Hasselblad SWC Review (Best Wide Angle Lens?) + YouTube
Like me are you looking for the best wide angle lens film camera? Have you heard of a Hasselblad SWC? It goes wider than the Mamiya 7! (38mm vs 43mm!)
After buying a wide angle Hasselblad SWC-M film camera I list 9 points including a Hasselblad SWC vs 500CM comparison, use for Fashion Portraits and a detailed review of the SWC Focus Screen
- SWC – Zeiss Biogon 38mm f4.5 lens
- SWC – First Thoughts + Why Another New MF Camera!
- SWC – Wedding Photography
- SWCÂ – Street Photography
- SWCÂ – Travel Photography
- SWC – Portraits / Fashion Photography
- SWC – Modular Camera (Specifically Film Backs)
- SWC – Focusing Screen Adapter 41025 SWC/M
- SWC vs Leica Cameras
The Hasselblad SWC (Super Wide Camera) family of cameras had a production life span from 1954-2009. From researching online my particular camera model, a Hasselblad SWC/M with CF lens attached and a spirit level built into both the camera body and the newer style view finder seems to be dated from around 1982-1988.
1. Hasselblad SWC + Zeiss Biogon 38mm lens
A Hasselblad SWC/M comes with a Zeiss Biogon 38mm f4.5 CF lens attached. Unlike the more common Hasselblad 500 series / V-series camera models the lens on the SWC cameras does not detach. The SWC is a camera designed and built around the very well-regarded Zeiss Biogon 38mm lens. It is not like a normal 500 series Hasselblad camera (as I think of them) as it has no mirror/ ground glass / waist level view finder setup you normally find at the heart of every Hasselblad. Instead it just has an external viewfinder to aid basic composition. To focus the SWC camera I need to use hyperfocal distance (like I would on a Leica rangefinder camera for street photography) and dial in a preferred focus distance on the Biogon lens (such as 2 meters) and then roughly gauge by eye this distance from the camera to the subject. As the camera is a wide-angle camera there is greater depth of field (DOF) than on say a long lens (especially once the SWC lens is stopped down). The 38mm Biogon lens is roughly equivalent to 21mm on a 35mm camera sensor so gives a pretty wide field of view compared to the standard 80mm Zeiss kit lens on a Hasselblad 500CM Classic which is equivalent to 50mm in 35mm camera terms.
2. Hasselblad SWC –Â First Thoughts
My first thoughts when collecting the Hasselblad SWC/M were small, compact and lightweight compared to the Hasselblad 500CM + telephoto lens(es) I had been using prior to picking up the camera. The SWC has a very solid and audible clunk when you release the shutter. Much more so than my 500CM and 501C and much for fluid movement but then it is a newer camera so perhaps to be expected. The SWC finder view is big and bright but also very distorted so it is difficult to retain a mind-set that the photos will not also look distorted. The spirit level built into the SWC finder is a very nice touch as you can see if an image horizon is level without taking your eye from the finder. Well done Hasselblad. The CF Zeiss Biogon 38mm lens looks very similar to all my other Zeiss CF lenses and is solid and seemingly well-built.
2b. ..and Why Did I Buy Another MF Film Camera!?
I wanted a medium format film camera which offered wide angle. The Hasselblad 501C 6×6 camera continues to be perhaps my favourite camera to operate. I love the photos it takes but I use it with a prism viewfinder so it’s not as compact as it could be. I have smaller medium format cameras already, the Fuji GF670, Fuji GS645 and Fuji GA645. All great cameras and with the amazing Fujion lenses but the fixed lenses mean they don’t offer wide angle. I have a Mamiya 645 Super that is slightly larger than the Fuji cameras but smaller and lighter than the Hasselblad 500CM. The widest lens I have for it is 55mm but the lens need a service so is out of action. I bought a Mamiya 6 and later nearly bought a Mamiya 7 camera (for the famous 43mm wide lens!) but instead got the 35mm Hasselblad Xpan. So after all this I still wanted a wider angle medium format camera! I admire the Hasselblad 500 cameras so the Hasselblad SWC/M just seemed an obvious choice! (I looked again at the Mamiya 7 camera that has a 43mm lens available but I thought if i’m going to go wide I might aswell do it properly and get a 38mm lens!).
3. Hasselblad Wedding Photography
When I do Leica wedding photography with my digital Leica M240 camera one of my most used lenses is the Zeiss ZM Biogon 21mm f2.8 lens. I have a 28mm Leica Elmarit-M f2.8 lens but found the 28mm focal length not quite wide enough in situation with lots of people and/ or confined spaces. The 21mm ZM Biogon is great for bridal prep shots with multiple bridesmaids in a small room or during a wedding ceremony to capture the bride and groom and some of the guests in the background. For previous analogue film weddings I found the standard lenses on many of my medium format film cameras too narrow to capture everything. For a Hasselblad wedding I have the Zeiss Distagon 50mm f4 which is the same as 28mm but nothing wider. Sometime it is just nice to have a super wide lens to photograph a whole room such as the inside of a church. A wider lens also has a great depth in focus so for moving people photos taken in a candid street photography / documentary wedding photography style it is easier to nail focus with a wider lens than with a telephoto lens (when using manual focus). This was one reason/ ‘excuse’ to buy a Hasselblad SWC/M.
4. Hasselblad SWC for Street Photography
Leica cameras are popular street photography cameras when focused using hyperfocal distance. As mentioned briefly above it means I set a desired distance and aperture on the lens and this gives me a certain range in focus (say everything between 1-3 meters). Once set it basically makes a Leica camera a full frame 35mm point at shoot camera (if you keep your subjects within the area in focus from the camera (Ie. if something is 4m away I need to walk closer before taking the photo or move the distance on the lens to further away before taking my shot). The same methodology can be applied to the Hasselblad SWC camera, setting an aperture and focus distance on the 38mm Biogon lens. As the 38mm is equivalent to 21mm in 35mm terms it gives quite a deep depth in focus. (Telephoto lenses have a much shorter distance in focus at any aperture). The SWC camera can them become a 6×6 medium format point and shoot camera for street photography, weddings or otherwise. The biggest restriction in the UK is sufficient light so the SWC is more suited to bright conditions or high ISO film stock than low light photography for this technique.
5. Hasselblad SWC for Travel Photography
One big selling point of the Hasselblad SWC for me is the compact size and relatively low weight. The Hassy SWC/M weighs under 1.4kg (with camera, finder and film back attached) and in comparison a Hasselblad 500CM camera + 80mm kit lens + film back weights closer to 1.6kg (but for the lenses I use the Zeiss Sonnar 180mm f4 CF lens alone weighs 1.1kg!) For my overseas model photography photoshoots I tend to take with me the smallest cameras that provide sufficiently high image quality (and are fun to use and reliable). It could be argued that my Mamiya 6 and Fuji GF670 are more suited as medium format travel cameras but I much prefer the rendering of Hasselblad lenses to the Mamiya glass and I find the GF670 fragile (currently awaits repair) and not exciting to use (even if it is a very capable camera).
6. Hasselblad SWC Portraits / Fashion Photography
Another reason to buy the camera was to take Hasselblad SWC portraits and use it for my Hasselblad fashion photography. I love the Hasselblad telephoto lenses such as the Zeiss Sonnar 180mm f4 lens and Zeiss Macro-Planar 120mm f4 lens for portraits but to photograph clothes full length a wider lens is often easier. The Hassy SWC 38mm Biogon lens could be deemed too wide but many fashion photographers have used wide lenses in the past to give their fashion photos a different look. I think I may use the SWC camera more for wedding photography but I hope I can also use it for some of my model photography to add some variety to my work. For environment portraits a wider lens is also very beneficial as it helps to capture both the model and their environment.
I have photographed models many times in Budapest for example and taken Hasselblad headshot / half body portraits yet the surrounding location detail outside the field of view might have added additional interest to the images if included. I think of all the locations I have done model photography the city that screams “use a wide lens” the most is without doubt New York city. I need to go back soon!  On a previous visit to NYC I used my 35mm Hasselblad XPan camera for a wider view but found I usually prefer 6×6 format to panoramic for my model/ fashion portraits. Using both the wide-angle Hasselblad SWC/M camera and a standard Hasselblad 501C /500CM body side by side gives me the best of both, with the option for wider Hasselblad SWC portraits / wide angle fashion look photos and also shallow depth isolated headshots and portraits with a longer telephoto lens on a Hasselblad 500CM body. When using two Hasselblad bodies I also have the advantage of the Hasselblad V system being modular. (See more below).
7. Hasselblad Modular Cameras (Specifically Film Backs)
One huge advantage of investing into the Hasselblad 500 series (V-series) cameras (including the SWC camera) is the cameras are modular in their design. This means I can unclip a standard Hasselblad A12 film back (or any other film back) from any Hasselblad 500 camera and use it on my new Hassy SWC/M. Having multiple film backs to use can be really valuable during a Hasselblad wedding for example. If I was using a Mamiya 6 camera for group photos and finished my roll of film mid-session I would need to halt proceedings, rewind the film and reload with fresh film to continue. When using a Hasselblad I carry multiple pre-loaded film backs and as soon as film finishes in one back I can quickly unclip and attach a second back with film loaded ready to go. Another advantage of multiple film backs is I can load one back with colour film and one back with black and white film. For Hasselblad fashion photography (or film weddings) or any client shoot I can shoot a mix of colour and black and white film and swap the backs between cameras. For example shoot a wide scene in B&W on the Hasselblad SWC then take the back from the Hasselblad 500CM (loaded with colour film) to capture a colourful confetti group photo straight after. The 500CM can then capture some B&W wedding portraits on a long lens and so on. I would travel with at least two film backs for model photography trips and if possible carry 2 Hasselblad bodies too, the SWC/M and a 500CM or 501C.
8. Hasselblad Focusing Screen Adapter 41025 SWC/M
An obvious disadvantage of the Hasselblad SWC/M is the fact that the viewfinder does not allow for critical focusing. Maybe it is because I have used Leica rangefinder cameras intensively for a prolonged period but for much of my photography I like to line up straight lines (horizontal and vertical) in a scene with my frame lines in the viewfinder. For example at a church wedding I would centre the viewfinder to the church aisle to capture equal detail on both sides and ensure it is aligned to the straight edges of the walls. With the Hasselblad SWC the finder view it is only a rough guide of composition. I would hate to have to crop every SWC photo after scanning to straighten and centre each picture. Luckily there is another option
There is a Hasselblad Focusing Screen Adapter 41025 for SWC (SWC/M) cameras which basically makes the SWC into a mini 4×5 camera/ large format camera. On my large format cameras like the SpeedGraphic and Sinar F2 I compose an image upside down on the ground glass on the back of the camera and then critically focus using a magnifying loop. The Hasselblad focusing screen adapter is basically a ground glass as you would use on the top of a Hasselblad 500CM but on the back of the camera. The SWC has no mirror so a photo is composed by just looking through the lens at the image displayed on the glass. On a large format camera in bright conditions I put a jacket over my head and the back of the camera to block light glare. Luckily the clever engineers at Hasselblad have a much neater design. The focus screen adapter accepts any Hasselblad 500 viewfinder such as the pop up waist level viewfinder (WLF), a 45 degree prism finder or a chimney finder as examples. To critically compose the Hasselblad SWC I just unclip the A12 film back, clip on the focus screen adapter (with WTF or prism already attached), compose (with camera on a tripod for example), unclip the adapter, reattached the film back and take the photo. This process is not for every photo as takes more time than quickly estimating a composing and focus with the standard SWC finder on the top of the camera but it is a nice option to have for when I have more time (and it will be more rewarding to get the planned composition rather than cropping something in/ out of frame that was not desired.
Close up photography with SWC/M
Hasselblad SWC Bokeh!
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9. Hasselblad vs Leica Cameras
Hasselblad SWC – Specifications
As with many of the cameras I own and have talked about on this blog, Ken Rockwell has also reviewed the camera and kindly details all the specifics of the Hasselblad SWC on his site. Rather than me repeat the same camera facts please see a link below to Ken Rockwell’s SWC review
Hasselblad Resale Value
One good thing about investing in older Hasselblad film cameras is they seem to hold their value quite well (and even appear to increasing in value/cost over the last 12 months or so). If I find the Hasselblad SWC/M camera isn’t really for me at least I can say I tried it. I would never have discovered my love for Leica and Hasselblad cameras if I didn’t take the chance and move away from the camera(s) I used at the time. I never know, the SWC/M might become my new most used most loved film camera! Either way I will enjoy finding out!
Finally I reveal how I make my portrait images!
If you want to know the exact photography equipment I use to make my Hasselblad portraits, other than the SWC/M camera (or other cameras I use) see the links below. I used to avoid writing about my non-camera gear but I thought it was time to reveal all! I detail the speicific speedlights and wireless triggers I use together with the other photography gear needed for my portrait photography.
- Portrait Photography Lighting Kit (Beginner or Pro)(What I Use)
- Essential Portrait Photography Equipment List (x5)(What I Use)
More Hasselblad Blog Posts / + Related Articles
- How to Process Film through to Digital (Develop, Scan, Edit)
- Hasselblad 501C – New! Hasselblad 501CM
- Hasselblad Fashion – Hasselblad Portraits – Hamburg Models
- Hasselblad Wedding (photos ready soon) – LeicaWeddingPhotographer
- Ken Rockwell Hasselblad SWC –Â http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/swc.htm
- Fuji GF670 – Fuji GF670 Portraits
- Mamiya 6 – Polish Models – Mamiya 6 (Film)
More Hasselblad Articles –
Psst! Here is a teaser of Hasselblad SWC Portraits to come in a follow up blog! .. for anyone that read right to the end of this post (or skipped to the photos!)
Matt
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Been decades since I used an SWC, but I did enjoy them a lot!
Nice summing up, nice photos!
Hello, thanks for stopping by! Yes they do take great images though I prefer the user experience of using a 500 series. Thanks for your kind words. (I will try to share some of the SWC images I shot in Budapest on YouTube when I get chance but I need to develop some more film first! 🙂
No hurry, I’ll hopefully be around many years more!
Loved the SWC. Used one for years along with my Hassie 500CM, and my ELM. My 70 year old yes have trouble focusing so now I’m all Nikon AF. Great article.
Thank you Rich, it sounds like you had a great Hassy setup! I’m using more 35mm recently too (various Leica M and early Barnack Leicas) but I’m sure I’ll come back to my Hasselblads.
Thanks Rich, I use Leicas for the same reason, I struggle to see with an SLR past a meter or so. Love my F4/F5 for AF lens work but the FE2 is nice when in close with small lenses. I need to share some Nikon photos on YouTube when I get chance! It’s a bit too much Leica based currently! 🙂 Thanks Matt
Mr. Leica? I guess you invented Leica? 😆😆
Haha no it was a name I invented years ago and it kind of stuck for the blog (though I renamed YouTube to my proper name!) 🙂
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Yes I saw it had been released! Nice 🙂 Thanks for the link. (Great camera!)