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Hasselblad V body question

Duff photographer

Active member
Howdo all,

A little background - since I moved from my Contax645/120mm Makro set-up (for macro fieldwork) to 35mm digital I have become disillusioned/dissatisfied with the quality of the images I'm getting. In short all digi' shots lack the 3d effect and tonality that 645 film gave me (for reasons I am now well aware of). While the 35mm images are fine for magazines etc. (good resolution, colour, etc.) I want to get back to that 'wow' factor.

To this end I'm considering the Hasselblad V system, largely because there are loads around (and the lenses are a lot cheaper than more 'modern' systems as and when I add to it).

Having not ever owned anything Hasselbladdy (other than a 250mm Super-achromat for my Contax) can I ask some stupid questions?

My idea is to attach my Schneider 120mm macro-apo-digitar to the Hasselblad. Connecting it to the camera isn't a problem but I would like to know if the camera can be operated with the leaf shutter lens via a PC cable and if not, can the camera be operated like a view camera with the lens operating independently. Please assume that a digital back will ultimately be used but also film in emergencies. I'm guessing a purely mechanical model would be better than a battery dependent one?

The alternative, of course, is to buy one of the Zeiss 120mm macros but I would rather save myself a few hundred £/$/Euro's if I can.

What do you all reckon?

Thanks.

Cheers,
Duff
 

Leigh

New member
Hi Duff,

I have the complete V system (except for a couple of odd lenses), shooting film for over 50 years and digital for the past decade.

The V-series bodies can be pre-released, which brings the mirror up and opens the body curtains.
The pre-release is the little button sticking down below the wind crank.

You can then fire an in-the-lens shutter to make the exposure.

After firing your lens shutter, push the release button on the body to complete the release cycle.
You then wind the body to return the mirror and cock the magazine release as usual.

- Leigh
 

Stuart Richardson

Active member
If you are looking to transition to MFD on a budget, a Pentax 645Z or even the older 645D would be well worth looking at. They are more integrated and modern cameras than the cheaper and older V system backs and more like the Contax 645 you are used to. Using the V system and an older digital back will be like going back in time for you...not just in the sense that your lenses and exposure will be manual, but in the sense of poor battery life, bad displays, poor ISO performance etc. (I am assuming you would not use this with a current generation MFDB).

The Pentax 645 also has less expensive lenses and film bodies available if you need them.

As for your macro apo digitar, as Leigh suggests, you can probably get it to work on the V camera (I have not tried non-hasselblad lenses on my hasselblad), but my concern would be the rear-element and mounting system. The flange to focal distance on the V is 74.9mm, so that would be fine on a 120mm lens as long as the rear element and focusing helical don't get in the way. Pentax 645 is 70.87mm. The advantage it has would be its own focal plane shutter, so all you would need would be stop down metering...no need to worry about syncing.
 

ondebanks

Member
Why not get a Contax 645 again? It's what you say you miss, after all. And nearly all the same digital back options are available as for Hasselblad V mount. It's also got one of the shortest flange to focal distances in medium format (64 mm), and a focal plane shutter, which as Stuart points out, are both key to adapting unusual lenses.

Ray
 

Duff photographer

Active member
Thanks Leigh, Stuart and Ray for the replies. Much appreciated :thumbup:

Leigh - nice, precise answer! Thanks for confirming. Makes the V body pretty much what I'm looking for. I'll probably go for a 503CW.

Stuart - not so much looking for MFD on a budget (well, sort of). Just like to use a good lens on different systems if I can - saves space and weight when travelling and of course money. The digital back that I require is one that can also be used on my Plaubel 69D view camera (only has Hasselblad H, V, and Mamiya mounts), so mustn't have microlenses, and would much prefer one with big pixels for the attributes they have. I'm also selling off some high-end gear that should fund all the Hasselblad gear I require. I don't like going back to an older system but I have noticed that sometimes a manufacturer will drop something that is perfect for one's requirements (such as the aforesaid MFDB attributes, and modularity) for something that is commercially more viable. Hasselblad V's and older MF backs tick all the boxes so...

Yup, the 120mm apo-digitar is one of the very few that can be retro-fitted to another 'reflex' system (I think the 80mm was the only other apo-digitar if I recall). Back-flange is certainly one of the issues but also the width of the rear element - won't fit past the adapter one is using. The 120mm macro will be used on a bellows and either side of 1:1 so back-flange wouldn't be a problem. And yes, looks like it'll be used as you describe :)

Ray - yes, I certainly thought about picking up a Contax again. Sadly, prices have gone up on good conditioned kit but the main problems are the rarity of MFDBs in a Contax mount, spare parts are limited and will eventually run out, and (the killer for me) there is no Contax mount for the Plaubel 69D so I can't swap the MFDB between systems. I do miss my Contax though :(

Thanks again all.

Cheers,
Duff
 

ErikKaffehr

Well-known member
Hi,

I feel something is missed in the discussion. You need to wake up the back before the exposure. The Hasselblad bodies all do this. With a lens shutter you need to use a wake up cable and release the shutter within 5 seconds of waking up. If you push to early you only get a partial image.


I would use a Planar 120/4 on the Hasselblad, they are dirt cheap.

Here are two close up images with that lens:

http://echophoto.dnsalias.net/ekr/Articles/Samples/Planar_120_macro/

The raw files here in DNG, but the original IIQ file is embedded and can be extracted using Adobe DNG Converter.

Best regards
Erik

Howdo all,

A little background - since I moved from my Contax645/120mm Makro set-up (for macro fieldwork) to 35mm digital I have become disillusioned/dissatisfied with the quality of the images I'm getting. In short all digi' shots lack the 3d effect and tonality that 645 film gave me (for reasons I am now well aware of). While the 35mm images are fine for magazines etc. (good resolution, colour, etc.) I want to get back to that 'wow' factor.

To this end I'm considering the Hasselblad V system, largely because there are loads around (and the lenses are a lot cheaper than more 'modern' systems as and when I add to it).

Having not ever owned anything Hasselbladdy (other than a 250mm Super-achromat for my Contax) can I ask some stupid questions?

My idea is to attach my Schneider 120mm macro-apo-digitar to the Hasselblad. Connecting it to the camera isn't a problem but I would like to know if the camera can be operated with the leaf shutter lens via a PC cable and if not, can the camera be operated like a view camera with the lens operating independently. Please assume that a digital back will ultimately be used but also film in emergencies. I'm guessing a purely mechanical model would be better than a battery dependent one?

The alternative, of course, is to buy one of the Zeiss 120mm macros but I would rather save myself a few hundred £/$/Euro's if I can.

What do you all reckon?

Thanks.

Cheers,
Duff
 

Duff photographer

Active member
Thanks for the heads-up Erik. I'll remember that.

I'll give my adaptation a go as and when I get the equipment. It won't cost many anything, only time, but if it fails or is too inhibitive then I'll definitely fall back on one of the 120mm macros.

...and thanks for the links :thumbup:

Cheers,
DP

Hi,

I feel something is missed in the discussion. You need to wake up the back before the exposure. The Hasselblad bodies all do this. With a lens shutter you need to use a wake up cable and release the shutter within 5 seconds of waking up. If you push to early you only get a partial image.


I would use a Planar 120/4 on the Hasselblad, they are dirt cheap.

Here are two close up images with that lens:

http://echophoto.dnsalias.net/ekr/Articles/Samples/Planar_120_macro/

The raw files here in DNG, but the original IIQ file is embedded and can be extracted using Adobe DNG Converter.

Best regards
Erik
 
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pgmj

Member
The old S-Planar 120/5.6 actually outperforms the Makro-Planar 120/4 at close-up distances.
 

SHV

Member
Get a copy of Ernst Wildi "The Hasselblad Manual" preferably the Fifth Edition, that is the last analog only edition. It has every thing that you need to know about Hasselblad V systems. The Sixth is also OK but has the "new" H system also. In each addition, the is a chapter on Hasselblad macro systems.

Just looked at Amazon and used Fifth editions are available for about $15.00. (10 years ago I paid $50 for a used Fifth and was happy that I found one)

Steve

PS: If you turn into a V system gear head there is Richard Nordin's "Hasselblad System Compendium"
 

SHV

Member
Haven't bought any Hassy stuff for about 5-6 years but this discussion got me somewhat interested again in V system macro. Just ordered a 135mm 5.6 CF Makro in ex cond for about 1/2 the price for similar lens 6 years ago.

Steve
 

Leigh

New member
Haven't bought any Hassy stuff for about 5-6 years but this discussion got me somewhat interested again in V system macro.
Just ordered a 135mm 5.6 CF Makro in ex cond for about 1/2 the price for similar lens 6 years ago.
Do you have the bellows to go with it?

- Leigh
 

Duff photographer

Active member
The old S-Planar 120/5.6 actually outperforms the Makro-Planar 120/4 at close-up distances.
Sshhh!


Get a copy of Ernst Wildi "The Hasselblad Manual" preferably the Fifth Edition, that is the last analog only edition. It has every thing that you need to know about Hasselblad V systems. The Sixth is also OK but has the "new" H system also. In each addition, the is a chapter on Hasselblad macro systems.
Thanks Steve. I've managed to find both quite cheaply and as you say, the 5th edition is more useful. Thanks. :thumbup:
 
Last edited:

SHV

Member
Under the category of FWIW and odd Hasselblad stuff, my 135mm 5.6 Makro arrived today. I have been doing home remodeling for the past 2 years (now phase VIII, IIRC) and because of a lot of dry wall dust and other dirt, the camera gear has been in boxes for a few years. Got out some of the Hassy gear for fun.

Steve
 

Godfrey

Well-known member
Get a copy of Ernst Wildi "The Hasselblad Manual" preferably the Fifth Edition, that is the last analog only edition. It has every thing that you need to know about Hasselblad V systems. The Sixth is also OK but has the "new" H system also.
What does the Fifth Edition contain compared to the Third Edition? That's what's on my shelf. :)

thx
G
 
I just got back into a Hassie system for shooting film (also dragged my Drum Scanner out of mothballs). Picked up a cherry 500cm, 50mm and a couple A12 mags at KEH for dirt cheap. I really love the 500 series! One thing to watch out for, as I vaguely recall from my brief time with a 500c and P45+... not all lenses sync well with the wakeup cable and the digi-back. We had all our lenses converted to whatever the more modern flash sync system was and some still didn't sync properly with the back, causing half frames and sometimes no image at all. I would just watch out for older series lenses... FWIW.

CB
 

SHV

Member
What does the Fifth Edition contain compared to the Third Edition? That's what's on my shelf. :)

thx
G
The "Third" has chapters on Instant film, Copying and Unusual Light Sources, which the Fifth omits. The Fifth has more info on 200 series cameras and some "newer" lenses. Without doing a page by page review to be certain, there doesn't appear to be much practical difference.

Steve
 

SHV

Member
I just got back into a Hassie system for shooting film (also dragged my Drum Scanner out of mothballs). Picked up a cherry 500cm, 50mm and a couple A12 mags at KEH for dirt cheap. I really love the 500 series! One thing to watch out for, as I vaguely recall from my brief time with a 500c and P45+... not all lenses sync well with the wakeup cable and the digi-back. We had all our lenses converted to whatever the more modern flash sync system was and some still didn't sync properly with the back, causing half frames and sometimes no image at all. I would just watch out for older series lenses... FWIW.

CB
Unless your are a collector, I would pass on "C" lenses and buy high grade CFs. For the "value", most newer Hasselblad lenses, with some exceptions, are quite inexpensive.

Steve
 

Godfrey

Well-known member
The "Third" has chapters on Instant film, Copying and Unusual Light Sources, which the Fifth omits. The Fifth has more info on 200 series cameras and some "newer" lenses. Without doing a page by page review to be certain, there doesn't appear to be much practical difference.

Steve
Thanks! Good to know, I'm happy with my "Third" ... :)

I just ordered a CF Makro-Planar 120mm f/4 + hood. I was realizing the other day that one of the things holding me back from using the 500CM all that much was that the Planar 80 and Sonnar 150 do not focus all that close: I have to carry close-up lenses, which I find interrupts my shooting to keep switching the close-up lens on and off the camera.

I suspect that once the 120mm arrives it will be the lens I have on the camera most of the time, just like the 35mm Macro is my most-used lens on the Olympus E-1.

G
 
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