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If it could only be ONE

Agree fully with Marc Williams, I actually found a small backback that fits exactly My H2D 39 with 100/2, and some memory and an extra battery, carry it with me and walk long walks.
 
That's much better question, as you can't have too many tools!
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TPP FE300mmSa with my 203FE.


Regards:

Gilbert
 
Gilbert

I envy you for that lens . It was only produced about 50 times . So it's very rare . I know a dealer , who still has it for sale , but i can not afford . But be aware , this a very special lens and to have that lens as the only one , i can hardly imagine , that i would get along with it .
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Gilbert - 'twas a quite day! And there were some interesting comments out of it.

Everyone - the comments back where some of you would keep the 100mm lens as the one and only; and comments about hiding a 1.4xe made me think.

Most Hassy users seem to prefer one of the 60, 80 or 100mm as their "normal" lens - just depends upon how tight or wide a "normal" perspective they prefer. However, for those who like a slightly tighter perspective and the 100mm as their "normal lens", the 100mm lens has a major advantage over the 80mm - it can accommodate a 1.4xe converter. A one lens / body for very light travelling etc can easily be accompanied by the converter providing a useful 140mm option.

Makes me rethink my use of an 80mm as my "normal" lens.....! But the 80mm offers that f2.8 benefit too...... mmmm, but only a 1/2 stop advantage over the 100mm.

Since my most used lenses are 60, 80, 120, maybe it would work better as a 60, 100, 120 range...................... mmmmmmmm, not sure about that. But, I think 40mm gap is a bigger stretch from 60mm to 100, than a 40mm gap between 80mm and 120mm.............. mmmmm definitely not sure.

Comments anyone?
 
Jurgen:

Simon's question was-
"of all the MF gear about today, if you could have any / only ONE body and ONE lens, what would they be?"

I too would very much like to own a TPP, but I did get to play with one for a couple of hours.


Regards:

Gilbert
 
tighter perspective and the 100mm as their "normal lens", the 100mm lens has a major advantage over the 80mm - it can accommodate a 1.4xe converter. A one lens / body for very light travelling etc can easily be accompanied by the converter providing a useful 140mm option.
But the 80mm offers that f2.8 benefit>

80mm with a 2X=160mm f5.6 or 110mm f2=220mm f4

So, many opportunities.


Regards:

Gilbert
 
Great stuff Gilbert. I must borrow a 100 one day and go off and have a play to see what I think of its angle of view - just for the fun of it. Cheers.
 
Simon,

The 60 actually has more of a 2/3 stop advantage over the 100; conversely, the latter is reknown for being one of three sharpest V-line lenses (the others being the 180 and the 250SA). The 100 together with the 1.4XE teleconverter and the 60 provides a very capable general-purpose light kit.

As you already have the 80 and 120, I wouldn't particularly recommend that you consider the 100 seriously. However, as the 120 is at its best in the close range and the 100 excels particularly towards infinity (making it a favorite of aerial photographers), both complement the other well in the slightly-longer-than-'normal' range.

Beware of the temptation Simon, at the rate you are going you may well own the complete V-line focal length range someday
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W.H.

postscript: I considered the Alpa seriously before I picked-up my SWC/M at an excellent price (at about 1/3 the cost of the former). Only if circumstances down the road require that I acquire a MF digital back would I ever reconsider acquiring an Alpa -- until then it will remain a 'what if I won the lottery' fantasy (and as I never buy tickets ... ).

On that note, I recently cashed-out the pension contributions from my last job (had 4 years remaing to vest and hence the funds would have just sat losing value) and acquired a Leica MP and the current 24, 35 'lux, and 75 f2. That kit together with the SWC/M comprises my basic location scouting/light travel outfit -- all of which fits perfectly in a Billingham 'Alice' with an attached no.5 pouch. Of note is at that time acquiring an Alpa never crossed my mind
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Simon and Wayne

An ALPA crosses my mind every day . Not that i would want to own it or even need it .
I have a 905SWC and am very satisfied with it . No ,its because of its perfection and "beauty" .
Last year , i aquired a HASSELBLAD SWA (built 1957) in a dream condition . The guy sold it because he has bought a brand new ALPA with palisander grips . He showed me the camera and i did not want to give it back .
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And you can adapt a digital back to it in the same way as with a HASSELBLAD SWC/M or 903/905SWC . Needs adapter ! ! !

Back to HASSELBLAD . I plan a longer trip next year , and was often thinking , which gear to take with me . I have made up my mind . With the weight and comfort in mind , i think it will be my 503CW (or 203FE) and the CF60 , CF100 + the 180CFE + the 1.4XE converter .
That gives me 5 lenses with a range from 60mm to 250mm . I think , that will be sufficient .
And the CF60 with a reworked hood .
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Regards Jürgen
 
It is a danger Simon, over the years I have succumbed to the temptation little by little, lens by lens ... until now I sit with 500 series lenses from the fisheye to the 300. I only need the Schneider Zoom, 250SA and the 500 to complete the collection. Now it is the 200 series FE glass that my eye is on ... having most of that now (including the 250/4FE) except the horrifyingly pricey longer exotic glass for which I have less justification in terms of use.

Gear mania?

I think not. Versatility is more like it. I contemplate the job to be done (professional or personal), and match the set of lenses to take. These lenses have been coupled with all sorts of " body of the day".

Besides, with a diligent eye one can relatively inexpensively acquire these lenses from those bitten by the digital bug who buy into the nonsense that some puny DSLR can match the image making power of these systems. I have gladly relieved them of their burden with no remorse ... they don't deserve the stuff anyway ... having not been able to see the difference.

Now to your dream camera/lens combo. ( I think the one lens restriction is unfair because the advantage of these systems is the use of interchangable lens) but it's your thread so I'll play by your rules : -)

I also would turn my attention to the ALPA ... Probably the ALPA 12 XY because of it's vertical shift of 70mm and horizontal shift of 50mm ... which lens would require deeper study. I would gladly release my SWC in favor of gaining shift capabilities for MF W/A work. Probably a 6X9 film back to then be scanned on my newly aquired Imacon 949 ... plus adaptation of the Leaf Aptus 75s digital back for "smaller files" : -)

Okay, maybe I do suffer from gear mania ... but, hey, I use every lick of it.
 
However, if this specific ALPA 12 WA Special were to become available once more ... drool .... I would forego all the practical considerations and gladly relieve myself of those useless dollars dirtying up my hands : -)

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The Alpa 12 WA Special certainly is/was a masterpiece of industrial design -- imagine being offered one coupled with the Biogon 38.

After completing my last post, I realized that a contender of almost equal status to me would be the Gilde 66-17 panoramic

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Particularly attractive to me is that its magazine adjusts from 6x6 through to 6x17; and unlike other similar panoramic cameras provides a degree of front tilt

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Though not not as pretty as the Alpa 12 series, the Gilde has a corresponding degree of relative flexibility -- and a respectively high entry fee. Though my intention is to eventually acquire a medium format panoramic camera since I often encounter scenes that are ideally suited to such treatment, chances are the camera of initial choice would be a Fotoman 6x17 -- I considered the X-Pan as a starter, but have an inherent distrust of motorized cameras that have no backup manual functionality.
 
Marc

Many of us are gear maniacs . So am i and i have more gear , than i really need . But i enjoy the technique and design . These maniacs drive the market . True
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Regarding panoramic images , i use a HORSEMAN SW6x12 PRO . Sometimes , i find the images are not wide enough , but at the time , i bought that camera , the 6x17 version was not available . It is today , but there is no temptation to go for it . As you know from the other thread , i am dreaming of a FLEXTIGHT X1 . That would be the digital entry for all my gear at very high quality .
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Thanks for the caution Wayne - If you think I'm bad with collecting lenses, check out Marc - but, alas his makes him money!

No, I would only add the 100 if I dropped the 80, otherwise I would never give it the use it deserves ("it" being either the 100 or the 80).

Jurgen - and that longer trip is ..... down under!?
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I totally agree with your travel kit suggestion - especially the CF60 and its hand made bespoke hood!
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And Marc and Wayne you must not be so tempting with the Alpa images - get us too excited!

I'm in complete agreement with Marc - especially his comment admitting to some "gear mania" and like him I regularly use all of it. If I found something redundant or little ever used, I would sell it as I don't like waste.

I have always admired the SWC and borrowed a few over the years but I just could not justify buying one as I am not really a WA 6x6 shooter. I have never had the pleasure of handling the Alpa. But the Alpas I have handled always impressed me with their superb Swiss engineering.

Marc, sorry the rules seemed confining, but THAT was precisely the challenge! When I bought my beloved first Hasselblad, I never felt I would take up 6x6 as my main preferred kit but just a sideline.

So I bought a 501CM and CFE 80mm convincing myself it was justified on the basis I could satisfy my desires with one lens - BUT I soon discovered you could change lenses
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. Now I have 2 bodies, 4 backs, 3 finders, .................. lenses - where will it stop. It has always been the image quality that made me thirsty for more and more.

The digi "buy and dump" mentality made my very complete Hassy 6x6 system possible for me just like Marc commented. Thanks to all those who did not have the vision for image quality for making this possible for me.
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Finally, I note that not one poster suggested a 35mm kit - such passionate MF shooters.
 
... having not been able to see the difference. >

No ,its because of its perfection and "beauty">

Those statements hit the nail on the head!



ALPA-I wonder, only if we were much larger group, perhaps we could work out a group discount.
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Regards:

Gilbert
 
Now I have a question, if only one.

If you could only travel to one place on earth, where and when would you go with your favorite gear?


Regards:

Gilbert
 
That is an easy one: the red rock landscapes of Utah in the USA. When: may/june timeframe I guess.

Wilko
 
Well Simon, as to not mentioning any 35mm ... this IS a MF forum.

Truth be told, there are two cameras that hold a place in both my heart and hand ... the 500 whatever, and the Leica M ... which to me are kindred gear (my current Ms are a nostalgic personal MP3 and a wedding workhorse M7)

While this and that have passed through my gear vault, these 2 systems have remained a constant throughout my adult life in some form or another. This is not based on some fantasy life of a fondler (although I'm not above fondling) ... but instead making images. I have never gotten better than these cameras can deliver. I suspect I never will.

Ahhh, travel. I absolutely can answer this 100%. While I have been to Paris with my Leicas many times ... I have never been there with a Hasselblad in hand. THAT would be something.

I once shot a job in Yellowstone in winter for Big Sky ski resort. It was arraigned for Rangers to take us back into the park ... and it was like nothing I've ever done since. An Ice Forest from the geysers glistening in the muted sun; powdered snow above my waist like walking in styrofoam ... (I remember dropping my 500C's cable release and it was gone). Elk feeding on the rise. Steam rising off the mighty Colorado, Bald Eagles close up ... and on and on; Breathtaking vistas that would shake the beliefs of an agnostic. The transparency images I took were a total buy out (I was young and didn't know better), so, alas, I have nothing to show you of that trip : -( If only I could "download" my memories.

Here's a Leica shot from Paris ...

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