Resale value comparisons: Mamiya vs. Hasselblad

[PaulMD]

When I was a working pro using a C330F I always wanted a Hasselblad. Now that I have one I wonder why? Shooting weddings with a Mamiya is so much easier, no black out, quiet.

Weight. I've only held a lens-less Mamiya TLR, but even still it was a brick. Maybe a rangefinder would be your thing? Koni Omegas were real popular wedding cameras back in their day for those reasons you mentioned. I've always wanted to try one out, that bolt action advance just sounds fun.

 

[Too old to care]

Since I have both a C330f with 80mm lens and a 501C, also with an 80mm lens I compared them, they are about the same weight. I still use both for play, but moved to digital for weddings a few years ago for work. I am now retired, sold my wedding stuff (5DII, Zeiss, and L series lenses) and picked up my film cameras again. My issue with the Hasselblad is the noise and it blacks out during and after the photo. I do not like this, since I used to take a lot of available light photos during the service and did not want to disturb the wedding. The quality of the images are about the same, maybe a slight edge to the 501.

 

[MattKing]

A Mamiya C330 with three lenses is lighter and smaller than a Hasselblad 501C with three lenses.

 

[pgomena]

Hasselblads are smaller, lighter and more elegant than the RBs and RZs. I own a Hasselblad and have worked with a couple of photographers who used the Mamiyas, and have used one a few times in the past.

RBs are workhorses, versatile, rugged, big and heavy, and a little clunky. I won't argue lens quality between the two systems. The "look" is a little different, but quality is no argument.

So, if you buy a Mamiya system because it's comparable in quality to Hasselblad, and you buy it cheap at the bottom of the market, what are you going to lose? You'll be able to sell it for close to what you paid for it. If you pay more for the Hasselblad system, you'll still be able to sell it for close to what you paid for it. Yes, used prices might decline a bit, but you'll still be able to get a good dollar for it. If it's in good shape and well cared for, buyers will appreciate that. It's a Hasselblad, after all.

I bought my 503cx 3-lens kit with metered finder, one back and some other accessories, in EX condition,
for $3500 about 6 years ago. I added a used back along the way. I probably could get $3,000+ for it today. Yes, the price is less than what I paid, but I've had 6 years' light-to-moderate use out of it. If I was going to sell, which I'm not, I figure $500 to use the camera for 6 years is a pretty reasonable rental fee. (I keep an eye on KEH's used prices as my price guide, and I keep my kit in good repair.)

Peter Gomena

 

[Argenticien]

Hasselblad is the Leica of medium format.

As the above posters said, it's just the name.

It's not that it's not a good system. But it's popular. The above posters summed it up perfectly.

+1. Mamiyas were not taken into space and to the Moon (with all but the film backs left there for weight reasons). I think that, back in the day, NASA's usage served as quite an endorsement and burnished the Hasselblad brand.

(Note to future self: Be careful using this criterion. In a few years there will be a Seagull, or something, used on the Moon and left there for weight reasons.)

--Dave

 

[photomy]

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I don't get what you are saying, digital backs are available for the RB's and RZ's too. Look on the MamiyaLeaf website. You may have to sell your house to get one, but I'm sure they are made. Ric.

I would guess that because of the larger format size, a much smaller population of photogs use RZ with digital back, although there are backs that can fit. The digital sensors are sized for 645 format or even smaller, so the extra coverage is wasted. With smaller lenses you get things like 1/800 shutter speed instead of 1/400, smaller size/weight, etc. The digital backs are so much more expensive than the cameras, most people plan the camera system purchase around the digital back purchase. Most pros that plan on doing a lot of medium format digital use a 645 size system or at least 60 square such as Hasselblad. Those that use RZ with a digital would probably be someone that uses it for film mostly and only occasionally for digital. Of course there will be exceptions to this.

= tommy