Which Hasselblad 50x to choose?

[Mozg31337]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions! I will keep you updated on the camera that I will finally go for. I am currently shopping around for a good deal.

 

[Sirius Glass]

503CX for the Accute matte screen and for its TTL flash control capability.

That is what I have for those reasons. I have not found the lack of the gliding mirror a problem with the 250mm and 500mm lenses.

As much as I like certain things about the old C and CT* lenses, I recommend the CF series lenses because of much better ergonomics (the shutter speed and aperture ring interaction) and the shutters have been improved and the lenses are newer.

+1

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Hello everyone,

I have been looking to purchase my first Hasselblad camera for a while now and it seems that I am not the only one. I like the looks of the medium format (currently have 6x6 Pentacon Six and and old Voightlander Besa I 6x9). I mainly shoot family, travel trips and occasional landscapes. Over the last year or so, when I first started looking at the Hasselblad, the prices of the camera seems to have increased and keep going up. So, it might be a good time to get myself one before Hasselblad pricing become similar to Leica M film cameras.

Anyways, I have been looking around for 500 series camera and lens and not really too sure of which one to go for. There tend to be a lot of information suggesting that the later models like 500CM and 503CX / CM have a few common faults addressed. On a contrary, some people suggested that the older models, like 500C have a better quality materials and built and after a proper CLA should outlast the older makes. What is the community take on it?

Similarly, with lenses, have had a conversation with a technician at one of the London's camera shops and he suggested that the older Zeiss lenses, the silver once, are far better in quality and parts compared with the newer models with T* label. He said that the older lenses were also multicoated, but not labeled and the quality of the optics is pretty similar. What is your take on that? Any thoughts or perhaps comparison pictures between the older and the newer lenses?

And finally, I came across two cameras with the lenses and backs. One is a complete set of 500c with 3 lenses (50,80 and 150mm Zeiss in silver colour) and 2 backs that was sitting in a case for about two decades, but looks like in near mint condition from the pictures. This camera is for sale for about £1,200 - 1,300.

The other one is a newer 503CX made in the mid 80s with a single 80mm and one back in mint condition for the same price as the first one above.

Which one do you think I should go for and why ?

Thanks

Andrei

Was in your position a few years back and decided on a 501c because, I was concerned to invest into a model with too much milage. I got it with an 80mm CF and just to stay with the CFs for simplicity and commonality of handling later added a 50 and a 150mm CF much later ,I ran across a 250CF and then a 40CF.Now, my set is complete and has given e great service. I would do it again this way if I could..I had the 250 serviced at Zeiss once but,that was surprisingly inexpensive($50) to fix s lose lens element.