woodsman

My 500C and 501c/m both work quite well witha waterproof river bag from REI mountain sports, a hole cut just slightly larger than the lens diameter in the bottom, and a strip of velcro stitched to the edge of the hole. Then stitch the other half the velcro partially around the opening and it cinches up nicely. A small umbrella works well too unless in deep underbrush like in the Northwest or Northeast of USA. It folds up neatly into a small pocket and weighs next to nothing, the back end with the cinch for the top of the bag has a quick release for easy access when not in use.

Peter,

if I may suggest, I was in your shoes a couple of years ago buying used as that is what I could afford to increase my knowledge and enjoyment. I downloaded a manual for my 500c from manuals "r" us and keep it on CD. I also purchased Wildi's book, highly recommended. Then watch this website, the greatest source of info and patience. The manual download got me off to the races in a few short hours and I got the site from Photonet reference.

Good luck, much enjoyment.

M.R. Bright

645 format more consistent with CMOS and chip developement, rather than 6x6 format. Of course older cameras will drop in price! That's the whole systems point with new cameras coming out. I for one love the H1, feels great, works great, not as durable with all the automatic features. I wouldn't put it in my pack like I do the 500CM and go hiking in the rain. I for one, will not be able to afford digital costs to upgrade for quite some time? $6000 for a body and lens, $11,000 for a digital back? probably another $4k for a computer upgrade to handle all the new technology! Ouch! Somebody Email me when they have an H1 for sale used.

Love the H1, looks, feels, shoots great! Can't afford it or the new lenses. So when do you guys think the H1 will hit the used market so some of us poor folks can enjoy one? My 1968 500C, and my 500C/M take great pictures and I still have to keep my skill level up with that light meter. Will the H1 take great pictures after 30 years? Ah who cares there won't be any film in 30 years, but there will still be Coronas! <R>

Age old argument, quality vs. quantity. With the Kodak/Nikon team coming out with 16.8 megapixels and Canon soon to follow in a high end SLR body for roughly what I spend on developing costs per year I have to ask, "is it time to convert?" Small digitals for pictures to grandma and vacation snapshots still sell, so what, let them. compare the two, I'll take my 6x6 slides that fill the side of the room and look like you can step into them anyday. I've seen digital with a modified Fuji of 18.3 megapixels projected up on the wall, put a 6x6 right next to it, no comparison, except for manipulation of the raw file. I would love to take my camera home, plug it intot he computer and get the quality images digitally and save money doing it? or do I, new computer, color matched monitor, manipulation softeware, CD files..... If someone wants to make a big pile of money they would make a digital capture medium that works with the millions of older medium format bodies interchangeably, works with SLR 35mm's and is reliable, affordable, and gets 16 to 18 mexapixels. The manufacture's made no new films this year, put all their money in digital, do I really want to have to update my cameras as often as I do my computer, oh lordy SUCK THE FUN OUT OF IT!

I'll stick with film awhile longer till prices drop, quality rises,

and they get all the bugs out of Windows? yeah right?

Carsten,

I had many of the same questions, limited experience and finally bought a used 500C and never looked back. I hardly use my EOS1N except when I need the speed. Used Hasselblads are cheap right now and for my needs it is great! Digital, ha! Film scanner does the trick for now. Buy a good used light meter,half the fun is learning what photography is all about. have some fun with quality equipment!

<R> Seattle

Mike,

good tripod choice, last ya forever.

I have a bogen with a panhead and the flush mount bogen plate on my 500C, I like the bigger handles the panhead affords with the heavier camera, makes faster adjustment control while looking though the top fo the camera. I had a B1, it went raspy and I returned it after it stuck, replacement did the same in 5 months, just unlucky I think. I have a Kirk now and it is different than the B1 in that it takes a few more turns to set adjustments but seems to hold up better for 35mm usage. I use it when backpacking the Hasselblad into remote locations and it hasn't failed me yet. I like the variety of 4 different tripods and 3 different heads to choose from. Good luck, Murphey's law, "use what works or you can afford" .

 

<R>

Care to get creative? Try an oversized wood cover from your golf bag. Padded, fits snug, and looks kewl!

MR B

Jason,

IMHO, Kirk ballhead and Bogen 3047. I have bunches of Canon 35mm and a Hassy MF setup. I use the 3047 pan head on the Hassy, easier and faster to adjust and usually closer to the road when used. The Kirk ballhead eclipses Arca B-1 in my experience. Less problems, smoother feel, and seems to stand up to abuse. The Kirk will handle the Hassy if I do by chance find someplace I wish to cart both sets of equipment to. I have 5 tripods, ranging from an old quickset jr. to a Bogen 3021 to the new Explorer and and old 2221 in there somewhere. I'm with you the Gitzo is easy to use and proven durable. I can open a tripod by feel with the Gitzo if I am keeping my eye on wildlife on some far ridge or keeping a bear at bay across a stream. I haven't made the splurge to carbon yet, but may at some future point, if one of my pictures sells for enough I feel decadent for a few minutes.

Spend the money for a Kirk, order online, and you won't be sorry. I have 10 other ball heads, used purchases, that just don't cut the mustard anymore, you won't be sorry.

M.R. Bright

Seattle

I have supertrekker AW, Lowepro, Pelican, and even a converted Alice pack, it never seems like enough. Use what you need when you need it. I even use a white bucket with a lid that is foam lined in a duck blind, ah variety the spice of life. Oh yeah I have a Rhino trunk too!

Kinda makes me embarrassed to say that my 500C made in 1958 still shoots great pictures in the back country, wears out no batteries and I have less than $2k tied up in camera, lenses, backs, flash, shade,case, tripod, and my light meter. We won't discuss $$$$$ tied up in my Canon outfit.

'Barry" dead on, exactly the way an oldtimer showed me.

The reason you put it on a tripod is so you can hold your wallet! Why spend all that money for a camera with quality lenses and then not give it every opportunity to take the best image allowable! TRIPOD

just my 2 cents but if they made a sensor and digital film right now that even approached films pixel density they couldn't keep up with the demand. The biggest boon to digital isn't it's density and composition it is it's lack of processing time and and cost and ease of importing into files for distribution. Give me digital film that works with my Canon's and Hasselblad's and their current lenses anywhere near the pixel density of slide film and it will be right up there with velcro, safety pins, and the wheel in terms of revolutionary inventions. Unfortunately I think that is further off than good digital cameras.

I have a 3021W that does everything, a bit heavy but durable. Put a Kirk Ball head on it and never look back. $$$$$'s up front but you'll never need to invest in another set up unless you go Graphite just for weight.

<R>

Try B&H, other majors "used dept's" they have usually had or found what I was looking for to fill one of my hair brained projects. E-bay always a source, but "buyer be ware". Patience, it took me 6 months to find a back for just parts but the cost was worth it.

<R>

hopefully they sell out, restructure and create an actual customer service branch? I still like the scanner and software package I saw.

Abdulla,

 

first I've heard of Polaroid crash, where did you see it?

<R>

Richard,

Thank you, that wins the argument with my engineer buddy.

Looking at Polaroid Scanner with dual capabilities, 35mm/120. Comes

with Binuscan Software & Silverfast Ai. I am unfamiliar with these

two software packages. How do they compare with full blown version

of "Photoshop". What features do they offer over and above Photoshop

capabilities? Anybody have experience with both?

Thanks in advance, <R>

Kenneth,

You opened Pandora's box, let's keep it simple.

1. Got to the closet designated "camera closet".

2. Set your Lowepro Supertrekker on the floor.

3. Fill it with camera equipment, when full stop, if you can still lift it your done.

4. Fill fanny pack with film.

5. Get in the Truck and go some where neat.

6. oh yeah take the wife, you get to go further.

<R>s

Slides taken with FLE lens and non FLE lens on similiar subjects in same lighting showed little diffence in my experiments UNTIL you blew them up to 8x10 and then things just kind of jump out at you with a 5x Contax loupe. Side by side the FLE pictures were chosen everytime. Nothing bad however without FLE feature.

Stephen,

When signed up for College courses in Photography they usually offer substantial discounts on equipment and the last time I took advantage it was a one year payment plan, or the length of the course. Some times the savings pays for the course.

<R>

Orion,

I had the same thoughts, asked the same question right here on Photo.net, got a whole lot of the same great opinions from a lot of the same great folks. Hasselblad has more used equipment around it seems than any other maker over a greater range of cameras, in more places. Patience and about 2 months and I pieced together a 500C outfit and have taken some great photos with it. Half the fun is always hunting up deals, trying something new at a lesser price than new, and I can still sell it and invest in something as my skills grow.

Good luck

<R>

Reader's digest version,

There is a reason photographers drive vans = MF

There is a reason Wedding Photograpers drive bigger vans= MF

Too much, too little, too late.

Shoot what ya know and enjoy the results

One more time, There is a reason photographers take up MF,

So their wife will let them buy more STUFF to put in the van.

<R>

Ted,

I took one of those lightweight waterproof bags the Sporting Goods/REI type stores sell to put items in for kayaking and such. It has a cinch top that closes quite tightly. I cut the bottom to a diameter slightly larger than the 35mm lens I was using,(works great on my 500C too), and sewed two halves of velcro of an appropriate length to go around most lens diameters with some overlap at one point on the bottom of the cut hole. Stick the camera and lens in the bag, cinch the velcro up around the lens tightly and leave the bag top opening loose. It sits on the tripod in a strong wind and stays put, rain doesn't bother it, is quick to get into and out of, can be cinched up and left on when moving, and when off the tripod can still be used and left on to stuff into camera bag or?????