Is this Hasselblad kit a very good deal? (Beginner question)

Heidar M · Jul 26, 2016

I am very interested in delving into medium format film photography, but as a poor student must make good decision & avoid surprising costs/repair needs. I've found this VERY interesting deal near where I live:

- Black Hasselblad 500 CM body
- 2 Film backs
- 50mm + 80mm + 250mm all CF lenses & all have hoods
- WLF + PM50 45 degree prism finder
- Pistol grip
- EOS adapter
- Lunasix light meter
- Aluminum carrying case

Everything was serviced last year and not used much since. Everything for US$1130! (Price lowered after I talked to him). It's over my budget (which is around US$800), but I feel that I can sell the parts I don't want for almost that money and keep the rest. For example I don't need the 250mm CF and on eBay that goes for $400-$500. Selling that alone would bring me into budget.

What I like is that all lenses are the newer CF lenses + has been serviced recently, so I can avoid surprising issues (or lack of parts, like with C lenses).

Is this a very good deal? An okay deal? Or a bad deal?

Thanks for all your help.

mesantacruz · Jul 26, 2016

Very good deal. I don't think you can ask for much more at that price. Now, it should be a 500cm at that price, but I'd the lenses are cf it might be a 500c/m in which case this is a killer deal. I say go for it either way. You'll be more than happy with it.

Heidar M · Jul 26, 2016

Thanks for the quick answer. I didn't completely understand what you meant by whether it's a 500 cm or 500 c/m? Isn't that the same thing? Maybe it was a typo, 500c vs 500 c/m?(Sorry the beginner questions).

bdial · Jul 26, 2016

It's a good price.

Theo Sulphate · Jul 26, 2016

Amazingly good deal if the camera has been serviced, lenses are clean, and shutters in the lenses are good. I'd imagine they would be, as they're the newer CF rather than C.

Moopheus · Jul 27, 2016

Heidar M said:
Thanks for the quick answer. I didn't completely understand what you meant by whether it's a 500 cm or 500 c/m? Isn't that the same thing? Maybe it was a typo, 500c vs 500 c/m?(Sorry the beginner questions).

It is the same. It should say c/m on the side of the camera. Hasselblad dropped the slash in the designation for the later 501. You're definitely getting a good deal; a set of CF lenses by themselves would be worth most of the asking price.

jeffreyg · Jul 27, 2016

If you can see your way clear keep the 250. Once you use it a few times you will like it. It takes the same size filters as the other two lenses. If you want to double check the reliability of the equipment and the seller will cooperate, take a couple of rolls of film with you and test at different settings, develop or have the film developed before completing the sale. That way there are no surprises.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

Sirius Glass · Jul 27, 2016

Great price and keep the 250mm lens.

John Koehrer · Jul 27, 2016

They're not the same. The CM uses a user changeable screen the C does not.

But. the screen in the C can be changed but usually needs to be done by a technician.

mike c · Jul 27, 2016

Sounds good to me, keep the 250mm and the 50mm and 80mm you will find a use for them all.

Poisson Du Jour · Jul 28, 2016

Get a written list of just what was serviced and why, especially the 500C/M body and the backs. These Hasselblads are now quite old and ideosyncratic problems and lack of knowledge of the operations specific to Hasselblad often lead to the need for repairs. That and how they have been treated over many years and thousands images. Just because it is a Hasselblad doesn't mean it is forever free of problems. I would pay particular attention to the service of the Hassie 500 and the film backs.

The 45° prism finder is always useful. But it needs to be checked for any fungus (uncommon, but I have seen two examples I instantly rejected based on the presence of fungus).

The 50 and 80mm lenses are universally favoured go-to primes and millions of them are out there, some better than others, irrespective of being the C or CF model. You need to be absolutely sure of condition of lenses and things you don't want before aspiring to get a target price. The 250CF lens could, for all intents and purposes, be dented, bruised, scratched...what else? And still quite serviceable. Well presented specimens can fetch well over $500.

As for your last comment:
"Is this a very good deal? An okay deal? Or a bad deal?"
I would say, a bit of all three, and buyer beware.

Chris Livsey · Jul 28, 2016

So, a great price, yes, all serviced last year, wow! what did that cost? Conclusion: why sell at rock bottom price and drop so readily? Hasselblad naive buyer beware.

"It's too good for true, honey, it's too good for true" (Huckleberry Finn, 1884)

canuhead · Jul 28, 2016

If everything is working in good order and the item isn't hot, then yeah, that's a pretty good deal. I'll often ask why they're selling, as way to gauge whether or not they've actually used the equipment or not. Iow, is it really theirs ?

Also, depending on where you are in Canada, there's an excellent Hasselblad tech in Toronto if you ever need work done on the equipment.

Mark Tate · Jul 28, 2016

Grab it if you can, assuming it is all as good as you say, you still see just lenses going for that at times.

The photo quality will blow you away and that camera will still be going strong in 50 years time. Stretch the budget if you can, you will not regret it.

As with any second hand camera gear it is always a case of buyer beware so just keep that in mind as well.

Is this Hasselblad kit a very good deal? (Beginner question)

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