roger_urban3

To Leo S.

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The Speed Graphic (4x5) was a popular news photographer camera. I had one that had a WOllensack lens (135mm) in 1973 - 1976 when I sold it. The lens was quite old when I bought it, though I don't know exactly how old it was, you'll find sufficient reference to Speed Graphics being used by photog's prior to 1950, 1940, etc.

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There is a large market for used large format lenses, and yes, many are several decades old but still quite usable. Some people like the 'look' these lenses create, and newer formulas now are multi-coated and produce more contrastier and sharper images. If you read VIEW CAMERA magazine you'll eventually find mention of really old LF lenses. Shutterbug will occassionally have them advertised. In the rec.photo.equipment.large-format newsgroup, you may find some messages about them if you do a search. There are other internet sites where they are sold from retail photo stores. There is a pretty fair number of Schneider (Angulons, etc.), Kodak Ektars, Wollensacks, etc. available. Old formula lenses have existed for quite some time.

It may be a worthwhile exercise for you to take a 6x6 slide to a pro shop and ask to see a 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10 slide. Then, make the comparison with the 6x6 slide, just to see things in the proper context.

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The Hasselblad marketing statement contains an unqualified and therefore open to wide interpretation statement: "to give image result comparable to large format view camera."

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Well, there are 2x3" view cameras. Arca Swiss has one, so does Linhof and Horseman, and there are probably others as well.

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Is Hasselblad comparing to a 60 year old uncoated view camera lens?

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I've heard that the Schneider 110mm XL and 150mm XL's are so sharp and contrasty that they'll give you goose bumps and stand your hair on edge. (The 110mm easily covers 5x7 and one photog in the rec.photo.equipment.large-format newsgroup reports it will cover 8x10 at smaller f/stops.)

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The advantage of the Hasselblad flex/arc bodies would be that you could shift and tilt the lenses and control the focus better, like a view camera. And, if you already have a lot of 'blad equipment, you could add it to your arsenal without having to spend a lot on LF equipment.

Having a Pentax 67 with a 45mm lens will provide you a backup camera for when the Hasselblad has to go back for another repair job.

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You can also find plenty of used Pentax 67 lenses available, for a fraction of the used Hasseblad prices.

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The Pentax 45mm is a terrific lens.

With the TTL hood off the camera, look just forward of the ground glass and you will see a small mechanical chain and a catch. The catch must be aligned with the corresponding part on the TTL hood that mates with it. When adjusting the f/stop on the lens, it causes the chain and catch to move, thereby signaling the f/stop to the TTL hood. Perhaps crude, but very effective and surprisingly accurate.

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I forget whether or not you have to have the lens f/stop wide open or not (I think you do), but if you experiment around a little bit you'll quickly discover which way it has to be. If the TTL hood was attached such that the catch didn't mate up correctly, then adjusting the f/stop will not show any change in the light meter. The battery test light will work just fine, regardless.