Are older Hasselblad H series cameras worth investing in?

Question

I have been looking at getting a medium format camera for a while, and I particularly want a Hasselblad (I know it's a brand thing).

What are the pros and cons of the V series (e.g. 503CW) vs the (older) H series (e.g. H1)?

So far I can think of the following points:

H series:
Pros:
- Auto focus
- data embedding onto film
- get 16 shots on a roll of 120mm film

Cons: - battery reliance - expensive lenses
- non-square/smaller image format
- more electrics to go wrong

V series:
Pros:
- simple operation
- larger square frame
- lots of parts and lenses available a reasonable prices

Cons:
- None found yet

For a good (late) V kit or a used H1, the initial costs are similar (£1-2K) Are H series cameras likely to depreciate more (quickly) than a V?

So which makes more sense as a portrait camera? (I don't intend to buy a mass of lenses or kit, just as a decent film camera).

Answer 1

Cameras and cars retain resale value in the same way: badly. The good news is that second-hand cameras that are already a couple of decades old won't have much farther to drop unless something tragic happens: it breaks or film takes another significant hit to its availability.

Buying new, of course, is a vastly different proposition that involves much higher costs and lower proportionate return if you sell the gear later. The advantage is that it's much more likely to provide trouble-free operation. I have bought one film camera new because I expect it to be a life-long companion, but that's also true of a film SLR that I bought used for a fraction of its original cost. I have also bought and later sold a Hasselblad V-system kit for essentially what I paid for it.

As for utility, either H or V system will produce excellent results, and if you can wear one of those cameras out then you will have achieved so much with it that replacing it would be a trivial concern. And that's true of a number of great cameras, so pick what you'll enjoy and what will let you concentrate on the more important tasks of making photos and creating art.

Answer 2

Don't buy either if you are looking for investment value. You would do better to put your money in a proper investment vehicle.

In terms of utility, I've owned both (Hasselblad H2, Hasselblad V/500-series and Hasselblad V/203FE) with Phase and Hasselblad digital backs.

Overall, I found the V's unfamiliar ergonomics took some getting used to. In the end though, it grew on me and I preferred it to the H.

I also found the V glass to be generally more pleasing to my eye than the H's Fuji glass, but remember, V glass is all manual focus. H glass is optimized for studio work/portraiture, while V is optimized for work at infinity.

It's worth noting that the H does not have a vertical grip(!); so for portrait work you will be holding the (heavy) camera in a vertical position from above. If shooting 645 with the V, you would simply rotate the film mask to shoot in portrait orientation.

Hope that helps, Brad