Thread: A winter stale

Well, remember this? ... I loved this little camera ...



Shortly after Xmarse I was trying to repair the umpteenth pinhole in the bellows (new ones appeared every time I opened the damn thing) when - possessing as I do all the patience of an overtired toddler - I managed to wreck them beyond repair.

So, I searched the interwebs high and low, and decided that the MF bug had bitten me so hard the itch could only be soothed by a Proper Camera ... so in the first week of January, this landed on my doorstep ...





Isn't she beautiful? Oh yes, a bit heavy, a bit boxy ... a bit noisy ... but ... so beautiful ... and that lens ...

One roll later I found a significant mechanical fault and back she went almost the same day ... but I'd actually owned a Hasselblad for 24 hours ...

But I had to have a MF camera, and I can't bear the thought of a TLR, so in a moment of uncharacteristic compromise, I got myself this little beauty ... well, "little" is a trifle kind ...






Not quite compact enough to slip into a pocket, and it's a 645 rather than a 6x6 so you don't (quite) get the same magical MF look to the negatives, but it's pretty sharp, is a rangefinder and has a decent meter (+O- led type) ... also the focusing tab isn't quite in the right place for me ... but it's very light and Takes A Nice Snap ...

I still think there is another 500CM in my future though ... but perhaps that's the same sort of fantasy as wanting to believe Sofia Helin will fall in love with me and marry me ...

well, you have excellent taste in cameras and after Googling (and oogling) Ms. Helin I can definitely say you have excellent taste in women. I have had different permutations of the Fuji 645 on my eBay watch list several times and then I remember that I'm not grown up enough for film. I will be looking forward to your shots with the new rig. And the Hassies are lovely, no doubt. But I feel like I'm always reading about someone sending one off for repair.

All are beauties, but that Adox speaks the most to me; too bad it went beyond repair. But hey, I wouldn't mind getting my paws on that Fuji either:-)

I think you might have a better chance for the 500CM, Sofia seems out of your price range. I kinda want a Hassy but I haven't yet even shot all that I have. Even if I did one a week I wouldn't get done in a year mind you some are box cameras and I'm not sure I will bother shooting, just nifty to have them. As I will shoot, probably after tax time, I will sift and then I will sell what I don't want. I got them because they were cool to have but I also made sure they worked [mind you not with film but that all seemed functional] and so now I am compelled to try them, fridge drawer full of film and just loaded the Medalist I. It awaits.

Congratulations on the Fuji GS645S. I have one and love it. The Fuji lens is quite sharp, and it's an easy camera to load up and carry around.

I have the Hasselblad 500CM too, with some Zeiss lenses. And, yes, it's a bit like a brick, a gold brick, though. Although I got the 45 degree viewfinder for it, it's still not really an easy camera to lug around, and street shoot with; I find that I use it mostly on a tripod -- out in the canyons, though, despite its reputation as a studio camera. If that's all it was, I wouldn't be very useful to me. I don't use my strobes very much. I love it, and I hope you fulfill your dream to get another one, but if you're like me you'll end up liking that Fuji more than you expect to.

Long live film! (I finally got my new darkroom up and running)

Exit, pursued by a bear....

Probably one of those finicky new digital do-dads that needs all the repair! Seriously, though, the Hasselblads are pretty intricate machines. I haven't had to repair my recent acquisition, and my former Hasselblad, from the early 50's had just been rebuilt before I bought it in the late 80's. And a print from a Hasselblad negative can be so damned pretty. I dream about Zeiss/Hasselbald lenses. I'll never own any Leica other than my 1938 IIIb I suspect, so a Hassy from the 80's (according to the serial number) is thrilling to me. I feel well, justified.

I'd get one of those Fujis you keep looking at. Watch out, though; you'll be looking for an enlarger next.

Originally Posted by Luke

well, you have excellent taste in cameras and after Googling (and oogling) Ms. Helin I can definitely say you have excellent taste in women. I have had different permutations of the Fuji 645 on my eBay watch list several times and then I remember that I'm not grown up enough for film. I will be looking forward to your shots with the new rig. And the Hassies are lovely, no doubt. But I feel like I'm always reading about someone sending one off for repair.

Larry, can you show us some of your film shots in the film thread? Maybe a series for the Fuji and one for the Hassie. I dream of Hasselblads too. One of my favorite shooters of my contacts on flickr I just bumped into by chance because he has a dog that looks a LOT like my girl Lucy shoots mainly a Hasselblad and so many of his photos are better than my best. Of course, I know there's some magic in that camera, but deep down I know he just has a way better eye than I do. He's also better looking and impossibly cool and races motorcycles.

Show me some Hasselblad shots and give me the fever!

OK. give me a couple of days, as I'm putting finishing touches on the darkroom. I'll look at some scans in the meantime.

Originally Posted by Luke

Larry, can you show us some of your film shots in the film thread? Maybe a series for the Fuji and one for the Hassie. I dream of Hasselblads too. One of my favorite shooters of my contacts on flickr I just bumped into by chance because he has a dog that looks a LOT like my girl Lucy shoots mainly a Hasselblad and so many of his photos are better than my best. Of course, I know there's some magic in that camera, but deep down I know he just has a way better eye than I do. He's also better looking and impossibly cool and races motorcycles.

Show me some Hasselblad shots and give me the fever!

Originally Posted by Lawrence A.

... it's still not really an easy camera to lug around, and street shoot with; ...

Congratulations on the Fuji GS645S.

I had some luck shooting street with my 500C/M:







Gary

Originally Posted by Luke

Show me some Hasselblad shots and give me the fever!