Hasselblads

[Jules]

I have noticed a number of TV advertisements (non-photography) over the past few months for pharmaceuticals or weight-loss products, whatever, where a photographer is in the background taking pictures. The photographers in these adverts are using Hasselblads, but it looks as though they are using film magazines on the Hasselblads, not digital backs. Have you seen the adverts?


Is the 120/220 film for Hasselblads still in vogue?

TIA,

[HuBBaTheMan]

120 film if its the "older" (H2 or earlier), not even sure they make a film back for H3D.

220 film isn't really used today (at least damn hard to get hold off)

But if its an advertisement then it is most likely just a staged shot and in that case all bets are off on if the stuff shown is actually usable or not

[chris78cpr]

I still use 220 quite a lot and find it very easy to get hold off here in the UK!

[xxloverxx]

Jules, how could you tell that it was a film back, not digital? IMO they look quite similar.

I believe slow film still has a bit more resolution than digital MF, and when blowing up film, you don't get pixellation, it just gets a bit blurry (hence I think some 100ft building posters in HK are taken with really-large format view cameras, as they are sharp viewed very close)

But I agree with HuBBa, if it's for an ad then there's always a bit of doubt whether it's real at all or if there's any film in it. The Hassie might be a broken one bought off the web for all you know; the only thing that matters in the ads are that the flashgun works (not hard) and that you get the really nice mirror slap (I don't think a lot of non-photographers can differentiate a Hassie's slap from a 35mm SLR's slap, no generalising intended)

[20DNewbie]

Originally Posted by chris78cpr

I still use 220 quite a lot and find it very easy to get hold off here in the UK!

I was going to say Amazon, B&H, and Adorama seem to have plenty of the stuff on hand.

[Jules]

Update.

Surprisingly, I have been able to easily fine 120 film for my Hasselblad (Amazon.com - Kodak Portra 400 NC) and just used the camera yesterday for the first time in years.

I had thought about renting a digital back for the Hasselblad, but decided to go with film to avoid having to study a, most likely, 80-page manual about the digital back.

It felt good to use the Hasselblad camera again and I’m pleased to discover that good film is still available for it.

Thanks to all for taking the time to respond.

[Jules]

P.S.

And, yes, the snappy, reassuring mirror “slap” still seems to ensure that one has captured a good image with his/her/ Hassie.