Topmodel
There, I did it, I bought a Hasselblad 500 c/m. Paying good money for a camera that was produced the year I was born, might not seem like a wise business decision. But I believe that an irrational decision every now and then is a very wise thing to do. I don’t KNOW what this strange square box will bring me but I FEEL that it’s going to help me become a better photographer. I bought it out of the love for photography, so it seemed perfect to have my lovely wife Nancy on the other side of the camera for a first Hasselblad photoshoot.
These are the results from the first roll of film (Ilford HP5 plus 400). I will do some experiments with flash soon, but I wanted to use the limited available light on this grey day. I struggle a lot with the controls of this camera. It’s so different from a DSLR but at the same time it also feels rather natural. I’m sure it will become easier soon but I’m already loving it. The huge square viewfinder, using a handheld lightmeter, focusing manually, having only 12 shots before loading a new roll of film (which takes like half a day for me), … it all helps to photograph in a very different way: slower, with more attention to composition and detail.
Having to wait at least a day for developing the film is annoying and great at the same time. I’m used to the instant feedback of digital but the feeling of anticipation when finally looking at the negatives has it’s charm too.
I’m aware that medium format film should be able to give me some very decent image quality. The problem is that a good scan is pretty expensive. I must say that I was pretty surprised (and not in a positive way) when I found out how much my lab charges for the not impressive 1500 pixel scans of the 2 test rolls I shot last week. So I dug out my old Epson 1240U flatbed scanner and tried to scan the negatives myself. I couldn’t find the MF film holder, so I had to lay the film straight on the glass and that gave me some distortion. I’ll try to find it or improvise something. It’s an old scanner but I found the results to be on par with the low res lab scans. Good enough for internet use for the moment.
I loved it, I really loved it and I was so happy I could photograph the most beautiful woman in the world with it. We shot one more roll of black and white film and one roll of color film. I haven’t scanned them yet but if there are some decent shots there, I’ll show them to you.
That second shot is fabulous! I love it!
That’s great! I’ve still got a 500c/m laying around too, just pulled it out last week actually! I have a new intern in the office so we were discussing some various photography topics (shutter speed, aperture, how light meters see everything as gray, etc) and I pulled it out since it was easier to show him some of those details on a manual camera.
It’s always nice to show them that the fancy box is just an empty hollow box… remove the lens from the front, pull off the film back, set it to bulb, and release the shutter… you can stick your finger right through the box!
I then pulled out the Polaroid back we have for it, shot a test exposure, peeled the print off before it developed, and slapped it down on a piece of paper… rubbed it in place with a pencil, waited a few seconds and pulled off the Polaroid… probably the first Polaroid transfer he’d ever seen
Part of me still misses the film days, hours in the darkroom… but then I remember the downsides of those days… dust, bad developer, hours in the darkroom, and expensive scans
As for quality, I’d still wager that Hasselblad could outperform your digital camera in resolution… but the scan is going to be expensive to bring that quality to a digital file
Have fun with it!
Hello, berth I’m your #1 admirer I carry around your videos in my portable Zune & watch them all the time you inspire me, I’ll be as good photographer as you are, can’t wait for that dvd to come out, and hope it will available for us in the U.S.
Bert, fantastic to see you work with film .. again.
And yes, in this digital age it seems like x-mas every time you send in some rolls for development and can’t wait for the lab to return them.
Great shots of your lovely wife and model.
Bert,
You did a great job here, congratz!
Working to fast is one of the mistakes digital photographers make! And I know what I’m talking about
If you are working analog you need to take time and read the light very carefully…
Sometimes I need to remind myself that I should take a bit more time while shooting. Is the light ok, is the setup ok, is the model looking good, etc… Things we all forget sometimes
grtz
Jan
Thx all
@Dan: Sounds like you know a lot about shooting film. My Hasselblad came with a polaroid back too, I’m sure going to give it a try too. I can still remember that magical moment when for the very first time I saw a picture appear after putting it in some smelly chemicals. I think I’ll scan my pics on my old crappy scanner for now and if I should make something really good, I’ll be happy to pay for a good scan of that shot.
@Allen: Well it’s been a while since I’ve shot film. I think I shot only 4 or 5 rolls of 35mm in the last 5 years.
@Jan: I know too that I should work slower sometimes. But once I get that digital camera in my hands I always seem to forget. It’s like going to McDonald’s, even if I have plenty of time, I can’t help quickly stuffing that hamburger in my face
The Hassie is like Haute Cuisine, you just have to take your time to enjoy it.
Firt pic is amazing..
Will it be long before Bert is telling his tricks on processing film at home?
(Its not difficult and if you are going to shoot more than few rolls of b&w in a year I’s suggest bying the chemicals and putting a darkroom up..)
I’d buy a old Masselblad, Mayami, or Pentax 645 if only I’d had the cash for it and for the films/chemicals ext. There are already about ten rolls of shot,but undeveloped 35mm slidefilms in my fridge. Im just broke..
Hey Bert.
)
Cool pics
How long do you think you can resist before getting a digital back ;o)
CallumW
Three fantastic pictures! I just returned to film with the purchase of an AE-1 Progam. First one is going in for developing today and it’s going to drive me crazy waiting for it to come back.
As hard as it’s been on me to wait for the images, it’s driving my children absolutely nuts. They are so used to the instant gratification of a digital camera. I’m still not quite sure they get the whole idea of film.
Hey Bert,
Its great to see pros like yourself getting into MF film. I got into photography through my Mamiya RB67 and just recently entered the digital word (YAY D700!). I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to get a limited amount of experience with film and to have a taste of what it was like no too long ago. Every time I get my film back with a winner, It’s really exciting but it really sucks to have underexposed a whole roll or missed focus a bit.
I feel for you about sending film to the lab. I live in a remote location in Canada far north and have to mail my film away for development – waiting 2-3 weeks! I’ve had really good luck with the Epson v700 and the Betterscanning film holder.
Hi Bert !
first of all – congrats on the Hassel, really great news and i’m so happy for you…
i thinking for the long time yet about Mamiya (just Hassel still lots of money for me)
About scanner, i have a new Epson V500. Great quality and very fast.
good luck with the new(old) cam !
can’t wait to see the new square reflections of the life around you !
Vic
I really like the first photo. If I could articulate why I would, but I can’t so I won’t try.
I put a roll of Kodachrome into my 35mm camera months ago, but haven’t exposed a single frame. I should probably shoot it while I can still have it processed.
And I agree with the others who suggest you develop a few rolls of B&W at home! Fun.
And to reiterate what caused me to post in the first place. The first image is just great!
I think that scancafe might be your best bet for good & inexpensive (relatively) scans. I hear lots of people recommending them (but I’ve never tried it myself… don’t shoot that much film).
@Jussi: I don’t think I will get myself a darkroom again unless I somehow would need same day development. But never say never
@Callum: I’d love renting one to see what it’s all about
@Paul: I used to have an AE-1. You can buy the Canon FD-camera’s en lenses pretty cheap so it’s a good choice for anyone who wants to get into shooting 35mm film. And yes, my kids don’t seem to understand why I spent money on a camera that doesn’t have a screen on the back.
@Michael: Thx, I can usually have the developed film back by the next business day and the lab is only 15km’s away, so I’m in a better situation that you
But then again, I bet the scenery at your place makes for much better pictures than here.
@Victor: I’m also considering the V500, the V700 is probably better but maybe a bit too expensive for what I would use it.
@Ken: I’m too afraid to screw up in the film developing stage. You can redo a scan or a print but not developing film.
@Jarred: Thx for the tip. I might check Scancafe out
Good looking photos! I have tried a 503cx Hasselblad few times and it feels great.The time it takes you to shoot and all the mechanical design in it.Also it’s so much more sturdier than my plastic digi Nikon
That reminds me of Zack Arias who makes his workshop participants shoot with taped over LCD screens on their cameras
amazing how quickly we are getting used to seeing everything instantly.
Bert,
the first and the third are my favourites. I love the composition and the contrast give you by the film. It is also nice that you meet the love for photography with the love for your wife.
Every time I take a look at Confessions of a Photographer I’m wondering of your work and the way you use to share it.
Thank you and as always, all my compliments!
Teo.
I have 3 Hasselblad at work .. sadly I’m not allowed to use them outside of the studio….
It’s a great feeling to use them and I understand what you mean – taking pictures with film makes you think more before you push the button
As soon as I have enough cash for some goodies, I’ll get one for myself ….
Bastian
love the composition and the contrast…
Someone pointed me to your site. Just got me a 500 CM yesterday and didn’t sleep all night, playing with it and scouring Google for manuals, tips, tricks and everything ever written about the 500 CM. Got me some TMax, Neopan and HP5 and dumped them into the fridge in my study,where I also keep my Hershies, Mars Bars,Cadbury Bars and Kit Kat. The chocolates in the Fridge are the bribes I use to lure my grandkids to come straight to my study when they visit. Whaddaya know ? This morning, two year old Adam came into the study, gave me the usual hugs, then went straight to the Fridge and with the nice green boxed Neopan in his hand he says, “Can I have this one Gramps ?” I couldn’t stop laughing. Really made my day today. Yesterday it was Little Miss Hessey. Like most old geezers, I started shooting with film 50 years ago. Then when the Rat Race was the most important thing in Life, serious photography was placed on the back burner, but never forgotten. I became a collector of cameras buying a succession of Nikons, Olympus OM1, Pentax and finally the EOS SLRs when they were first introduced. I’ve always lusted for the MFs, especially Hessies, but never did take the plunge, until yesterday. I’ve been shooting digital the last 10 years in 90 countries, and I have a Lightroom catalog of more than 200,000 digital images in 10TB of Hard Disks, waiting for the day when I can extract a body of work for a book or at least a first solo exhibition….but….still I’m still waiting and waiting …Fact is, when shooting digital, the rate of keepers is probably under 3 percent. I remember when I was shooting in film, it was more like 30 percent. So I want to slow down and take more considered shots, and that is one reason for me going retro…..apart from sexy Miss Hessie…
I’ve got a location I want to shoot in mind. I’ll go there alone tommorow morning and evening and savour the picture making process in a slow, considered and careful way…unlike with digital when you even tend to use 8 fps in dim light, simply with the hope to freeze one useable frame..
This return to film with little Miss Hessie is getting me all excited. I think I know how you feel.
@Matti: It does indeed feel like it’s build like a tank
@Moritz: Maybe we should indeed think more and guess less
@Teo: My wife is without any doubt my greatest inspiration
@Bastian: Sad that you can’t use the Hasselblads from work. I’m not an expert but if I’m not mistakes there are some less expensive MF options that give you pretty good quality too like Mamiya and then there’s some Russian Hasselblad clones
@Yusuf: That’s a funny story. My oldest daughter didn’t think much of the Hassy as it has no screen on the back but my son seems quite interested in that old mechanical technology.
I love the first picture and I’m glad to see you discoverd Film – Isn’t it magic ? ( voor zover mijn Engels op iets trekt…. )
Yes Carl, it’s magic!
Bert,
The first image is simply awesome, perfect in every aspect! thanks for sharing, I never use a MF camera when I used film, digital MF, I only wish I had that kind of money burning in my pocket…
Thanks for sharing.
Z.
“an irrational decision every now and then is a very wise thing to do”
I disagree with this because “irrational decision” and “very wise thing to do” don’t mix well. I’m pretty sure that buying this camera is a very rational idea. After all, it has at least two main benefits: it will make you a better composer and you’ll find more creative ways to produce images. Finally, also very important, you’ll have a fun
All the best with you new camera. For sure I’ll enjoy your reports on your blog.