Is that a Hasselblad?

[pbromaghin]

In the last two weeks I've had three different people either ask me if my Rolleiflex was a Hasselblad or outright claim it was a Hasselblad (wherupon I politely corrected them). I'm starting to think that the vast majority think there are three brands of camera in the world: Nikon, Canon and Hasselblad. And anything not immediately identifiable as (and larger than) a 35mm SLR is by default a Hasselblad.

One evening this past weekend in Chicago Chinatown a guy walked by and I heard him pronounce the Mamiya as a Rollieflex. In fact, I was really surprised at how many people stopped and asked me about my camera. In one 5-day period in Chicago it generated about a year's worth of Denver comments.

 

[LJSLATER]

I'm a recent transplant to the LA area; I've gotten a few people thinking I'm hauling a piece of movie equipment when I'm out with my camera with motor drive attached. I told one guy to stick around because the catering truck will arrive soon.

 

[Molli]

In the last two weeks I've had three different people either ask me if my Rolleiflex was a Hasselblad or outright claim it was a Hasselblad (wherupon I politely corrected them). I'm starting to think that the vast majority think there are three brands of camera in the world: Nikon, Canon and Hasselblad. And anything not immediately identifiable as (and larger than) a 35mm SLR is by default a Hasselblad.

It must be contagious. Having never been asked before, I just spent a couple of weeks away and, like you, had three people on three different occasions ask me if my Yashica D TLR was a Hasselblad. After the third time, I actually got online to refresh my memory on exactly what a Hasselblad looks like. I can't see where the confusion comes in - the two cameras really only have two things in common... mostly black... a bit of chrome. So, yes, I think it's simply a case of a great many people only knowing one brand name of a camera larger than a 35mm SLR.

 

[cjbecker]

A few years ago I got asked it that was a hasselblad and they were correct.

 

[swittmann]

I'm a recent transplant to the LA area; I've gotten a few people thinking I'm hauling a piece of movie equipment when I'm out with my camera with motor drive attached. I told one guy to stick around because the catering truck will arrive soon.

Priceless!!

 

[Sjixxxy]

Ran into Chris Faust today while he had a Hasselblad over his shoulder. I damn well knew what it was, but I went and ITAH'd him anyways.

 

[benjiboy]

I was asked this question yesterday by a woman, when I was using a Canon F1 .

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

It must be contagious. Having never been asked before, I just spent a couple of weeks away and, like you, had three people on three different occasions ask me if my Yashica D TLR was a Hasselblad. After the third time, I actually got online to refresh my memory on exactly what a Hasselblad looks like. I can't see where the confusion comes in - the two cameras really only have two things in common... mostly black... a bit of chrome. So, yes, I think it's simply a case of a great many people only knowing one brand name of a camera larger than a 35mm SLR.

Well, there's also the waist-level finder (if you're using one on the Hassy). But you're right, the overall form factor is radically different. For all intents and purposes, the lens(es) on a TLR don't appreciably project beyond the front of the camera, and there's two of them.

 

[Peter Simpson]

...the two (top-tier? illustrious? "best"?) camera systems (Hassy and Leica).

The manufacturers (and owners) of quality Nikon products would like a word with you...

 

[Cybertrash]

I was asked if my Yashica-Mat 124G was a Hasselblad by high-ranking Sensei in my Kendo club when I was shooting a competition with it.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I was asked if my Yashica-Mat 124G was a Hasselblad by high-ranking Sensei in my Kendo club when I was shooting a competition with it.

Lo how the mighty have fallen if a Swede can't tell the difference between a Yashica and a Hasselblad.

On a separate note, I will probably bust a gut if someone asks me if the 2A Autographic Brownie is a Hasselblad when I'm out shooting with it at lunch today.

 

[Black Dog]

So did they ask?.......

 

[k_jupiter]

It's interesting the difference in public awareness of the two (top-tier? illustrious? "best"?) camera systems (Hassy and Leica).
You get "Is that a Hasselblad?" with any camera that is either big or has chrome on it, but it seems like you only get "Is that a Leica?" when it actually is.

The manufacturers (and owners) of quality Nikon products would like a word with you...

And Mamiya.

tim in san jose

 

[k_jupiter]

Even $3,000 espresso makers take lousy photographs.

I DOES seem like half the people on APUG use the damned stuff to develop film. A 3 grand cuppa espresso must be better for developing than the cheap 129.00 one from Costco.

tim in san jose

 

[Dr Croubie]

I've been out shooting with my Kiev 88CM (hassy1000 rip-off for those who don't know) and had people ask me what it is. When I give my standard reply, "you know a Hasselblad? It's the soviet rip-off of that", noone even knows what a Hasselblad is (except for the one or two who know of it being responsible for the Lunar. Oh how the mighty have fallen).
To be fair though, most aussies (present company excluded) would barely even know a real hassy if it bricked them across the face (which is coincidentally a good escape if someone who does know what they are wants to relieve you of it). Generally the next question after someone asks what I'm using is along the lines of, "does that take film, can you still even buy film?"...

 

[Nuff]

I've been out shooting with my Kiev 88CM (hassy1000 rip-off for those who don't know) and had people ask me what it is. When I give my standard reply, "you know a Hasselblad? It's the soviet rip-off of that", noone even knows what a Hasselblad is (except for the one or two who know of it being responsible for the Lunar. Oh how the mighty have fallen).
To be fair though, most aussies (present company excluded) would barely even know a real hassy if it bricked them across the face (which is coincidentally a good escape if someone who does know what they are wants to relieve you of it). Generally the next question after someone asks what I'm using is along the lines of, "does that take film, can you still even buy film?"...

I find it a good thing that Aussies are ignorant about hassies. That's why I managed to pick one up really cheap

Most of my friends have no clue what it is. They just know that it takes amazing photos. As in they look better than what their mobiles can take (cell phone for americans).

 

[mweintraub]

I've gotten "I know a guy with Hasselblad" or the like when I shoot with my Bronica SQ-A. At least they recognize it's not a Hasselblad.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

The manufacturers (and owners) of quality Nikon products would like a word with you...

A few days ago I was walking down the sidewalk. A man walked toward and past me, saying "you don't see many Nikkormats any more". He has a very good eye, as I was carrying an FTN over my left shoulder, pressing it with my lower upper arm by the lenscap against my waist to prevent jostling - all he had to see it and recognise it by would have been the side of the lens and shutter speed ring.

 

[Black Dog]

ISTR back in the olden days of APUG [cue Hovis ad music..] a doughty APUGGer by the name of Doc Holliday did just that!

 

[Sirius Glass]

I was using my WideLux. A man came up to me and said, "That is a nice Panon WideLux. I bet that you have a Leica too." I replied, "I do not have a Leica, but I have two Hasselblads."

 

[k_jupiter]

"I do not have a Leica, but I have two Hasselblads."

And a Panon in a pear tree,

 

[Sirius Glass]

And a Panon in a pear tree,

About pears ...

 

[k_jupiter]

About pears ...

Now THAT'S funny.

 

[polyglot]

I had someone actually recognise my RZ yesterday while I was shooting a wedding. Turns out they're an ex studio-monkey who spent years working the crank on RB67s, so not everyone is ignorant.

 

[Cybertrash]

I had an interesting variation the other day:

I had some guests over and when my friend's boyfriend saw the enlarger I keep at home he asked "What is that, some kind of 3D-printer?", thought it was pretty amusing.