On the edge! May be leaving you all

MindofMel

MindofMel

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Mel
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Portrait shoot today and the hasselblad 500CM fails on frame 3! LIVID! for no reason whatsoever. I know about all the fixes and to always have body and lens wound. It just seized up for no reason. Screw fix does nothing and shutter button goes in and out but does nothing.

Lucky for me - I had my D90 and a few lenses. And despite not being used in months. They worked bang on every time; without an issue.

Considering selling up and going back to the digital gang. Could go full frame again. Or I could just buy another 500 body.

Basically, I'm ranting!
 
In other words £30,000 worth of poop. It amazes me how some manufacturers throughout time in all genres have produced absolute tripe product and got top dollar because of the status or name.
AKA the spider.
 
Gr8Shot said:
In other words £30,000 worth of poop. It amazes me how some manufacturers throughout time in all genres have produced absolute tripe product and got top dollar because of the status or name.
AKA the spider.
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What?
 
Ach Mel that's annoying, suppose that's the risk using decades old kit for "proper" work. At least you had a back up. Just remember why you got the Mf camera in the first place.
 
A D90 isn't really a backup for a Hasselblad... it's a last resort!


Steve
 
Gr8Shot said:
In other words £30,000 worth of poop. It amazes me how some manufacturers throughout time in all genres have produced absolute tripe product and got top dollar because of the status or name.
AKA the spider.
Click to expand...

eh?

It's a 500CM
 
steveo_mcg said:
Ach Mel that's annoying, suppose that's the risk using decades old kit for "proper" work. At least you had a back up. Just remember why you got the MF camera in the first place.
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Yeah that's it.. wasn't nearly as fun as shooting the Hassy is; but on the way home was definitely weighing up the.. "is it worth it" question.

Agreed Steve; Should have another hasselblad in an ideal world. But I use what I have!
 
It's a 30+ year old camera. I know they are solid in the hand, seem to be incredibly hard wearing and versatile, but at the end of the day they are still complex mechanical pieces, and old ones at that!
 
Mel,

I understand your frustration. Realistically no camera lasts forever. But I reckon well made film cameras such as the Hassy will outlast modern digital cameras by years. Will the D90 still be working in 20 years time?

Was using my 500CM this afternoon for my POTY entry and was just thinking how much I love using it.... if and when it packs up, I'm definitely getting another.
 
Why not get the 'blad repaired? Better the devil you know...
 
Looking into getting it repaired, may be cheaper to just buy another body. Will see!

I get it's an old camera etc; doesn't mean I was likely to just go "meh" when it happened lol. Will let you know what I end up doing! If you see me all of sudden posting in the d700/d600/d3s owners threads.. I apologise in advance :lol:
 
Now... summat my wife says everytime the car goes in for its MOT... is it better to have it repaired and know what else is possibly wrong, or get something new with potentially bigger problems.

Just something that came to mind when I read your last post.
 
Hassleblad = super reliable long lasting camera :)
 
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I had a problems with my Hasselblad as well which led me into selling it. It's just that when a camera screws you over on a job you really struggle trusting it again. I wouldn't give up on medium format though. I've found a camera I love to use and that produces fantastic results now (GF670) and so I'm producing some of my most consistent and good work ever.
 
MindofMel said:
Looking into getting it repaired, may be cheaper to just buy another body. Will see!

I get it's an old camera etc; doesn't mean I was likely to just go "meh" when it happened lol. Will let you know what I end up doing! If you see me all of sudden posting in the d700/d600/d3s owners threads.. I apologise in advance :lol:
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Sorry Mel...wasn't trying to belittle your justifiable annoyance.

Would be a shame to lose you to the digital side, as I've enjoyed your work in this sub section.

Fully understand though. As an amateur I don't have to rely so heavily on my gear, and it's easier to shrug something off. I can imagine pros need to have a higher degree of trust in their gear.
 
Gr8Shot said:
Hassleblad = pooh :)
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Glad you have joined this sub section....your two posts in this thread have been extremely insightful and useful. :bang:
 
When was it last serviced or inspected?
Even my Rolex goes in every 10 years for a tune up.
 
MindofMel said:
Looking into getting it repaired, may be cheaper to just buy another body. Will see!

I get it's an old camera etc; doesn't mean I was likely to just go "meh" when it happened lol. Will let you know what I end up doing! If you see me all of sudden posting in the d700/d600/d3s owners threads.. I apologise in advance :lol:
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Completely understand mate. A serviced 'blad should last a long time though, but if the FX DSLR does the job for you, then so be it!
 
if your a professional, shouldnt you have a backup? (well, you did). and any piece of kit can have funny moments.

maybe get a fancy expensive lens for your digicam, of a different effective focal length to the hassleblad, and shoot both, like wedding photographers do.
 
Steve said:
Glad you have joined this sub section....your two posts in this thread have been extremely insightful and useful. :bang:
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I was being sarcastic, didn't you see my smiley face.
Did do a bit of research and the cm was just under $1000 in 1976. Not sure of the exchange rate or prices in UK then but that is a lot of money.

So I'm sticking with over priced pooh :lol:

Yeah I know 3 insightful comments......
 
Gr8Shot said:
Hassleblad = pooh :)
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Hassleblad ( I see what you did there….. )

At least you can the get bits for Hasselblads! I have two (admittedly older; Minolta 7Ds) DSLRs that both have irreparable faults because the parts are no longer available.

Mel, sorry to hear yours let you down but a service will undoubtedly fix your body in no time.

I would rather enjoy a serviceable item than own a disposable item :)

Mark
 
Gr8Shot said:
In other words £30,000 worth of poop.
Click to expand...


Huh? It's a 500CM... about £400 for a used body off Ebay. Not sure how you can just say that Hasselblads are poo because one person's broke. Everything breaks eventually. Things gain a reputation like that through decades of professionals relying on them to deliver the goods time and time again. There are literally tens of thousands of 500CMs that are decades old still going strong and being used on a daily basis.... some almost 50 years old. I'd like to see what your D7000 is up to in 50 years :)
 
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Mel, do not be down hearted, Miles whitehead, will probably CLA your box for below £50, bargain.
If the repair and CLA cannot be achieved he will tell you and all it cost is postage.
 
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Pookeyhead said:
Huh? It's a 500CM... about £400 for a used body off Ebay. Not sure how you can just say that Hasselblads are poo because one person's broke. Everything breaks eventually. Things gain a reputation like that through decades of professionals relying on them to deliver the goods time and time again. There are literally tens of thousands of 500CMs that are decades old still going strong and being used on a daily basis.... some almost 50 years old. I'd like to see what your D7000 is up to in 50 years :)
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£400 for a used what? Box that won't take photos anymore? Bargain. 38 yrs ago it cost the equivalent now of prob £5000. Id hope my £5000 camera would last that long, on the other hand my £500 camera I may accept 5yrs is good enough.....
 
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Gr8Shot said:
£400 for a used what? Box that won't take photos anymore? Bargain. 38 yrs ago it cost the equivalent now of prob £5000. Id hope my £5000 camera would last that long, on the other hand my £500 camera I may accept 5yrs is good enough.....
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Steve,

Why are you being so provocative,it is not necessary, we all enjoy our film camera,s and if you do not, please refrain from becoming involved, it does not do you any good and does not serve the forum any advise for the future.
 
medwaygreen said:
Steve,

Why are you being so provocative,it is not necessary, we all enjoy our film camera,s and if you do not, please refrain from becoming involved, it does not do you any good and does not serve the forum any advise for the future.
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+1

Not really sure why someone with a digital camera feels the need to come to this section and slag off film cameras. :shrug:
 
Gr8Shot said:
In other words £30,000 worth of poop. It amazes me how some manufacturers throughout time in all genres have produced absolute tripe product and got top dollar because of the status or name.
AKA the spider.
Click to expand...

Gr8Shot said:
Hassleblad = pooh :)
Click to expand...

Gr8Shot said:
I was being sarcastic, didn't you see my smiley face.
Did do a bit of research and the cm was just under $1000 in 1976. Not sure of the exchange rate or prices in UK then but that is a lot of money.

So I'm sticking with over priced pooh :lol:

Yeah I know 3 insightful comments......
Click to expand...

Gr8Shot said:
£400 for a used what? Box that won't take photos anymore? Bargain. 38 yrs ago it cost the equivalent now of prob £5000. Id hope my £5000 camera would last that long, on the other hand my £500 camera I may accept 5yrs is good enough.....
Click to expand...

Steve, I'm going to say this once, once only, and you are going to read, inwardly digest, and act upon it.

NO MORE TROLLING THIS OR ANY OTHER FILM EQUIPMENT THREAD OR YOU MAY FIND YOUR ACCESS TO THIS ENTIRE SITE SOMEWHAT CURTAILED.

You may not wish to shoot with film kit, or understand that 20+ year old mechanical items can have occasional problems - but there is NO REASON WHATSOEVER to be so downright offensive. If you don't "get" film, fine - stay away from F&C.



 
TheBigYin said:
Steve, I'm going to say this once, once only, and you are going to read, inwardly digest, and act upon it.

NO MORE TROLLING THIS OR ANY OTHER FILM EQUIPMENT THREAD OR YOU MAY FIND YOUR ACCESS TO THIS ENTIRE SITE SOMEWHAT CURTAILED.

You may not wish to shoot with film kit, or understand that 20+ year old mechanical items can have occasional problems - but there is NO REASON WHATSOEVER to be so downright offensive. If you don't "get" film, fine - stay away from F&C.
Click to expand...

+1
 
As prices have been mentioned IIRC about 30 years ago they were selling the 500CM with 80mm planar lens for a knock down new price of £575-£650...I decided to buy a S/H Rollei SL66 instead.
 
TheBigYin said:
Steve, I'm going to say this once, once only, and you are going to read, inwardly digest, and act upon it.

NO MORE TROLLING THIS OR ANY OTHER FILM EQUIPMENT THREAD OR YOU MAY FIND YOUR ACCESS TO THIS ENTIRE SITE SOMEWHAT CURTAILED.

You may not wish to shoot with film kit, or understand that 20+ year old mechanical items can have occasional problems - but there is NO REASON WHATSOEVER to be so downright offensive. If you don't "get" film, fine - stay away from F&C.
Click to expand...

This.
 
I don't earn money from photography, but if I did... Although a Hasselblad would be nice, I think I would buy either a couple of Bronica SQ bodies or a couple of Mamiya C330 bodies and wide, medium and long lenses*.

You could probably get a two body and three lens set in either of these for the price of a Hasselblad and its 80mm lens.

(* actually, I already have four Mamiya TLR bodies and six lenses so I don't think I need the Bronica SQ I keep thinking about buying!).


Steve (not the one being berated above - I hope!).
 
Gr8Shot said:
£400 for a used what? Box that won't take photos anymore? Bargain. 38 yrs ago it cost the equivalent now of prob £5000. Id hope my £5000 camera would last that long, on the other hand my £500 camera I may accept 5yrs is good enough.....
Click to expand...


Why are you coming into a film forum just to be an arse? You clearly have no idea what you're talking about, so why are you here?


[edit]

Ignore.... mods have given him a spanking already.
 
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http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1929706

FIXED IT!

[YOUTUBE]AeTgx_pj6m8[/YOUTUBE]

Needless to say - keeping it! lol

This may be backwards - but I kind of love the fact I could get a screw driver out, oil, etc and just fix it mechanically. Wouldn't have a hope with a modern body!

I apologise for my 48 hours of weakness :lol:
 
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Take five rolls of Tri-x and a box of D76 as your penance for losing faith! (Orange, yellow or green filter to taste).
 
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