From: bu890@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Brian Segal)
Newsgroups: rec.photo
Subject: Re: Blad vs Mamiya (Lenses, Weight, Other)
Date: 6 Jan 1993 10:09:21 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


OK...so let's go at this again....

(1) Lenses:  the Hasselblad/Zeiss lenses in Prontor shutters (the shutters used to     
to be Compur - hence the"C" in 500C) among the best on the market, and some
of them are especially good like the Planar 100, the Makro-Planar 120
and the Biogon 38.  They are very solidly built, durable, have reliable
and accurate shutters, and when used with a lens shade - as all lenses
SHOULD be - deliver great contrast as well as sharpness to die for.

What IS important if you are shooting professionally, is that they are
all color corrected identically.

(2) Bodies:  I have a 30 year old body (well the camera, that is - I'll never       
see 30 again!!), a 7 year old Biogon SWC/M and a 3 year old 5403CX body.
I recently had the 500C "tuned up" and the sole repair was a $5.00
part on the lens mount assembly and a bit of lubrication after 8 years
of use with a servicing...not bad!  They are built like Sherman Tanks, but
are considerably lighter!

(3) Film Magazines:  Have matched inserts (you match the last 3 numbers
of the serial numbers of the casing and insert) and I have NEVER...repeat
NEVER had a problem with film flatness!  However, Hasselblad will tell you
that after a certain amount of use you may notice the frame spacing getting
a bit tight in the first few frames of a roll..this is a simple adjustment
that can be done by a factory trained technician in 5 minutes.

(4) Metering:  Except for the 205TCC which is outrageously expensive, the
Hasselblads have no meter built into the body..you have to either use
an external hand held one, or buy a Metering Prism which has a VERY accurate
centre weighted meter (the PME series).  If you feel the urge to buy a 205TCC
do your bank account a favor and get a spot meter, a note book and a nice
used car instead....:-)

(5) Weight:  My 503CX with PME-3 metering prism, A12 back and 80mm lens
weighs about the same as my Nikon F2 with an 80-200 zoom, but is bulkier.
I have never noticed a weight problem.

(6) Flash sync: as with all lens shutter configurations the flash sync
through the range from B to 1/500th.

(7) Format:  Some people LOVE the square, some HATE the square, no one
is neutral.  If you are shooting weddings or fashion the square
lets you fire at will and eliminates the need to rotate the camera
for verticals. After a few weeks of shooting with a square frame you will
find yourself cropping automatically - or not at all if the case
warrants it - as you compose in the viewfinder.  The square gives you
total versatility and is also very useful for landscapes...after shooting
for a while you will be able to compose landscapes that can be cropped either
way, thus doubling the usefulness of the image.  For portrait and macro work
the square offers special features...you just have to try it and see.


(8) IN general:  You can buy used Hasselblad equipment in excellent condition
for considerably less than new..but you should stick to the newer black T*
coated lenses as they have the best coatings and the least potential for
flare.

My 500C retailed for about $500.00 new in 1960, and I bought it used for
about the same price in                                                        -l@                               .                                                  .      
the late 80's....so it kept it's nominal value;  , but 500 bucks was
REALLY 500 bucks in 1960!

Try before you buy! make sure you get along with the system.

Brian