Is that a Hasselblad?

[graywolf]

I think more than anything else, the mis-placed "ITAH" questions (and for 'H' you can substitute 'L' and 'R' more often than not) raise an interesting point, in my opinion.

These brands -- Hasselblad, Leica, Rolleiflex, Nikon, and to a lesser extent the great press cameras -- documented the latter half of the 20th century. These cameras have become icons in themselves. Leicas and Nikons photographed the Vietnam war and made it possible for people to see what was going on there. Rolleiflexes have taken some of the most seminal portraits of the 20th century. Leicas secretly mounted on a Lockheed Electra enabled the Americans to compile bombing maps for WW2. Hasselblads photographed the moon. The Crown Graphics et. al. played a crucial role in the establishment of the craft of photojournalism, but it's really the latter half of the 20th century which resonates with people due in part to television, I think, which is why you'll hardly ever be out shooting with a Rolleiflex and be asked if it's a Crown Graphic. But I might be wrong.

It doesn't seem to matter than modern cameras -- the Canon EOS 5DmkIIs, the Nikon D700s -- are (arguably) just as capable, and have documented some of the most crucial images of the beginning of the 21st century. They're not icons. Whether they will ever be remains to be seen.

And people know theit icons, even if they don't "know" them. And when people see a camera they don't recognise (or *do* recognise, to their credit), then it's perhaps understandable that they're -- for lack of a better word -- a little 'star-struck'. They'll go home and tell their spouse, "I saw a man/woman taking pictures with a Hasselblad/Leica/Rolleiflex/Nikon today," in the expectation that this will resonate. Whether or not it does is a function of how their day was, I suppose.

I'd rather be asked "is that a Hasselblad," than, "You aren't still using film, are you?"

Yes, I know I am replying to a 3 year old post, but this is probably the most thoughtful post I have read so far in 29 pages of posts in this thread.

The only exception I would take is the Crown Graphic. Those of us who recognize it as an icon are old enough to remember B&W movies as the norm, and we think of it as a "Speed Graphic", it was the icon of the US newspaper photographer from before 1920 until 1955 or so. In my experience with my Crown, the only non-photographers who recognize it are fans of old b&w movies.

Even more so, I notice that to many non-photographers the following is what is going on in they heads.

Hasselblad = Large expensive camera
Leica = Small expensive camera
Brownie = Cheap camera, or cheap old camera.

I think you would also find that in most of their minds, Canon now = Digital camera.

Most people are not really very brand conscious of things they are not personally into. On the other hand, many ignorant people are big name droppers, you can tell them because they are loudly telling the people they are with that your are shooting with a "Hasselblad". You will notice that they are never talking to you, because they know you know they are a poser.

Now I will return to reading the next 30 pages of these posts...

ADDED: Oh well, it turned out to only be 12 pages....

 

[Tony Egan]

It happened again 3 times on Saturday! Shooting with a Shen Hao 5x7 view camera at an open day at an abandoned power station in Sydney. I didn't mind though. Many people were fascinated and I was king of the kids as they all wanted to look under the dark cloth followed often by the parents. Met some nice people, had some lovely friendly conversations and no uniformed goons anywhere looking to pick a fight!

 

[Thingy]

I have been asked by tourists on a number of occassions when using my 5x4 camera in Westminster, London, which magazine I work for. When I explain that I am doing photography as a hobby they usually express incredulity that I am using a "technical camera" as an amateur.

When I used to use my old Mamiya C330f people did stop me and ask if it was a Hassie! If only.... (enviously)

 

[dkonigs]

Just happened to me yesterday when I was at a convention dressed up as an 'ole timey press photographer, shooting my 4x5 Crown Graphic

 

[benjiboy]

To paraphrase Mae West "is that a Hasselblad, or are you just pleased to see me?"

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

This'll really be a kick in the pants. I was showing someone a self-portrait I have (the one I use for my Avatar here) of me standing behind my Canham 14x17. The lady asked me, "Is that a Hasselblad? Or something bigger?". No, lady, it's a Minox.

 

[Augied]

A new definition for ITAH

This spring I have been taking my first college photo class. The class focuses on 35mm, but I have been mostly using my RB67 and Yashica 124. On multiple occasions, when a classmate has seen my negatives, they have asked me "is that from a Holga?" Could it be that, for the hipster generation, the Holga has replaced the Hasselblad as the default medium format camera?

 

[Michael W]

Happened to me last January - set my Crown Graphic on the tripod at Palm Beach, north end of Sydney. Within a few minutes a middle aged guy in speedos, on his way for a swim, walked over & asked "Is that a Hasselblad?" First time that's happened to me, feel I'm part of a cub now.

 

[moki]

Could it be that, for the hipster generation, the Holga has replaced the Hasselblad as the default medium format camera?

That's possible, but... sad. Answering "Oh, I wish, but it's only a 'poor man's Hasselblad'" is ok, but having your precious camera with its giant resolution and magnificent quality compared to this chinese piece of plastic? That's harsh.
Anyway, I got a Kowa Six now... let's see if that gets me any ITAH-credit

 

[Black Dog]

You never know!

 

[Discoman]

not really. I did however have a group of people walk up to me when I was doing some portrait work for my photography class with my big speed graphic.
"that's a weird camera. where do you view the images to see how they turned out?"
"in the darkroom. once i process the film."
"film? do they still make that? why don't you use digital? it's so much better."
"no. no it isn't.(i thought this, i didn't say it.)"

then security came about a half hour later, because someone reported someone was out around campus with a weird old camera.
"hey, what are you doing?"
"portraits of my classmate here for an assignment."
"hey, is that one of those old cameras those news guys used to use? my father had one."
"yes, yes it is."
"have a nice day."

I only hope that if I do get asked ITAH that I have some ridiculous camera with me. with a brand name written in giant letters on it.
this thread must be good advertisement for hasselblad: you know the name, every professional camera must be a 'blad, so buy one and look like a pro!

 

[Laurent]

Did not happen since I actually own a Hasselblad ! (Apart from a fellow who had one in the past).

 

[benjiboy]

Somebody asked me the question yesterday, I replied "it's a Mamiya, a poor man's Hasselblad"

 

[Sirius Glass]

I took my 4"x5" Pacemaker Speed Graphic to Andrews Air Force Base's "Joint Forces Open House" air show. I was asked it it used 35mm film! When I told them it used 4" by 5" film, their eyes popped.

With this camera I was able to get through all the "authorized personnel only" lines to take photographs.

Steve

 

[Steve Smith]

Did not happen since I actually own a Hasselblad !

You could still be asked if it's a Hasselblad.


Steve.

 

[papagene]

Finally, on the trail to Estes Cones (Rocky Mtn Nat'l Park) an older gentleman asked if the Rolleicord I was carrying was a "Hasselbrad." I responded it was a Rollei and he said, "Ah, very nice."

 

[ColdEye]

Well I did not get asked if it was a Hasselblad, but here is what happened. I was in San Diego Wildlife Safari Park a few weeks ago and I bought with me a Salyut C. While I was waiting in line to get on the Safari ride, a person carrying a 7d and 300/4 came to me (he was like from 7 people away) and said "Wow, That IS a Hasselblad!". Of course I corrected him, but I guess he really was fascinated with the WLF, like an LCD he says.

 

[redrockcoulee]

In Gran Teton I was shooting my 4X6 and another photographer asked me later if I was shooting a Hasselblad. She was a distance from me when I had the camera set up though. In Yellowstone I was shooting the Hasselblad and a middle aged women walking by and stopped briefly and then said "I hope you are using Kodak" Turns out she was from Rochester. Also in Yellowstone I was shooting and felt like someone was right behind me and sure enough from a large group of Japanese tourists one younger lady was just staring at what I was doing. Try a little bit of conversation but she was content just to watch me work. Then I noticed she had a Leica around her neck.

Several other people in the parks stopped and watch me shooting on the tripod and a few times I was asked why I was using the Hasselblad and why film. I only got the impression that they all were curious and actually wished to know.

 

[F/1.4]

one time i was using a 500CM with a chimney finder and i was asked if it was a video camera. 0_o

 

[Athiril]

A while back I got "Is that a Linhof?" while referring to my Speed Graphic..

 

[tomalophicon]

When I was young I was asking my father to take me to the beach. Mum told me not to Hasseldad.

 

[Dikaiosune01]

This has only happened to me once. I had been shooting my shen hao for about 6 months, and I got my first ITAH. I was surprised at the question, so I gave a very candid answer, "I don't speak Chinese. It is a 4x5 camera." She walked away very confused.

After reading the first few pages, i'm getting the idea it happens a lot. I'll think of something more cynical the next time it happens to me.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I was out shooting last night with my Canham 5x12. I did get asked what make of camera it is, but amazingly enough, nobody asked if it was a Hasselblad.

 

[KarnyDoc]

I sure wish I had an ITAH tale to share, but my experience has been somewhat the opposite.

I'm a member of a model train club here in New Jersey. A few years ago, I took it upon myself to photograph certain parts of the permanent layout because I knew they would change as part of the conversion to a new train control technology called Digital Command Control (DCC).

Over the course of several weeks I hauled my Hassy, tripod, and other gear I needed to the club, and when I arrived, I found a place to park my stuff and unpack it. Other members arriving after I did would see me with my camera, often while I was unpacking it, and comment on it.

"You got a Hasselblad."

"That's a medium format camera. Cool."

And so forth.

The reactions were, in some ways, not surprising, as the club membership is comprised of people in law, accounting, computer programming, etc. - in short, educated, intelligent people.

Dieter Zakas

P.S. The club of which I'm a member, Pacific Southern, took down their website account no traffic thereto.

 

[Trask]

OK, I just had my first "is that a Hasselblad" experience. Carrying my Bronica EC-TL and two guys lounging on the sidewalk during lunch popped the question. Turns out one still shoots film, and used to have a Hassy 503. I turned them on to APUG -- I keep spreading the word in the hope that some like-minded photographers will give us a try. Then I walked across the street to shoot Abraham Lincoln and re-read the Gettysburg Address.