When removing it, sliding it back, the same “click” is present. First, the film back is removed, then the finder simply slides off – there is the feel of spring-loaded pressure when sliding it on – so it seats in place with a “click” and you know it’s seated. The Hasselblad has also made the removal of the finder very simple. Some other mechanical cameras (like the RB67) require the film to be advanced separately from the shutter being wound. The designers at Hasselblad have handled the synchronizing of the film back with the body – so, as the film advance lever is cranked, the film in the back is advanced. Yes, the electronics on these old cameras can go bad, and then it may be expensive or impossible to fix them – so this is definitely something to be aware of. So, you never need to worry about batteries or electronics going bad. The Hasselblad feels solid in my hands, and it’s 100% mechanical. My Hasselblad was manufactured in 1985 – I determined this by the instructions in the Hasselblad Historical page. My SQ-Ai is newer than my 500 c/m – although the 500 c/m (I believe due to its simplicity, and mechanical function) was very popular for many years, and remains very popular with film photographers today. The SQ-Ai was available in the US starting in 1991. Production of the 500 c/m started around 1970 or 1971 and it was manufactured until 1994. The Hasselblad is all steel, the Bronica uses a lot of plastic and molded parts but is still very solid feeling – the Bronica may be a bit newer than the 500 c/m. They are very basic, although, since I’m familiar with other Bronica cameras, and have never used a Hasselblad, I’m a bit more comfortable with the Bronica in my hands at this point. With the waist-level finder attached, both cameras are extremely simple to use. Electronics can be more difficult (if you can or cannot get parts) to fix – but they may not need periodic adjustments and cleanings like fully mechanical cameras may need to keep running and working properly.īoth cameras offer various accessories, including metered finders, but the waist-level finders are my favorite. For some that’s a differentiating factor. It uses batteries, but they are only used to power the shutter (and the optional ae finder). The Bronica SQ-Ai has an electronically coupled body, lens, back and finder, with an electronic Seiko shutter in the lens. The Hasselblad 500 c/m is an all-mechanical camera that does not require a battery. Zenza Bronica also has a bit of a name (I always thought highly of them, and I always wanted one), however the company no longer exists, for what that’s worth. Hasselblad has a great name, it is a very well-built piece of machinery, and (maybe this is important, maybe not) the company is still in existence today. And both work similarly, the Hasselblad with a mechanical shutter, and the Bronica with an electronic one. Both the 500 c/m and the SQ-Ai have leaf shutters in their lenses. But the EC line employed a focal plane shutter, and I wanted to compare 2 medium format bodies that had leaf shutters. Based solely upon the years they were produced, I could be comparing the Hasselblad to other Bronicas, like the EC-TL, for instance. So, why choose one over the other? I can list some of the features of each – and I can show you some of the photographs I can make with each – and you can get a better feel for which camera is right for you. I have seen other photographer’s work – photographers that use both Bronica and Hasselblad cameras, photographs that I think are beautiful works of art, made with both – so, I feel like either is capable of producing great photographs. These 2 cameras are very capable of taking any photograph that I would want to take – and, honestly, I’m not good enough to do anything that would push either of these cameras to their limits. Buy the camera that you feel most comfortable with, and that you can use to successfully take the photographs that you want to take. If you’re going to ask that questions, I’ll give you my 2 cents worth of advice (and I’ve seen this advice on many forums). Then I’ll tell you how I like them, and which I’d rather take on a photo excursion (which you know I love to do).Īs far as the cameras – there are a plethora of threads on the internet asking, “Should I get a SQ-Ai or a 500 c/m?” and I’ve read through many of them. Both have their pros and cons, and there are people that love each… I’d like to compare them, for both technical features and qualities, as well as showing some photographs taken with each. These are 2 very popular 6×6 medium format film cameras.
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