Hasselblad 503CW Medium Format Film Camera

Product Rating
4.75 of 5
16 reviews

Price Range
$0 - $0

Product Description

Summary

I already had an RZ67, but when offered a mint CW just had to buy it and have no regrets. If you have large hands, its great to handhold. The standard of engineering is matched only by Leica, the quality of pictures from the lenses is great. The winder adds greatly to studio, allowing you to take the shots while directing the most difficult subjects!. Just remember to keep a spare set of batteries, as I forgot, and the camera just stopped dead, totally jammed, and I had to reach for the Nikon to get me out of trouble! If you use the meter head, you need lots of practice to interprete the simple numeric output. The one camera, I will never sell [other than the Leica].

Strength

Wonderful quality and feel. Perfect for wedding and social photography - you cannot handhold an RZ. Winder used with the infrared remote is great for portraits, especially kids.

Weakness

Winder eats batteries and can jam the camera and lens. I find the meter prism makes it difficult to focus in lower light.

Summary

Love it in the studio, clients look for the notches. I have a love /hate relationship with my 'blad.

Strength

I've had a 'blad for some time, it's super on a tripod in the studio hand held in the field is an other matter. I find that the ergonomics for hand held shots not to my liking, prefer my Fuji 670.

Weakness

none apart from the very personal hand held weakness

Summary

If you can handle a manual camera there is no other that will serve so well. Certainly none better. The only limitation is the user.

Strength

1. Rock solid and precise - two qualities that are often mutually exculsive.

2. Zeiss lenses.

Weakness

The auto wind jammed the system once. I have no idea how it happened or how I solved the problem. Pull and tug and it worked again.

Summary

The standard at which other medium format follow.
Why purchase a poor copy when you can have the original. The hasselblad concept has been copied by other manufacturers but not with the same design and ease of use that hasselblad offers. This is the only one medium format camera that is worth considering. I use black bodies,(avoiding any chance of reflection off the flash appearing in a shot, this can happen) clients still go oooooh! because everything attatched to it is black as well. They like the idea of firing off the 503cw when I am not behind the camera or shooting from a distance with the remote. marvellous.

Strength

Well it is swedish!
This system has been around for some time. It has always been at the front for commercial and advertising needs. Why? The system is easy to use, simple in putting it together and there are no idiosyncratic practices in film loading or winding on film. The RB67 for example requires two cranks to move onto the the next shot. In comparison to other systems it is small and easy to carry in smaller photobags. The body relates more to a 645 than a 6x6 in comparrison to other medium formats. The grip on the winder allows for remote controlled shots to be taken from a distance which can be useful when the client is not expecting a shot to be taken. Did we mention robust? Lenses are the best with reference to the contrast index over resolution. Even more solid than before with a good smooth motion in focussing. Allows for digital backs to be added.Syncronising flash with auto flash cut off.
Looks good, a well engineered and finished product. This camera will also keep its value.

Clients want to know that you are using the best equipment for their job they recognise the Hasselblad name and its reputation.

Weakness

None. but on receiving fresh from the box the camera jammed and had to be driven over to hasselblad UK. Heard this happened to someone else as well. This was easily fixed by a technician but was replaced with another new Hasselblad body. Some will mention price but this is false economy. This system will last a life time.
Is someone going to mention digital cameras?
Fortunately this camera has the facilities for digital backs (It worried me at first!)

Summary

If you can swallow a few extra dollars the results will outweigh the price. The convience and comfort will allow you to treat your Hasselblad just like it was a big manual focus 35mm and you will never outgrow the accecories and products made for this camera. No other manufacturer has a such a support network.

Strength

The durability of any hasselblad body is exceptional. I've never expierenced any mechanical failure and the owner of the studio has three bodies and without exception they deliver.

The comments from other reviews about the Zeiss lenses are correct. You can crop horizontally or vertically without a loss in quality compared to 6x7 but you get faster lenses and you don't have to mess with the rotating back. If you choose to keep the square format some companies will print up to 30x30 and a 6x6 from a Hasselblad printed into a square is better than anything out there in medium format.

The camerea and lenses are built like a tank and the focus is smooth and well damped. Contrast and resolution are unmatched by the Japanese.

Enjoy a light comfortable and portable system while your RB67, RZ67, PENTAX 67, etc. sit in the studio and you earn the keep with your Hasselblad.

One last note, it looks better too. Don't buy a black body, get the chrome, your customer will go...aaahhhh.

Forgot one thing: Everything Hasselblad makes in a model line works with old stuff, no other company can claim that except Pentax whose old stuff is their new stuff because they never improve their equipment.

Weakness

The price, but in the end the miser pays more.

Don't sacrifice a customer or customers to save 300 dollars on one or two lenses. Also C T* are much better than the origonal C non multicoated and very affordable.

That is the only weakness, Hasselblad dominates in every other area.

No matter what other brand people use if it isn't a Hasselblad they wish it was and they will constantly compare their results to yours. Hasselblad sets the GOLD standard.