, I've always wanted to take a nude up here, just take your clothes off and sit on that rock over there and I'll....." tim

That's one to remember

G