Proportion of Hasselblad 6x6 shooting?

[simonpg]

I'm interested to know what percentage of others' shooting is Hasselblad 6x6?

Do most of us mostly shoot 135 format and just shoot 6x6 for more "serious" photography?

How many of us exclusively shoot 6x6?

Do we all shoot multiple formats?

What limits our choices of the the formats we shoot?

For me Hasselblad 6x6 is generally my preferred tool. But, for a variety of obvious reasons, I shoot 6x6 about 50%+. This really includes my XPan shooting since it always comes along with my 6x6 kit.

My day to day tool of convenience while still providing superb image quality is Leica M7. This is probably 25% of my shooting and also includes my XPan shooting since it often comes along for the ride with the Leica kit.

My EOS 1vHS is really relegated to "machine gun" events - parties where the auto flash delivers brilliant results; sports and other events when long telephoto is essential; other events where auto focus is a must for me. This might be about 15% of my shooting.

And last, but not least is the Linhof 4x5. Realistically it only represents the remaining 10% of my shooting.

I'm very interested to learn the various views of passionate Hasselblad 6x6 shooters.

 

[michaelhcothran]

Easier asked than replied! Many photographers don't have the luxury of choosing a format. They have to go with whatever the job demands, whatever the wallet can afford, and, in many instances, whatever the composition needs.

In 37 years of photography, I've owned and shot every format from 35mm thru 4x5, including just about every medium format size, 6x4.5-6x9.
I've owned and used Hasselblad since 1972. My only claim to "professionalism" is that I print and sell images at juried arts & craft shows. Since none of my work is ever commissioned, I get to choose my format, and I choose square, 6x6 for 100% of my saleable "fine art" work. I also own a DSLR, which is delegated to 100% of my snap shots.

 

[pascal]

Well, I have been using Leicas (M and R) exclusively since 1997 (Nikon before that). In 2007 I added a Hasselblad Xpan II and Hasselblad H1. Since then, I tend to favor this last combination. In the course of 2008 I added the Rolleiflex 6008 AF with Phase One P20 (Rollei DB20p) and 6x6 film back to this outfit. It is hard to translate this into percentages of usage since the kind of equipment used depends on the event. Obviously it would be difficult to schlep MF equipment around on business trips. A couple of weeks ago I shot a wedding with the H1 and 50-110mm HC lens exclusively. It proved an excellent combination with outstanding results (all shot on Fujicolor NPH 400). The only downside was that I needed to change films too often ;-)

 

[jeryharwood]

hi, there; I have a hasselblad 501cm, with a 40cfe, and an 80mm f4.5; I would say I use this combination for 90% of my 'serious' work, for producing on fine art papers; I also have a leica digilux 2, which is mainly used for close up work, for which it is excellent, and a Nikon D200 for everything else ! ( Wildlife, airshows etc.) this is my third hassy, previous to this one I had a SWCM, and a 500cm. I think my alltime favourite is the Superwide, but mine was pretty old, and I sold it, much to my regret ! I still think film and a hasselblad beats digital, but thats' only my opinion.

 

[polypal]

Hi Jery,

I wonder what 80 mm lens you have, F4,5??

Even older SW or SWC are still cameras that can be used with excellent results.

Some of us even use Supreme Wide Angle that is over 50 years old.
These classic cameras still produce excellent results as most older Hasselblads do.

Paul

 

[jeryharwood]

Hi, Paul- i just re read my post; typo i'm afraid- it should read 80mm f2.8! I was thinking of my well used 38mm biogon; i have just finished scanning the last images from it, made me go into withdrawal . Regards jery.

 

[polypal]

Hi Jery,

You are not the first and you will certainly not be the last to be impressed by SWC/Biogon images!

Paul

 

[blowupster]

Hard to be 100% Hasselblad.
I use my 202FA and 180mm on film for this one in 2008:

But use M8 last year

Perhaps this picture is a answer to "Why using train between Germany and Switzerland when you can go to Holland to take a plane ?"

 

[polypal]

That picture makes clear why Air France wanted to buy Dutch KLM.
KLM is the oldest and one of the most respected civilian airline companies in the world.
It is a shame it lost its independence in a so called merger with Air France.

I can only hope these two do not fall into the trap to buy Alitalia.
The largest loss maker in Europe.