I have a 1970 SWC. I bought it in 2019 for 1600.00 and spent another grand having it restored. I absolutely love this camera. The focus is super easy to use, the lens is sharp and the photos it takes are fantastic. I'd like to pick up a backup but the prices keeps going up.
I have two. 😳 The first is a chrome version with C lens, and the second was a silly impulse purchase when visiting in Germany ( an appointment at Linhof in Munich ) .. I was visiting a Leica collector friend from whom I had bought an M6 and the 903SCW. .. which I didn't need, but it was staring at me like a puppy, begging to be picked up. ❤
I had the 903SWC in my hands at Photokina sometime in the 80s or 90s and took the brochure with me because it contained an awesome full page building interior photo. The camera has always been far too expensive for me. J E A L O U S ! I think I can have more or less comparable composition using my Fujifilm GFX50R with my Hasselblad HC 28mm f/4, square crop. And that is also an incredible combo IMHO. Love your pix !
Thanks Harry! Yes if I enjoyed a normal life I would be able to afford it either. I still have no house or tv/ sofa but I have a few nice cameras :) Thanks for your alternative setup!
It's so easy to scale focus with these amazing medium format cameras. Absolute fantastic results. They don't have a light meter, I'm guessing. Thanks for this super vid, Matt!
I think Mamiya used the exact same optical formula as the SWC lens on their 43mm f/4.5 for the Mamiya 7 system, which is also considered to be one of the best, sharpest and least distorting wide lenses ever made. If anything that’s a reflection on how fantastic this camera is
Thanks yes I believe that is correct but they went a step further and moderised the 1950s design. I bought the 43mm but I still prefered the rendering from the Zeiss glass. Perhaps the T* coating but it's got more pop. (Mamiya photos are very flat looking.. I had the full system trying to make myself like it.. eventually gave up)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Even the most hardened Zeiss engineers are to be seen wiping a tear from their eye at the mention of the Biogon; and quite right, too! It's an astounding piece of optical design.
Sold my Mamiya 7 to buy a 500 C/M (largely spurred on my one of your articles). Absolutely no regrets. Wish I had another just so I could sell it too and buy the Superwide.
I had a SWC/M CF version I sold years ago, then got the all metal C lens T* version that arrived today. Either version is great but I have to say this 1981 model is a little jewel. The shutter may or may not be as durable but it has a much nicer sound than the CF version I had, which sounded rather tinny. Not sure if that's typical of the SWC/M CF shutter or not…
Great video! Another great alternative that is very comparable to the camera is Lomo LC-A 120. Even smaller, 6x6, much lighter, same zone focusing. The lens has some vignetting, but still performs amazingly. I got mine locally for 130eur.
I cant decide if I want to buy a swc or get a 40mm or maybe even 50mm fle cfi (the cheapest option it seems) I love the images I see from the SWC from every one. I own a cfv 907x as well and I really want to try the digital back on the swc. Its pretty fun to use on my 500cm. anyways the swc seems like the perfect combo for a light quick medium format wide. It also seems quicker to zone focus than most.
@Matt Osborne I've never shot w it before, but seems very user friendly. I've worked w a Sinar 4x5 for years and recently got a Fuji gx680. I'm looking for a little more compact travel workhorse. Had my eye on a 500cm here recently..have to wait til taxes come in to get it.
Arthur Schopenhauer once said: "With people of limited ability modesty is merely honesty. But with those who possess great talent it is hypocrisy". It is always a multi-pleasure for me to enjoy your photos and hear you telling on Leica and lenses. It would be a great experience watching you as a mistery quest in a shop in Holland to get informed on a Leica with a fast lens. I bet the shop will try to sell you a simple point and shoot camera. Because the show off guy behind the counter is not wasting his time on you. He thinks you are a tourist, who knows nothing on cameras. Try to be less modest.
Just bought a nice 903swc from photographer who retired and his boxed up. Don’t mind the zone focus at all. Have you ever used a third party distance finder (laser) like used in hunting? Great video!
A buddy of mine had one of the older SWC's, but he wanted it for loosey-goosey pictures, and for that the lens is a bit too wide. You need to be quite careful with the framing. I have a 65mm 4x5 lens that I am still planning on converting onto a custom camera with a Mamiya RB camera back, in a similar style to the SWC, but with a 35mm equivalent focal length of 35mm-ish. More useable, hopefully.. once I dedicate some time to that project properly :)
Nice, I think I have a 65mm ..or might by 75mm lenses for my 4x5 and yes it's wide..yes 65mm is nice on 6x6, my fav FL on the ARAX-CM (Kiev 88 I used for a period). There is a 65mm W for the RZ too if I remember. I used to have it.
Great video Matt .... wow ... great camera ... This is The Q2 grand father on medium format ... AHAHAHAAHA ... fix wide lens, small set up, fun and 6*6 and 6*4,5 ... ... I want one ! 😄
The Hasselblad SWC is the perfect camera for easy handling by architectural photography. A SWC/M with motordrive has also been made by Hasselblad. The Zeiss Distagon 38 mm lens is a kind of Zeiss Topogon lens. The Topogon was designed for aerial and topograpic photography. Germany flew over Europa with Topogans to make sharp pictures of towns and landscapes. As you will know GMT; Greenwich is world's centre of time measurement. In Berlin-Babelsberg is the centre to locate your position on the globe. So the Germans are the masters of map making thanks to Zeiss Topogon lenses. The Hasselblad SWC is the ideal camera for reproduction, because of its zero distortion. You can take a SWC anyhere; on top of a crane at a shipyard, on a tower, in a narrow engine room. And at dangerous spots i.e. to shoot in a foundry. The german photographer Ludwig Windstosser is famous for his colour photos made with the SWC. The SWC + A12 + viewer was 400 % more expensive than a Hasselblad 500 C/M + 80 mm lens + A12 back.+ viewer. A Zeiss Distagon 30 mm was 125 % more expensive than a SWC/M + viewer. The wide angle Distagons are great for huge depth of field and impressive perspective. Some phtograpers also shoot mode and groups with the SWC.
I’ve had an SWC and sold it for child support. (I had flipped to design from photo anyway… but I probably cried.) I’ve been looking at pseudo medium format digital lately, and the x1d2 and 907x/50c have me wishing I was a dentist. (I just don’t like Fuji after owning a ton of great glass with an XT2 but hating the xTrans.) I have a 500C and 2 older lenses that probably wouldn’t do great on a 500c. I’ve been toying with an SWC and digital back- if I ever shoot film again, it’ll be 120! This quest started out to find a body other than Canon R5 to adapt my big collection of Zeiss ZE primes. Canon bores me lately- I’m loving my M10M and R with great Leica glass so much, I’m looking to get that out of my Zeiss glass again. If anyone has a suggestion, I’m open. So far it’s a SL2 or SL2s to adapt, but if I could find a smart adapter to keep the 35mm equiv focal lengths on the X1d2, I’d be all over it. That adapter is available for the GFX 😕
I eventually sold mine too as wasn’t using it enough. Excellent camera! I’ve got a video to come SL2 vs S so that might help your decision. Different colours and low light
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom *i didn’t think my old 500C lenses would perform well with digital. Seems like the color is nicer/warmer from the SL2s with better low light noise. I’ve read that the high res of the SL2 would mitigate/eliminate that. Also seems the pre-owned copies are fairly close in price. I already purchased a Leica-branded M>L adapter! I’ll get one of these; the Reporter looks way cool btw.
The Swedes at Hasselblad have a very practical and pragmatic approach to cameras and backward compatibility. This is more important when you make a quality product. The SWC certainly reduces the lens-body formula to its simplest and with great results. How does the great detail affect our shoots as you have said models like the more flattering "soft" lenses? Anyway, another great review. Here I am salivating while waiting for my Hasselblad to show up. Back ordered, feh!
What have you got backordered and where are you? In the UK the new X2D is already here as are two lenses - - the new 90 is the only lens currently out of stock as I don't think it has been released yet.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Its beyond epic -but actually I have two cameras. The 90mm is on backorder currently but I have seen and played with it - I've put a deposit down on it - The three together are all we need (the holy trinity) as a wedding shooter - they share the same feel, build, aperture and filter ring - are smaller and lighter than the previous XCD's. I use the 907x purely in the studio now as it is such a sweet little thing on a proper wheeled centre column studio stand - looks the part - still getting to grips with the X2 but on the whole it is a much more accomplished camera - 1TB internal storage with back up to CF is cool - AF is faster - not sure if thats the lens or the camera and I can't compare as I sold all my other older XCD lenses and X1Dii in the deal - I use the Profoto A1x - Nikon dedication - it works - the beauty of the Profoto is that when you tilt the head in portrait mode you can swivel the head accordingly to raise the little bounce card - it all works seamlessly - you can also set the screen in specific areas along with the sensitivity of that function to enable your thumb to select focus across the entire image - this is an incredible addition. I set it to the bottom right. I have the twin charger and two extra batts and a portable power pack - my wedding kit therefore = 2 X2D's, 3 lenses, 2X Profoto A1X's 1 OCF Click portable umbrella and a Profoto Pro commander, an assistant - Jane - she loves it as the lens changes are easier - a Giotto carbon fibre tripod, an Ipad pro a pop up reflector -cupla filters and a little metal spray bottle to refresh flowers should they need it - thats it and it all fits into a sturdy ONA Trafalgar bag - all you need apart from professional indemnity and public liability insurance!! I don't even have a website - but I do have cards - personal recommendation is how I work - lastly workflow - I use Lightroom Classic and nothing more - (Phocus should need it for Jane to check on the iPad for blinks on groups) - Couple get an A3 digital book designed by myself and Jane using the best of all Whitewall - best design programme - best printing - best quality- all put together using a Mac Studio. Cost Circa 25K, (Excluding 907x, since we already had it). Profit over two years = Circa 80K+ excluding studio work = 25k-30k+ Now the pandemic is behind us wedding industry is taking off again. We are based in The Cotswolds and have never been busier!!!! Last thing to add - I feel it is unlikely we will change kit now - 50MPx was good but did have its limitations - 100MP? Why would you want more? Good luck all.
good video matt, and looking at the naming convension and the size, this explains hasselblads choice when naming the 907x system, as with the back taken off the swc, this looks soo much like the 907x with an XCD lens on!!, Not funny. ( this looks nothing like the 500/2000 V/H series, the X1D/X2D, or the arc/flex bodies).
Alternatives: How about the 40mm Nikkor-D or Zenzanon on a Bronica? Downsides: not a cult classic like the SWC, so no bragging rights at meet-ups; fairly enormous; the prolonged clatter of a Bronica S2a going off has to be heard to be believed. Upsides: Interchangeable; not ludicrously expensive. Quality: I dunno; hoping for a shootout.
Thanks James! I'm not too familiar with Bronica (1 system I never tried.. and Pentax), so i'm happy you can give that alternative and the summary info.
el adaptador HASSELBLAD Focusing Screen Adapter 41025 SWC/M se podria usar en una 500 c/m ? y la otra pregunta en la SWC c/M se podra usar el PhaseOne P45 ?
one wide angle option, not said is an LF camera, 4x5/5x7, like a linhof tech, with a 120 back ( shooting a 75mm or 90mm lens- equivalent to about 24-28mm in 35 mm format; or the 65 mm {21mm equivalent}). that is WIDE, bordering on the fisheye!!
Arthur Schopenhauer once said: "With people of limited ability modesty is merely honesty. But with those who possess great talent it is hypocrisy". It is always a multi-pleasure for me to enjoy your photos and hear you telling on Leica and lenses. It would be a great experience watching you as a mistery quest in a shop in Holland to get informed on a Leica with a fast lens. I bet the shop will try to sell you a simple point and shoot camera. Because the show off guy behind the counter is not wasting his time on you. He thinks you are a tourist, who knows nothing on cameras. Try to be less modest.
There is limited interest on this channel but I think going forward I will try to sneak in 1 non-Leica video per month to keep it interesting. (Using the Hasselblad H2 today with 100mm f2.2.. great setup!)(Maybe a future video once I have more samples).
I have a 903 SWC which I believe is last model to use lead in the manufacture of the lens. I do have the ground glass screen and also shoot it with a Phase One digital back. Works fine and even though I have the larger format (6x4.5ish sensor) it's not quite the same as as 6x6 square format, still good though. Another camera I've always fancied is the Hasselblad Arc, with interchangeable Rodenstock lenses, wider angle available, but more of a technical camera.
I'm selling my 500c to buy one as almost all my photography is wide. Struggling to find anything affordable. Not sure what you would get £1,500. Any suggestions on sourcing?
Hi, yes they are great if you like wide. The lower prices get you the older models mostly, early ones dont have T* coating (see front of lenses to confirm but otherwise should give a similar image).
The 905 is the last of the SWC’s but not the best. Hasselblad had to adapt the lens design because the glassmanufucturer would no longer supply the glass with lead and arsenic. That forced a change in the design. Many prefer the 903 over the 905. I myself own an 1970 SWC. The Mamiya 43 mm is better because it uses the entire Biogon design, when Zeiss used only 8 out of the 10 lenses. Offcourse the Mamiya lens is for 6x7 cm, hence the longer focal distance. In terms of angle the’re not that different.
Thanks, great info! I had the 43mm lens but preferred the clarity of my SWC/M strangely. I sold the 7 system. The images always looked too flat for me vs Hassy.
@@jameslabeck6407 - There's a high quality 'Slip-On' mask for the optical viewfinder. - I got mine on Ebay from an Italian seller who uses a 3D printer...
Hi Charles, if you watched the video to the end you should have seen it? If I remember well I show the focus back option for this camera letting you get closer = bokeh
