You could use your B50 hood on your 150 mm and 250 mm C lenses, but it would not be as good as using the longer B50 hood. Even then, the longer one is a bit short for the 250 mm lens.
These longer B50 hoods are not hard to find used.
The B50 hood obviously will not fit your B60 120 mm lens. For that, you need the B60 100-250 hood. That too can be found used. And it is still available new too.
You could use that B60 100-250 hood on your B50 150 mm and 250 mm C lenses, using the B50-B60 step up ring.
That ring is no longer available used, but again is not hard to find used, or as unsold old stock.
I don't know what would be the cheaper solution: getting a B50 and a B60 hood, or just getting the B60 hood and the step up adapter.
Using the step up ring however will also allow you to use B60 filters on all three of your B50 lenses, so you need get only one set!
Using a tripod is a must if you want to get all you can out of your Hasselblad and the Zeiss lenses. So do so whenever possible.
It is however possible to hand hold the camera, and (depending on your hand holding skills, of course) the results can still be great.
Never as good though. So...
The number in the back type designation indicates the number of exposures you get on one roll of film.
An A12 back produces 12 frames, 6x6 cm format, on a roll of type 120 film.
The A16 produces 16 frames in 6x4.5 cm format (landscape orientation) on the same type 120 film.
The A24 produces 24 frames in 6x6 cm format on a roll of type 220 film.
There were/are different backs too:
- A16S produces 16 frames in 4x4 cm "superslide" format on 120 film.
- A12V produces 12 frames in 6x4.5 cm format (portrait orientation) on 120 film.
- A32 produces 32 frames in 6x4.5 cm format on 220 type film.
- A2035 produces 20 frames in 24 mm x 56 mm format (vertical) on type 135 film.
The last three types were special order products and are rare.
Then there are the 70 mm film backs:
- the 'regular' "70" producing up to about 70 frames on 70 mm film
- the "70 100/200" which produces about 100 frames on the same film, twice as much on extra thin base 70 mm film;
- the "70/500" held a full 100 ft roll of 70 mm film, producing up to 500 frames.
All of the above 70 mm backs produce 6x6 cm format frames.
There was one special order 70 mm film back too producing about 90 frames in 6x4.5 cm format.
This 6x4.5 cm back and the "70 100/200" were also available with data recording module.
Next (are you still with me?
) there are the "A" type and non-"A" type backs.
They differ in how film is loaded.
The first, non-A, type have a peep-hole on the back, allowing you to see the paper backing of the film.
After loading film on the insert, and inserting that into the shell, you would open the peep-hole cover, and watch the paper backing while turning the wind key on the magazine. When the number "1" appeared, you knew that the first frame is in position in the film gate. You then closed the peep-hole cover and set the film counter to "1" by turning the wind key anticlockwise.
Using the later "A" (stands for "automatic") type backs, you load the film on the insert until the line acros the paper leader lines up with a mark on the spool holder, insert the insert in the shell, and wind the wind crank until it blocks. Then you're ready to shoot. No need for visual inspection, no need to reset the frame counter.
How many backs do we have?
I have too many.
I restrict myself to carrying two A12 backs, sometimes a third, sometimes an A16 as well.
It all depends on what i expect to, or need to, do. Your use may need more backs. But i find carrying two A12 backs is usually one too many already (usually only one type of film in use at any given time. I hate using both colour and B&W film for the same subject).
While it certainly does occur, the need for a preloaded spare magazine to make changing to a fresh film occurs not that often. Reloading a magazine does not take long.
But again, your approach to photography/your chosen subject may differ, and with it the number of backs you need.
