What Hasselblad?

[RezaLoghme]

You've not really THH-WACKKED until you've been EL/M or ELX THH-WACKK-ZZZZZZED!

 

[Arthurwg]

View attachment 349402

The bottom line: sell the 80mm

Here's an example where a 50mm photo cannot be done with a 60:

View attachment 349402

The 60mm is my favorite lens for the Hasselblad, and I don't even own the 80mm. . I also use the 50mm, but like other wide-angle glass you can end up with lots of empty foreground, which you have filled rather nicely in this case.

 

[What About Bob]

The THH-WACKK! is one of the best parts of the Hasselblad. THH-WACKK! has never hurt anyone and announces that you have arrived. Why would anyone be afraid to stand up and have themselves announced?

Not long ago I was at the local college's plant house and there was a small field day tour of students going through the succulent room. That room can be dead quiet at times. The instructor was talking for a little bit and then asked if anyone had any questions. Few seconds later I hit the shutter "KER -KLUNK!! " I noticed some students jumped as I was taking a shot of the Grand Cactus in the middle of the room. Eyes were in my direction. There was no mistaking that I had arrived there, lol.

About the 60mm lens being used over the 80mm: I have recently been in many situations where I was not able to back up enough and it is only a matter of backing up just so slightly so that my compositions are not framed up too tight. Lately this has been a thorn in my rear.

I recently had my 501C serviced, including all film backs. My lenses are in good shape. I now have a smooth working Hassie.

 

[mshchem]

Not long ago I was at the local college's plant house and there was a small field day tour of students going through the succulent room. That room can be dead quiet at times. The instructor was talking for a little bit and then asked if anyone had any questions. Few seconds later I hit the shutter "KER -KLUNK!! " I noticed some students jumped as I was taking a shot of the Grand Cactus in the middle of the room. Eyes were in my direction. There was no mistaking that I had arrived there, lol.

About the 60mm lens being used over the 80mm: I have recently been in many situations where I was not able to back up enough and it is only a matter of backing up just so slightly so that my compositions are not framed up too tight. Lately this has been a thorn in my rear.

I recently had my 501C serviced, including all film backs. My lenses are in good shape. I now have a smooth working Hassie.

Yes, you definitely get noticed. What a great thing, Hasselblads!

 

[Philippe-Georges]

Not long ago I was at the local college's plant house and there was a small field day tour of students going through the succulent room. That room can be dead quiet at times. The instructor was talking for a little bit and then asked if anyone had any questions. Few seconds later I hit the shutter "KER -KLUNK!! " I noticed some students jumped as I was taking a shot of the Grand Cactus in the middle of the room. Eyes were in my direction. There was no mistaking that I had arrived there, lol.

About the 60mm lens being used over the 80mm: I have recently been in many situations where I was not able to back up enough and it is only a matter of backing up just so slightly so that my compositions are not framed up too tight. Lately this has been a thorn in my rear.

I recently had my 501C serviced, including all film backs. My lenses are in good shape. I now have a smooth working Hassie.

At least you will not be accused for sneaking in.

Indeed the Reflex Hasselblads are noisy (they used to sell a sound blimp).
But there is still the SWC, unfortunately this one is more noisier when winding the film than when taking the shot ...

 

[guangong]

Have you been shooting with a Hasselblad? You really should before you drop the money.

I shot Rolleiflexes and Leicas. I always thought that I should shoot a Hasselblad because, well... I was able to borrow one for a while. I did like the feel. But two things drove me crazy. The THWUNK of the mirror and rear curtain clapping around. And the black screen after taking a shot. Both of these issues simply don't exist with Leicas and Rolleiflex TLRs. Being cut off from the viewfinder image after hitting the shutter button drives me crazy!

Just pointing this out. Many many people have no problem with these aspect of the Hasselblads, and for a large number these are a very real positive aspect of the system.

If you are committed, you'll get a lot of good advise from long term users here. In so many ways, wonderful cameras that people have done great things with.

Dan is right! Rent or borrow before you buy! A choice of camera is highly personal…not because of technical specifications but how the camera feels in your hands.

 

[RezaLoghme]

Have you been shooting with a Hasselblad? You really should before you drop the money.

I shot Rolleiflexes and Leicas. I always thought that I should shoot a Hasselblad because, well... I was able to borrow one for a while. I did like the feel. But two things drove me crazy. The THWUNK of the mirror and rear curtain clapping around. And the black screen after taking a shot.

The EL/ELM/ELX/ELD models do not have the black screen issue.

 

[btaylor]

The EL/ELM/ELX/ELD models do not have the black screen issue.

Well…. they do, but only for a second or so.

 

[RezaLoghme]

That's what a SLR does...not a Hasselblad-specific issue...

 

[Philippe-Georges]

I don't know why but I never bothered about the after-exposure-blackened viewfinder, perhaps it was because it forced me to slow down and contemplate on what I was doing.
Hasselblad- and LF photography is slow-photography, somewhat like the Italian slow-food kitchen...
Slow is good for the mental constitution.

 

[RezaLoghme]

How is it with other MF SLRs?

 

[eli griggs]

Do try the Hasselblad before buying, as you may hate or love the Left Hand Grip, with and without wrist strap, neck strap or a Right Hand grip.

The Hasselblad Left hand grip I have does bind the hand/wrist in certain acute positions, but it still is a good flash and cable handle.

The other thing you need to be certain about is the interchangable screens, so rent a camera with the later, enhanced screens, like the Acuview, whatever screen view you want because the wrong screen will ruin your impressions on these great cameras and many people have found the OEM screens from Hasselblad too dark for many uses.

Good luck,
Eli

 

[RezaLoghme]

Do try the Hasselblad before buying, as you may hate or love the Left Hand Grip, with and without wrist strap, neck strap or a Right Hand grip.

The Hasselblad Left hand grip I have does bind the hand/wrist in certain acute positions, but it still is a good flash and cable handle.

The other thing you need to be certain about is the interchangable screens, so rent a camera with the later, enhanced screens, like the Acuview, whatever screen view you want because the wrong screen will ruin your impressions on these great cameras and many people have found the OEM screens from Hasselblad too dark for many uses.

Good luck,
Eli

Do you think that is Hasselblad specific or also applies to other MF systems?

 

[eli griggs]

Hasselblad designed his 'V' series camera as a left handed controlled tool, which I personally like, as is.

No other medium format camera I can think of or have used has this design factor, with most cameras being made as ambidextrous tools, though it's possible their designs were/have counterpoints to Hasselblad's Machines.

Others here with more extensive experiences may have a more direct viewpoint.

Cheers

 

[Sirius Glass]

Hasselblad designed his 'V' series camera as a left handed controlled tool, which I personally like, as is.

No other medium format camera I can think of or have used has this design factor, with most cameras being made as ambidextrous tools, though it's possible their designs were/have counterpoints to Hasselblad's Machines.

Others here with more extensive experiences may have a more direct viewpoint.

Cheers

So do I. I believe that the Exa is also a left handed model, IIRC.

 

[RezaLoghme]

Hasselblad designed his 'V' series camera as a left handed controlled tool, which I personally like, as is.


Cheers

In the old instruction manuals for the classic Hasselblad 1600 and 500 series cameras, the user is instructed to hold the camera in the left hand with the LH index finger on the shutter button, with the RH operating the focus, aperture etc.

Another point for the 553ELX and its predecessors: Using the FK30 release cord, the camera can be held with RH and focussing and release can be done with LH.