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35mm Hasselblad film back

My 35mm conversion kit came yesterday, from Chicago. Simple instructions, plastic bits, otherwise not much documentation, but it does mean taking an A12 ot A24 apart. Can't help thinking it is simpler to just use a Hassel/Nikon adapter on a cheap old manual focus Nikon. Of course, a 56mm panoramic would be more attractive. When I have a chance to have a close look at it I will see if the panorama is an option.
 
Bojan, I just realised that I have a 35mm back for my Hasselblad kit - an EOS 1vHS - I attach my Hasselblad/Zeiss lenses to my Canon with a wonderful adapter I got from China. Lots of fun too.
 
I have a 35mm back>

Simon:

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Gilbert
 
Simon, I, similarly, have a Hassel/Nikon adapter and a Nikon body. The Hasselblad 35mm back is a different sort of novelty! Also, for panoramic backs, an A16 back and 6x3 mask gives you horizontal panoramas to 56mm wide. But not on 35mm film. Naively I once thought that someone had re-engineered a Hasselblad back to use 35mm film horizontally.
 
Yes Bojan I was aware of the options, but was just being "cute".

So many variations available/possible with Hasselblad 6x6; but, I resist most being mindful that sometimes it's best to go the niche product route for various reasons. Hence I'm happy that my XPan is my MF panoramic camera.

When I want more film real estate, my Linhof Technika with a 6x12 back meets my needs perfectly and I get back and lens movements as well.
 
Simon, I agree with your comment about the niche route - which is why I went for a 6x6 square format SLR in the first place, after an Exacta Varex IIB! If I had wanted something more sophisticated (and was not fundamentally idle), I too would have gone for a Linhof with movements and a roll-film back.
 
If you re-geared and masked a A12 or A16 you should be able to get pano on 120 film. When you go for an even cheaper solution get a superslide back, they go for a song these days. Needs more metalworking though
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Would need craftsman to do so I can only hope someone will create a kit I can buy
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Wilko
 
The reason why Hasselblad 'pano-masks' did not sell very well was that most people knew that you can get panoramas from the 'regular' 6x6 in every aspect ratio, when- and however you wanted.
Cropping from a larger frame means you get 'shift' to boot.
So there's no sensible reason to resort to masks, or other 'tricks'.

Of course doing some 'metalwork' will save some film.
But film is cheap.

The real restriction, the thing you would want to find a way around, is the frame width. 56 mm is all you get using a V-series Hasselblad. No matter how ingenious your metal work.
That's where the X-Pan comes in. Compact, but still a wider format than that of other Hasselblads.
 
I said re-gear for a reason: you could get a lot of pano images on plain 120 film. You can always crop of course, but not having to exchange films every time and effectively using the film does have its attractions. At least to me.

I agree pano masks using (well, wasting..) the full 56x56 frame is nonsensical.

Wilko
 
Wilko,

Film is cheap. Conversions are not.
And what's a lot?

And you get the benefit of shift, unless you crop from the center. That (crop from the center) is the only thing a converted back does.

In short (and you will have guessed...
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): i think these conversions or converted thingies, and masks are all equally pointless.
Now if someone could come up with something that would allow extending the 6x6 frame to, say, 6x18, and still be regular V-System size...
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6x17 would be neat.. lens coverage circle would be a bit of an issue though with the std. Zeiss Hassy optics.

Wilko
 
Yes... Good thinking by Hasselblad to make their cameras so that they only use the bit these lenses cover well, wasn't it?
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Surprising really
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You could go and mount a Schneider SA/XL 47mm, easily covers 6x17. Just need to gut the V series mirror :p Sort of defeats the purpose though...

Wilko
 
Horses for courses - don't try to make things something they are not - leads to wasted time and money. I concur with QG's comments as well.

And Wilco - spot on! When you want truly wide film coverage (say 6x9 through to 6x24 regardles of how much you may take off the vertical) you just cannot beat those Schneider, Rodenstock and Fujinon LF lenses and some of their huge image circle coverage IMHO.

Personally when I've been in remote locations with only my Hassy 6x6 gear, I've never had trouble with mentally framing a panorama with my 6x6 back and viewfinder. I just accept I will not get as big a 100% perfect prints as I would have with a 6x12 back on my Linhof - but gee, such a big problem!?
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And now that Chinese/US partnership (Fotoman) has excellent quality 6x12 and 6x17 (and even a 6x24 I recently read) cameras available enabling fully interchangeable lenses - just buy the mounts that enable lens focusing for the focal length used and bang on any of these lenses that have the necessary coverage.

The cameras even have simple and accurate lens/focus mount/film plane alignment mechanisms to be sure you get an optimal image. In Australia these are available from the same distributor as used by Linhof, Schneider and Ebony from as little as about AU$1800.00. The image quality (and camera metal work/machining etc is excellent) is wonderful.

So for LF users like me with a range of big circle lenses, these cameras are a treat - or for MF users looking for that bit extra without a large investment. When I have the spare cash I plan to get a 6x17 (all my lenses will cover that easily) with 3 mounts.

Horses for courses.
 
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