Hi everyone, new guy here...

Yep so I'm the newbie with a camera habit... A couple years ago I bought an old Canon AE1 Program camera and have shot numerous rolls of mostly TriX400- But I've been shooting in "auto" mode- not knowing anything about the mechanics of photography... fast forward to this summer and I bought not one but 2 Hasselblad Med Formant cameras- a very much like-new pile of parts from KEH to put together a 500CM with 80mm lens, and afterwards (not sure why exactly, guess I was on a roll- pun intended) I picked up a 500C with the 50mm Distagon lens. Both have A12 backs.

 

So far I've been having some photographer friends show me a few things, and have doe some guess work based on ... well not much really- combination of stuff I've found on the internet and stuff my friends have showed me. I've shot I think one roll of TMAX 400 and one of TriX 400, and I picked up a few rolls of old film recently from my local camera shop- some Ilford HP5 (400) in both 120 & 35mm, and several rolls of Portra 160 (all expired Im pretty sure- the Portra has a date of 2008 on it!) and I'm about 1/2 way thru one of the rolls of Ilford on the 500CM.

 

I'm writing everything down, trying to make note of all settings, subject matter, and conditions for each shot. Don't have a darkroom or darkroom capabilities but one of photographer buddies used to teach at he local community college years back and is friends with the guy who took over for him and is still there- who says we can come use the darkroom and lab any time we want!

 

Meanwhile I did send my 2 rolls of 120 film (and one roll of 35mm) out for developing via my local shop so whenever that comes back I'll post some of what Ive been doing... IF anything actually comes out! I plan to take a class over at the community college in spring for B&W film, which I guess is gonna be with the 35mm.... But I'm excited about the medium format stuff and the Zeiss lenses.

Edited September 28, 2018 by Sandy Vongries

You have some great resources to work with. Not all of us have a local camera shop or friends who are photog teachers. Hope you start getting the results you are hoping for soon. Welcome.

There are a number of basic photography books which explain exposure, composition, film, and other elements of photography.

 

Yes, shooting film and keeping notes is extremely valuable, and it should be supplemented with the printed word to guide you. You're wise to attend some classes, because they provide not only written, but hands-on experience.

 

35mm "rules" are also the same as for medium format. The exposure triangle never changes for formats.

Thanks, guys. I am very fortunate to have good friends willing to take me under their professional wing, and our local camera shop is actually really pretty great; the owner almost always takes the time to talk, is filed with suggestions, and has resources for various things.

 

Currently the books I have are Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson which seems to be as much about how explore works in the context of the photographic triangle, as much or more so than understanding actual exposure? If that makes sense? I've had people recommend and condemn it as well, but I bought it anyway. I also bought an old copy of Zone VI by Fred Picker.

 

I have only glanced thru these so far- the 1st, I've looked pretty much all through it, the 2nd glancing thru from front to back. Gotta sit down and actually read. Any suggestions for basic books would be welcome.

In addition, I am also having fun figuring out hw to work the Hasselbladds; that said, I have so far only shot the 500CM in B&W, but might load some color film into the 500C and take it out this weekend.

 

I managed to find, download, & print a manual for the 500CM and I assume the 2 cameras are similar enough that this would also work for the 500C?

I managed to find, download, & print a manual for the 500CM and I assume the 2 cameras are similar enough that this would also work for the 500C?

 

From a user's point of view, both cameras are identical aside from the 500cm having a removable focus screen and the 500c having a fixed, non-changeable screen. Some very late production 500c bodies are really early 500cm: they're marked 500c but do have the interchangeable screen feature. The usual recommendation for Hasselblad newcomers is to pick up one (or both) of the following classic hardcover books that explain how to use all the pieces of the system. Both are easily available second hand on eBay or Amazon for $39 each or less (as little as $15 apiece if you're patient and shop wisely):

 

"The Hasselblad Manual" by Ernst Wildi, 2nd or 3rd edition (later editions concentrate too much on the later digital H system).

 

"The Hasselblad Way" by H. Freytag, any edition.

 

The two Golden Rules to remember about Hasselblads:

 

1. EVERYTHING should always be fully cocked before attaching to or removing from the body, especially the lenses. This can be hard to get used to, because it runs counter to how we tend to handle other cameras. But Hasselblad lives in a world of its own: the bodies, lenses and backs were designed to have "cocked" as their normal resting/storage state.

 

As they age, bodies and lenses can develop slightly sloppier tolerances which can result in epic jams if you aren't religious about this (especially the original all-metal silver or black lenses with "Synchro Compur" shutter branding on the barrel). The best way to avoid potential jamming is to mount or remove lenses quickly and firmly: don't hesitate while turning the lens barrel, or turn it too slowly.

 

2. Hasselblads like to be used, and frequently. They don't take too well to sitting on a shelf unattended for long periods between projects. This wasn't a big problem in the film era because they sold mostly to pros who did use them every day and had them serviced annually, but it can become an issue today for those who only occasionally shoot film. If you know you won't be shooting your Hasselblad for more than six weeks, give it some exercise (without film). The lenses should be fired several times at each speed, esp the slower speeds, at least every two months (otherwise the lube hardens and the slow speeds hang, the aperture sticks, etc).

 

Remember those two points, and your Hasselblad will behave, rewarding you with amazing quality images: always keep cocked, and "use it or lose it".

Edited October 2, 2018 by orsetto