Shooting with the Hasselblad SWC

[Chris101]

I don't have one, but I have lusted after this camera for almost 30 years now. Ever since Bob's Camera let me shoot theirs and gave me this 10 page brochure. Somehow, the price has kept pace with 'just out of reach'.

[smiling gecko]

hello david b and the rest!!

i finally got a swc/m a few months ago and looooooooooo-ve it.

like the leica m cameras it has it's mystique & the goods to back it up. i've read some folks feel the early iterations (and even some later ones) are lacking in sharpness or contrast compared to the mamiya 7's 43mm....i'll leave that to "to each their own". my needs and tastes don't require anything more than my swc/m provides.

it is a terrific event/fair/outing/street shooter's camera...a zone focus p&s medium format camera that allows me to concentrate more on what's going on and less on the technical...then again, i'm low on the technical.


it's really, really neat to see the flurry of swc postings. now it looks like i'll have to get off my lazy kiester and post some images.

mebbe a "swc" category over in the index...

enjoy, enjoy, enjoy

[raid]

I got a SWC. It is coming to me in a few days.

[Crazy Fedya]

hey raid.
Is it nice to rub it in?

[raid]

This is not my intention. This thread is by someone else about his SWC, so I added one posting about my new camera.

[Riccis]

I also love mine and a lot of my recent wedding work has been shoot with it.

Cheers!

[Riccis]

Cheers,

[bigeye]

Raid: I'm curious to see if you will 'take' to the SWC. People seem to feel comfortable with it, or not, with few in the middle.

Getting comfortable with close focus was important to me (necessary to handle foreground/background in many wide compositions) and I found takes a bit of practice. The chimney finder and focusing screen adapter give you probably the quickest confidence that you've got the hyperfocal distance correct (Polaroid images are just too small.)

Like all super wides, it has a pretty amazing hyperfocal distance, even with relatively large apertures, and the chimney quickly gives you the feel of how close you can get (very).

Once you get a feel for it, though, the chimney is not used much more. It's about $200 for a used adapter and chimney.

Alternatively, I have a string marked for the min. hyperfocal distance at different apertures that wrapped around the tripod shoe. All you need.

It can be a slow camera to operate, or the fastest, if you can work hyperfocal (which is simple).

Good luck with it.

-Charlie

[raid]

Hi Charlie,
I have been reading postings by SWC users for a few days now, and I have been looking for such a chimney finder. Must it be specifically mad for the SWC, and which adapter would I need to use it?

It seems that you use a chimney finder for easier focusing technique. I am used to working with the hyperfocal distance as I use SLR wide angle lenses with RF cameras without RF focusing possible.

Raid

---------------------------

Originally Posted by bigeye

Raid: I'm curious to see if you will 'take' to the SWC. People seem to feel comfortable with it, or not, with few in the middle.

Getting comfortable with close focus was important to me (necessary to handle foreground/background in many wide compositions) and I found takes a bit of practice. The chimney finder and focusing screen adapter give you probably the quickest confidence that you've got the hyperfocal distance correct (Polaroid images are just too small.)

Like all super wides, it has a pretty amazing hyperfocal distance, even with relatively large apertures, and the chimney quickly gives you the feel of how close you can get (very).

Once you get a feel for it, though, the chimney is not used much more. It's about $200 for a used adapter and chimney.

Alternatively, I have a string marked for the min. hyperfocal distance at different apertures that wrapped around the tripod shoe. All you need.

It can be a slow camera to operate, or the fastest, if you can work hyperfocal (which is simple).

Good luck with it.

-Charlie

[bigeye]

Originally Posted by raid

Hi Charlie,
I have been reading postings by SWC users for a few days now, and I have been looking for such a chimney finder. Must it be specifically mad for the SWC, and which adapter would I need to use it?

It seems that you use a chimney finder for easier focusing technique. I am used to working with the hyperfocal distance as I use SLR wide angle lenses with RF cameras without RF focusing possible.

Raid

Raid: All the hassie stuff mixes and matches (a system!). I got this chimney finder for the 500 (and use it as a focusing aid for the 4x5, too) and bought the focusing screen adapter when I got the SWC. It's simply a ground glass frame that replaces the film back. (It works on the 500, too, but doesn't make much sense to use except to check for focussing errors...)

The problem with the chimney/adapter is that it's really slow. Once you get a feel for what the SWC covers, you won't use it much. The big thing is not to sweat it.

I took measurements with my textile "minimum and hyperfocal distance calculator" (string) yesterday, after reading your post. With too much time on my hands, I measured the indicator knots at absolute minimum focus, then hyperfocal distance for each aperture (all from the front of lens, not film plane):

Minimum focus (hard stop, any aperture) is 7" (18cm) from front of lens, or the width of a Shaka. (Note "min" knot in pic below.)

Hyperfocal distance (min. in-focus range to infinity):
f22 -- 23 1/2" (60cm)
f16 -- 28 3/8" (72cm)
f11 -- 47" (120cm)
f8 -- 60 1/4" (152cm)
f4.5 -- 102" (260cm)

So, worst case at max aperture, everything from 8' to infinity is in focus. Distance markings on lens are very accurate from film plane (add 4" / 10cm to above).



- Charlie

PS: get a couple of chrome film magazines. It's nice to have at least 2. Condition matters more than era - all A12s work the same and there is a premium on late model 212s. Figure $150 per. Matching numbers are nice, too.

PPS: There is a guy on ebay that sells adapters to mount the hassie chimney finder on Canon DSLRs LCD for filming video. Another cool app for it.

[macmx]

What you want is the Rfmx finder and corresponding ground glas, not the chimney finder. The rfmx finder is made for the swc/flexbody/arcbody and makes it possible to view the image from the top and flips the image right way up.

My 905 is the best, fastest and most beautiful camera I have ever owned. The best images are actually when you do close focussing and wide apertures. You can do some great portraits. Have you ever heard of snapshot landscapes? My best pictures have been made this way with some bw film and orange filters.

@Riccis. Which flash did you use for the wedding shots? Do you mount it on the camera?

[raid]

Originally Posted by bigeye

Raid: All the hassie stuff mixes and matches (a system!). I got this chimney finder for the 500 (and use it as a focusing aid for the 4x5, too) and bought the focusing screen adapter when I got the SWC. It's simply a ground glass frame that replaces the film back. (It works on the 500, too, but doesn't make much sense to use except to check for focussing errors...)

The problem with the chimney/adapter is that it's really slow. Once you get a feel for what the SWC covers, you won't use it much. The big thing is not to sweat it.

I took measurements with my textile "minimum and hyperfocal distance calculator" (string) yesterday, after reading your post. With too much time on my hands, I measured the indicator knots at absolute minimum focus, then hyperfocal distance for each aperture (all from the front of lens, not film plane):

Minimum focus (hard stop, any aperture) is 7" (18cm) from front of lens, or the width of a Shaka. (Note "min" knot in pic below.)

Hyperfocal distance (min. in-focus range to infinity):
f22 -- 23 1/2" (60cm)
f16 -- 28 3/8" (72cm)
f11 -- 47" (120cm)
f8 -- 60 1/4" (152cm)
f4.5 -- 102" (260cm)

So, worst case at max aperture, everything from 8' to infinity is in focus. Distance markings on lens are very accurate from film plane (add 4" / 10cm to above).



- Charlie

PS: get a couple of chrome film magazines. It's nice to have at least 2. Condition matters more than era - all A12s work the same and there is a premium on late model 212s. Figure $150 per. Matching numbers are nice, too.

PPS: There is a guy on ebay that sells adapters to mount the hassie chimney finder on Canon DSLRs LCD for filming video. Another cool app for it.

Hi Charlie,
I copied your hyperfocal chart for the SWC. Thanks for the work done.

What are chrome magazines? Do you mean the A12 or A24 or similar?
I agree with you on keeping things simple, and use guess focusing.

Raid

[raid]

Originally Posted by macmx

What you want is the Rfmx finder and corresponding ground glas, not the chimney finder. The rfmx finder is made for the swc/flexbody/arcbody and makes it possible to view the image from the top and flips the image right way up.

My 905 is the best, fastest and most beautiful camera I have ever owned. The best images are actually when you do close focussing and wide apertures. You can do some great portraits. Have you ever heard of snapshot landscapes? My best pictures have been made this way with some bw film and orange filters.

@Riccis. Which flash did you use for the wedding shots? Do you mount it on the camera?

I will read on the rfmx finder. Thank you for the tip.

[MikeL]

Raid, there are two back adapters with ground glass for a chimney-rfmx-prism. With the older adapter, the image is bright on center, but gets dark as you move towards the edges (on the swc). The newer adapter gives a more even image brightness across the glass. If you are going to use it alot, I'd get the newer one.

[raid]

I searched on ebay, but the finders are different there. I may have been looking for the wrong finder.

[raid]

Originally Posted by MikeL

Raid, there are two back adapters with ground glass for a chimney-rfmx-prism. With the older adapter, the image is bright on center, but gets dark as you move towards the edges (on the swc). The newer adapter gives a more even image brightness across the glass. If you are going to use it alot, I'd get the newer one.

Hi Mike,
So it is a chimney rfmx finder. I searched for rfmx and did not find any listed

[raid]

I will use the SWC very soon. Using the hyperfocal distances will be my approach at first. Is film loading straightforward as in a Rolleiflex or Fuji MF camera?

The other issue is about using 120 film in the A24. Would this result in less sharpness, and would I lose a frame?

[Riccis]

Originally Posted by macmx

@Riccis. Which flash did you use for the wedding shots? Do you mount it on the camera?

Originally I was using a Hasselblad (hammehead) but now just use a regular Metz as it is much smaller. I mount the flash on the cold shoe, put the viewfinder on my pocket and peek through it every once in a while if I need a reference but as you know the SWC is so wide that a vf is not needed many times.

Cheers,

[ChrisN]

Originally Posted by Riccis

Originally I was using a Hasselblad (hammehead) but now just use a regular Metz as it is much smaller. I mount the flash on the cold shoe, put the viewfinder on my pocket and peek through it every once in a while if I need a reference but as you know the SWC is so wide that a vf is not needed many times.

Cheers,

Bravo!

Raid - yes the mags are very easy to load. Instructions from the Butkus site here.

[bigeye]

I like the chimney because it has pretty good magnification as does the WLF. The PM 45 works, too. Most any finder will. Not sure what the advantage of the (expensive) RMFX is.

- Charlie

[Riccis]

New wedding work shot on the SWC... I love this camera so much!





Cheers,

[Therobbstory]

After nearly a year, I'm really beginning to fall in love with mine.


Self Portrait in Downstairs Bathroom by TheRobbStory, on Flickr


In Our Backyards After the War by TheRobbStory, on Flickr


Frost Diner | Warrenton, VA by TheRobbStory, on Flickr


Frost Diner | Warrenton, VA by TheRobbStory, on Flickr


Another Man's Best Friend by TheRobbStory, on Flickr

Once I managed to wrap my head around the concept of zone focusing, I embraced shooting without a viewfinder. Often, I'll mount a thyristor flash to the hotshoe for a little fill flash. I'd like to employ this on the street a bit more in the coming months.

[leicapixie]

i have always lusted after this camera!
The best snapshot box in the world.
Price has always separated me from my true self..
For those who have and shoot, ENJOY BIG TIME.
The pix of wedding, by Riccis, outstanding

[literiter]

I bought my 53 year old SWC from a friend, very reasonably, as a bit of a beater. A few days with David Odess sorted it out.

I would never have thought of this as a snapshot camera...but of course it can be anything you want it to be. There is a little distortion with the stove, for some reason
but the floor above does sag a bit. A sign says "No more than 25 persons".

This is the fist time I've been the McDougal Memorial United Church. Built in 1873.
http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-...u.aspx?id=8788

[mfogiel]

SWC is simply a benchmark. As to flash mounting, you might have a look at this solution:
http://www.google.it/imgres?imgurl=h...ed=0CBoQ9QEwAQ

It looks, like he made a custom attachment, with the VF inside and another hot shoe on top.
I would have thought a side torch with a rail would be simpler.

Here are a couple of recent shots:

MF20121509 by mfogiel, on Flickr

MF20121412 by mfogiel, on Flickr