500 C/M and a Makro Planar, life suddenly looks interesting again :)

[pixelatedscraps]

Thought I'd try and get kill two birds with one stone and introduce myself and get rid of that banner that reminds me to every time I log on here

Just bought a chrome 500 C/M with the 120mm Makro-Planar f/4, a WL finder and two A12 backs (one with a Lindahl holder) and couldn't be happier. My teeth were tingling the day it was supposed to be delivered by UPS and it probably surpassed the day my Mamiya 6 w/ 50mm + 75mm arrived (which was a big day!).

I haven't had that much experience shooting MF SLRs, a friend has a Bronica SQ-Ai which I've cradled a few times and listened to the satisfying caa-thunk of its mirror slap while I've been shooting with my Mamiya, and I've always been a little jealous behind his back about it. I'm definitely more of a street / candid shooter but have realised that it doesn't do much for my composition skills.

For that reason I picked up a Yashica Mat 124G to help me slow down and think about things - and knew right away that if I was going to be spending any time looking down a waist-level finder, it had to be with a Hasselblad (why bother messing around with cheaper options when everyone knows one day they're going to cave in and buy one?). Being a big fan of Mamiya, I toyed with the idea of an RB67 Pro-S and a bunch of lenses for the same price as a Hasselblad + single lens, but in the end of the day, who wants to be lugging around that thing all the time?

So I sold the Yashica and put in an order for a 500 C/M w/ 120mm from KEH (all in BGN condition - and what a lovely surprise it was to find out just what BGN means for them, eBay, eat your heart out) and here I am...been reading through this forum for pointers, tips and advice and before I posted anything, I thought I should say hello...

 

[polypal]

Welcome at hasselblad info forum and congratulations on your Hasselblad camera.

It will not be a surprise you made an excellent choice.
The 120 Makro is a great lens.
What made you decide to start with this lens?


Paul

 

[pixelatedscraps]

Well, I'd been reading up a lot about the lenses - and seeing as my budget was limited to under US$1000 I could only afford to get the body with one lens (definitely wanted the option of having two backs - didn't have a camera with that ability!).

I then thought about it logically - I have a Mamiya 6 with a 50mm and the standard 75mm lens, which covered me for wide angle - standard, but was lacking both a short telephoto / a lens which enabled me to do close-ups. The Mamiya 6 is pretty poor as well at macro and even portrait - the minimum focusing distance on both lenses is 1m (the 150mm is 1.5m I think) - and I wanted something that could get me a bit further out but also let me take some good, composed portrait shots as well as getting a bit closer. Plus, I'd read nothing but good reviews of the 120mm Makro Planar CF T*

Next on the list is a set of extension tubes to get me to 1:2 and eventually one day 1:1 once I can afford the entire set (they are still so expensive -and no third-party ones?), and possibly either the 50mm or 60mm Distagon - though that would mean a slight overlap with what I have in the Mamiya system.

Great forum btw, lots of friendly people and useful info for beginners like me!

 

[polypal]

Evilbay can be a good source for extension rings at very friendly prices........