christopher_kluge

Thanks for all the helpful responses. I'm primarily shooting editorial fashion

and portraiture, usuually in the studio with strobes. I prefer not to use a tripod

as I like to move around a lot when shooting, so it is helpful to hear about the

superior ergonomics of the 503CW.

But Gary, I'm sorry to read this: "But for someone building a medium format

film/digital outfit for say fashion or travel or portrait/wedding work I'm not

convinced that a dying V system would be the smartest investment." as I've

almost finished building my kit. I have the 50/80/120/180 lenses and a

metered prism, several film backs and the 501CM body. But I'm open to

suggestions as to what a better option would be. I purchased all my

equipment secondhand and it hasn't depreciated much, so I don't feel locked

in to what I already have.

FWIW, I also shoot with a Canon 20D, which is a fine camera. But I feel I see

the subject better and compose better looking through the larger viewfinder

image of the Hasselblad and I like the greater control of depth of field with the

larger format.

I have a 501CM and have recently realized that it would be advantageous for the type of

work I'm doing to be able to advance the film while keeping my eye to the viewfinder,

hence I am thinking of purchasing a 503 CW body with winder or the 555ELD. I also

anticipate using a digital back at some point in the future (once they fall into my price

range.). With that in mind, for those of you already shooting digitally, do you have a

preference for one body over the other? I'm leaning towards the 503 with the thought that

if something ever went wrong with the winder motor, it would be cheaper and easier to

get repaired.

Ellis, Thanks, I'll look into the 7B.

John, Your assistant will hate you if you don't use one :)

> . . . yeah, I thought about that ; - )

I have a nice redwing stand that when picked up, the legs automatically fold.

do you know the model #?

I typically shoot inside under very controlled conditions and I'd like to maintain

some consistency in my lighting in a project that will be shot outdoors in the

evening. In the studio, I use a beauty dish with honeycomb grid on a boom

stand as my primary light source, but being a monolight, it is probably too big

and heavy to move about out of the studio (not to mention the need for an

electrical outlet.)

My first thought is to rent a battery powered unit that accepts a grid reflector

and is lightweight enough that an assistant could comfortably support it using

a boom arm. (I'd like to avoid using a light stand as it is important to be mobile

and operate quickly during the shoot.) I also would need a unit with a

modeling light. I'd like to mimic the control and quailty of light of the beauty

dish with grid. This is the first time I've attempted this kind of shoot -- does

anyone have any recommendations on equipment or approach? Thanks in

advance.

"I presume, then, that you can use Plus receivers with a MM transmitter and

have the ability for zonal/individual control of light units attached to those Plus

receivers--that the MM is not required on the receiving end?"

I'm not sure that's correct. The question is addressed somewhere in the MM

manual, which isn't in front of me. But if I remember correctly, the Plus

receivers are compatable with channels 1-4 of the MM only, while the MM's

zonal functions operates on channels 17+.