Look what that nice Mr. Postman brought me today...

[Major Bloodnok]

Can't wait to go out and play with it tomorrow...

[CVP]

Retro cool

One quick thing, have you checked the light trap seals or know if it has been replaced recently?

I got dad's old 500CM which he had carefully stored with the metal slider in for the last 15 years. Where the slider goes in is a piece of foam under what appears to be on old piece of film. As youpull the slider out this springs back and fills the hole the slider took up thus sealing the film back from light leaks. The foam deteriorates with time and so you pull the slider out and then you get light leaks.

Fortunately even with my ham fisted mechanical skills it only took me 10 mins or so fit a replacement sourced through the net from this chap. Apparently you're meant to change them every couple of years

link

Taking pics with the old Hassy has been great fun so far but a very steep re-learning curve

Chris

[Simpo Two]

Blimey, you'll need spark plugs for that!

[Major Bloodnok]

CVP: not checked, but it comes from Ffordes, so it's guaranteed for 6 months. Anyway, I'm going to run a roll of PanF through it to check before I use it in earnest. Thanks for the link, bookmarked for future reference.

I've lusted after a 'Blad since the moon landings...

[CVP]

Cool should be good nick if it from Ffordes they do have a good reputation. I got my used Xpan from them and it was in better condition than described.

Hassy lenses for the old CM are good value now too.

Also in a few years there will be decent Phase One used digital backs at reasonable prices which can still be sued with the 500CM

Chris

[jmc67]

Good man, I'm sure you'll have fun with that. I had a 203FE for a few years with a 110mm F2 lens (amongst other bits). Sharpest lens I have ever owned. In the end I sold it on so someone could enjoy it (funnily enough through Ffordes), although I kept the lens. I have an adapter to use it on my EOS as a very very high quality portrait lens.

[Major Bloodnok]

Since starting college, I've really got back into film; medium format especially. I'm planning on using some Velvia 100 in it for the next project. Got high hopes for that.

The 110/2 sounds sweet, although I'll probably go for a wide angle... no; must. resist. temptation. to look. at 'blad lenses. Having bought a Manfrotto tripod, a Sekonic light meter and the 'blad in the last few months, I suspect that SWMBO would be wearing some interesting earrings if I start mentioning new lenses.

[jmc67]

Spent a long time doing my own lack and white and the 110 f2 was something else in terms of quality of prints. A good wide is excellent for medium format landscapes. I always wanted to try one of the superwides, unfortunately though very very expensive.

[Chicken Pox]

looks great, just a couple of questions as I know zip about 'blads/film but what is the difference between a 500C and a 500CM?
Google not being overly helpful tbh so apologies for dumb question

[Simpo Two]

Chicken Pox said:

what is the difference between a 500C and a 500CM?

M?




Apologies for the dumb answer!

Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 31st January 21:27

[SamHH]

I can't vouch for its accuracy but according to this site the M stands for modified and the main difference is that it's got changeable focussing screens:

http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/ind...

Edited by SamHH on Sunday 31st January 21:37

[Chicken Pox]

Simpo Two said:

Chicken Pox said:

what is the difference between a 500C and a 500CM?

M?




Apologies for the dumb answer!

Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 31st January 21:27

Apology accepted

[Major Bloodnok]

SamHH said:

I can't vouch for its accuracy but according to this site the M stands for modified and the main difference is that it's got changeable focussing screens:

http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/ind...

Edited by SamHH on Sunday 31st January 21:37

Yep. As far as I could find out, that's pretty much it. The screen on the C also has a reputation for being quite dark. It's possible to have a brighter screen fitted, but it's fiddly and would probably involve a fair bit of folding stuff.

[Chicken Pox]

Thanks for info, now much hide the credit card as 350D "needs" to make way for a 40D, for the better screen honest and I need to develop some talent/understanding before I go for film but would love one of those for the properly engineered look/feel.

There seems to be various backs for different films A12 seems to be the norm, I presume there are still places that sell real film in this size?

Be interested to see how you get on/please post some up when you get a chance to scan them, have fun

[Major Bloodnok]

Chicken Pox said:

Thanks for info, now much hide the credit card as 350D "needs" to make way for a 40D, for the better screen honest and I need to develop some talent/understanding before I go for film but would love one of those for the properly engineered look/feel.

There seems to be various backs for different films A12 seems to be the norm, I presume there are still places that sell real film in this size?

Be interested to see how you get on/please post some up when you get a chance to scan them, have fun

120 format film is easily available (ebay, 7dayshop, even Jessops). Will be devving a roll or two Thursday or Friday, might be able to get them scanned then, too.

[Chicken Pox]

Major Bloodnok said:

Chicken Pox said:

Thanks for info, now much hide the credit card as 350D "needs" to make way for a 40D, for the better screen honest and I need to develop some talent/understanding before I go for film but would love one of those for the properly engineered look/feel.

There seems to be various backs for different films A12 seems to be the norm, I presume there are still places that sell real film in this size?

Be interested to see how you get on/please post some up when you get a chance to scan them, have fun

120 format film is easily available (ebay, 7dayshop, even Jessops). Will be devving a roll or two Thursday or Friday, might be able to get them scanned then, too.

Damn was hoping it would be somewhere obscure to help make it difficult to find! Thanks again.

Pox

[_dobbo_]

120 film may be easy to find but it certainly isn't cheap. Couple that with the fact that slide film is so much better and it's very hard to find anywhere who will process it, the costs shoot up even more. I reckon 50p per photo is about right.

[Major Bloodnok]

_dobbo_ said:

120 film may be easy to find but it certainly isn't cheap. Couple that with the fact that slide film is so much better and it's very hard to find anywhere who will process it, the costs shoot up even more. I reckon 50p per photo is about right.

And it's that cost that makes me think about each and every picture I take on film. With digi, I have a tendency to just happy-snap away, because you just look at the back of the camera to get an idea of whether you've got it or not. With film, I'll have a look around, move, think about it before pushing the button. Speaking personally, I think that that element of consideration shows up in the pictures I take on film. It's starting to appear in my digi pictures as well, because I'm forcing myself to think first (turning off the monitor on the back helps). In fact, I've slowed down so much that I've replaced the 4Gb card for a 1Gb, since I don't need that many images between downloading them.

But then, that's just me...

[_dobbo_]

Totally agree with everything you are saying - shooting film slows you right down and promotes a much more careful considered approach.

Still not cheap though, and there is no worse feeling than getting a full roll of 120 slide film back from the developers and it's a total load of poop.

[Major Bloodnok]

_dobbo_ said:

Totally agree with everything you are saying - shooting film slows you right down and promotes a much more careful considered approach.

Still not cheap though, and there is no worse feeling than getting a full roll of 120 slide film back from the developers and it's a total load of poop.

Especially when you do the developing yourself and miss the first (dev) bath. Ten minutes in a stop bath does nothing to bring out the image. It certainly taught me to keep the lids on the stop and fix tanks when I turn the lights off.