The Hasselblad is arriving tomorrow...

[Sirius Glass]

I really hope it's not the case. But if it is, I will get the chance to test KEH's 180-day warranty. BTW what does it even mean: "out of square"? You mean the cage is bent?

The repair person puts the camera in a jig and straightens it up. Not painful.

 

[jerrybro]

Re focusing. I use the split image to tell me the direction I need to turn the focus ring to get close to where I want to be. I then use the pop up magnifier and micro prism to fine focus. Next is to frame the shot and set aperture to cover the focus range I'm interested in. It is definitely a slower process than my Cord or small format SLRs.

 

[Вormental_old]

I have developed my 2nd Hasselblad roll, which was mostly devoted to wide-open garbage shooting to practice manual focus. I just scanned the first three shots and they are 100% on target. I used the technique above, basically turning the long-throw focus ring more energetically & quickly, while ignoring the split-image circle and treating the entire screen as a giant microprism ring, waiting for the "micro-sparkles" to disappear on patterned surfaces.

Phew... no need to "adjust the box"

 

[PFGS]

I have developed my 2nd Hasselblad roll, which was mostly devoted to wide-open garbage shooting to practice manual focus. I just scanned the first three shots and they are 100% on target. I used the technique above, basically turning the long-throw focus ring more energetically & quickly, while ignoring the split-image circle and treating the entire screen as a giant microprism ring, waiting for the "micro-sparkles" to disappear on patterned surfaces.

Phew... no need to "adjust the box"

"Gaze into the sparkle box" is like, the best ad Hasselblad never ran - glad it worked out.

 

[cayenne]

I know you don’t want to even think about one more thing to buy, but another accessory might help too: a prism viewfinder. I prefer not using mine but it really does help with focus.

I"ll second this!!
I think the WLF finder is cool and looks cool to shoot with, but after getting the prism viewfinder (mine without meter)....it changed my V system Hassy shooting, more winners and I'm having more fun shooting now that I can see.
And not having everything reversed is nice too.
C

 

[Sirius Glass]

I bought my Hasselblad with the 45 degree PME finder and I have never put the WLF on in over ten years.

 

[BradS]

Back in the 1990's I assisted for a wedding photographer.
My job was to, "look big and keep an eye on these two bright yellow Pelican cases. don't touch anything.".
He carried six (!) Hasselblad bodies
all of them equipped with 45 degree finders

He treated the WLF like an expensive body cap.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Back in the 1990's I assisted for a wedding photographer.
My job was to, "look big and keep an eye on these two big yellow Pelican cases. don't touch anything.".
He carried six (!) Hasselblad bodies
all of them equipped with 45 degree finders

He treated the WLF like an expensive body cap.

Good use for the WLF.

 

[Вormental_old]

Whatever rocks your boats, gents. But the addition of WLF made a positive impact on my photography, not just by making the process more enjoyable, but also it improved the results. I am quite tall and WLF naturally forces me to consider shots I'd normally be uncomfortable taking. Framing with a WLF it's like looking at an already-printed photo, which elevates my standards and I don't do as many crap-shots with a WLF. Being super-glued to a viewfinder was a major crutch of shooting film, and always loved waist-level shooting with digital, and I love having this option on film too.

Besides, it's a Hasselblad! Not mastering a WLF is like buying a convertible and riding it with the roof up for "over ten years"

 

[etn]

I know you don’t want to even think about one more thing to buy, but another accessory might help too: a prism viewfinder. I prefer not using mine but it really does help with focus.

I second that. I think the Hassy looks ugly and fat with a prism, and is sooo much bigger that it's almost getting inconvenient to carry around (or at least, requires motivation!)
But since I entered the bifocals/reading glasses age it has made my life so much easier, to the point that I cannot imagine using the camera with the waist level finder anymore - despite wanting to. (Like you Bormental, the WLF opened up new photographic perspectives.)
Added bonus, it has a meter as well.

 

[Arthurwg]

Besides, it's a Hasselblad! Not mastering a WLF is like buying a convertible and riding it with the roof up for "over ten years"

When I had a convertible I found it either too hot and wanted the air conditioner, or two cold and needed the heater. And with the WLF, I never got comfortable with the left-right situation. Plus, the 45d prism really helps steady the camera when hand held.

 

[Sirius Glass]

When I had a convertible I found it either too hot and wanted the air conditioner, or two cold and needed the heater. And with the WLF, I never got comfortable with the left-right situation. Plus, the 45d prism really helps steady the camera when hand held.

And gets rid of the pesky left right reversal.

 

[pentaxuser]

I have developed my 2nd Hasselblad roll, which was mostly devoted to wide-open garbage shooting to practice manual focus.

In the U.K. we regard wide-open garbage shooting as a load of rubbish

pentaxuser

 

[BrianShaw]

In the U.K. we regard wide-open garbage shooting as a load of rubbish

pentaxuser

Hilarious!

 

[eli griggs]

Put on a new White Shirt, Turtle neck or button down, long sleeves, and spend some time outside with a "Highlights" solution in your hair.

Grab a good manual on repairing the Body(s) only, there's at least one of Hasselblad's own, on line, likewise a lens repair manual and watch Hasselblad repair videos, on YouTube, Including "Fix old Cameras" and "Mikeno62" and pay attention to their tool list, especially the Gray rubber lens set, and suction cup.

A lot of Hasselblad repair is easy to do if you're of average intelligence, AND can follow directions, with liberal use of the pause and 'back' keys on your pc.

Forest Gump would have been the perfect Hasselblad Camera and Lens repair person, had he been tasked that way, so take heart, you're only a few steps away from at least repairing/replacing light traps on your film magazines, and getting jammed lens off a 500 series camera (View AnnyB for that), jobs others would charge you big dollars that can instead, go to new film/projects.

Enjoy your new setup and remember, the Hasselblad was designed to be simple, and work, as a combonation of elements, so do no fear the unknown, and buy good screwdrivers, (Precision German, IMO).

IMO.

P.S. A Canadian Nickel is a very good lens cocking tool.

 

[jerrybro]

I bought my Hasselblad with the 45 degree PME finder and I have never put the WLF on in over ten years.

I go back and forth. While I like using the prism, the added weight, especially if I'm using the left hand grip, totally changes the handling characteristics.

 

[eli griggs]

Sirius, do you use the wrist strap?

I use the left hand grip and find, to my hand, that it's more of secure counter balance to the weight of camera, heavy lens, prism, etc.

Your mileage may very, especially with small hands.

The Hasselblad Hand Grip is another issue, and for the life of me, I can no understand why the flash shoe, does no left right pivot action and the handle only sits in line with the lens, making it uncomfortable, with most medium/large lenses or the prism finders.

The only downside I've encountered to the wrist strap is with the left hand out of action, I have to use the right to hold up the flash when more lighting is needed.

IMO.

 

[Вormental_old]

Phew, just finished scanning my first weekend batch of Hasselblad rolls. Happy to report that my focus issues are 100% behind me, as I've made the following changes:

• Replaced WLF neutral magnifier with a -1 diopter just like my other cameras
• Rotated the focusing screen 90˚ to have the split-image positioned vertically

There's a lot to be said about irrelevance of equipment, but a good camera just makes you go out and make some photos... I spent two days outside nonstop and absolutely loved the experience. Here are some shots from this weekend:

HP5+ Xtol

HP5+ Xtol (just noticed the defect on the left)

Fomapan 100 in Xtol

Fomapan 100 in Xtol

 

[Mick Fagan]

Very impressive, looks like around a 5 stop shadow to highlight range (discounting the chrome on the automobile), perfect for great B&W imagery.

Love the unobtrusive wrist watch on the fella in the cabriolet, that makes the picture.

Mick.

 

[Вormental_old]

Love the unobtrusive wrist watch on the fella in the cabriolet, that makes the picture.
Mick.

Haha, I just noticed that myself

 

[etn]

Phew, just finished scanning my first weekend batch of Hasselblad rolls. Happy to report that my focus issues are 100% behind me

Happy to hear that! Great pictures, I particularly like the 2nd one. The gradation from foreground to background dissolving into the sky (fog?) is really special, reinforced by the composition.
May I ask how you scanned the film? Thanks.

 

[Вormental_old]

Happy to hear that! Great pictures, I particularly like the 2nd one. The gradation from foreground to background dissolving into the sky (fog?) is really special, reinforced by the composition.
May I ask how you scanned the film? Thanks.

Thanks! They're scanned with a digital camera: two shots per image stitched with Microsoft ICE.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Sirius, do you use the wrist strap?

I use the left hand grip and find, to my hand, that it's more of secure counter balance to the weight of camera, heavy lens, prism, etc.

Your mileage may very, especially with small hands.

The Hasselblad Hand Grip is another issue, and for the life of me, I can no understand why the flash shoe, does no left right pivot action and the handle only sits in line with the lens, making it uncomfortable, with most medium/large lenses or the prism finders.

The only downside I've encountered to the wrist strap is with the left hand out of action, I have to use the right to hold up the flash when more lighting is needed.

IMO.

Neck strap on all my cameras except: Tessina [wrist strap or on watch band but that is heavy when I use the pentaprism], Pacemaker Speed Graphic, Graflex Model D.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Phew, just finished scanning my first weekend batch of Hasselblad rolls. Happy to report that my focus issues are 100% behind me, as I've made the following changes:

• Replaced WLF neutral magnifier with a -1 diopter just like my other cameras
• Rotated the focusing screen 90˚ to have the split-image positioned vertically

There's a lot to be said about irrelevance of equipment, but a good camera just makes you go out and make some photos... I spent two days outside nonstop and absolutely loved the experience. Here are some shots from this weekend:

HP5+ Xtol
View attachment 257607
HP5+ Xtol (just noticed the defect on the left)
View attachment 257609
Fomapan 100 in Xtol
View attachment 257610
Fomapan 100 in Xtol
View attachment 257608

Your camera is junk. Send it to me. I will take care of it. No charge.

 

[logan2z]

Your camera is junk. Send it to me. I will take care of it. No charge. View attachment 257668

That should be your avatar.