This is my camera disassembled. You see: Hasselblad 500CM camera, waist lever viewfinder, polaroid back, A12 6x6 filmback, filmtransport knob, Carl Zeiss Planar T* 80/2.8 lens, hood and UV filter, focussing screen. I have ordered another A12 magazine and I am thinking of getting the accubrite focussing screen, modern style film advance knob, lindahl darkslide holder and maybe the flashshoe + voigtlander clipon lightmeter.

So, I have been using this camera for some time and I absolutely love it. It is such a different way of photography, and maybe not ideal for every circumstance, but it has a certain zen like quality. Things I have learned:

- Loading the film is critical. I have been loading my film the wrong way around, wasting them. A 120 roll of film has film and a protective sheet.
- Before removing or adding a filmback or a lens, cock the shutter. This should be standard practice.
- I love the square format, and composing on the focussing screen through the waist level view finder.
- Kodak Tri-X 400 is actually quite nice. I am also very curious how the Ilford XP2 will turn out.
- Polaroid back with fuji instantfilm works. To load the film, you do not have to put the slipthrough the slit. The film takes a long way to dry and soils very easily before it is dry. The film is also quite unforgiving in exposure, does not have a lot of dynamic range and only exposes a small piece. Filmforwarding is awkward with the old style transportsling. But it has it's very own charm.
- Ebay is a good site for accessories, even no name ones, like focussing screens, lenscovers and darkslide holders, but also used A12 magazines.

And of course, what matters are the photos.

Tags: photography