Hasselblad 500c/m

[Nicole]

I am only just venturing into MF and purchased the old Hasselblad 500c/m. About to get started on reading the manual It comes with 2 lenses: Carl Zeiss Sonar 2.8 80mm and 150mm.

Any tips, warnings, quirks you may have for me about this beauty would be greatly appreciated. I shoot mostly portraits.

Thanks everyone. This forum has been most inspirational and educational (well done Sean!!!)

Kind regards
Nicole

[Fintan]

The main warning I can give is basically making sure he camera is wound on before changing the lens or mounting a lens.

Its also important that you align the film arrow with the arrow and arrow on the film back and not have film slack. That will result in uneven spacing between frames.

I'm by no means a Hasselblad geek, I just love using mine. I highly recommend you join Hasselblad User Group mailing list, see instruction at the bottom of this page http://www.kelvin.net/Hasselblad/guidelines.txt

And also buy some of the Hasselblad books, you dont need the latest editions for the 500cm so they can be had cheaply on ebay.

Have you an exposure meter?

[Julian Hart]

Hi Nicole

So long as the camera is in good working order the best advice I can give you is...., if something does not work as you expect it to, DO NOT FORCE IT!!!

Try and establish why it doesnt work instead, i.e the back will not come off/go on if the darkslide is not in, the lens will not mount/dismount unless the body is cocked and you will not be able to mount a lens if it is not cocked.

(Note that the lens will only usually not be cocked when off camera if you have dismounted it incorrectly when using extension tubes (and perhaps teleconverters etc...,))

When you get another magazine for two film stocks, always ensure the camera is cocked before removing the back. This is a good routine to get into, otherwise when switching between magazines you could double expose a piece of film and unknowlingly wreck two images!

To get optimum image quality, use mirror lock up when ever you are using a tripod.

When loading the back, as Fintan says, keep the film nice and tight and align the arrow correctly. Also ensure you run the film under the lip which limits the film pressure plate movement.

Finally, you may find you need a short extension tube with the 150mm for tight portraits.


Have fun with your new toy!

Julian

[Kevin Caulfield]

The 500 C/M is a great item. One thing I've found tricky about it is using the self timer. I got some good help from this site though. There are a couple of tricks to it. It won't work with a cable release attached. And you have to first slide the "T/0" switch at the front to "T". Then you slide the "VXM" to "V" and press the shutter. Then you have to slide the "T/0" to "0", and you can advance the frame.

[Nicole]

Fintan, Julian and Kevin - thank you all for you great tips!!!
Hmmm better break the box open and get started! Can't wait - actually, I get it tomorrow! The manual doesn't say much about some of these tips so thank you very much!!! This one will have to do until (one day) I can get a Hasselblad H1 (dream on....)

[John Koehrer]

Something else to be aware of. Occasionally a lens may release when installing/removing it, There is a slotted shaft on the rear of the lens that can be recocked by using a coin.(turn clockwise) The slot should align with the red dot adjacent to the slotted shaft. If the lens has any resistance to being installed, check the back of the lens and the mating shaft inside the body(another red dot)

[Nicole]

Hi Shaggy great tips. Thank you very much!!!

[Harvinder Sunila]

Try this site also... http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/hassy.html

[gr82bart]

Get use to the dark slide! Remember to put it back when you're done taking a pic and to take it out and place it the holder when you want to take a pic. Don't put the dark slide down on teh ground or anywhere else but the holder. Countlees numbers have lost countless dark slides!

Regards, Art.

[harveyje]

Just take it out and use it! My first lesson was to hold it in my left hand with the index finger over the exposure button and focus with the right hand. It seems different at first but quickly catches on as the right way to do it. Even though I have the eye level prism I find that I use the waste level more often.