It’s been a few months now since I came into the world of medium format and became a Hasselblad owner. I have to say, its the most pleasurable camera I think I’ve ever owned.

The first time I picked it up I thought the weight might be an issue, not in the slightest. If anything its an advantage. Steadying the camera is a dream and it’s solid and super comfortable to shoot with.

I love the fact that when the Hasselblad comes out of my camera bag, the reaction from everyone who sees it. Those who recognise it, love it and those who don’t, stand back and admire it.

I must admit, it makes me smile time after time

 

 

Focusing

I love the waist level viewfinder. It’s clear, crisp and very engaging when you look into it. With the addition of the magnifier, this makes focussing a breeze. I’m a full-time glasses wearer and without the magnifier, I reckon I’d struggle. Maybe that’s just me or I’m just getting old… Hell!!

 

 

The lens

My Hasselblad came with the standard Zeiss 80mm Planar C 2.8. I’ve run with Zeiss for years. Their lenses are always-pin sharp and outstanding quality.

The 80mm focal length puts me on all of the subjects I’ve shot so far but the more I use it, the more I’m tempted to invest in some more glass, just to get a slightly wider angle or perhaps closer to my subject matter.

 

 

Sample images

Since my last article, I’ve shot a few more rolls I’d like to share. They were all shot on Kodak 120 film in a mixture of Portra 160, Portra 400NC and Ektar 100, both fresh and expired.

 

 

Conclusion

Without doubt the Hasselblad 500 CM is the best camera I’ve had the pleasure of owning – and I’m a massive Leica owner and fan. I’ve had several conversations with other like-minded individuals since owning my Hasselblad and I’ve urged them all to go medium format, but more importantly, go Hasselblad.

A final note if I may. I really do believe that if I’d discovered medium format and the Hasselblad 500CM earlier, I’d be a better photographer today. I really do…

Thanks for reading,

~ Rick

 

 

Share your knowledge, story or project

The transfer of knowledge across the film photography community is the heart of EMULSIVE. You can add your support by contributing your thoughts, work, experiences and ideas to inspire the hundreds of thousands of people who read these pages each month. Check out the submission guide here.

If you like what you’re reading you can also help this passion project by heading over to the EMULSIVE Patreon page and contributing as little as a dollar a month. There’s also print and apparel over at Society 6, currently showcasing over two dozen t-shirt designs and over a dozen unique photographs available for purchase.

Similar stuff on EMULSIVE

9 responses to “Medium format first timer: a few months on with the Hasselblad 500C/M”

  1. Thank you Eddie. That info is really useful

  2. On a cautionary note having used them for about 15 years, the Hasselblad film backs do need maintenance. The older ones can be problematic and need to be serviced regularly which adds a little expense. If buying try get the latest model you can. One really good back is better than two mediocre ones. The light seals also need to be replaced which is an easy enough job to do yourself. I’ve just this week purchased a second all black CM body and meter prism.

  3. Oops nevermind the prism then, sorry. You could use Chimney but people generally don’t like them if they can achieve focus without, and you can obviously get a focus with the waist. If you ever get 60 or 150 lens you may not be able to use waist anymore because wide open is a stop darker: in that case prism is good but raises eye-point and a tripod would be best for that.

  4. I dont use a tripod. I always shoot hand held

  5. Nice kit and those large diameter lenses make for a difference you can see.

    Since you use a tripod you might want to know the numbers for accessory stuff:
    Magnifying hood 52094. 3x mag + built-in adjustable diopter for plus or minus 3
    Magnifying hood 42013. 2.5x mag + built-in adjustable diopter. These are older
    45 deg magnifying prism PM5 42308 or 42307. 3x mag no dioper
    45 deg magnifying prism PM45 42309. 2x mag with adjustable diopter (plus 1, minus 2) brighter than PM5

    – You can also get a swing-over viewfinder magnifier to add to your 45 prism (42459 for PM5, 42462 for PM45) as an accessory to the prism; it has adjustable diopter (plus minus 3+) and makes everything +6 magnified and you really can’t miss with those two items together.

  6. I did todd. I do develop B&W but not colour. I send all my 120mm colour films to the guys at AG Photolab. They offer a great service……

  7. Super photos, and I’m drooling over that ‘splitty’ as well as the 500CM!

    1. thank you Steven. A very rare splitty indeed.

  8. Did you shoot all at box speed, and did you develop yourself?

    As I too reach my upper 50’s, the 500CM is on of my retirement dream cameras! Thanks for the nudge!! May have to sell the Pentax 645.

 

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Discover more from EMULSIVE

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Discover more from EMULSIVE

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading