Post your images taken with Hasselblad SWC

[Deleted member 88956]

@VTLD thank you. I just deleted my original question because I found the answer, there's a "T" switch which I didn't notice. I am reading the "Handbook" now, to get RTFM out of the way.

I think you should have left that up. Older phones will need attachment, even if in a year or two 12 may be oldest one for most users.

As @fatso showed nicely, app is a godsend to a lot shooting situations. I have just compared app's view with SWC finder. While I'm already fairly comfortable with the comical distortion within the SWC's finder, app's view is a lot more "positive" in that sense. And I have read a number of comments about SWC's finder being such a distraction to some users, this app (or any similar one) might be the difference in better appreciating the camera.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Yeah, my confusion was that I assumed that the app switches cameras automatically. I did not realize that I had to switch between wide-normal-tele manually. Just never really needed it much, as I shoot primarily 6x6 negatives with 60, 80 and 100mm lenses. BTW, according to the manual @Sirius Glass is wrong in that the app applies distortion corrections and it shows the accurate rectilinear view. I may start practicing finding compositions with it, maybe some day I'll get an SWC!

Good thing is, phone should keep the lens choice setting for you now when you open app again. It does on mine at least. I'll post a screen shot later of Biogon view. But as for the app itself, it is certainly a godsend for set up with larger cameras and lens choice as well. It is quite complex n features, I just wish it would be taken into analog shooting more with logbook to match, all in one would have been nice. I just don't see it coming from this developer.

 

[Paul Ozzello]

Why? I asked what is the reason for not having Hasselblad SWC on pick list. Reply: because some older phoes require wide attachment for frame to show up on screen. Fine. So I asked, how come you have Biogon 38/4.5 in lens database? No response

I think it would be tedious for him to have to add every single film camera in existence. But he makes it very easy to add custom cameras - Basically you choose a focal length and the size of your film (ie 56x56mm for 6x6 - 56x112 for 6x12 etc) and the app calculates how to simulate the combination. The 38 isn’t limited to the biogon - it also works with the 38mm Schneider super angulon xl with any film size 6x6 6x7 6x9 6x12 etc. There is a limit - 55 on 612 is fully covered but 45mm on 612 gets a little cut off on the sides. But I was amazed to see that it fully covers the Schneider 72mm SA XL on 6x17 !!

@Old Gregg I still have an iPhone 8 Plus and use the Oppo ultra wide lens adapter - and set the app to always use the wide angle lens. The image quality isn’t as good as using the native iPhone ultra wide lens but i only use for composition and scouting - so no big deal.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

I think it would be tedious for him to have to add every single film camera in existence. But he makes it very easy to add custom cameras - Basically you choose a focal length and the size of your film (ie 56x56mm for 6x6 - 56x112 for 6x12 etc) and the app calculates how to simulate the combination. The 38 isn’t limited to the biogon - it also works with the 38mm Schneider super angulon xl with any film size 6x6 6x7 6x9 6x12 etc. There is a limit - 55 on 612 is fully covered but 45mm on 612 gets a little cut off on the sides. But I was amazed to see that it fully covers the Schneider 72mm SA XL on 6x17 !!

I never asked for all cameras to be included. SWC is a major one and one and only. Having its lens in the database but not the actual camera in the list is strange to say the least. Fixed lens body gets set up automatically, if there were such a choice. And I mean there is a BIOGON listed not mere 38 mm lens. It may work fine with Angulon or whichever, but it is there and I assume he got that Biogon's data from Zeiss, as he claims is the case for all lenses listed.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Yeah, my confusion was that I assumed that the app switches cameras automatically. I did not realize that I had to switch between wide-normal-tele manually. Just never really needed it much, as I shoot primarily 6x6 negatives with 60, 80 and 100mm lenses. BTW, according to the manual @Sirius Glass is wrong in that the app applies distortion corrections and it shows the accurate rectilinear view. I may start practicing finding compositions with it, maybe some day I'll get an SWC!

I never said that the view finder is distortion free. I said that the view finder framing is accurate.

 

[Sirius Glass]

TBH I can't explain the popularity of this app with digital shooters. Pulling out your iPhone, unlocking it, finding and launching the app just to check a composition takes more time, and more annoying, than pulling your neat little mirrorless out of the right bag. And if you're shooting digital, what is the "catalog" feature for? IMO this app is a godsend for film photographers, especially medium and large format users, but utterly useless when I'm carrying my Fuji XT-3. So I find it strange that his focus is digital photographers.

I cannot see the use of the app for the SWC. Besides for any composition with the Hasselblad or 35mm camera I know which focal length lens to use.

 

[Sirius Glass]

@Sirius Glass you cannot see what you don't have. Here's why you need it:

• It shows you live view in B&W mode, which is insanely accurate especially for T-Max 400 for some reason.
• The catalog allows you to keep track of dates, locations and notes for every shot. I transfer this data into EXIF of the final scans, so I can search images by date, camera, lens, film, etc.
• And yes, you get the accurate distortion-free viewfinder. Quite handy when it's raining, or hiking/backpacking.
• If you have more than one lens/camera with you, it allows you to quickly check other focal lengths.

• It shows you live view in B&W mode, which is insanely accurate especially for T-Max 400 for some reason. I just do not need to do that. I can guess well enough.
  
• The catalog allows you to keep track of dates, locations and notes for every shot. I transfer this data into EXIF of the final scans, so I can search images by date, camera, lens, film, etc. I put the month, year and roll number and locations on the PrintFile pages. The film rebates has the film type. By the way what is this EXIF of which you speak so reverently?
• And yes, you get the accurate distortion-free viewfinder. Quite handy when it's raining, or hiking/backpacking. So I can get my water proof iPhone out to get wet before I take out the camera to get wet? Is the necessary or efficient? I do not understand your practice.
  
• If you have more than one lens/camera with you, it allows you to quickly check other focal lengths. All my lenses have the focal length engraved on the barrels and/or on the plastic ring around the front of the lens.

Do you also check with the oracle, Siri, to assure that the composition, lighting and exposure will be good and worth the effort?

 

[Paul Ozzello]

Do you also check with the oracle, Siri, to assure that the composition, lighting and exposure will be good and worth the effort?

Your loss.

 

[drmoss_ca]

Did anyone ever point out that this place is full of grouchy old buggers? Not me, obviously. But I bet the grouchiest and snarkiest of you would be perfectly polite and friendly if we happened to be buying each other a pint. Maybe we'd even agree to disagree about certain films, cameras or formats.

 

[BrianShaw]

Did anyone ever point out that this place is full of grouchy old buggers? Not me, obviously. But I bet the grouchiest and snarkiest of you would be perfectly polite and friendly if we happened to be buying each other a pint. Maybe we'd even agree to disagree about certain films, cameras or formats.

I wouldn’t bet on that.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Your loss.

I have not lost anything. I am concerned that he does not trust his own judgement and has to depend on an oracle. Are you oracle dependent?

 

[Pieter12]

Just oracle fixated.

 

[Sirius Glass]

@Sirius Glass I don't think you are actually involved in making images anymore. You probably still hold memories of pressing a shutter button back in the day, but they're fading. If they didn't, it would have been dead obvious to you that pulling a camera out of a backpack when you're standing in the mud is less convenient than a phone, especially if you need to change lenses. For this very practical reason movie makers and landscape photographers historically carried an actual physical finder with them. The iPhone app is just a more flexible version of it.

I still use film cameras, lenses and of course film. When we were in the Louvre we saw that most of the visitors were looking at the Mona Lisa through their phones and never actually using their eyes directly to look at the painting. In that case one might as well just stay home and look at it on line, except for the ones taking selfies with their hands posted to look as though they were the artist.

 

[Pieter12]

For me, the allure of the SWC is the fantastic lens. Plus the square format. You might get the equivalent of a 24mm lens on a 35mm camera framed horizontally, but for the same angle with the 35 held vertically it's the equivalent of a 16mm lens. Just a lot more in the frame, for me a lot more pleasing.

 

[Pieter12]

I still use film cameras, lenses and of course film. When we were in the Louvre we saw that most of the visitors were looking at the Mona Lisa through their phones and never actually using their eyes directly to look at the painting. In that case one might as well just stay home and look at it on line, except for the ones taking selfies with their hands posted to look as though they were the artist.

Before smartphone, people were doing pretty much the same with small P&S digital cameras. Less so with film, casual tourists usually weren't shooting fast enough film to get a sharp snapshot in those conditions. Also, holding the camera up to your eye to take the picture isolates your view.

 

[Paul Ozzello]

I have not lost anything. I am concerned that he does not trust his own judgement and has to depend on an oracle. Are you oracle dependent?

@Old Gregg I just remembered why I don’t participate that much on these forums. What a drag.

 

[Arthurwg]

Did anyone ever point out that this place is full of grouchy old buggers? Not me, obviously. But I bet the grouchiest and snarkiest of you would be perfectly polite and friendly if we happened to be buying each other a pint. Maybe we'd even agree to disagree about certain films, cameras or formats.

The New York Times said that grouchy old people are smarter than the non-grouchy sort.

 

[BrianShaw]

The New York Times said that grouchy old people are smarter than the non-grouchy sort.

Nonsense. That was their backhanded way to imply that New Yorkers are smarter than Bostonians. Utter nonsense. Fake news.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Back to Mark II for SWC specifically. Same applies to any gear, of course, with key difference being the optical finder used to shoot with SWC.

The way I see it, even with relative "smallness" of SWC, it is not that pocketable and not always does one have it on hand when an appealing place comes up. Phone is most likely available. Easy to whip it out, scout the scene, snap some quickies for future reference, and later come back with gear to shoot it to one's desires. In that sense this kind of app is of big help.

I also alluded earlier to the comical distortion in SWC's finder. Of course it is not possible to address distortion in such a simple optical design, and framed area does look quite well matched to what lens sees. Still though, I can see how some users can struggle with that distortion in view for assured composition. Mark II shows things pretty close to what film sees, even if correction isn't perfect it far outdoes optical finder in that sense.

 

[Pieter12]

I also alluded earlier to the comical distortion in SWC's finder.

Wide-angle finders for 35mm RF cameras also have quite a bit of distortion. You learn to adapt.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Wide-angle finders for 35mm RF cameras also have quite a bit of distortion. You learn to adapt.

Sure do. I have no issues with it, but before getting my feet wet in the SWC variant, I had read in more than few places about users not having the easiest of times to adapt. And I can see why. That mental adjustment grows especially large when all straight lines look like a bloated old man in the finder. App could help some of those users to get over the line.

 

[Pieter12]

Some SWCs are sold with this Voigtlander angle finder with the 15mm attachment. The one behind the link is for 35mm RFs, but they sold a 6x6 version too. I wonder if it's better?

Does it show a square frame?

 

[Deleted member 88956]

According to what I have read, the 6x6 version does, you can find those on eBay.

Aren't they requiring bankruptcy filing though? There is one SWC with it and judging by price that guy seems to think it's worth about 1.5k alone.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

I do wish original finder was switchable to down view, like Camon F1 speed finder. Would have made low angle framing easy.

 

[nick_clark]

I don't think I've shared anything from my SWC here before...

Mt Oakleigh | Overland Track, Tasmania

SWC/M and Pro400H


Mt Oakleigh by Nick Clark, on Flickr