- This topic is empty.
Buying a Hasselblad…
-
I went to check out a Hasselblad 500cm with 80mm and 40mm lens, lens hood and spirit level included for roughly ?2200. What do you guys think? good or not?
I have always wanted a Hasselblad, my work is mostly B&W landscape shots, this looks like a lovely piece of kit and is in excellent condition. It’s quite alot to shell out on my “hobby” though. Any advice would be most welcome.
I’ve the 40mm CF FLE and its one of the most expensive lenses to buy. Will you post the condition [caps/boxes], the exact model of lens C, CF, CFi FLE and what back
you are getting, which focussing screen and what guarantee you will get and I’ll give an honest opinion on it.If you’re prepared to shell out that sort of money (which incidentally, by today’s standards is not a whole lot, when you consider the cost of digital kit!) think carefully about what you’re going to buy and why you’re going to buy it. If your work is mostly BW landscape work, then perhaps for that money you should be considering something like an Ebony SW45 field camera, which I suspect will do far more for your BW landscape work than a Hasselblad. Not because it’s a better camera (better is a relative term which I use rather loosely here!) but because it will force you into a whole new way of working, which I believe will ultimately benefit your work (including the benefits of tilts and swings and so on). Oh, and actually, I do happen to think a field camera is ultimately a better tool than a medium format camera for this type of work.
Thorsten has a good point on the 5×4, I dunno what the best way to explain it, but the 5×4 is not very portable, not quick to setup, not great for holidays, always needs a tripod. It’s a true true joy to use but might be a step too far, too quickly. Only you can decide how you approach your photo making.
I know this guy on another forum, he’s a hasselblad user, and favours the cheaper 50mm lens http://www.billschwab.com/
http://www.michaelkenna.net/ is also a hasselblad user.
Sorry to be nosing in here: Is large format film much more expensive than medium format film to work with? Is there many labs developing large format negatives and transfers? Should these be things to think about when deciding which route to go?
Interesting article below about a person looking for a camera for landscape and architecture below. He eventually went for the Ebony
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/cameras/ebony-sw45.htmlYes Martin, expensive-
though there are workarounds,
which usually involve bulk buys from ebay-even there, expect to pay ?2-3 a sheet for the cheapest, more for packet film.
Not many places processing E6 here, pay ?3.50 a sheet in Repro 35.
Rollfilm gives you more exposures per pound,
and you can use a rollfilm back on 5×4,
6×7, 9 , 12 or even 17cm.This makes it a bit more affordable to shoot film,
but the backs themselves are not inexpensive,
especially the bigger ones.Scanning can be expensive too,
though if you shoot b+w there is always the option of printing your own-Its a completely different,
and far more considered way of working though-
you will definitely not make as many exposures, for one thing-You sound a little tempted, Martin-
Hope I haven’t put you off-j
Theres no easy answer on cost. You can get some very cheap LF cameras and MF cameras, their prices overlap at all levels. I have a Linhof Technika and standard lens that cost ?600. You could get an old hasselblad for that.
Film and processing work out more expensive and theres only two or three labs in Dublin developing large format. A lot of LF users would develop themselves though and thats cheap enough. You also need a big enlarger to print 5×4 negatives so thats a cost factor on the other hand.
I am considering some Large Format work, but I can’t really justify it right now, think I have to improve my skills and this Hasselblad kit might help me achieve that??? As another post pointed out if I was going to delve into Large Format straight away I’d have to shell out for another enlarger… Imagine the kit you could buy if you were filthy rich… I think I might just buy every classic film camera and enlarger…lol. I have to get this Hasselblad.
“Jb7 Hope I haven’t” put you off:
No don’t worry I’m sticking to digital. Was looking at going medium format last April 12 months ago from shotting 35mm transparencies but decided in the end to go digital (price of film,processing, scanners etc was too high). If Hasselblad ever come out with a reasonable priced digital back i might go down that route but i don’t see that happening for another 7 or 8 years.
Cheers M
PS: sorry Leftist Rhetoric for jumping into your thread
Martin wrote:
If Hasselblad ever come out with a reasonable priced digital back i might go down that route
That’ll be called the Hasselblad Oxymoron then-
j
jb7 wrote:
Martin wrote:
If Hasselblad ever come out with a reasonable priced digital back i might go down that route
That’ll be called the Hasselblad Oxymoron then-
j
:lol:
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
