Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/09/29
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I have a very slanted opinion. I love medium-format but despise the Hasselblad. I had one for a brief time and got rid of it. The lack of an instant-return mirror is more than a minor annoyance, as is the noise the thing makes. I also found the shape uncomfortable without an add-on grip and that an eyelevel prism is a must for following action and for anyone under 6 feet tall. Yes, the Zeiss glass is sharp, but the argument for prestige glass is a bit less persuasive with medium format than 35mm. Assembling even a 3 lens Blad system, with a couple backs and a prism represents a stratospheric investment. However if you would never buy deeper into the system than one body, one back and an 80 2.8 Planar, you can buy a working-condition Rolleiflex 2.8F with an 80 2.8 Planar for well under $1000...then buy the 21 ASPH with the difference! Jay