Hasselblad 503CW Medium Format
Hasselblad 503CW Medium Format
USER REVIEWS
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[Jan 29, 2000]
Pall Stefansson
Professional
Model Reviewed:
503CW Medium Format Black Body
Strength:
It´s down to earth workhorse. I like 6x6
Weakness:
No Very well made camera, With lenses of top quility. Small and strong Customer Service very good Similar Products Used: Leica M6 & R6.2 |
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[Dec 30, 1999]
William
Expert
Model Reviewed:
503CW Medium Format Black Body
Strength:
Very rugged construction, you hear the term "built like a tank", well this one really is!
Weakness:
Only one small problem, mind you it didn't seem small at the time, one of the main springs needed replacing. It seem that someone that tested the camera forgot to trip the shutter, which weakened the spring. If you are primarily into Landscape Photography or Portraits, and are thinking about spending a bundle on a 35mm camera, better to channel that money into a medium format such as the Hasselblad. The image qualilty is superior. On the downside, be prepared to spend a lot more on everything related to the camera, such as film, developing, accessories. E.g. An A-12 Magazine runs me in Canada around $1000+ dollars! Customer Service Were very obliging, they fixed the problem in no time, and gave me some hint's to make the camera last longer. Similar Products Used: Canon FTB, Canon AT1, Nikon F3. |
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[Oct 24, 2000]
Jack Casner
Expert
Strength:
1. Rock solid and precise - two qualities that are often mutually exculsive.
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. 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. Customer Service Outstanding! I lost the winder instructions and emailed Hasselblad USA asking how to order another. A week later a manual arrived - no charge. Similar Products Used: Rolleiflex, Yashica 124 G, Bronica, Pentax 6X7. |
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[Jan 17, 2001]
tony middleton
Professional
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 Love it in the studio, clients look for the notches. I have a love /hate relationship with my 'blad. Customer Service Very good but slow, I've only need it once when a back had a light leak. Similar Products Used: Mamiya C series, rollie, yashica. |
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[Feb 23, 2001]
Nick Richardson
Professional
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. 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]. Customer Service No experience Similar Products Used: RZ67, also use Nikon F5, and Leica |
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[Nov 12, 1999]
Sam Stia
Professional
Model Reviewed:
503CW Medium Format Black Body
Strength:
Very ergonomic. I have ahd reconstruction of my hand and with the 503cw it is an asset!
Weakness:
None Tremrndous asset to a person with limited mobility of a hand. Great lenses also. Similar Products Used: Mamiya,RZpro 2. Harldy used it, way too heavy to handhold. |
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[Aug 02, 1999]
Jorge
Professional
Model Reviewed:
503CW Medium Format Black Body
Strength:
Size, reliable,lenses, non-obselece
Weakness:
none A very nice system camera, can do all, easy to live with and great lenses. I use this camera on location and it never lets me down,I also own an RZ 67 which I use in the studio, but I must admit that the lenses for Hassy are better at handling high key lighting, and the contrast is richer. Clients like rectangular images but the Hassy cropped is just as good as the bigger neg 6x7. I own both so as to deliver what client wants but I prefer to shoot with my 503CW. It's a nice camera that I feel confident using and carrying on location. Customer Service Fast and goes above and beyond expectations, great service to working pros Similar Products Used: Mamiya RZ67, Rollei 6003 |
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[Jul 19, 1999]
Halvor Syvertsen
Expert
Model Reviewed:
503CW Medium Format Black Body
Strength:
Battery indipendent, easy handeling, robust, TTL flash metering. Superb Carl Zeiss lenses. Optional winder with IR remote control makes double/miltiple exposure easy.
Weakness:
This unit will never let you down. Black finish not as robust as chrome. Expensive system to enter. Last "forever". High second hand value. 503CX + handheld exposure meter (Minolta Flash Meter IV/V) and a tripod will improve your photography. 6x6 cm perfect for portrait also. Similar Products Used: 500C/M, 500CX, 2000FCW, Rolleiflex |