A couple of months ago, I was able to get my hands on a Hasselblad 500C from a photographer colleague who no longer shoots using film. This has been a handing off in the making and the Hasselblad is one of my dream cameras to own have and add to my collection (I have just a small number left which are the Rolleiflex, a Leica M7 and the Bessaflex) so having it in my hands is just awesome! I've had some history working in medium format cameras so working my way around one isn't that hard or so I thought.

The Hasselblad is well known for being a well built and ultra reliable camera system. To borrow Apple's saying, "it just works". What the camera isn't known for is being a tricky camera to use off the bat if one hasn't had experience or is more versed in other camera systems. For instance, on any normal camera system such as an SLR, DSLR or other systems, changing the lens is quite simple. There's usually a button that detaches a lens already attached to the body, you press and remove the lens. Attaching a lens is more simpler. Just line up the (usually) red dots of both the body and lens, twist and snap on. The Hasselblad is quite different and I learned that the hard way. Other than the detach button and red dots of both the lens and body, you actually have to cock open the aperture on the lens and wind up the camera body because there's a little notch on the lens and camera body that also has to line up before successfully attaching and detaching the lens. If you don't line up that notch on both the camera body and lens, and you try to attach or detach the lens, you're in a world of trouble. You might even break something on the lens or body and you don't want that happening! So getting used to the motions of lens attach/detach on the Hasselblad system is something that I had to get used to.

Another thing I had to get used to was the whole dark slide of the film backs. Most camera systems have the film loaded within the actual camera body but the Hasselblad utilizes film backs outside of the camera body and with it comes the dark slide as the film is open and exposed without the dark slide on. Each time you load the film back, the dark slide is on and before being able to take a photograph, you have to remove the dark slide and then close the dark slide closure so you don't expose the film to unwanted light entering that would result in light leaks. After you're finished shooting the roll of film, you then have to put the dark slide back in. Oh, I forgot to mention...the camera WILL NOT WORK if the dark slide is still in as you're taking a photo and the camera back WILL NOT DETACH unless the dark slide is put back on.

A minor thing I also had to get used to is focusing using the waist level viewfinder. I also own a Mamiya C300 which has the capability of having a waist level viewfinder attachment but it originally came with a prism attachment (eye level basically) so with respect to medium format cameras and viewfinders go, this is my first time using the waist level. It really isn't difficult to use and I find it actually better than an eye level viewfinder as you're seeing more on the waist level and it works better when trying to capture that moment. Ever been in a situation where you saw something, usually involving a person, that warrants a capture, and you bring your camera to your eyes and that person sees you with your camera and totally does something else, ultimately losing that moment? Well that doesn't happen alot with a camera utilizing a waist level viewfinder. I can have the camera at or around my hip, look down and snap a shot. The focusing is just a bit tricky to get used to. It takes practice.

That being said, I took this new addition out for a test drive during this past Cinco De Mayo at Universal City Walk. The photos came out ok I think but as you're reading this, I'm probably already on my 10th (or more...) roll of film and finally getting used to the focusing and the feel of the camera to get better shots!