why Hasselblad 500cm is so cheap?

adrian_freire · May 26, 2005

Don't think twice. I would buy it.

vladimer · May 26, 2005

I am just reasearching
but I am sure I need to rent it somehow and test it out... (doubt that they have a place in dubai, to rent hasselblad)

gr82bart · May 26, 2005

Hasselblad USA has 'pre-owned' program where they will sell off their demo stock as reduced prices. I don't if all Hassey locations do this, but you might want to check out the hasselblad website and see.

Regards, Art.

vladimer · May 26, 2005

Thank you for the tip, even though I am not in US

Kevin Caulfield · May 26, 2005

Doesn't the 500 C/M use a 50mm lens connection whereas the new Hasselblad lenses use a 60mm connection? Even if that is the case though, you can always step up.

brent8927 · May 26, 2005

I think you're thinking about the bayonet (filter) mounts on the lenses. The older C lenses use a bayonet 50 mount, while the CF lenses use a bayonet 60 mount, and the newest/current ones I think mostly use the bayonet 60 mount, but I know the wide angle CFIs use a different filter.

jjstafford · May 26, 2005

To quote Vestal from an article 40 years old, "You can crop the square anywhere".

jjstafford · May 26, 2005

Paul Howell said:
Another reason that the 500s are inexpensive is that many fine art photographers want the 6X7 or 6X4.5 format[...]

With respect, that's a crock o'you know what.

MikeK · May 28, 2005

Frank Petronio said:
The 500cm is a great value if you find one in good condition. Try it with a film back and lens so that you get a clear indication of how everything is working together.

The most likely problem with a camera of this age will be the leaf shutter in the C-series lenses. This will vary depending on the lens. Most should still be fine.

Briefly:
500c - 12 back - chrome C lenses are the oldest and cheapest.
500cm - A12 back - black or chrome C lenses with the T* coating are newer
The C T* lenses were replaced by CF T* lenses in the late 1970s - early 1980s.

The workmanship of the 1970s - 1980s Blads is excellent. In the late 1980s they came out with discounted (cheaper made) 501 bodies and CB lenses.

I'd look more for good examples rather than a specific model...

The 500 C/M is a great value system camera. I would not have said that a few years ago. This Christmas my wife gave me a 500 C/M with a 50mm Distagon, 80mm Planar, 150mm Sonnar, two A12 backs and a slew of accessories. I was in tears when I opened the box. Tears of joy along with a fear that she had emptied our savings account. I recently discovered how much she paid for the outfit and I was absolutely gob-smacked on how cheap it all was. She had gotten the outfit from a local Pro who had gone over to the other side.

I took the backs, body and lenses to my local repairshop for a CLA and the bill was almost as much as she had paid for the outfit!

So there are some amazing bargains out there!

Mike

c6h6o3 · May 29, 2005

vladimer said:
gliding mirror system is the one that reduces mirror vibration or vigneting?

The gliding mirror actually retracts prior to being raised so that it will clear the rear element of longer lenses. In my 503cxi, which lacks this feature, the mirror is mounted farther back in order to clear instead of moving so with my 250mm lens there is vignetting at the top (a narrow stripe across the top of the viewfinder). The effect is negligible with my 150mm, but you cut off the tops of people's heads in the viewfinder with the 250mm and have to interpolate.

Sam2nd · May 29, 2005

The gliding mirror actually retracts prior to being raised so that it will clear the rear element of longer lenses. In my 503cxi, which lacks this feature, the mirror is mounted farther back in order to clear instead of moving so with my 250mm lens there is vignetting at the top (a narrow stripe across the top of the viewfinder). The effect is negligible with my 150mm, but you cut off the tops of people's heads in the viewfinder with the 250mm and have to interpolate.

c6h6o3. I have 503 Cxi too, but I`ve only the 80mm 2,8 CF, my question is with the 250mm lens the vignetting occur in the waist level or in the film too?
Thanks.
Sorry for my bad English

brent8927 · May 29, 2005

The vignetting only occurs in the waist level finder; the vignetting is caused by the mirror so there is no vignetting on the film.

Sam2nd · May 29, 2005

Thanks Brent, now I'm less worry.

jjstafford · May 29, 2005

the vignetting is a minor occasional annoyance that really doesn't bother an experienced 500c user.

alexmacphee · Jun 4, 2010

vladimer said:
is there any way to mirror lock up? I mean trigger mirror before actualy shutter opens?

Yes, there's a small button under the film wind knob. If you press this, the mirror flips up, and the diaphragm stops down. You can then trip the leaf shutter in the usual way.It's pre-release rather than mirror lock-up, since once you've flipped the mirror, you can't bring the mirror back down to refocus or reframe, you have to trip the shutter to bring the view back.

BenZucker · Jun 4, 2010

gr82bart said:
I think what Vlad is asking is "Can the 500CM use the latest CB/CFi/CFE lenses?"

I don't know myself.

Vlad, you might want to ask on the Hasselblad User's Forum at http://www.hasselbladinfo.com/discus/messages/board-topics.html

Art.

yes

jovo · Jun 4, 2010

I've been having to deal with a long standing Hassie outfit lust at a point in life that just isn't going to allow it. I have, as a result, grown more and more fond of the completely competent P67 system I already have. As a result I always leave it in the landscape orientation with the notion that I can easily crop what doesn't fit my preferred square format in the print while allowing a rectangle full reign when approptiate.

Sirius Glass · Jun 4, 2010

gr82bart said:
I think what Vlad is asking is "Can the 500CM use the latest CB/CFi/CFE lenses?"

I don't know myself.

Vlad, you might want to ask on the Hasselblad User's Forum at http://www.hasselbladinfo.com/discus/messages/board-topics.html

Art.

Yes, it will work with all the Hasselblad lens except the F lens. C/CF/CB/CFi/CFE will all work.

Steve

canonman · Jun 5, 2010

Yes, the 500cm can take all the lenses for the V-System. The newer Hassels (501 etc) have the sliding mirror, which is more convenient for lenses above 150mm.

Sirius Glass · Jun 5, 2010

canonman said:
Yes, the 500cm can take all the lenses for the V-System. The newer Hassels (501 etc) have the sliding mirror, which is more convenient for lenses above 150mm.

I do not have the Gliding Mirror on my 503 CX and the small band of vignetting does not bother me with the 150mm and 250mm lenses.

Steve

Q.G. · Jun 5, 2010

canonman said:
[...] The newer Hassels (501 etc) have the sliding mirror, [...]

From the hand cranked 500-series, only the 501 CM (not the 501 C) and 503 CW (not 503 CX or CXi) do.

why Hasselblad 500cm is so cheap?

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