cosmo_genovese

I really like the tower hood and use it under bright light situations where too much extraneous light might otherwise cause problems with, say, the waist-level finder. By the same token, cupping your hand around the waist-level finder can sometimes obviate that problem, too. True, the tower finder's magnification is somewhat lower (3x vs 4x as another poster noted), but the adjustable diopter feature is great. You can't necessarily "lock it in" but you can use tape to hold it in place. Like anything else Hasselblad, if you can try one out first to see if you like it, I would recommend you do so. I really believe that each of the various finders have their particular applications, although you don't have to have them all (let's face it: Hasselblad's not going to complain if you have to have everything it has ever manufactured . . . ).

I don't have a product catalog here so I don't know whether the product number you quote is the older, all-metal tower (the focusing collar for the adjustable diopter has alternate black and silver knurls), or the later model that is all black with some plastic.

Oh, and yes, it really does make a great loupe for those 6x6 images.

Cosmo

First, Howard, I'm glad it's not my Hasselblad you're playing with before deciding whether you want to buy one for yourself. . . . Second, 120 magazines are designed for 120 film; 220 magazines are designed for 220 film. The pressure plate of the 120 film back will not hold the 220 film flat enough because 220 film only has paper on the ends of the roll; 120 film has paper throughout. They are not interchangeable. Accept it--that's Hasselblad for you. Third, the shutter-sticking problem may have been due to your (1) tripping the time-release lever at the shutter or (2) having the cable-release set for "Bulb". Either way, it might be a good idea to read the manual for the Hasselblad before venturing any further.

Cosmo