Hasselblad 503CW description and user report by Steve Walton
Hasselblad V series cameras were once the mainstay of portrait, wedding and fine art photographers and it is still a camera that many younger photographers now aspire to use. Many prominent fine art photographers still use V series cameras and in this context, Hasselblads are workhorses that encourage thought and forward planning to use them successfully. From my own experience, they can play an important part in bringing out the best in a photographer’s work. The square format is not to everyone’s taste and it does not suit every photographer’s eye, but once you are accustomed to composing in squares the format imbues images with a ‘new’ attention-grabbing perspective that is vastly different to the now usual 3:2 aspect ratio of ‘full-frame’ and aps-c sensor digital cameras. It’s slightly ironic that square medium format images were popular for allowing cropping options to portrait format and other aspect ratios without having to turn the camera. As with many other photographers who also use the square format, I do no crop my images, I carefully compose within the square format and this is where a more considered approach begins. A Hasselblad V series is not only a workhorse, it is also a teacher!
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Hasselblad 503CW
Greineam, Isle of Lewis. Hasselblad 503CW, Zeiss 50mm distagon cfi, Fuji Velvia 50
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Greineam, Isle of Lewis
Callanish standing stones. Hasselblad 503CW, Zeiss 50mm f4 distagon cfi, Fuji Velvia 50
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Callanish standing stones, Isle of Lewis
In 2013, Hasselblad announced the cessation of manufacturing of the last of their long-running ‘V series’ of medium format cameras, the Hasselblad 503CW. There has been a lot of comment around various photography forums, mainly bemoaning the passing of an iconic camera and associated range of Carl Zeiss lenses. My view is that the decision was inevitable, if no one is buying a product why waste resources marketing it? The world of digital photography has moved on apace and there will be a vast pool of used V series equipment and Zeiss lenses available for some time to come. Whether investing money into a defunct camera system is a good idea in the long term is usually questionable, but the option remains viable with Hasselblad V and F series cameras. This equipment was built to last and deserves the legendary status that surrounds it. My original intention back in 2006 when I bought my 503CW was to add a digital back to it, but as I’ve variously blown hot and cold over that idea, I will be keeping it to shoot film for the foreseeable future. You can buy a lot of film and processing for the cost of a digital back and my Imacon scanner takes the post wet-processing workflow to the next stage. I’m one of those photographers who sees scanning and digital post processing as part of the creative process rather than a chore and, truthfully, I enjoy working on my scans.
The solid construction of a V series camera is reassuringly permanent and I’m comfortable with my 503CW as one is with an old friend. Fuji Velvia 50 and the 503CW are a formidable combination and I am continually searching for ways to improve my technique and extract even higher image quality from my workflow.
Modular system
The Hasselblad 5** series of cameras are all modular and consist of the body which houses the reflex mirror, focusing screen, winding and cocking mechanism and rear shutter, a collapsible waist level finder with flip-up magnifier, a lens and a film back. The modular system is versatile, there are a plethora of different focusing screens, film backs and viewing prisms to add to the camera. I find the PME 51 metering prism very useful for correct placement of neutral density graduated filters and surprisingly accurate as a light meter.
Showing the accessory flash cold shoe
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Hasselblad 503CW
Showing the mirror box.
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Hasselblad 503CW
Showing the wind-on and shutter-cocking lever
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Hasselblad 503CW
Showing the waist-level finder erected
Hasselblad 503CW
Fitted with the PME 51 metering prism
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Hasselblad 503CW
Zeiss lenses for the Hasselblad V system cameras are legendary, especially so since the advent of T* multi-coating. From the earliest lenses to the latest for the V system, Zeiss lenses have been consistently superlative. There is a quantifiable quality that you will see in a Velvia transparency, created with a Zeiss lens, on the lightbox. They are rich and sumptuous and recognisable and that says a great deal. As much as I liked my Mamiya 7(ii) and Sekor C 43mm f4.5 with Fuji Velvia, I still prefer the Zeiss T* distagon combination when I compare transparencies on the lightbox.
What is the best lens set on V series Hasselblad for landscape photography? I use the classic set of the Zeiss 50mm distagon f4 cfi, Zeiss 80mm planar f2.8 cfe and Zeiss 150mm sonnar f4 cf. The 50mm distagon cfi is wide enough and the 150mm sonnar cf is long enough or my needs on square format. I have never felt the need to add a wider or longer lens to this modest set because I find it so versatile.
The real impact of 6x6cm for me is when isolating elements within a scene to condense the composition rather than the expansive views that are better suited to other formats such as 6x9cm, 6x12cm or 6x17cm. There isn’t an answer to the question but a Hasselblad allows you to define your style, it becomes an extension of your vision and your preferences and direction will soon become clear. A roll of Velvia 50 on the lightbox will reveal the clarity and fidelity of the Zeiss lenses and many famous names have been established with these cameras. A regular Hasselblad user understands why it can be a lifelong photographic companion. As always, the march of progress often has unwelcome side effects and the loss of the V Series for many, myself included, was one very unwelcome side effect of the consumer-driven photography industry. We are unlikely ever to see the likes of the Hasselblad V series again.
Fortunately all is not lost and there is a thriving second hand market for the V and F systems. Parts are still plentiful and specialists who offer servicing continues to support loyal users well and will do for some time to come. Now is as good a time as any to buy a Hasselblad V or F series!
With the Zeiss 150mm f4 sonnar cf
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Hasselblad 503CW
Hasselblad V series cameras can, and do, jam. This happens if a lens is removed before the shutter has been recocked and the cocking drive screw will not line up correctly with the slot in the lens when you try to attach a lens again. If this happens, do not force the lens onto the camera! It’s worth investing in an unjamming tool as illustrated above. They are frequently obtainable from Ebay and make unjamming a Hasselblad very easy. The shutter release is threaded to take standard cable releases.
With the Hasselblad wide strap
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Hasselblad 503CW
The wide strap is perfect for carrying the camera. I prefer the cross-shoulder method of carrying cameras and the wide webbing is very comfortable.
Summary
The Hasselblad 503CW was the last of the line. If you are thinking about getting one then don’t wait around, just do it! Good condition examples are readily available, but prices seem to be climbing as they are with many other medium format cameras in the face of the resurgence of interest in film photography. You will be rewarded with a reliable workhorse that is very easy to bond with and when you see those transparencies and negatives on the light box, you will understand exactly why you made a good decision. If you are a committed film photographer, you will have a camera system for life!
Related reviews
Since I posted this review of the Hasselblad 503cw, I have acquired a new UK old stock Fuji GW690iii 6×9 rangefinder camera.
Read my review of the Fuji GW690iii here
Seilebost, Isle of Harris. Hasselblad 503CW, Zeiss 50mm f4 distagon cfi, Fuji Velvia 50
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Seilebost, Isle of Harris
Taransay, Outer Hebrides. Hasselblad 503CW, Zeiss 50mm f4 distagon cfi, Fuji Velvia 50
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Taransay, Outer Hebrides
Hi do you think that a cf 50 will perform like a cfi 50?
Yes, it will. Cosmetic differences and changes to the coatings were made with the Cfi 50, I doubt you’d see any appreciable difference in comparing like for like transparencies on the lightbox. The earlier CF lenses are usually considerably cheaper than the Cfi lenses, too.
Steve, I love your landscapes. Having had my 503Cx for 30 years I still appreciate its quality and thoughtful operation mode. 10 years ago I purchased a factory refurbished PhaseOne P25+ back. PhaseOne was my choice of digital backs because of the ability to rotate the back by 90deg on the body so you had landscape and portrait views without struggling to tip the whole camera over. The penalty for this over Hasselblad’s own V digital backs is having to have a sync cable plunged into the lens flash socket.The other downside is the camera body’s TTL flash metering doesn’t work because the high reflectivity of the digital back sensor confuses it as it is calibrated for the matt surface of film. The crop factor is only 1.1 unlike Hasselblad’s 16Mb back, so wide angle lenses are still wide angle.The PhaseOne back does not have a cooling fan which in desert environments could suck in dust and be another moving part to go wrong. I just use a 1 pence coin to re-cock a lens if it has accidentally fired off camera and won’t remount. Getting older means I find I use it less and tend to take my M Leica more – especially if flying, with all the modern baggage restrictions.
Hi Dick, thanks for your comments. I agree with your sentiments, there are some cameras that are for life!
Gorgeous images Steve. I have been using a Mamiya 6 (with all three lenses) for about 20 years now and have only just recently borrowed a Hasselblad to try it out. I have been very happy with the images made from all three Mamiya 6 lenses, and I’m not sure I would have made those images in the first place but for the portability of that camera. But I am nevertheless curious to see for myself what exactly this magic, and much remarked on, Zeiss factor looks like, especially in a side-by-side comparison. Two questions:
1. In any side-by-side Mamiya-Zeiss comparisons you’ve made, can you elaborate on the differences in image quality further?
2. I read an earlier article of yours on the Fuji GSW690 III – how would you describe the Fuji ‘look’ by comparison with either Zeiss or Mamiya?
I guess I should add that I did enjoy the use of a lovely late model Rolleiflex (with Zeiss Planar 80mm F2.8 lens) for a couple of years before it was stolen, so I have those images to compare with the Mamiya ones, and I think I can see a veeeery subtle difference in the look of some of them – slightly less overall contrast while retaining impressive resolution of detail (though I don’t think I can see any resolution difference with the Mamiya pics)…
Thanks for your articles – useful and interesting.
Hi Simon, thanks for your comments. I’ve never used a Mamiya 6, although I did use a Mamiya 7(ii) for several years. I would guess the M6 lenses are equally as good as those for the M7/M7(ii). You’ll probably find initially a Hasselblad handles like a bit of a brick after the portability of your M6, but there are advantages with a reflex camera particularly when using graduated filters. Looking at Velvia 50 transparencies taken with my old M7(ii) and 43mm or 50mm lens compared to those from a Hasselblad with a Zeiss 40mm or 50mm lens, I think the differences are perceptible. ‘Image quality’ from either stable isn’t really a question, they are all superlative lenses. It comes down to subtle differences in how colour and tonal gradations are rendered. To my eye, the Zeiss lenses render in a more rounded way, almost as if the image has been left to mature like a nicely aged port (which of course makes little sense, but I’m struggling to describe the visual differences adequately!). A few Zeiss Hasselblad lenses are known to be technically so good that they can appear to be somewhat harsh (hence the Softar range of ‘filters’ to combat this). The 120mm makro-planar is one example. The Mamiya lenses are simply stunning and , if anything, render a little ‘warmer’ than Zeiss, which is likely influenced by lens coatings as much as anything. The Fujinon lenses in my experience are very ‘pictorial’ lenses, perfect for landscape work and very dependable. Where high contrast scenes might challenge the Mamiya lenses a little more, the Fuji lenses always seem to me to be more forgiving, more akin to some (not all) of the Zeiss lenses in the way the cope with contrast and colour. The similarity that I personally see between Zeiss and Fuji lenses in some ways did play a part in my decision to sell the Mamiya 7(ii) outfit. I prefer the slightly more polite way in which they image than the almost perfect rendering of the Mamiya lenses. It’s all very subjective, of course, and I would expect many other photographers who prefer their Mamiya lenses to disagree strongly with me. When all is said and done, you won’t be wrong with your choice of any of them, what you are guaranteed to have is some of the best lenses available for medium format film photography. Long may that be so!