Renting A Hasselblad 500?

[Nathan King]

Does anybody know where a person living in Eastern Nebraska can rent a Hasselblad 500 series body and 80mm lens? I'm contemplating buying into the system but would like to make sure it's a good replacement for my Mamiya 645 system before making the investment.

 

[Sirius Glass]

If you were in Los Angeles then I could direct you to Samys but I do not know anything in Nebraska.

There are a lot of reasons that the Hasselblad will be a good replacement for the Mamiya 645, but you already know them. Take the plunge, you will not regret it. Besides you could always sell off the Hasselblad equipment for about what you paid for it.

 

[Alan Gales]

Maybe there is an APUG member in Nebraska close that will let you shoot his/her Blad. If not then follow Sirius' advice and buy one and then sell if it isn't for you. If you buy right the money you lose on reselling may be near the same as a rental fee would be.

Any APUG Hasselblad owners out there near Omaha that will help Nathan out? He's a great guy who is a subscriber, regularly shoots film and puts on clean underwear every day (Sirius told me about the underwear).

 

[Luis-F-S]

buy one and then sell if it isn't for you. If you buy right the money you lose on reselling may be near the same as a rental fee would be.

They're so cheap nowadays, just buy one! Best MF camera made. L

 

[Alan Gales]

They're so cheap nowadays, just buy one! Best MF camera made. L

I guess that depends on what you think is cheap. I sold my 500cm with 80mm for a grand not that long ago.

 

[Kirks518]

adoramarentals rents the 503CW for $25/day, and the 80mm for $20/day. Only thing is that you have to have insurance or credit card to cover the nearly $6000 replacement value....

 

[Sirius Glass]

... to cover the nearly $6000 replacement value....

Not exactly cheap.

 

[Alan Gales]

Let's see. You got a $45 rental fee and a $6,000 replacement value. I bet I could buy one off Ebay and resell it and not lose $45. Of course you are probably better off buying from KEH and paying a little more.

 

[gone]

My experiences w/ eBay have been, shall we say, sub optimal. You might get what is advertised, and then again you might not. Paypal (I despise that corporation almost as much as I despise eBay) allegedly will offer you buyer protection, but why put yourself through what could be a terrible experience? Just buy it from KEH, and if it doesn't suit you, return it.

Now I have been burned by KEH in the past too, and will never, ever buy anything from Adorama or B&H as long as I live after past problems, but KEH is generally on the money w/ descriptions, and they have a LOT nicer people working there. You get a little of that old time Atlanta politeness. The whole New York rudeness and indifference crap that you get in the above stores is so childish and juvenile. Never mind the underhandedness of their reps. Other people love them, I am only describing my personal dealings, which were awful.

 

[Luis-F-S]

Funny, I've bought Thousands of dollars worth, including 8 Hasselbalds over the past 35 years from B&H and never had an issue they didn't resolve to my satisfaction. L

 

[bdial]

I think Samy's may ship their rentals, but you have to pay for the transit time, as I recall. EP Levine's in Boston also has rentals, don't know if they ship or not though.
(www.eplevine.com)

 

[RalphLambrecht]

They're so cheap nowadays, just buy one! Best MF camera made. L

+1

 

[winger]

It's too bad you didn't post this before last March. I was living in Page county IA and would have lent you my 503cxi to try out. I'm back in PA now, though, sorry! And I never found much for camera shops in that area.

 

[Nathan King]

I suppose I'll just have to take the plunge then. :devil:

Thank you all for your help.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Let's see. You got a $45 rental fee and a $6,000 replacement value. I bet I could buy one off Ebay and resell it and not lose $45. Of course you are probably better off buying from KEH and paying a little more.

KEH has a great return policy and they can fix any problems that arise via repair or exchange.