Trying to make sense of the options

[biglouis]

OK, having a ball with the SWC but I would still like a medium format camera which has interchangeable lenses.

My current landscape camera is a Leica M8 and I mainly use the 28/2.8, 50/2.8 and 90/2.8. In fact, the 50 Elmar is a really good landscape lens and my first choice if the framing works. You probably know each lens is cropped by 1.33 so the 50 is sort-of a 67 and the 28 is sort-of a 35. In fact, I don't use the 90/2.8 that often but it is such a great lens I sometimes try to find landscape subjects it works with, which is sort-of a 135mm on the M8.

I've been trying to identify the type of body and lens which would work for me with a Hasselblad kit but I'm just going round in circles. Despite being a Leica owner (and over my addiction) I am now ruthlessly looking for bang for the buck, so budget is important.

I reckon I should own the 80/2.8 in some incarnation and possibly a 60/3.5. I don't know what longer lens would be best, especially as weight/portability would be a factor.

My biggest problem is deciding on a body. I may be imposing an unrealistic constraint but I would like to have the option at some point of using a digital back (if I really decide to dump all my Leica equipment and solely concentrate on Hasselblad, for example).

I've been assuming I need at least a 503cx body but I also saw some posts elsewhere that a 501cm body will work with a CV-39 or similar back.

Any ideas or suggestions, if you don't find these type of threads too tiresome, would be gratefully received.

LouisB

 

[polypal]

Maybe the options should become a little clearer before you take the plunge.

Lets start with lenses because these have the largest impact on possibilities and IQ.

From your preference for the 50 Elmar with 1.33 crop factor I would say the 100/3.5 Planar would be a good start as standard lens.
The 100 mm Planar is one of the best designs from Zeiss for Hasselblad with near zero distortion and high resolution.
The 60/3.5 Distagon is an excellent wide angle lens without showing too much of a WA effect.
With 600-700 grs these lenses are amongst the lightest designs from Zeiss for Hasselblad.
MF lenses tend to be heavy simply because of the large amount of glass they contain.
Both lenses are available in C guise as well as later ergonomically improved CF and CFi versions.

All 500 series bodies allow the use of CFV digital backs should you at some point decide to go digital.
However there is one large improvement to be found in later bodies.
The 501 CM and the 503CW have the larger improved GMS mirror system.
The 501C body does not have this larger mirror.

All other 500 series bodies have a smaller mirror that does not show the complete image in the view finder when longer lenses are used.
Longer as in 150 mm onwards.

The same goes for motor drive bodies:
From the 500ELX onwards these bodies have the Gliding Mirror System.

Wish you happy hunting!

 

[biglouis]

Polypal

Thanks a lot for the guidance. I'll start pricing kit up from some of the usual suppliers in the UK and off of eBay.

Louis

 

[blowupster]

Light 60mm + 100mm /3.5 with a cfv will be close to the 28/50mm 2.8 on a M8.

As 24mm is perhaps better for comon use, the 50mm/4 with cfv should be better but heavier.

With 50,60 or 100mm the glid miror is not so important, a CM is oK