They are certainly good for something, if they work as they should.
The problem with old, unused 'blads is exactly that they are old and unused.
Like a mechanical watch you have to use them from time to time to assure functionality, they dont like sitting in the dust for years. The same is true for the lenses. An unused C(F) lens would probably need the shutter serviced. The good thing is, there are a lot of service center which did and still do this.
For film users the Hasselblad is a great tool and a joy to use. I'd buy a couple of films and try them for a week or two, if you dont have the experience you might ask somebody in a camera club or photo store to examine it for you and give you the basics in Hasselblad shooting.
They are certainly good for something, if they work as they should.
The problem with old, unused 'blads is exactly that they are old and unused.
Like a mechanical watch you have to use them from time to time to assure functionality, they dont like sitting in the dust for years. The same is true for the lenses. An unused C(F) lens would probably need the shutter serviced. The good thing is, there are a lot of service center which did and still do this.
For film users the Hasselblad is a great tool and a joy to use. I'd buy a couple of films and try them for a week or two, if you dont have the experience you might ask somebody in a camera club or photo store to examine it for you and give you the basics in Hasselblad shooting.
The Zeiss Lenses are easily converted/adapted to use with the Canon line of digital slrs. If you don't mind manual mode, these lenses can be awesome...Further, the shutter is a non issue since you don't use it.
You are using only the sweetest part of an already world class sharpness in the image circle. Paired with a Canon 5D in a studio, you'd have a hard to beat combo.
Monetarily they are not worth much. They are still some of the best cameras ever made though. Why not put a roll of film through one and see how you like it? It is a different way of shooting, with the square format, and it takes time to set up for the exposure, which I somehow love, and last but not least, there is something primal about the satisfaction which comes from the huge *Klunk* coming from the shutter.
carsten, saying they are not worth much is relative and not quite correct IMO. I bought a used 500cm-based system this summer for about 1000 EUR, which is not "not much" to my understanding, considering you can get into the "Red Dot" club for less.
Well, with a 5000ppi scan, that's roughly a 120Gb image. Now compare with any dSLR. Print 36x36 and print dSLR at 36x24 and compare. Hint: (no contest).
kevin2i wrote:
Well, with a 5000ppi scan, that's roughly a 120Gb image. Now compare with any dSLR. Print 36x36 and print dSLR at 36x24 and compare. Hint: (no contest).
Actualy the film looses to a top end DSLR for a number of reasons but lets not ignite a film vs digital war again My 500c/m and lenses have survived very well into digital. I use MF digital backs as I used to use film backs and some of the lenses get used on my Canon DSLR with shift adaptors. Worth anything? - absolutley.
Airborne_ wrote:
carsten, saying they are not worth much is relative and not quite correct IMO. I bought a used 500cm-based system this summer for about 1000 EUR, which is not "not much" to my understanding, considering you can get into the "Red Dot" club for less.
Well, as usual it all depends on what you look at. You can also find Hasselblad 500 C/Ms for less than M6s, if you search, and you did say Hassie system, but didn't make the same stipulation for the Leica. Anyway, my old 500C and chrome 80/2.8C (not T*) takes great photos, but would probably sell for not much more than $300. A decent 500 C/M with an 80/2.8CF T* could be found for less than $1000, but an M6 with 50 Cron probably not, and they would be kinda comparable. Getting an older M would not save much, as they start to become collectible.
I am not comparing prices to crap, btw, just to other possibilities for that kind of image results. The older Hasselblads take great photos.
My 500c/m and lenses have survived very well into digital. I use MF digital backs as I used to use film backs and some of the lenses get used on my Canon DSLR with shift adaptors. Worth anything? - absolutley.