Hasselblad second-hand buy's advice please

Colbo

Colbo

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First off, thanks in advance for anyone who can help me further ;)

Right, I need some advice about hasselblads if you please. I'm looking to buy a second-hand one from eBay probably under the £1000 mark. It will be mainly used for landscape/people photography (so need a wide-ish lens). I've used medium format before, the really old but fun to use Yashica twin lens. I love using the waist level finder and the use of taking photographs that way seems to transport me back in time. The action of taking the photograph means something too unlike digital which although I use often doesn’t hold and capture the experience of the moment...

I’ve used a Bronica recently too which was nice but I suppose like many others the hasselblad sits in its own magnificence as an object in its own right so that’s the one for me.
Anyway enough romance ;) I have had a scout round and have found some available, however there seem to be series' of hasselblad models and I’m in the dark as to know which to get...? What are the differences between the models..? If anyone could point me in this to a webpage with info to help me decide id be very grateful. Or if you have used any of the ones highlighted and have experience with any would be of help too...

Here’s the list so far:

Hasselblad 501CM Chrome Outfit (Nov 2001)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250476780834&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
New-ish camera with little use and the winder on the body of the camera. This one I feel may go over my limit!

Mint Hasselblad 503cx complete outfit
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170369259311&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Hasselblad 500 C/M Boxed Beautiful and Near Mint
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260458884760&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

HASSELBLAD 500C KIT 80MM F/2.8 PLANAR 120 BACK EXC
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170367810255&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
Would you buy from so far away…?

That’s it. As you will see some of them are due to finish in the next week so a prompt response would be greatly appreciated ;)

Cheers
 
It's a nightmare trying to work out the differences between Hasselblad models. The differences are usually quite slight in the 500 (V) series.

The 501C introduces user -replaceable focusing screens but suffered from vignetting in the viewfinder when using longer lenses.

The 501 CM ( I have this one) introduced a larger mirror, referred to as a 'sliding mirror' which solved the vignetting problem with longer lenses.

The 503CX introduced TTL flash, although I'm not sure it had the sliding mirror.

Be careful - the higher model numbers don't always indicate a later camera and can be very misleading.
 
Thats a fair bit of cash to spend on EBay

Was looking around some of the shops and www.ffordes.co.uk has a couple of 503cx in for just under the £1000 mark, and if you buy from a shop you will get some sort of warrenty.
 
Colbo said:
I'm looking to buy a second-hand one from eBay probably under the £1000 mark. It will be mainly used for landscape/people photography (so need a wide-ish lens).

Here’s the list so far:

Hasselblad 501CM Chrome Outfit (Nov 2001)
Mint Hasselblad 503cx complete outfit
Hasselblad 500 C/M Boxed Beautiful and Near Mint
HASSELBLAD 500C KIT 80MM F/2.8 PLANAR 120 BACK EXC
Click to expand...
None of those have a 'wide-anything' lens.

80mm is the 'standard' lens.
 
Thanks eveyone so far for you help.
Voyager - your right about the lenses ;(
might have to get a body and lens seperately

Thanks again
 
Unfortunately anything wide in Hasselblad lenses tends to be very expensive!

50mm options aren't too bad but 40mm options tend to start around the 1100 quid mark (used)
 
I love hasselblads but im wondering if im pricing myself out of a decent medium format camera. Maybe another look at Mamiya or anoher make might be the route..>?

Please advise anyone who can help ;)

Cheers
 
Colbo said:
I love hasselblads but im wondering if im pricing myself out of a decent medium format camera. Maybe another look at Mamiya or anoher make might be the route..
Click to expand...

The Mamiya RB67 is the bargain of the medium format world. I was going to suggest the Bronica SQ too but you already know about Bronicas.


Steve.
 
Depends if you want to use Square or Rectangle format

Bronica SQ system plus 50mm (or if you can find them 40mm lens) are very good and can be had for loads less than £1000. I have a Bonica SQ-Ai + 200mm + 50mm + spare back in total I think it cost less than £400 and it is fantastic.

Mamiya you have the 330 TLR cameras are fully mechanical, think the widest you can get for them is 65mm. Very quiet as they don't have a moving mirror, but great cameras. Only slight downside to them is they don't have changeable backs.

Mamiya RB or RZ 67. These are 6x7 machines and a few people on here use them. Have a great reputation (Rankin still uses one linked to a digital back). Heavy robust cameras with a revolving back to you don't have to move the whole camera to flick between protrait and landscape usage.

Fuji 670 & 690. Fixed lens large rangefinders, they also did wide angle version but they are rare. Great travel cameras and reputed to have VERY sharp Fujion lens. (I am after a Fuji 690 :D)

Mamiya 6 & 7, Like the Fujis they are range finder cameras, The Mamiya 6 is the earlier version and both have interchangeable lens. Think Joxby has one of the Mamiya 7 cameras. Very very good cameras but I think the Mamiya 7 plus lens would be over your budjet.

Remeber you don't always need to have wide angle lens in order to do landscapes with, I have in the past experiment using 135mm and 300mm lens for landscape :)
 
Steve Smith said:
The Mamiya RB67 is the bargain of the medium format world. I was going to suggest the Bronica SQ too but you already know about Bronicas.


Steve.
Click to expand...

I got to agree with Steve on this. Bits and lenses for the RB67 are far more affordable and there tend to be plenty of them about. I picked up an absolutely mint 50mm lens, for £160 quid - less tidy ones go for a lot less.

Considering what you must be contemplating spending, it's worth remembering that Ffordes probably still have the last of their new Mamiya Pro SD stock which they're selling off complete with 80mm lens for round 800 quid! A new MF of that quality for that price has to be the bargain of the century. ;)
 
Thanks for the info CT
Just had a lookie at ffordes and couldnt find the camera your refering to???
They have ones with 90mm lenses???
Please could you clarify

Cheers
 
Hmmm. it looks like they may have sold out of them. They were selling some on ebay but I can't see any there now either. You could try giving them a ring, they're usually very helpful and might have something to suit you.
 
Sorry mate - yes- 90mm is the 'standard 'lens (not 80mm)
 
Colbo said:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220462539285&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Just seen this on ebay, any good? And what is a '90 kl lens'...?
Thanks in advance ;)
Click to expand...

The camera is a Pro SD - the last of the RB series on which they changed the lens mount to take the new K Series lenses. The mount was changed mainly to enable the use of wider lenses IIRC. The 90mm is the 'standard' lens focal length for the format.

The camera appears to be immaculate, so I wouldn't balk at 500 quid. which seems fair for a camera in that condition. Just be careful you don't get involved in a bidding war with some 'determined to have it at any price' bidder. Otherwise, if you can get it on a bid of 500 quid in the closing minutes you'll be doing well I reckon. ;)
 
Colbo said:
Just seen this on ebay, any good? And what is a '90 kl lens'...?
Click to expand...

Looks like a good deal.

The KL lens has a wider diameter than the previous C lenses. The older lenses can still be used by fitting them with an adaptor ring. It's not essential but helps to centre the lens properly when mounting it.

The Pro SD is the best of the RB67s to get as it is the newest and will be backwards compatible with previous lenses, film backs, etc.

I paid £500 for a body, two film backs, waist level finder, 90mm KL lens and 50mm C lens. It was ex - West Yorkshire police and some of it appears to have never been used. I think I got quite a bargain.



Steve.
 
Thanks again for the swift reply guys. Most appreciated

Steve can i make an offer on your bargain of the millenium ;)
 
Yes, you can do an ulimited number of exposures on a single frame by means of a double exposure switch on the magazine back.

I think though that you mean just longer exposures for a single shot? In that case you just select the 'B' (bulb) setting on the lens and the lens stays open as long as you like after you press the shutter. To close the shutter, the very slightest pressure on the large recocking lever on the side of the camera closes the shutter.
 
Ah cool, just wanted to make sure longer exposures are possible, thanks again ;)
 
No probs. You can get a Mamiya double cable release which raises the mirror on the first press and fires the shutter on the 2nd press - obviously to eliminate camera vibration. They're not easy to find now but they come up on ebay now and again and they go for anything from around 30-50 quid- sometimes more. They were about £65 new.

You can quite easily use two of the old type threaded cable releases though - one for the mirror and one for the shutter, and they're cheap as chips.
 
How about looking at the Bronica S2 cameras? They're fairly old and useless for using a flash with (probably not a problem for you) but they're nearly as nice to look at as a Hasselblad (IMO), much nicer than a Bronica SQ or a Mamiya, the lenses focus nice and close if you're into that sort of thing and there's a fair few about.
 
CT said:
You can get a Mamiya double cable release which raises the mirror on the first press and fires the shutter on the 2nd press - obviously to eliminate camera vibration. They're not easy to find now but they come up on ebay now and again and they go for anything from around 30-50 quid- sometimes more. They were about £65 new.

You can quite easily use two of the old type threaded cable releases though - one for the mirror and one for the shutter, and they're cheap as chips.
Click to expand...

Just use a single normal cable release on the lens. Use the shutter button at the front to raise the mirror then the cable release to trip the shutter.

I have never seen the point in the double cable (possibly because I don't have one!).


Steve.
 
Right, good news - I've got myself a hasselblad 500el try befor I buy. I'll stick a film through to makesure all works well. One thing is the battery it has is really old, only Just working. I did see an online manual that it was possible to use a similar size insert with a couple of rechargeable batteries inside as the batteriesare no longer available. Any idea where I could get one of those with rechargeables (lithium) batteries? And what's it called. Many thanks
 
I can't answer your battery question -sorry, but there's some info on the EL HERE

A dealer like Ffordes or better still one of the Hasselblad specialist dealers should be able to help with info on the battery problem.
 
Yeah thats the page i saw regarding the battery adapter. ill give em a ring tomorrow.
thanks again CT
 
If you don't mind me sticking my head in, I'd try for the 500C/M rather than anything with a battery beneath - You're not relying on any power source, there's much less to go wrong (Well, you've got the good old Hasselblad-jam, but that's easily solved).

There'd be nothing worse than going to a shoot and your battery failing. :)

Edit; Just found this, http://www.keh.com/OnLineStore/Prod...=&ID=43&BC=HH&BCC=5&CC=1&CCC=1&BCL=&GBC=&GCC=

Weighs in at just over £800, not including P&P, which would bring it up to about the tonne mark... But it *is* in mint condition.
 
Thanks for the search and info fajitas. Much appreciated.

There are however some equally nice cameras on this site from the inverness: https://secure.ffordes.com/index.htm so postage shouldnt be too costly, but thanks again for your input.
 
Ah - There are some great kits there alright!

I'm new to the UK, so Keh was always my run-to for used gear prices!!
 
I'd go for a 500C/M, 501C or 503Cx (if you want TTL with a metz dedicated flash and adaptor).

I'd NEVER buy a battery Hasselblad.

Things to watch for when you buy are a Blad are marks near the bottom at the rear of the body where users have not taken much care puting them on or in the case of wedding photographers doing it in a hurry.

One obvious one is on the base mounting on the tripod - buy a s/h tripod quick release it's a delight to use when you're in a hurry!

Lens wise always fire through the slow shutter speeds starting on a second to see what that's like first.

The chrome lens are great but with no T* coating, you then have the black T* coating which are excellent even if the look a great deal older than the modern CF (and newer) lenses
 
Don't forget, you can date a Hasselblad using vhpictures. Under this write numbers 1234567890, so that v is 1 and s is 0. You can check the serial on the body and the back to work out which year it was made. 1979 would be UE :)
 
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