Customer Reviews

The Hasselblad Manual, Fifth Edition

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

After 25 years of photography I bought my first Hasselblad, soon I bought the manual. I like it very much, because it tells me technical details not included in the user's manuals or the catalogue. For example, if you want to know, which extension tube helps you to a certain working distance and a certain enlargement together with a special lens, you will learn all this from the manual. I suggest to buy the manual before you buy a Hasselblad. It will help you to choose the model best fitting to your needs

This book has become my Hasselblad BIBLE. It goes into everything you need to know about the entire Hasselblad system, and best of all it explains the entire workings of the different cameras, lenses and accessories in such a wonderfully clear matter. Someone new to the Hasselblad system will read this book and be able to answer any question relating to the system. I often refer back to it, and prefer it even to the Hasselblad manual that came with my camera! It also manages to explain things like the zone system clearly in just a few pages - a topic which entire books have been written about.

A wonderful author with a talent for explaining. I highly recommend!

No one uses all the features of a camera. This book gives concise instruction and graphic detail of the complete line of Hasselblad cameras. This is required reading for those new to the Hasselblad and a good reminder the the old timers.

This is a great book if you have new or nearly new hasselblad equipment. Example of lack of details are very little information about the older prisem finders and he does not even mention the 21 mm extension tube, which by the way works great with my 80 cf lens.

He sounds like he works for Hasselblad often mentions you should upgrade your equipment.

Did have a good section on flash and exposure though. I am now looking to buy an older book from ebay that covers the older hasselblad stuff with proper details.

This is a thorough review of the Hasselblad system and a great book on general photography as well. It is particularly useful for someone who has a basic camera system and plans to rent additional components as needed. The only criticism is that the illustrations (often wonderful color and black and white photographs by Mr. Wildi) are not referenced directly in the captions. Rather than using "Top, Left, Right, Upper Left "etc., the captions state "the other" image. What other image? You can figure it out fairly quickly, but this needs changing in future additions. I blame the editors.

Perhaps Mr. Wildi could write a section on studio lighting, flash metering and the Visatec system in the next addition as well?

Thank you Mr. Wildi for this wonderful book. It serves as a reference manual, is a joy to read, and is aesthetically enriching: A work of art.

Although a good book as such, this title to me does not live up to the high expectations anyone would have from Hasselblad related products. Many different cameratypes are being dealt with, non of them in depth, to my opinion. Hardly any technical information on the camera's is supplied, and I feel that anyone buying a separate owner's manual and a book which covers his/her particular field of interest would be better off. Excellent photos and illustrations, though.

The book is pretty informative in explaining the Hasselblad world. However some of his recommendations given with no rational (Example - he does not recommend using thrid party dark slide keepers for older film backs, but does not say why.) which leads one to think that he is just parotting the company line.

Every single photo example is of his own photos. It would be more ueful to see a variety of diefferent photographers' work.

I bought this based upon other reviews. I was grossly dissapointed. This book is a product of the 60s - 70s that's been added to as Hassleblad releases new lines. How can a $60 USD book on Hasselblad contain NO photographs of any Hasselblad equipment? It's all line drawings and the better part of them are relatively primative based on today's standards.

The book does cover most of the body lines and accessories. But I found the narrative to be brief and the accompanying illustrations to be difficult to see - especially for the older gear. The book covers some technique but I didn't buy this book to learn technique. If you've ever used a Magic Lantern camera guide you'll think you've bought an antique with this book. I immediately returned this book.