Tips for beginner Medium Format user

[MaedaKimiyama]

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum section of this site and I'm hoping I've posted this thread in the right place.

I wanted to try something new shooting for a competition this time round, and so I went and bought a medium format. After some poisoning and persuasion, I went out and got a Hasselblad 500C/M (yes it's the one you have probably seen in the market place). I've learn about the basics of MF photography but really have no first hand experience.

I've shot 35mm before, but never serously, this is my first step into MF.

I don't really have any friends I know of who shoots Medium Format (Or film for that matter), so I'm hoping I could learn a bit more of tips and tricks here.

Anyone with experience with MF able to share some tips and tricks to help a beginner out?

Thank you!

 

[Octarine]

How about you have a look into the Medium Format section here?
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=57
Please browse through the forum, we have tons of threads and lots of subsections.

 

[one eye jack]

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum section of this site and I'm hoping I've posted this thread in the right place.

I wanted to try something new shooting for a competition this time round, and so I went and bought a medium format. After some poisoning and persuasion, I went out and got a Hasselblad 500C/M (yes it's the one you have probably seen in the market place). I've learn about the basics of MF photography but really have no first hand experience.

I've shot 35mm before, but never serously, this is my first step into MF.

I don't really have any friends I know of who shoots Medium Format (Or film for that matter), so I'm hoping I could learn a bit more of tips and tricks here.

Anyone with experience with MF able to share some tips and tricks to help a beginner out?

Thank you!

Think moderator will move this to Medium and large format forum where there are many friends to help you.There is even a Hasselblad users group.

http://kentchamness.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-real-world-review-of-hasselblad-500cm.html

It's not much different shooting 35mm but you mostly have to look down because of waist level
finder unless you also get the prism finder for eye level viewing.It's heavier but it was designed to be held in one hand.Although top shutter speed is 1/500th sec. it's still usable for most picture situations especially in a studio environment.The advantage of having shutter in the lens itself and the leaf shutter mechanism (compur).It opens in a circle instead of side ways for focal plane type means you can synchronise flash at all speeds to use for flash fill lighting to supplement ambient light.The Ziess lens is good.

Since you are first timer for MF it's advisable to use camera with tripod.Get a shutter release cable,you may find it comes in handy to minimise camera shake (think you can use mirror lock also). good luck.

 

[MaedaKimiyama]

Thanks for the move and the two comments above! I never knew about this MF section, there's pretty much more than enough for me to learn from here!

 

[Thedraperyfalls]

You should look out for the outings too, everyone will be more than happy to help you along!

 

[MaedaKimiyama]

Yep, I missed one 2 days ago where some where gathering for Thaipusam? I went in the morning yesterday instead and ran into another Hasselblad user~ Thanks!

 

[crispy12]

My suggestion is to buy a light meter if you don't have one yet. Shooting MF is usually a bit more purposeful and planned compared to snapping 35mm, so it's quite suitable too.

Get a proper light meter with flash support, such as the Sekonic 308. I got mine from Peninsular Plaza for a good price. An iphone app will suffice if you're really on a tight budget, but I found my exposures to be perfect every single time I used the light meter (in incident mode, not reflected).

I also had perfect exposures shooting with flash, which is very difficult on film if you're not experienced. Really made my photography experience much simpler and enjoyable. Also you won't waste so much film! This transitioned well to digital, polaroid shots with the now discontinued fp3000b (every shot very precious!!!) as well as large format. Very good investment.


Second tip: remove the dark slide and keep it at home unless you have more than one film back. So many times I forgot to remove my dark slide already...

 

[ricohflex]

You need the dark slide to be with you if you are using Hassel. Do not leave it at home. Otherwise you cannot change the magazine.

Good advice by Crispy12 on the exposure meter. There are a few good brands.

 

[MaedaKimiyama]

Thanks! I haven't gotten around to get alight meter yet, but I have found "Pocket Light Meter" on my iPhone 5s to work pretty well, really accurate, my first two rolls have turned out pretty decent ~

I prefer keeping all my dark slides with me currently, I've only screwed up forgetting the shutter button is locked but I managed to remember removing the dark slide every time (so far)

Here's a shot I took at Thaipusam

Yeah, it's sad it has been discontinued :l

 

[MaedaKimiyama]

Thanks! ^ ^

 

[crispy12]

Did you have some frame overlap in the previous photo?

Also film has quite a good dynamic range, especially when coupled with scanning which can compensate for poorly exposed negatives. I always thought my pics were well exposed, however when I got the light meter they looked really much better.

Hope you're enjoying your cam! Once you go MF... hard to go back to 35mm