Sanity Check

I use a 4x5 (folder) and 503CW. I prefer my 4x5 mainly because of the movements, but also because of the workflow, the pleasure of composing on the ground glass, and, arguably, the results I get. However, when I cannot travel with it, Hassy is a wonderful replacement, compact and light. Still, I've never used my Hasselblad for a landscape not thinking that I wish I had the 4x5 with me at the time. For portraits it makes less of a difference.

Store one of the 4x5's inside the 5x7 to save space. I don't know if that's practical or not but it's worth a shot.

nicholai said:

Hehe! I was about to get a Durst 138. Thats one big thing! He. I think you misunderstood me! I already sold it, for that price.

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Yeah I was considering the 138 too, until I saw one in the darkroom at Vrå højskole :w00t: The Omega D3 (or D2) is more humane in size.

Best regards

Slixtiesix said:

I second the advice on the SL66. Optics are the same as Hasselblad but cheaper. They do not need maintenance also since they have no shutter or helicoid. Only once with my 150mm lens I had the aperture to be fixed.

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Are the optics cheaper? When I was researching medium format SLRs, it seemed like the Rollei system was the once place that didn't have a price advantage over Hasselblad. Whereas the Mamiya and Bronica lenses can be found for very lowprices, the Rollei lenses (and accessories) seemed higher on average. Also, there is so much Hasselblad equipment on the used market that if you are patient, you can find most items for very competitive prices (if you aren't attached to the absolute newest bodies and lenses). Lots of people overprice 'blad stuff though, so you have to look around that. You may have something on the maintenance cost, but I suspect a Rollei repair (if needed) would be more costly due to scarcity of parts.

Speed Graphic with a roll film back, no movements, its big and clunky compared to a Hasselblad, it will take 4x5 film as well as 120,they are pretty cheap to buy and many inexpensive lens available. The worst and best of both worlds.

Mike