Suggestions for Hasselblad 500ELX

[Milk]

Hey everyone, I'm new to this site and also new to owning a Hasselblad. It was my birthday recently so I decided to treat myself to some new cameras (I may have over-indulged, thankfully pay day is tomorrow lol) and got some cameras from an auction out of the UK. I just need some clarification and/or suggestions to what parts I should be getting for the 500elx. I've read that the "A" type magazines work on most if not all 500 cameras, however I purchased a 70 magazine. I can't really find anything on it being compatible with the 500elx. Also what brand/type of lenses are best used with said camera? Thank you!

Also let me clarify that I was only able to buy the body and film back, so suggestions on viewfinder and lens would also help!

 

[bdial]

The 70mm back will be fine on your ELX, as will any of the 120/220 backs.

For lenses, the only brand choice you have is Hasselblad (optics made by Zeiss) . There are (were) some aftermarket teleconverters, but no other company that I know of made compatible lenses.
The classic standard lens is a 80mm f/2.8. As with most of the other components, there are new and old styles, along with some variants along the way. The oldest are the "C" series lenses, newer are CFI and CFE, which have different shutters, and controls that are a bit more convenient, and are multi-coated. Mostly, old and new are optically the same, but there are exceptions.
If you consistently prefer a wider or narrower view, you may want to consider a 50 or 60mm lens as your "normal" on the wide sider, or the 100mm lens for the tele side. The 60 is more or less equivalent to a 35-40mm lens on a 35mm camera, while the 50 is more like a 28. On the tele side, the 100 is akin to an 80'ish mm lens for 35. For tight portraits the 150 is very popular.
New replacement parts are no longer available for the C lenses, so you may want to look to the newer series for your lens choices. But, you'll spend a bit less on C series lenses.

For viewfinders, many of us prefer the 45 degree prism finders. The newer PME and PM5 prism finders are a bit lighter than the older NC-x units but either would work. For waist level finders, there are two styles, on the oldest one you have to fold down each side and then the back then front when collapsing it. The newer one has hinged sides and is a little quicker and more convenient to collapse. I like the newer one better, but in use they work the same. I mostly use a waist level finder on my ELX because of weight, but I use a prism on my manual body.

Much depends on your taste and style of working as to what sort of pieces to complete your kit, I've only hit the high points of your choices.
For manuals and other information, Hasselblad Historical is a good source, http://hasselbladhistorical.eu/HW/HWVSys.aspx

And, btw, welcome to the Hasselblad end of the pool, come on in, the water's fine.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Obviously you are a very wise man. I can tell because you have chosen Hasselblad. I recommend that you start with the 80mm and later add the 50mm or the 250mm. The 60mm and the 150mm are too close to the 80mm to start with. If you want to do portraits the 150mm and the 180mm are good choices, but I have been told that the 180mm is optically better than the 150mm.

This about either of these sets:

• 50mm, 80mm, 250mm
• 60mm, 100mm, 250mm

The 500mm which I have is too heavy to hand hold, it needs a tripod.

I use ISO 400 film most of the time and hand hold with the shutter sheet no slower the 1/[the lens focal length] seconds.

 

[Milk]

Thank you for the feedback guys! Really great advice. For context I usually do portraits and candids, so 150mm is definitely a good place to start. I've used 80mm and 50mm on both of my Mamiya 645 cameras, I'm definitely ready for a change lol

 

[Sirius Glass]

Thank you for the feedback guys! Really great advice. For context I usually do portraits and candids, so 150mm is definitely a good place to start. I've used 80mm and 50mm on both of my Mamiya 645 cameras, I'm definitely ready for a change lol

I rarely shoot portraits so my 150mm lens is my least used.

 

[bdial]

OTH, If I could have only one for my Hasselblad, I might well pick the 150.


One fault of the 150 is that it doesn't focus very close, so in spite of its focal length, for tight head shots you will probably want a short extension tube for it, or perhaps go to the 180.

 

[Milk]

OTH, If I could have only one for my Hasselblad, I might well pick the 150.


One fault of the 150 is that it doesn't focus very close, so in spite of its focal length, for tight head shots you will probably want a short extension tube for it, or perhaps go to the 180.

Gotcha, I just found a cheap 150 for about $80. It's listed that it has fungus, thankfully I'm prepared for such a situation