How many Leica owners also have a Hasselblad ?

[EoinC]

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Thank you, Paul and Philip. Although I would love to have a SWC, the 40mm CF is looking easier to justify. I enjoy using the 80mm Planar, but would like to use a wider angle, and ~24mm 135 equivalent is good with me.

 

Cheers,

Eoin

[adan]

I've used all three Hassie 40-ish lenses.

 

The 38 Biogon will kill either 40mm - in the corners. The Distagons "smear" detail diagonally down to about f/11. My impression is that the C version slowly transitions to "soft" getting nearer the corners, while the CF stays sharp up to a point, and then - BAM! - gets really soft really quickly. (I shoot and scan for the entire negative, including black borders).

 

I would never call the 40 C "faster" than the SWC - the focusing is heavy (gotta move a lot of glass), the narrow focus ring cramped right up against the front of the body wears out my wrist really fast, and the sharp knurling bites my fingers. Really needs one of the snap-on focus levers. The 40 CF ergonomics are better.

 

But the 38 is fast to use only beyond 6 feet or so (where the DoF absolves focusing sins) - I had to work out some "quick measuring devices" to use it closer. Like - hold out my arm with index finger extended, and "24 inches" focuses on my finger tip (or whatever my finger-tip is touching); hold the camera for a "selfie" at arm's length, and use 22 inches. The shoulder strap with a marking on it is a measuring tape for minimum focus (11 inches) - etc.

 

Between the true 40s, I personally prefer the imaging of the big ol' C - sharp (not counting the corners) and gentler contrast. But I tried one again last winter - and had to spend a day in bed flat on my back recovering from muscle strain, from lugging the weight (which, for my purposes of non-reversed viewing, required not just a big lens and SLR body, but a solid-chunk-of-glass prism as well).

 

Quick like a bunny - I retrieved my SWC (which - whole camera - weighs less than the 40 C lens alone). Ahhh-hhh!

 

I won't bother with Distagons again - with proper handling, the SWC can produce wide-angle drama, and "pretty darn normal-looking," from one small package.

 

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On PaulMac's original question - from the horse's mouth (an original 1980 Zeiss Oberkochen data sheet):

 

The distance setting ring for this lens has a click stop at 0.9m, which must be by-passed for photographs in the range from 0.9m to 0.5m. This stop position is meant to remind the user that he must stop down at distances below 0.9m

 

[EoinC]

Thank you, Andy. Now you have me drifting back the other way, which means smuggling a camera past the Financial Controller. Oh well, no urgency (apart from the escalating market interest mentioned by Paul).

[gbealnz]

I was going to post earlier Eoin, but now I see you are back with us, well why not.

Don't be a girl mate, just find an SWC. If it satisfies all the 120 urges, then the 500C/M and 80 Planar can be dispensed with.

If you were closer, you'd be welcome to try mine, but sincerely believe that once you did you'd be scmuck, no turning back.

Gary

[honcho]

Back in the days when such choices between 40mm distagon and 38mm biogon had to be considered for commercial reasons, I jumped in a slightly different direction.  It was the Mamiya 7(ii) and 43mm lens that won the day.  Arguably a more versatile package than an SWC with all the benefits of a razor sharp biogon wide angle lens.

 

Two more secret cameras might be pushing it, though! 

Edited August 7, 2016 by honcho

[EoinC]

Having been sprung recently for 2 cameras that "I'm sure I told you about these..." did not seem to have much effect upon the consequences, I shall have to tread lightly for a while. You're not reading this, are you, Dear?

[honcho]

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This CFV-50c back has just arrived for me to have a go with, courtesy of Hasselblad UK and Linhof Studio.

 

I'll post my experiences and thoughts about it on my website in due course......

 

 

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[pico]

On the SWC, for critical composition at near distances, there is a ground glass that replaces the back and accepts any standard Hasselblad focusing device. I use a 90 degree prism which allows me to look straight down comfortably. The setup was the only way I could get the picture below just right. Of course, it required a tabletop tripod, too.

 

Enlarged to 40x40" it was quite good.

[ramarren]

On the SWC, for critical composition at near distances, there is a ground glass that replaces the back and accepts any standard Hasselblad focusing device. I use a 90 degree prism which allows me to look straight down comfortably. The setup was the only way I could get the picture below just right. Of course, it required a tabletop tripod, too.

 

Enlarged to 40x40" it was quite good.

 

 

Very nice, Pico. 

 

I use the 45° prism finder rather than the 90°. It allows me a comfortable viewing angle with tripod at just below eye level to below waist level camera heights. I also sometimes use the straight magnifying chimney finder for eye level work and for some copy work. 

 

The groundless back to have is the later #41050 model. They're not too hard to find, not overly expensive, and provide a much brighter view than the earlier #41025 model.

 

Working with the ground glass back requires that you be methodical and slow, but it is very precise. 

[pico]

Very nice, Pico. 

 

I use the 45° prism finder rather than the 90°. It allows me a comfortable viewing angle with tripod at just below eye level to below waist level camera heights. I also sometimes use the straight magnifying chimney finder for eye level work and for some copy work.  [... snip good stuff ...]

 

You have no reason to remember, but I loaned you a SWC and got you onto the track. Can't remember if it included the GG. (my profile shows real name)

Edited August 8, 2016 by pico

[chris_livsey]

Having been sprung recently for 2 cameras that "I'm sure I told you about these..." did not seem to have much effect upon the consequences, I shall have to tread lightly for a while. You're not reading this, are you, Dear?

 

Strangely i seem to get cameras "back from repair" quite regularly 

[chris_livsey]

Just back from a week away I pared right down to these two with no other lenses, just developing now.

I took the Digisix, The idea of the Sekonic was no batteries at all but that meter has a habit of changing the iso spontaneously so it lost out this time.

 

 

 

 

Edited August 8, 2016 by chris_livsey

[ramarren]

You have no reason to remember, but I loaned you a SWC and got you onto the track. Can't remember if it included the GG. (my profile shows real name)

 

 

Well, you old dog you, It's good to find you again. :-)

 

Of course I remember the loan of your SWC. It's what threw me over the bridge ... I'd wanted an SWC for decades before that, just couldn't bring myself to spend the money. Using yours for a few weeks broke the dam. I thank you for that loan still: I love this camera. 

 

I don't believe you lent me the GG ... I discovered and started using that when I had the 903SWC in the early '00s. Sold it all in 2004, and reacquired the whole kit again in 2011-2013, but this time I went for a '78 model more similar to yours (black lens rather than chrome). David Odess just recently overhauled it, it sings beautifully. 

 

I hope you're well and enjoying life! 

[pico]

Well, you old dog you, It's good to find you again. :-)

 

Excellent! FWIW, I turned 100,000 miles on the BMW R100rs after the trip to the Bay Area. Then I added a Ducati 900ss to the stable - thanks to your influence. Even-Steven!

[EoinC]

Just back from a week away I pared right down to these two with no other lenses, just developing now.

I took the Digisix, The idea of the Sekonic was no batteries at all but that meter has a habit of changing the iso spontaneously so it lost out this time

That's almost a duplication of my walkaround set, Chris (M6 / 35mm + 503 / 80mm + Sekonic). Good to see that insanity is not isolated.

[EoinC]

Excellent! FWIW, I turned 100,000 miles on the BMW R100rs after the trip to the Bay Area. Then I added a Ducati 900ss to the stable - thanks to your influence. Even-Steven!

Good cameras and good bikes - It is a wonderful World.

[ramarren]

Excellent! FWIW, I turned 100,000 miles on the BMW R100rs after the trip to the Bay Area. Then I added a Ducati 900ss to the stable - thanks to your influence. Even-Steven!

:-) I'm glad that worked out.

 

I haven't ridden since 2005, other things have taken priority. But every so often I look at getting another bike—either another Ducati or Moto Guzzi is practically mandatory, most likely Guzzi if it happens. Euro-Moto continues on even today, although traffic is minute now, but beyond email traffic, I'm still in contact with most of the key folks around the USA, in Australia, and in the UK plus Italy plus Germany. I see them every couple of years. Euro-Moto has been the most amazing ride of all.

 

I just pulled out two rolls of XP2 Super and loaded the A12 backs. Time to exercise the SWC...

[pico]

Good cameras and good bikes - It is a wonderful World.

 

The Ducati was so competent that after a couple of years of it, I could not abide by BMW. I stopped riding motorcycles after a crash, a subdural hemorrhage, modest brain damage from - get this - a bicycle accident! Motorcycling is history to me. My reflexes are shot.

 

To return to Leica - I still use the original M2, M4 and am happy with the M9. I cannot imagine how I could f*ck up and brake bones or my brain using them.

 

I feel so home in this forum, although most of my aspirations are larger format - this constituency is so bright I cannot leave.

 

Pax,

Pico

Edited August 9, 2016 by pico

[honcho]

First 'proper' image with the CFV-50c on my 503cw, 80mm cfe planar with Lee polariser. 

 

I already have some strong opinions about this back, despite Hasselblad forgetting to send the viewfinder mask which is making framing a bit of a challenge!

 

 

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[chris_livsey]

First 'proper' image with the CFV-50c on my 503cw, 80mm cfe planar with Lee polariser. 

 

I already have some strong opinions about this back, despite Hasselblad forgetting to send the viewfinder mask which is making framing a bit of a challenge!

 

It's that crop that puts me off, I have a Phase One P20 which is good because it is square sensor, but poor because of the iso limits, (Portra 400 is more forgiving) I tend to shoot a lot of verticals ( if the "sensor" is not square) which the "ordinary" digital sensors make a challenge on the V.

Will you share "strong opinions" or does the loan have strings attached?

Edited August 9, 2016 by chris_livsey