The rabbit hole of Hassleblad

Hey APUG,

I have put this off too long... I shoot a Mamiya RZ67 and 645AF for quicker stuff, and while I have trouble splitting the time between these two great cameras, and other misc. I have beefing pining for a Hassleblad for years and years, and only now am I starting to shop seriously.

The 500CM seems to be the most affordable take, I am seeing bodies around 300-400, but the additional pieces really start to add up. Does anyone have thoughts on wise buys for this type of kit? I would ideally start with a 150mm lens, but 80mm would also work. My other horrible thought it selling my 645AF to raise the funds for Hassy. This would of course leave me with two waist level, modular beasts as my main film cameras, and all manual, but honestly, what could be more fun?

Does anyone out there shoot both RZ67 and 500 series hassleblad? Are there significant enough differences to justify the price? Lastly, PM me if you've got a great deal on one, I am looking to keep it as inexpensive as possible, that may sound obvious.

LMNOP said:

Hey APUG,

I have put this off too long... I shoot a Mamiya RZ67 and 645AF for quicker stuff, and while I have trouble splitting the time between these two great cameras, and other misc. I have beefing pining for a Hassleblad for years and years, and only now am I starting to shop seriously.

The 500CM seems to be the most affordable take, I am seeing bodies around 300-400, but the additional pieces really start to add up. Does anyone have thoughts on wise buys for this type of kit? I would ideally start with a 150mm lens, but 80mm would also work. My other horrible thought it selling my 645AF to raise the funds for Hassy. This would of course leave me with two waist level, modular beasts as my main film cameras, and all manual, but honestly, what could be more fun?

Does anyone out there shoot both RZ67 and 500 series hassleblad? Are there significant enough differences to justify the price? Lastly, PM me if you've got a great deal on one, I am looking to keep it as inexpensive as possible, that may sound obvious.

Click to expand...

There is not a lot of difference between a C and a CM body but they do need an occasional service, the lenses are different as serviceability of early ones more difficult. You can get the screen changed on a C, but the basic one is a snap into focus with good eyesight.

You can get a cheap metered FSU prism if the body has a Fresnel screen.

A large blad gbag is heavy.

A Hasselblad kit can be heavy, especially if it has a prism finder, and a few lenses, but a Hasselblad is dwarfed by an RB/RZ kit in size and weight.
All three are capable of superb results, for most practical purposes, quality differences are a little subjective.

I had a Hasselblad system and a RB67 in parallel. Eventually I sold the Hasselblad but in the end they are different systems so you could own both and you could even own 3 with 645, 6x6 and 6x7. The Hasselblad is just as slow as the RZ/RB67 so it just won't replace the 645. It also cannot replace it if you don't put a prism on it as the 645 is eye level shooting and this is waist level shooting. It just isn't the same, especially at close-up portrait range. Speaking of, min focus is longer than either the 645 and RZ (unless you start playing with tubes or get the macro 120mm lens).

The main thing is you buy a Hasselblad because you want square. Otherwise it doesn't make sense. It is a very expensive system as you can see but the one thing I would NOT do is sell either of your current cameras to replace with a Hasselblad only to find you don't get along with it and then have to sell and buy back.

One thing to start, if you want long lenses then the 501CM and 503CW are the models that you need ($$$$). All the other models have a shorter mirror that will not show the top part of the frame (that gets recorded in film) with long lenses. Now I do not have personal experience as I owned two 501CM and a 500ELX body and they all have the Gliding Mirror System (what it is called). Others can say more on this whether it is an issue or not.

One other thing, I find the focus screens that come with older Hasselblads dim and not that nice to work, I had an Acute Matte D (latest type) which is probably the nicest screen I ever used but a 500CM will most certinaly NOT come with one of these.

If you want to keep the costs down look for CT lenses, they are cheaper but they are also the oldest and the ergonomics are different to CF/CFi/CFE/CB.

Cost-wise you may also want to look for service options and costs.

Quality-wise I just don't see a difference between photos from my RB and the Hasselblad. They look a bit different (one is square for starters!) and the rendering is a bit different but I wouldn't worry about it. Size-wise the Hasselblad is lighter and smaller than the RB but I find the RB easier to work with, going from a Hasselblad to a RB focus screen is like watching a movie on a phone and then sitting in front of a TV.

What I'd say, a Hasselblad 500CM is a wonderful camera and it is a great system but like anything you just may not like it. So don't sell anything, either rent one for a weekend and see how you get along or buy one and then if you don't like it you'll probably be able to get 90% of what you paid back so consider it a rental fee.

film_man said:

The main thing is you buy a Hasselblad because you want square. Otherwise it doesn't make sense. It is a very expensive system as you can see but the one thing I would NOT do is sell either of your current cameras to replace with a Hasselblad only to find you don't get along with it and then have to sell and buy back.

Click to expand...

+1

To get into Hasselblad for less money, motorized elm and elx bodies can be had for $100-150. Add a 500cm later when a good deal pops up.

LMNOP said:

Hey APUG,

I have put this off too long... I shoot a Mamiya RZ67 and 645AF for quicker stuff, and while I have trouble splitting the time between these two great cameras, and other misc. I have beefing pining for a Hassleblad for years and years, and only now am I starting to shop seriously.

The 500CM seems to be the most affordable take, I am seeing bodies around 300-400, but the additional pieces really start to add up. Does anyone have thoughts on wise buys for this type of kit? I would ideally start with a 150mm lens, but 80mm would also work. My other horrible thought it selling my 645AF to raise the funds for Hassy. This would of course leave me with two waist level, modular beasts as my main film cameras, and all manual, but honestly, what could be more fun?

Does anyone out there shoot both RZ67 and 500 series hassleblad? Are there significant enough differences to justify the price? Lastly, PM me if you've got a great deal on one, I am looking to keep it as inexpensive as possible, that may sound obvious.

Click to expand...

I went from an RZ67 to a Hasselblad 500cm. The first thing that impressed me was the size and weight. Compared to the RZ, the Hasselblad is like a dinky child's toy. It's a pleasure to carry around. Anyone who has ever schlepped an RZ about will tell you, it's backbreaking. I don't use the prism finder as I don't feel right putting it to my eye, I like shooting from the gut. I have a very bright acu matte screen on mine, which I have never had a problem with.

I have never used my RZ since. Saying that though, I did supplement my 6X7 requirements with a Mamiya 7.

The 'blad is much simpler, less finicky, smaller, lighter but the lenses I have (CT) are a bit soft compared to the RZ.

I simply love the square and my 'blad goes pretty much everywhere with me.

I sold the Mamiya and bought the Hasselblad. I never looked back.

I have the 503 CX and the 903 SWC. Both are great.

As Hasselblad advertised "Square is the prefect format."

I have owned both the RZ67 and the Hasselblad 500 CM. I loved the RZ for portraits indoors on a tripod with studio lights. I liked the bellows focussing, the rectangular format and the larger viewfinder. The Hasselblad was a fun, lightweight camera to carry around and shoot handheld. I also like the square format. I think shooting both rectangular and square is both fun and refreshing. It gets the creative juices flowing.

The 80mm and 150mm are fine but the 100mm and 180mm are the latest and computer designed. I have read that the later lenses are sharper but not as well balanced on the camera as the older lenses. It's something to think about.

One question? Down the rabbit hole of Hasselblad are you Alice and Sirius Glass the Mad Hatter?

Alan Gales said:

One question? Down the rabbit hole of Hasselblad are you Alice and Sirius Glass the Mad Hatter?

Click to expand...

I am not crazy but being crazy would help.

Sirius Glass said:

I am not crazy but being crazy would help.

Click to expand...

I don't think you are crazy, Sirius. Just crazy (mad) about Hasselblads and there is nothing wrong with that!

Well as kids we sang:

A horse and a flea and three blind mice
Sat on a curbstone covered in ice
The horse he slipped and fell on the flea
"Whoops," said the flea, "There's a horse on me!"

Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy?
Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy?
Giggly and foolish the whole day through
Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy?

Way down South where bananas grow
A flea stepped on an elephant's toe
The elephant cried, with tears in his eyes
"Why don't you pick on someone your size?"

Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy?
Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy?
Giddy and foolish the whole day through
Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy?

Way up North where there's ice and snow
There lived a penguin and his name was Joe
He got so tired of black and white
He wore pink slacks to the dance last night!

Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy?
Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy?
Giggly and foolish the whole day through
Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy?

Eli, Eli had some socks
A dollar a pair and a nickel a box
The more you wear 'em the better they get
And you put 'em in the water and they don't get wet!

Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy?
Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy?
Giddy and foolish the whole day through
Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy?

Called myself on the telephone
Just to hear that golden tone
Asked myself out for a date
Said be ready 'bout half-past eight!

Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy?
Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy?
Giddy and foolish the whole day through
Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy?

Took myself to the picture show
Sat myself on the very last row
Wrapped my arms around my waist
Got so fresh I slapped my face!

Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy?
Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy?
Giddy and foolish the whole day through
Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy?

Click to expand...

Frankly, I think the RZ betters the Hassy in pretty much every way - you already have a superior system. Stick with that.

You say tomato, I say tomato!

I've owned several RB-67's and am way, way down the rabbit hole with Hasselblads. I have 75% of every gizmo they ever made for it and that is really saying quite a lot. No way there are anywhere near as many accessories for the RB-67. Not even close.

Both great cameras, but I prefer smaller and square. Nowadays my RB-67 have been replaced by three Plaubel Makiflexes and they are very mobile and even larger format than the RB's. Yet they handle about like an RB-67 in many ways.

Sirius Glass said:

As Hasselblad advertised "Square is the prefect format."

Click to expand...

..until Hasselblad could not offer a square digital sensor!

wiltw said:

..until Hasselblad could not offer a square digital sensor!

Click to expand...

That only happened when the Hasselblad family sold the company to fauxographers [digisnappers] who do not know any better.

frank said:

You say tomato, I say tomato!

Click to expand...

I agree.

I've owned/shot Mamiya RZ67, Hasselblad 500 CM, Bronica EC and S2a, Pentax 645, 645N, 645Nll, and Bronica ETRSi. They were all fine cameras but I have my favorites that may not be someone else's favorites. Shoot what you like.

I've owned all three systems and I would say the Hassy is my favorite due to its smaller size a weight

Get the 500cm... That mirror concern is only a concern for really long lenses... If you don't get a longer lens than the 150 you should be ok


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

heespharm said:

I've owned all three systems and I would say the Hassy is my favorite due to its smaller size a weight

Get the 500cm... That mirror concern is only a concern for really long lenses... If you don't get a longer lens than the 150 you should be ok


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

I have a 503CX and the mirror issue is a non-issue with the 150mm and 250mm. I do not notice it anymore.

While I have that Hasselblad kit, for some reason I'm having a lot of fun with my Bronica S2a with its lovely nikkor 75f2.8 lens. I used it for my avatar portrait of my father.

Sirius Glass said:

I have a 503CX and the mirror issue is a non-issue with the 150mm and 250mm. I do not notice it anymore.

Click to expand...

I thought the 501 503 has that fancy floating mirror so it's not an issue with that model... But the 500c and 500cm doesn't so it isn't an issue... I could be wrong../


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The 503 CX does not have the gliding mirror. I, too, find the image cutoff at the top of the frame not to be an issue. You get used to it, and it's easy enough to tilt the camera up a bit to see what's there while you're framing the shot.

I'm also having both systems. I started with the RZ67 and three lenses. Everything was OK. I love square format so I got a 6x6 back for the RZ67. Then, there was one cold night when I was shooting and the battery died. Well, not totally, but enough to not being able to take the picture. I did replace it, I had another one in the bag, but since then I wast'n really comfortable with it. I didn't mind the size or the weight, heavier things I did carry, but the battery issue and the thing that I was using a 8x8 camera (although there are not 6x8 backs for the RZ67 system, there are for the RB67, and the size of the mirror and other internal systems are basically the same for both) to take 6x6 pictures. So, when I had the chance to get a 503CX I didn't have a second of doubt.

I still use the RZ67, less and less every day, but I'm far too comfortable with the Hasselblad. The only thing I miss from the RZ67 that I would like to have in the 503CX is the focusing screen.