$hould I Buy a Hasselblad 500C/M

[Rockford]

I walked into the last real camera shop in my area today, and was offered a Hasselblad 500C/M with waist-level, 2.8 80mm  Zeiss Planar, and a 24 exposure 220 back for $300.00.

The lens is clean.  The shutter speeds are correct.  The focal plane shutter works, but it is slow.  The flash sync works.  The camera is clean.

The finder works, but the magnifier pops up slow and has to be twisted into place.

The back is standing a part on the left edge.  It will not work, but I would want a 12 exposure 120 back anyway.

If I bought this, I would have to sell my Zeiss-Ikon Favorit which is in great shape.

Thoughts?  Observations?

[head zoo keeper]

Yeah, that' a tough call... having to get rid of one camera to get another. Personally speaking, I don't think I could do it... these zero-sum gains are tough to justify.

But, if you never use your Favorit anymore and you don't think you're gonna miss it, then that's a different story. Also, according to KEH, them 80mm Planars are going for around $200-$700, depending on the condition and coating, so maybe this is a good bargin?

[Major Black]

I've been toying with getting a 'blad myself. Lemme know if you don't do it.

[r-brian]

Personally, I'm a Bronica SQa guy.  For that money, you can get a SQa in excellent condition and then additional lenses and backs are much cheaper.  If the Blad is going to need servicing, then it's probably not going to be such a good deal by the time you're done.  

Brian

[rentavet]

I never sold a camera or a gun that I didn't regret the transaction at some point

[LarryD]

I will buy it for that price. and not rid myself of anything. May I have the address and # of the Store?

Larry

[Rockford]

I had looked at this camera before at $500, and had even taken a friend, a Hasselblad shooter, to look at it.  At that time, the focal plane shutter would not close all the way for well over a second after the camera was fired.  The rear shutter now closes more quickly, but still not as quick as his.  So, firing the camera has loosened that some.  I would still figure a service. The leaf shutter was accurate.    My friend also noted the  back was "a write off."  

I was able to take the camera out overnight, and, after my first post, under strong light, I discovered a cloud of fungus visible in the lens that I had not noticed before.

I think the math is wrong for me. After my first post I found http://www.david-odess.com/.  Mr. Odess quotes a repair of $150.00 for body (labor); and $150.00 for a lens (labor) and a repair of $80.00 (labor) for the back. The labor is for a standard CLA. Parts would run more, and the back would require parts.  A new back in the same external shape of the camera (E+) he quotes c. $250-290.
The lens appears good except for the fungus, but I do not think the price he quotes would include cleaning the elements.  I think that is the mechanical part.  I am going to call.  

The fungus troubles me.  The owner quit shooting back in the 1980's, and the camera has sat for well over a decade (Camera is '73/ lens '74).  Could the lens be etched?

Best case would put me into the camera c. $900 after service and new back, and I can't justify that for the little MF I shoot.  Besides,  I have seen nicer, later Blads c. $1000.00.

Anyway---I think I am going to back off this, and return the camera tomorrow.  I am going to make a few calls in the morning just to double check, but should know by noon.

LarryD, PM, me for the address & number of the store.  If I don't take it, I will gladly give them to you.  I am a semi-regular customer, and the clerk who showed me the camera was formerly a sales person at Triad Photo (now closed!) where I was a regular, regular customer.   I got the feeling she was giving me a little price break, but I suspect that anyone could buy the outfit for c. $350.00 plus shipping  You will have to work your own deal. I would not buy to resell.   Anyway, the store is first rate.  I am increasingly troubled about the camera.

I will check back c. 7:00 a.m. If any night-owls have any thoughts about the price of cleaning a Hasselblad lens, let me know.  Obviously, I have a lost a little sleep over this one.  

The more I think about it, the more I can hear my ma'ma  saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true."

[sandeha]

Doesn't sound too good to me either - always reckon that three minor incidents together can add up to disaster.  

Plus, there are still plenty of Blads out there that don't need servicing, haven't been left on shelves for years, etc. No reason to pick a lame one.  And possibly not much reason to go higher than a 500CM since that will do the biz anyway.  

(For a $50 consultancy fee) I'd recommend patience.    

[Major Black]

With your update and the fungus news, I'd pass on this one and buy yourself something with less problems. Offer them $150.
 :?

[head zoo keeper]

Yeah, it's sounding like it'll take a few [hundred] dollars here and there to get it in reliable shooting condition. Still... a Hassey kit for $300 is something to consider at the very least.

Just for fun... I priced-out the cheapest 500 C/M kit a KEH and we're still talking about six Benjamins (excuse the US-centric slang):

Body: $126 (bargin)
80 F2.8 F T* Lens: $215 (bargin)
A12 Back w/ Dark-slide holder: $109 (bargin)
Waist-level Finder: $112 (excellent)
========================
Total: > $560

*sigh*
Too many cameras... not even money is always my problem...

[Mike Kovacs]

Well $300 isn't much for a Hassy, and it is the later model 501c/m too (I assume a T* Planar), not just the usual 500c + T coated Planar in the $500 range.

There's a good chance that whatever else you buy for more bucks is going to need service too.  Still, this sounds like one I would personally pass on too.

You might also want to shop around for quotes.  E.g. Carol Miller at Flutot will probably CLA the lens and shutter for a lot less.

[Rockford]

I passed on the camera, and PM'ed LarryD about it's location as per his request.

Thanks for the sage advice.  For me, this was one to pass on, though I must admit that a Hasselblad is the holy grail of cameras for me, and sometime, the right one may come along.

Again, thanks to all.

[Santiago Montenegro]

Location, location, location. Here in Venezuela there are two 501's on sale now, at around three grand each. But last year I got my Contarex SE with 55/1.4 Planar for a little less than $200. Go figure.

[BurninFilm]

Hmmm, I've had little interest in my Hasselblad 500C/M I've had for sale here for some reason. I was asking $350, and am always willing to take offers. Please see the classifieds section of this site under "The Higher End of the Clearing". The example I have has a 1976 production black body w/ matching WLF, old style 1955 production "12" back (precedes the A12 back), and a 60mm Distagon. The EV interlock and the back will need a CLA, the lens has some scratches on the front element. Then again, I'm not asking much and the body still works great.

*EDIT* Just wanted to add that the EV interlock could have been intentionally disabled long ago, since some photographers find it annoying. The Compur leaf shutter seems to be working correctly as well. I'd test the camera with film if you'd like (using the good "12" back off of another 500C/M 'Blad).