why Hasselblad 500cm is so cheap?

[vladimer]

why Hasselblad 500cm is so cheap?
from 500-1000$ with everything plus lens!?

 

[Joe Lipka]

Professional don't want them. Hasselblad is a "professional" camera. Most of the "professionals" are migrating to digital format because that is what their clients demand. So, they sell their old equipment.

Help them out. Buy it

 

[vladimer]

well how come 503 is 3000$? what are the difference between them?

 

[Bob F.]

why Hasselblad 500cm is so cheap?
from 500-1000$ with everything plus lens!?

Yes, but check out the cost of extra lenses & accessories: not so cheap....

Bob.

 

[vladimer]

well does 500cm take all the modern carl zeiss lenses?
500-1000 includes 80 2.8 lens!!
I would not need anything more for at least one year 80mm is fine
plus I have Nikon F6 with whole range of nice lenses I just need quality of medium format for landscapes and portraits!

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

The new 503 gives you the advantages of having a new camera from the factory under warrantee, an improved mirror transport with less vibration, the newest lens design and coating, the option of TTL flash metering.

Personally, given $3000 to spend, I'd rather have a 500 c/m with three lenses and three backs than the 503CW with one lens and one back.

Just as a point of comparison, I probably have around $3500 (including repairs/CLA) in my Bronica S2A system, which includes two bodies, around ten lenses, five 12/24 backs, Polaroid back, prism and chimney finders, tilt-shift macro bellows, extension tubes, pistol and L-grips, metal shades, filters, and various other doodads and whatnots.

 

[vladimer]

So 500c/m can use new hasselblad lenses?

 

[Lee Shively]

The 500C/M is an older camera. It was discontinued sometime in the 1980's (that's a guess on my part). Since there were a gazillion of them made back then, there's no real collector's interest in them. Used medium format equipment prices have tanked recently.

 

[John Koehrer]

If you would like to know how old the 'blad is, the first two letters in the SN tell you. Using VHPICTURES(1-0) as a code. V=1 etc.

 

[gr82bart]

So 500c/m can use new hasselblad lenses?

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.

 

[vladimer]

Thank you very much gr82bart!

 

[brent8927]

I believe that the 500cm can use any hasselblad lens, except those made for the 1000F (very old model) and the lenses for the focal plane shutter bodies.

 

[vladimer]

what is the point of buying new versions?
expept that they are new and guaranted?

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Not much really, unless you really need TTL flash or the improved gliding mirror system.

 

[vladimer]

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

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

It reduces mirror vibration, but in the later models, I believe they also made the mirror larger to reduce vignetting in the viewfinder.

 

[vladimer]

is there any way to mirror lock up? I mean trigger mirror before actualy shutter opens?
is there any way to trigger shutter with external trigger?
this is very importent for me since I am planing to shoot landscapes on tripod

 

[arigram]

All Hasellblad cameras in the V system can take all of the leaf shutter lenses (C, CF, CFi and CFE), the exception being the SWC that has the Biogon embedded and the late ArcBody with the special Scheinder lenses.
So, a new 503CW can take old chrome C lenses, an old 500 can take new CFE lenses.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Yes, I believe the 500-series cameras all have mirror lockup.

 

[vladimer]

well I guess 500 is a quet nice choise! dont you think?
please I need feedback even negative
Thank you

 

[Canuck]

Compur shutters are great but coming to end of useful (read reasonably repair cost) life. No more new parts are available but many shops still have parts for now. Just a thought.

 

[Paul Howell]

Another reason that the 500s are inexpensive is that many fine art photographers want the 6X7 or 6X4.5 format so as not to lose too much in the crop. Others like the square so they can crop in any direction. I have never owned a hass but I have rented in the past and found the optics to be superb.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Some like the square because then they don't have to crop because they like the square.

 

[vladimer]

That is fine with me! I love pure 6x6 as I told before I own good complect of 35mm nikon cameras and lenses which will give me flexibily!

 

[Frank Petronio]

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...