500CM/501C/503CX vs 500ELX for second body...

[film_man]

Hello all,

I'm looking to buy a second body for my 501CM. I've got a couple of "events" to shoot with some friends for fun and would like to have one body with the 80/2.8 on as my primary camera and another with the 50/4, to save me changing lenses when shooting (and have a backup as well).

So I was thinking perhaps I can get a 500ELX (or even better a 553 although that's probably a bit tricky to find for under £400), put the 80mm and the PM90 prism and shoot away. For the wide shots I'll have the 50mm on the 501CM and use the WLF. It sounds like a plan but then I'm not too sure about whether the winder is of any use for such things. Is it very noisy, for example? I've seen that it works at a rather leisurely pace to return the mirror and wind-on but at least it means I don't have to wind manually, as in the 500CM.

On the other hand, am I just complicating things? A 500CM/501C/503CX is just as good and as cheap, doesn't complicate things with electronics/batteries and weighs less, as I will be carrying two of these things on me at a time (plus extra backs and film and the prism on the camera with the 80mm...).

Any opinions?

PS
Not too worried about vignetting mirrors and such, I have a 501CM which works fine with long lenses and that second body is intended for use with a 50mm or 80mm. Also, I'm not too bothered about body age, I can get it serviced, I just want to make sure it has one of the new screens.

[John Koehrer]

Noisy would be an understatement! Weddings or meetings of some sort it may get you thrown out.
A second manual body would be the right path grasshopper.

[goodfood]

ELX is not good for cold weather. Batteries died down too fast. That's why ELM is cheaper than CM in second hand market at North America.

[Sirius Glass]

Do not go to an event using equipment that you are not one with.

Get a second body and you will be much happier before, during and after the events.

Steve

[film_man]

Hmmm...that 500CM looks closer and closer then...

[brucemuir]

Hmmm...that 500CM looks closer and closer then...

Yep, and they can be found for decent prices these days.

80's have gone up a bit recently though.

[film_man]

I've got the 80 and 50, the backs, etc I'm just missing the 2nd body. I'm looking at some ELM and CM auctions on eBay. If I can find an ELM for £100 I might just buy it anyway as a 3rd body to have for playing around in the house. Or I could use it as a bookend it should match a Brownie that already serves that duty in my living room!

[PKM-25]

I just picked up a EX condition 500ELX from KEH for a decent price and these cool 9 volt adapters from this guy on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hasselblad-B...item337f3d72c6

The only time I am *ever* going to use this is strictly for aerial work in that winding the film manually is a PITA. I do expect the temps to be as cold as 0F at times as most of these aerials are in Winter. The camera does come with the battery and charger but I expect fresh 9 volt batteries each flight to be a safer bet.

Is there anything else I should look out for?

[ac12]

@PKM-25
I think you can power the camera with an outboard battery. I have to find my book with the wiring diagram of the jack.
If so, when it is COLD, you can keep the battery under your jacket with a power cord to the camera. Then it will only be the question of the lube in the low temp.

[brucemuir]

@PKM-25
I think you can power the camera with an outboard battery. I have to find my book with the wiring diagram of the jack.
If so, when it is COLD, you can keep the battery under your jacket with a power cord to the camera. Then it will only be the question of the lube in the low temp.

Absolutely, put the 9 volt in your pocet and run a cable up to the camera body.
Also, post some of the aerials when you are finished this initial project