Hasselblad Flex Body. Five minute overview and checklist for buying secondhand.
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- Опубліковано 2 сер 2024
- The Hasselblad Flex body is a very clever and innovative camera. It gives Hasselblad users extended focus, tilt, rise and fall movements. A very clever and innovative camera;
0:00 Introduction
0:52 Flex Body overview
2:04 Buying secondhand
I have 30+ years experience buying, selling and using Hasselblad. I hope you find this useful.
Jonathan Harris
Thanks for the great review. Very helpful.
Thank you
A piece that is regularly missing is the Stray Light Protection Mask (not the slide). Also the Framing Mask if larger movements are needed.
Thank you for contributing.
yes indeed, mine doesn't have any of the slides except the empty one ^^
I use mine with the 50mm distagon and the 907x for portraits and the results are simply stunning - DOF? In buckets. Although I prefer the term fall off.
Good to hear! Thanks for commenting.
Is there a back rotation or not ?
With film square format there is no problem without rotating back
How can you shoot a digital rectangular frame portrait frame without rotating back ?
@@jean-claudemuller3199 Shoot square - there is no back rotation - AKA RZ or Fujifilm GX680 - or turn the camera on its side - but square is cool - or better still Xpan!! Limitless possibilities - with the 907X kit
Thanks for commenting
@@nelsonclub7722 The Hasselblad HTS adaptor has back rotation and it can be used on X cameras, but it needs H lenses
The Hasselblad lenses all have image circles of different sizes.
Most do not allow shift without considerable corner vignetting.
I don't have my chart with me here, but I can tell you that the 80 offers very little room to move.
One of the better is perhaps the 50mm distagon and is most effective when employing tilt for depth of field. Never the less, one must always expect a significant crop.
The FlexBody was developed to appease amateurs who wanted their precious Hasselblads to be something that they weren't. It was followed by the ArcBody, which is infinitely better, because a new series of lenses was offered, essentially medium format view camera lenses made by Rodenstock, delivered in extraordinarily expensive mounts. The whole idea was ill conceived and an economic disaster.
One is better off now buying a real medium format technical camera.
FlexBody and ArcBody are novelties with limited use.
The Hasselblad 100mm, 120mm and 150mm lenses do offer almost the full 15mm of shift (assuming a 55x55mm image). The longer and wider lenses offer less. No shift is possible on the 40mm without vignetting. It isn't perfect but gives Hasselblad photographers more options with existing lenses and backs. Hasselblad was very open about its limitations and provided full details in its marketing and user manuals. That said, I do agree that an ArcBody offers more and ultimately, if you need full movements, a technical camera is your best option. Thanks for commenting - it's always appreciated.
the 150 f4 is the best option for it. I converted 4x5 lenses for it, they work perfectly fine as long as its longer than 90. You can adapt them with the help of a macro extension tube.
Thanks for commenting
They actually were pretty cheap a couple of years ago. I wish I picked one up.
Yes, as with all Hasselblad, the value has picked up again in the last few years.
Hello I wanted to ask your opinion if the Flex body is sufficiently good to use in professional architecture photography or a Hasselblad Arc body is better for that I been looking but I can't find a definitive answer, also witch lens would be the best for architecture on a Flex body
Thanks your videos and replies are alway very useful
Depends how much shift you need. The Flex is a bit limited and the maximum shift varies from lens to lens. Google it and you’ll find the spec for each lens.
I just bought one from japan and although I see what I think is a focusing screen the seller says it doesn't come with one. I'm hoping that her English is bad and that she though I was asking about a focusing hood or finder. The only thing She does say that everything shown in the photos is included.
Question is this: Do the standard 500cm focusing screens fit into the adapter? If not, does anyone have a source for the correct screen?
This is what I got back as a message after asking if there was a focusing screen....
"Hello. Thank you for your question. Regarding your question about whether a focusing screen is included, this set does not. The thing reflected in the photograph becomes all. You have already made a purchase, but would it be okay to proceed with the shipping procedure? I am waiting for your reply. thank you!"
You need to make sure all accessories are included. Download a user manual - everything is listed. Do not buy if anything is missing - you will struggle to find replacement parts (you can’t just drop in a standard Hasselblad screen).
hello! one question, do you know if its possible to replace the bellows on this body?
Yes, a good Hasselblad repairer should be able to help. Repair may also be possible?
Creo que es un artefacto muy extraño y poco útil. Algo como una especie de gran formato que se quedó a medio camino. No la veo útil.
Thanks for commenting. I'm sure some will agree but many Hasselblad users with existing lenses and backs won't!