The Hasselblad Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to the System

I purchased this book because I had just bought a used Hasselblad that didn't come with a manual, and discovered it wasn't so easy to guess how to use it. I'm glad I found this book because it has been the biggest help to me so far and I'm not even through reading it. Not only does it explain every camera that Hasselblad ever made and what makes it unique, it goes into detail about all the different accessories and what they do also. This book could just explain how things work and leave it at that, but it does go into detail about why certain parts of the camera work a certain way and for what reason. I now know how to use my Hasselblad and I recommend this book to anyone who needs a little jump start like I did with these great cameras.

If you are interested in owning, collecting, operating Hasselblad cameras, then you really need to have a copy of this! To my knowledge, Ernst Wildi is one of the most respected authorities in medium format photography and one of the gurus in Hasselblad history. Just about everything one needs to know about using any "Hassy" or "'blad", new or old, is in this book. It includes how-to on accessories, lenses, film backs - you name it! This makes a great reference. Wildi's style is easy to read, intelligent but not arrogant, and mostly done from the perspective of a teacher or coach. Wildi is an excellent photographer, by the way! So, curl up in your easy chair with your beautiful Hasselblad in your lap, and read about its pedigree and how you can make beautiful pictures!

I am an amateur photographer and a very new owner of a Hasselblad 501CM kit. This was my first purchase of a Hasselblad camera and a dream come true for me. I am now about to finish reading Hasselblad Manual, which I can highly recommend to any present and future Hasselblad users. I think Hasselblad is very easy to use, but it is a camera with a number of special features, which need explanations to beginners like myself in order to draw the camerafs full potentials. The book explains very clearly what a Hasselblad user should know about those special features and what components in the system are most relevant to his/her individual needs. It also contains a lot of practical advice on the day-to-day use of the camera. I presume it is a big decision to pay a Hasselblad price for a camera (it was for me), particularly as there are so many cheaper Japanese alternatives around. For me, it has proved to be the right decision, and reading Wildifs book enhances the joy to use this great camera. The currently available fifth edition has very up-to-date product information. Hasselblad Manual is the reference book I will continue going back to as my photographic skills hopefully grow.

This is a fine book and worth reading for the Hasselblad owner, at least once. The author makes an effort to cover every aspect of using a Hasselblad. In general, the author achieves success.One of my favorite parts of this book is the macro photography guide. Here the author describes, in a clear and concise way, the details of what extension tube and/or closeup filter has what effect on the subject field width and exposure compensation. This alone makes owning this book a good idea as a reference for the serious professional.One aspect of using the Hasselblad I was not able to fully grasp from the book was how to unload a film back. I guess the author just assumes you know what to do, as he never gives instructions as to how many turns on the film back crank you must make to fully bring the trailer onto the takeup reel. Myself, I thought three or four turns was enough, foolishly. Having jammed the camera in front of 100 guests at a fashionable Washington DC society wedding taught me otherwise. It was good thing I had a rangefinder from Fuji handy and ready to go, and the job came out well in the end.Another reviewer says Hasselblads are costly. My experience is that they are a valuable tool in a profitable business; hold their value reasonably well; leak light; break down often; require costly, tentative maintenance and take nice photographs. Get this book if you want to learn about Hasselblad.

A great way to learn about medium format photography is to read this book and then rent a Hasselblad for a weekend.