How many Leica owners also have a Hasselblad ?

[grandefotografo]

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I add to my Leica two Hasselblad; Hasselblad 205TCC and Hasselblad 500 Classic

[ramarren]

I have an SWC and a 500CM, both 1978 vintage. Hasselblad V system cameras are lovely industrial things. I hardly use them any more, but I hate to part with them. 

[Keith (M)]

My (currently underused) 500C with 80mm Planar (taken with 90mm Elmarit-R + 2x Extender-R on Sony A6500).  Unfortunately due to increasing decrepitness my 60mm Distagon CB and 160mm Tessar CB lenses are just too heavy for me to carry about any longer so this week I bit the bullet and they will be on their way tomorrow to Ffordes for sale (on commission). C'est la vie...

 

 

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[Doug A]

I have a 500CM which I used until recently for closeups with the 120/4 Makro lens and a tripod. But I find it so much easier to develop and digitize 35mm film that I switched to using a Visoflex II and 65/3.5 Elmar with a IIIf and a tripod. It’s probably time to sell the Hasselblad kit.

[Activatedfx]

M7 (0.85 MP Finder) + Nokton 50/1.5, 500 C/M (late) + 80/2.8 CF, and my most recent addition - a Fuji GW690iii. The "Texas Leica".

 

I have to say, now that I've experienced 6x9cm negatives, it will be hard to go back to 35mm! Or even 6x6! The GW690 images are sublime...

 

Edited August 6, 2018 by Activatedfx

[Keith (M)]

M7 (0.85 MP Finder) + Nokton 50/1.5, 500 C/M (late) + 80/2.8 CF, and my most recent addition - a Fuji GW690iii. The "Texas Leica".

 

I have to say, now that I've experienced 6x9cm negatives, it will be hard to go back to 35mm! Or even 6x6! The GW690 images are sublime...

 

 

 

Ah, the joys of the 6x9cm format - especially with Velvia 100 transparencies!  Really should start using my GW690II again, it has been neglected for the last year or so - it fell down the pecking order when my 500C arrived.  An example from a small album of GW690 shots on Flickr.

[pgk]

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I have owned and used a number of Hasselblads - 500 series and SW series. Eventually I shifted to the Contax 645 which was, in almost every way, a more usable camera. AF Zeiss optics too. A truly fabulous camera. Interesting though that now, the 6x6 Hasselblad, rather like the Leica M has survived with rather more affection than what was to me a far better system camera.

[Ouroboros]

I had a location pre wedding portrait shoot this evening.  I used a Fuji X-T2 with XF23mm f1.4 and a Hasselblad 503cw with 80mm cfi planar and Portra 400.  Hasselblad V series cameras are just as usable today as they were in their heyday.

 

I originally bought this one new with the intention of eventually adding a CFV back.  As time went on, I sold my other Hasselblad bodies and after much testing of a CFV 50c back on loan from Hasselblad, I came to the conclusion my 503CW  is a far better camera when it is used in the way it was designed and intended to be used; shooting in square format with film.

[pico]

Just an aside for Hasselblad 500C users - does your camera have an auxiliary flash sync (on the left side) and do you ever use the lever on the shutter release, and why? It's worth a pint in my pub.

[AdamSinger]

I had a Hasselblad 501 cm outfit, sold it a while ago, missed it, bought another one, my view  is buy Hasselbald stuff while its going cheap, suspect it will go the way of 2.8f Rolleiflexes that  are steadily going up. On todays used market the Hasselblad  is about the  best value you can get. I find the Hasselblad  enjoyable to shoot, and the way it makes you think about taking the picture.  Then  there are those medium format images wrought by  the Zeiss lenses  which are  wonderful to behold…I have a Mamyia 330 , don't use it, as  I find the images are not as pop out crisp as the Zeiss ones from  either a Rollie or  a Hasselblad and the Mamyia is a clunky beast in comparison.……. The Hasselblad that accompanies my Leica a is the SWC, small , compact, but fixed lens and guesstimate focusing not thats a problem, the SWC  is  a joy, a marvel, and there is nothing else like it.  ….. but instead of  the Hasselblad it is worth contemplating  the Rollie Hy6 , Zeiss or fabulous Schneider lenses, autofocus, and exposure motor dive, it  is the ‘Nikon F6’ of the medium format world. It is no heavier than the Hasselblad and it is what a state of  the film art  6x6 Hasselbald would be, and its wonderfully easy to shoot, and works well as  a ‘street’ camera.......... but for pure Leica M7 rivalling convenience , not much bigger, rangfinder as good , lighter than a Nikon F6  try  a Bronica RF645.

Edited August 19, 2018 by AdamSinger

[yomanuel]

I use both Leica and Hasselblad but each format for different projects. 503 Cx and 2000FCW

[Ko.Fe.]

I know that this is the wrong forum, but I think I can get an honest answer here. Thanks in advance to those that have an opinion.

 

It seems natural for people that like film to also like medium-format. I have both an M6 and a Mamiya C330, but I have always wanted a Hasselblad. Ebay is full of them for reasonable prices and I am looking at a 501 with standard 80mm lens and A12 back. What I am afraid of is I will get the camera and it will just sit on the shelf like my Mamiya. I love 2 1/4 but the Mamiya is so large it is not discrete or easy to carry around as a street camera. What about the Hasselblad, do others here use one as a street camera, and how does it work? Or better, should I just stick to my M6?

 

Thanks,

 

Wayne

HCB ditched MF after getting of Leica. Jane Bown ditched Rollieflex after getting Oly. Late Vivian Mayer used Leica LTM instead of Flex. GW used Leica. Those photography I respect most.

So, I have tried Mamiya TLR, Rollei TLR, never bothered with Hassie because I have SLRs already. And after getting of Leica and quality lens for it I ditched MF. Leica offers different quality of photography, which no MF could do.

[PFM]

I bought a 500C with the 80 Planar earlier this year from a friend in Venezuela to help him out a bit.  He wasn't asking much for it, and after getting it I found out why.  Mismatched A12 and insert, body jams, lens shutter will not trip.  I figured out the cost of repairs, and decided to maybe get a 503CW later on.  Just always liked to have a medium format camera, and Hasselblad was always on my list of desirable brands.  It looks good sitting on the shelf, though.

 

PF

[chrism]

On 7/1/2016 at 12:29 PM, chrism said:

Love my old squares:

 

Two Old Squares by chrism229, on Flickr

 

and more recently joined by this one:

 

Hasselblad SWC by chrism229, on Flickr

 

Chris

An update from three years ago - I recently sold the SWC as it was getting little use; frankly I don't think I was particularly good with it. A few pleasing shots but an awful lot of rubbish too, which was certainly my fault and not the camera's. However I have been using the 500c and the Rollei quite a lot, to the point where I've also sold a Fuji GA645, the GW690III and the Bessa III. A pair of Pentax 645ns are my only other MF cameras until last week. I fell for a cheap bargain-grade 500c/m with a Beattie Intenscreen which ought to make focusing in low light easier.

To be honest, if you were to buy a Hasselblad V of any kind and just use it with the Planar 80, you'd do better in terms of convenience, speed, size and weight to get a Rolleiflex. The beauty of the V series is the other lenses - I love my old Sonnar 150 and Distagon 50. Nonetheless, there is a certain masochistic charm in the eccentricities of the Hasselblad way!

[chrism]

A couple of further developments worth sharing:

1. The replacement light seals for the film back from blackbird711 on eBay are easy to install and come with decent instructions.

2. The adhesive dark slide holders from pandacamera_com_hk are excellent and fit neatly on the rear of a film back.

I have no connections to either seller other than being a happy customer.

[Martin B]

On ‎7‎/‎11‎/‎2018 at 7:10 AM, Martin B said:

Not Hasselblad but Mamiya RZ67 Pro (prefer to have the 6x7 cm option).

Now also happy user of a Hasselblad 500 C/M with three Hasselblad Zeiss lenses (50/4, 60/3.5, and 80/2.8 CF T*) which I got for a good deal in October. Love shooting with it since and got very accustomed to the 6x6 format. 

[logan2z]

1 hour ago, Martin B said:

Now also happy user of a Hasselblad 500 C/M with three Hasselblad Zeiss lenses (50/4, 60/3.5, and 80/2.8 CF T*) which I got for a good deal in October. Love shooting with it since and got very accustomed to the 6x6 format. 

Nice.  I've been thinking about picking up a 500 C/M with the 80/2.8 as well.  I'd like to try it for landscape work and I'm interested to try my hand at shooting in a square format.  

[Martin B]

1 minute ago, logan2z said:

Nice.  I've been thinking about picking up a 500 C/M with the 80/2.8 as well.  I'd like to try it for landscape work and I'm interested to try my hand at shooting in a square format.  

It is certainly worth the effort! For landscape work I prefer something wider than 80 mm on 6x6, but this is subjective. Prices for Hasselblad film cameras have risen in the past few years including accessories. I was lucky to be able to have a good look at the camera before buying it in a store. I am reading now that there is quite some variation in quality!

[logan2z]

2 minutes ago, Martin B said:

It is certainly worth the effort! For landscape work I prefer something wider than 80 mm on 6x6, but this is subjective. Prices for Hasselblad film cameras have risen in the past few years including accessories. I was lucky to be able to have a good look at the camera before buying it in a store. I am reading now that there is quite some variation in quality!

Pricing seems all over the place as well.  A local dealer had one recently for $1500 with the A12 back, standard pop-up finder and 80mm T* lens.  I see similar configurations on eBay for $900-$2K in seemingly similar condition.  But I don't think I'd buy sight unseen unless it was from a very reputable source with a generous return policy.

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[Martin B]

11 minutes ago, logan2z said:

Pricing seems all over the place as well.  A local dealer had one recently for $1500 with the A12 back, standard pop-up finder and 80mm T* lens.  I see similar configurations on eBay for $900-$2K in seemingly similar condition.  But I don't think I'd buy sight unseen unless it was from a very reputable source with a generous return policy.

This analysis fits my experience. Also learn online about the manufacturing dates of camera, film backs, and Zeiss lenses - this is really important when buying accessories like film backs or lenses later. I have purchased the 500 C/M with A12 back and 80/2.8 T*  lens (all made in 1989) for $1300 including tax. Deals with a lower price tag have either an older camera or/and show more significant signs of wear. I can also recommend to get a prism viewfinder instead of the vertical one - unfortunately good ones are quite expensive. The PM-45 is probably one of the most desirable ones since its focus can be adjusted to the eyesight - for most other Hasselblad prism viewfinders, additional glass inlays need to be purchased. Cheapest offer for a nearly mint PM-45 was $400 which I found - most ebay offers were even higher.