Now I know ... I think ... what annoys me most in Hasselblad

[Hassasin]

Let's put one thing aside: this is not a Hasselblad bashing thread, and I own it too, with lots of saved beer and cigars to make it happen,

Until now I was not sure which part of Hasselblad was making me second guess the decision to go in. The decision itself was based on SWC purchase and I remain convinced, had I not bought SWC, none of the other V system would have ever made it into my garage. This however, would be for another thread, which I don't plan on starting.

Coming off Mamiya's 645 and RB67, Bronica ETRSi & EC, Pentax 645 (original and NII), among several other TLR and non-SLR MF cameras, I got the SWC and soon after thought V-system was worth trying.

Wound up with the 503CW, 2006 build, probably never used, along with some lenses CFi 50 & 150, the unfortunate 60 CB, 135/5.6 CF macro, and 250/5.6 CF (non-SA). To the latter end, probably not the end of lenses as I need to acquire back the Tessar 160 CB for sure and at least the standard 80 and possibly the 350. Quite a few accessories are in my stall too. Honourable mention needs to go to Flexbody, right after the SWC.

I've kind of mentioned, Hasselblad is a fine photographic tool, but not everyone will be all that pleased. I think part of it comes with cost involved, really at any time of the market as Hass has alway been, relatively, one of the most expensive. I won't go into my dislikes any more now than I had already mentioned in another thread. I do think that money spent implies some matching expectations, and many will not find the two on the same plane, I never did, including ergonomics, build quality, sense of ruggedness etc.

But, until today I could not put a finger on what it was that made me second-guess it. And ... it is the noise. That thumping slap after releasing shutter. Surely some will put forward praise for same, so I'll leave it purely as a personal matter. Seems like that barn-door flipping out of the way, mirror going up ... no idea.... Every camera is different in what they amplify out. For whatever reason, Hasselblad's slap feels more off-putting to me than even the Bronica EC (some brilliant engineering and forethought in that one, of course not without own issues).

All this sounds maybe silly, except in all walks of life we each respond to noises in a different way. I like quite a bit about Hasselblad, just not everything and it is not my go to camera.

 

[guangong]

Why do you need so many lenses?

 

[Hassasin]

Why do you need so many lenses?

For good balance, otherwise I lean to one side only

I think the CB 160 is an ugly duck in the lineup, too bad they made so few, but liked it. The 60 was to replace the 80, but that is no go for what I was hoping (mine also has manufactured-in wobble when mounted, so for that alone I don't like using it, even if it is a very fine lens otherwise, 135 macro is great for its purpose and along with variable extension tube, can be used handheld without any bellows. Longer lengths ... enough occasions when I cannot reach what I want without a cannon mounted. Of course never all that stuff in the bag at the same time.

 

[Alan9940]

Don't ever get a P67!

Locking up the mirror just before exposure will eliminate some noise. And, no crime that a piece of camera kit just doesn't "fit" you. Sell off what you're not satisfied with.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Well, I got rid of the Fuji GW690 even though by most criteria it was a perfect camera for me. Because of the noise it makes on shutter release. One should not cringe and be dreading the moment of releasing a shutter.

 

[Hassasin]

Don't ever get a P67!

Locking up the mirror just before exposure will eliminate some noise. And, no crime that a piece of camera kit just doesn't "fit" you. Sell off what you're not satisfied with.

Sure, except no, noise is still there just not in immediate succession. You can read my post as me trying to find something wrong with Hasselblad, versus ... what's wrong with my decision to buy into it. And I never really suggested I wish to get rid of it, or have I?

There is no camera that has it all. You mention P67, never wanted one as I found it awkward all around in my hands (love P645), but have Fuji 690, with a really strange shooting sound too, still cherish it nonetheless.

 

[Hassasin]

Well, I got rid of the Fuji GW690 even though by most criteria it was a perfect camera for me. Because of the noise it makes on shutter release. One should not cringe and be dreading the moment of releasing a shutter.

+ 1

 

[Alan9940]

Different strokes I guess...

My P67 sounds like a Howitzer when the shutter is released and I love that sound!

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

Yes to everyone his/her own. Funny you mention about the mirror sound. I've the same feeling about the Bronica ERTS. Is a nice camera and size feels awesome on my hands but somehow dislike the mirror slap. No vibration issues or anything, just don't like the sound. So much that sometimes I would even pick another camera because of this sometimes. RB67 and Kiev 88 slap don't bother me at al though.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I'm surprised Sirius Glass hasn't weighed in yet. He must be still in bed When I played around with a friend's Hasselblad, I found its mirror to be quieter than my RB67's. But I sure do love the sound my RB makes!

 

[Hassasin]

RB has excellent sound, I also find it super smooth by any measure. Ketchup anyone?

 

[wiltw]

Use your smartphone, get a sound measurement app and do some comparative measurement to see where the Hassy compares...

I measured each camera with lens at f/4 and shutter speed 1/125...

Olympus OM-1: 69 dB (cloth horizontal travel shutter)
Canon 5D: 69dB (metal vertical travel shutter)
Canon 40D: 69dB (metal vertical travel shutter)
Olympus OM-4: 71dB (cloth horizontal travel shutter)
Bronica ETRSi: 71dB (MF leaf shutter)
Topcon D-1: 72dB (Copal Square metal vertical travel shutter)
Topcon Super D: 72dB (cloth horizontal travel shutter)

 

[Hassasin]

Use your smartphone, get a sound measurement app and do some comparative measurement to see where the Hassy compares...

I measured each camera with lens at f/4 and shutter speed 1/125...

Olympus OM-1: 69 dB (cloth horizontal travel shutter)
Canon 5D: 69dB (metal vertical travel shutter)
Canon 40D: 69dB (metal vertical travel shutter)
Olympus OM-4: 71dB (cloth horizontal travel shutter)
Bronica ETRSi: 71dB (MF leaf shutter)
Topcon D-1: 72dB (Copal Square metal vertical travel shutter)
Topcon Super D: 72dB (cloth horizontal travel shutter)

There are decibels and the intangible "qualities" of sound, totally different when it comes to "feel" of any noise.

 

[Vaughn]

Love the little 'click' from the Rolliecord shutter....

 

[Eric Rose]

Get some ear plugs.

 

[Hassasin]

To expand on my last post, it is NOT strength of the sound at all that pinches me in a wrong way. Frankly, I think it's that kind of noise Hass produces that makes it less favourable to my ears (or perhaps not even ears, but that inner devil, is that same as voodoo explanation ?)

 

[Steven Lee]

Glad to see other people pay as much attention to acoustic feedback as much as I do. The Hasselblad sound is the second big reason I adore the system. All other cameras sound as if something is broken inside. The number one is the focusing mechanics: heavy, slow, and the focusing effort is consistent across all lenses.

I have my own list of Hasselblad 500-series annoyances:

1. The dark slide is asymmetrical and not clearly marked. When inserted upside down it drags the insert out.
2. The default WLF comes with 0 diopter adjustment as if the average buyer has the eyes of a 18 years old.
3. You have to take the back off to swap finders or for a double exposure.

That's my list. But the sounds it makes more than makes up for it.

 

[VinceInMT]

Love the little 'click' from the Rolliecord shutter....

With my aging ears I can barely hear it on mine anymore.

Back in my early days in photography I was at a wedding and every time the photographer took a picture it sounded like someone was dropping the lid off a trash can. Very annoying during the service. I made sure to find out what he was shooting and it was a Bronica.

 

[itsdoable]

<snip>
... it is the noise. That thumping slap after releasing shutter. Surely some will put forward praise for same, so I'll leave it purely as a personal matter. Seems like that barn-door flipping out of the way, mirror going up ... no idea.... Every camera is different in what they amplify out. For whatever reason, Hasselblad's slap feels more off-putting to me than even the Bronica EC (some brilliant engineering and forethought in that one, of course not without own issues).

All this sounds maybe silly, except in all walks of life we each respond to noises in a different way. I like quite a bit about Hasselblad, just not everything and it is not my go to camera.

Ha! You should try a 2000fc/m, the metallic clang of that one was so harsh, I tend to avoid using it even though I prefer the F lenses and it's ergonomics. Fortunately the 200 series fixed that

I have to agree about the EC though, like the RB's, the long protracted release sounds ... was pleasant!. Even the Bronica S were OK.

For me, the Hasselblad 500C was one of the 1st medium format cameras I used, and I have good memories of it, along with the release sound. Kind of like comfort food...

 

[abruzzi]

my fujica is so quiet that I can barely hear the shutter in a noisy environment. I love it.

 

[warden]

I'm not a fan of the noise when releasing the shutter, but I like the sound of winding the film afterwards. Go figure.

My current pet peeve is that my Hassy is locked up after trying to use the mirror lock up. I can't free it so off to a repair shop it goes. My second peeve is the terrible light seals on the film backs. Aside from that it's a great system camera imho.

 

[Pieter12]

My second peeve is the terrible light seals on the film backs.

I've learned to just not use the dark slide unless absolutely necessary. I leave the back on the camera and just change inserts when changing film. I have also been known to put a strip of gaffer's tap[e over the dark slide opening.

 

[mshchem]

I have Fuji rangefinders and the loud click of the body mechanism, not the shutter is horrible. Still this is my first camera I tend to grab. I love the Hasselblads, it always seemed funny to me that I needed to remember to hold down the shutter release, to keep the pathway clear. Now I kinda like it. I love Hasselblads. No freaking batteries

 

[mshchem]

I've learned to just not use the dark slide unless absolutely necessary. I leave the back on the camera and just change inserts when changing film. I have also been known to put a strip of gaffer's tap[e over the dark slide opening.

Some entrepreneur should market a seal with indestructible foam. The ancient gray crud of the decomposed foam is terrible. The seals are easy to replace, not sure but I think that's a good thing.

 

[guangong]

With my aging ears I can barely hear it on mine anymore.

Back in my early days in photography I was at a wedding and every time the photographer took a picture it sounded like someone was dropping the lid off a trash can. Very annoying during the service. I made sure to find out what he was shooting and it was a Bronica.

Fifty years ago when relatively young, I could never hear the shutter click on my F2.8. Still can’t. Interesting though, with the first pressing of the shutter button, a bear I was photographing about 20-25 feet away instantly bolted into the woods. The sound of guns being fired doesn’t see to bother them at all.