Hasselblad 500CM Chrome with acute matte focussing screen and Zeiss 80mm Planar, 150mm and 250mm Sonnar lenses
I recall as a boy my father showing me the famous images produced for the lunar landings, and him saying a word I’d not heard before – Hasselblad. To him it was the apotheosis of cameras that he, the possessor like many before of but a humble Instamatic, talked of reverently. I had one when I returned to film photography, a 500CM with normal focus screen, which I found a little dark, and a bit ropey shutter speeds, buy the best you can, a precision instrument like this is not for economy, but this camera, on consignment with Russell plus three lenses, had both an acute matte screen and lenses in perfect optical condition.
A quick reminder in ensuring the shutter is cocked and dark slide removed and in getting a fast enough shutter speed to cope with the longer lenses, and I was off to hunt castles, Trematon to be precise. Hidden away behind trees for most of the year, the keep is fully visible in winter, late January in this case. The best viewpoint is at the Churchtown Farm nature reserve, jutting out into the Lynher with wonderful views.
The Hasselblad is a joy to handle, weighty but not too heavy, exquisite construction, and with the bright screen so easy to view and compose on that superb viewfinder. Again, make sure shutter is cocked before changing lenses, take out the dark slide, focus, fire. A woofle as the mirror goes up and the curtains part and reform. A sound unlike any other camera!
Looking up the castle, I tried used the 80mm Planar perfect for capturing the train crossing Forder viaduct, and the 250mm Sonnar perfect for a much closer scene.
Out in the Lynher there was activity at the old HMS Brecon mine hunter, now used as a training ship for HMS Raleigh in Torpoint. A close up with the 150mm Sonnar, and then a nice wider view of it all from the 80mm Planar.
All the photos came out as I’d hoped, no shutter or other shake despite some long lenses being used in relatively low light. The pop and rendering from the Zeiss lenses is glorious. These are great cameras, and this is a good one! I didn’t want to give it back!
All shot on Ilford Delta 400 at box speed & developed in FX39 1:9
Photos by charlesdamorgan.......my Instagram handle
