Check out Professional and Advanced Portraiture section of our forum.
Using my old Hasselblad in the age of digital without a digital back!
May 1, 2024 17:59:18 #
I want to use my old 500 CM. The best photos I have taken were with this camera. I just inherited a Bronica GS1 with a 6 x 7 back, so I have two medium format film cameras.
1. What would you do?
2. Should I have the film professionally developed and scanned, if so, auto-versus- custom scans?
3. Should I have the film developed only and photograph it on my copy stand with a macro-lens on a high MP 35mm camera?
4. Should I develop film myself (only black and white)-I still have a darkroom?
5. Is it better to photograph film on a copy stand with a 35mm or use a flat bed scanner? if so which scanner?
6. Should I spend a fortune and buy a digital back (my wife doesn't read UH)?
In a quandary and need some help
Thank you,
Bob
1. What would you do?
2. Should I have the film professionally developed and scanned, if so, auto-versus- custom scans?
3. Should I have the film developed only and photograph it on my copy stand with a macro-lens on a high MP 35mm camera?
4. Should I develop film myself (only black and white)-I still have a darkroom?
5. Is it better to photograph film on a copy stand with a 35mm or use a flat bed scanner? if so which scanner?
6. Should I spend a fortune and buy a digital back (my wife doesn't read UH)?
In a quandary and need some help
Thank you,
Bob
May 1, 2024 18:08:07 #
If you decided only to shoot B&W I would say develop the film yourself as B&W chemicals are not expensive and can be kept longer compared to color chemicals. Either do a copy or scan. Scanning is easier but slower but then since I don't think you will shoot a lot of film so the speed doesn't matter. I guess you don't have a scanner so you would have to buy a scanner. Something like the Epson V600? I haven't used a flatbed for film scanning but dedicated film scanner for medium format would be quite expensive. I would recommend against having the lab do the scan.
May 1, 2024 18:53:11 #
Hi, I have an Epson V550 scanner, I don't know the quality, but with a large negative, it should be fine.
Thanks for the advise,
Bob
Thanks for the advise,
Bob
Check out The Pampered Pets Corner section of our forum.
May 1, 2024 19:38:25 #
I have a Hasselblad 501CM and still shoot film (both color and B&W) in it and then scan the negatives on an Epson V850. The Hassy still takes incredible photos. That said, I just purchased a digital back for it, and . . . well, the images are phenomenal. It’s a different style of photography, to be sure, but the results are their own reward.
May 1, 2024 20:08:58 #
tcthome
Loc: NJ
jwreed50 wrote:
I have a Hasselblad 501CM and still shoot film (both color and B&W) in it and then scan the negatives on an Epson V850. The Hassy still takes incredible photos. That said, I just purchased a digital back for it, and . . . well, the images are phenomenal. It’s a different style of photography, to be sure, but the results are their own reward.
May 1, 2024 20:49:36 #
May 2, 2024 08:47:45 #
photon-collector
Loc: Tampa Bay Area, Florida
robertneger wrote:
I want to use my old 500 CM. The best photos I hav... (show quote)
If you have a darkroom, I recommend that you develop the B&W negatives. I agree that an Epson Scanner does a good job for such a a small investment. I have either "The Darkroom", or "Indie Film Lab" do my processing and scanning. Both do a nice job...although I think that "Indie" has a higher resolution scan. Both labs will return your processed negatives and digital images.
Last comment. Don't sell that Bronica GS-1 short. It is a fine camera, will take phenomenal images, and IMO with the speed grip, is a lot easier to handle than the Hassy. When Bronicas were produced, they were called the "Japanese Hasselblad." The 6x7 image is more to my liking.
May 2, 2024 09:46:34 #
I have a Mamiya, a Pentax, and now a Hasse. I have to admit that the Hasse is the easiest to use. About the rest of the OP questions, I don't do my own developing anymore. I have an Epson 850 scanner, and I get horrid scans. I've about decided that for any images that I actually intend to market (enlarge or post for sale), I'll get large scans made. I don't know how much they cost yet. I do know, it's cheaper to get scans made at time of developing, but I might not want ALL of them done. I've never been successful at using a camera to do copy work.
May 2, 2024 09:47:58 #
dbrugger25
Loc: Raleigh, NC
robertneger wrote:
I want to use my old 500 CM. The best photos I hav... (show quote)
I would process the film myself and buy a high res scanner like the Epson V850. I know they are expensive but they are capable of scanning any size film and ship with a large selection of film holders.
May 2, 2024 09:58:20 #
The cost is keeping me from shooting film in my hasselblads. But I do have an adapter that lets me attach the lenses to my dslr.
May 2, 2024 12:39:34 #
Thank you very much for your comments- very helpful. I will save the Bronica- I have used it yet.
Bob
Bob
Check out True Macro-Photography Forum section of our forum.
May 2, 2024 12:41:53 #
May 2, 2024 12:47:50 #
May 2, 2024 16:24:17 #
If I were to shoot with a film camera again I would want to process the film myself and print chemically. I would want the whole experience of seeing a print appear in a darkroom tray and manipulating the image with different papers, development times etc. Scanning negatives just doesn't render the same look and feel that a Hasselblad is capable of IMHO.
May 2, 2024 22:01:00 #
robertneger wrote:
I want to use my old 500 CM. The best photos I hav... (show quote)
*YES* to 3, 4, and 5 ... by experience.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Check out Commercial and Industrial Photography section of our forum.