Mamiya 7 with 43mm lens and finder and Hasselblad SWC on a small tripod.

Hasselblad SWC vs. Mamiya 7 with 43mm lens – A Personal Wide-Angle Medium Format Showdown

By Andrew

A few years ago I came to own both a Hasselblad SWC and a Mamiya 7 with a 43mm lens. Both cameras are medium format cameras with very wide-angle lenses. I have long tried to maintain a minimalistic camera collection so I knew in the long run I would only keep one of the two cameras. Spoiler: I come to a very decisive conclusion that I suspect many will not agree with. But, these are my opinions based largely on photos from a few years back.

The Hasselblad has a fixed 38mm f4.5 lens and shoots a 6×6 format allowing for 12 shots per roll. It takes standard Hasselblad film backs and uses a very simple zone focus. For the uninitiated, this means guessing the subject distance and dialling in the focus based on the scale on the lens. I find this to be generally pretty accurate, but it often leaves me crossing my fingers and shooting at f/11 or smaller apertures in hopes focus will be good enough. The camera is simple but durable, and perhaps most important has one and only one good lens. On the downside I had owned it for nearly 4 years and I knew I only took it out on rare occasions over the past year or more. When I did take it out I was generally happy with the results but did get some very out of focus shots.

Here is a selection of images from the Hasselblad:

The Mamiya 7 on the other hand does have interchangeable lenses, but at the time all I had was the 43mm lens. An 80mm or 65mm were on my wish list but some research has made me question this thought as the 80mms seem to suffer from issues such as balsam separation and internal cables breaking. The camera has a nice selection of features including a light meter, standard rangefinder focusing and an automatic shutter mode. The Mamiya 7 shoots on a 6×7 format at 10 shots per roll in a standard internal spool-to-spool system. There are no options for alternate backs or alternate formats saving the vary rare 35mm adapter kit which creates double wide panoramas. While intriguing I don’t have one and doubt I ever will.

While the two cameras have some major features in common such as, film format and wide lenses, they have a lot of differences in usability. I have had issues with getting both cameras to get the prescribed number of shots per roll, often falling a shot short on both cameras on more than one occasion. In time, I remedied this with some experience. While I can firmly say I prefer the 6×7 format of the Mamiya, and really want to try other lenses, research has made me question the quality of the lenses. Many 80mm seem to suffer form haze and separation. My initial kit had an 80mm that was extremely hazy. Sadly it was not saveable and had to be cast aside.

Below is a selection of images from the Mamiya 7 and the 43mm lens:

My final choice

I have read many accounts online from other Mamiya users that suggest the cameras are fragile and the 150mm and 210mm lenses are lacklustre at best and very hard to properly focus. On the other hand, the Mamiya’s viewfinder seems more accurate in almost every instance and I really appreciate the rangefinder as focus is often a big concern of mine when shooting on older manual cameras.

In the end I made a decision as to which camera I will keep, and it was the Mamiya 7 which soon gained the 65mm lens as a companion. The Hasselblad was a solid reliable no thrills camera, but many of the “thrills” are things I, and I suspect many others would deem valuable or at least useful.

It is true that in the realm of modern medium format where a roll of film amounts to just a hand full of images the two bonus images granted by the SWC are a much appreciated advantage. But in the end the versatility of the Mamiya 7 and the option for more than one lens won me over. The rangefinder was also a serious advantage that I don’t think I could get by with out.

Ultimately, I think it is fair to say that both cameras have their limits, and both will have fans and detractors. I am just glad I had the chance to use both even if for a limited time.

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About The Author

By Andrew
I have been a photographer for a while shooting both digital and film. I travel a lot and love to photograph new places. I am a big fan of home development and classic Nikon cameras.
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Comments

Thomas Wolstenholme on Hasselblad SWC vs. Mamiya 7 with 43mm lens – A Personal Wide-Angle Medium Format Showdown

Comment posted: 01/08/2024

The Hasselblad may be rock solid and the Mamiya less so, but frankly I expect to be able to get a sharp focus every time and using the Hasselblad with less accuracy than even a sheet film camera with ground glass just doesn't cut it, especially at the cost of that camera, with the added cost of film and processing. In 35mm terms, you gave up a fixed 25mm equivalent lens on the Hasselblad for a 27mm wide angle on the Mamiya 7 which in almost all instances can be offset by stepping backwards perhaps only a metre or so; by choosing the Mamiya, you gained accuracy and the ability to use a variety of lenses. Aside from the 210mm, which I understand is less than wonderful, my own preference would also have been the Mamiya 7, (acknowledging that I am a Mamiya user too, albeit a RB67, and am really pleased with their lenses).
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Andrew replied:

Comment posted: 01/08/2024

I feel defining lenses as "sharp" is really inadequate especially if that is the only commentary that can be made. I think there is a lot to be said about color rendering and the quality of the bokeh. That is a major reason for leaning towards the Mamiya 7 and a wide, but not super wide lens (as I mainly use the 65mm on the camera today).

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Thomas Wolstenholme replied:

Comment posted: 01/08/2024

I was not so much referring to the sharpness of the lens but the sharpness of the image, or perhaps better expressed, the extent to which it was not in the state of focus one desires when the shutter release is pushed. As you clearly noted, the lack of focus was evident more times than not with the Hasselblad than with the Mamiya and this certainly is not the fault of the Hasselblad lens itself but the fact that focusing method is inferior to the Mamiya. I certainly agree with your statement regarding colour rendering and bokeh, (and any other number of aspects you didn't mention), about the characteristics of a particular lens to yield the desired results, no matter whether the medium is film or digital sensor. I will restate though that I am very pleased with the Mamiya lenses for any number of reasons, just as I'm pleased with a large number of pieces of (mostly 20-year old or older) Nikkor lenses I use with my Nikons, my ancient Bronica and a ten year old Fujifilm X-E2.

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Jay Dann Walker on Hasselblad SWC vs. Mamiya 7 with 43mm lens – A Personal Wide-Angle Medium Format Showdown

Comment posted: 01/08/2024

A good article.

If I had the dosh I would buy both cameras. But I don't, so I can't, and I won't.

For now my Rolleiflex 3.5E2 will go on making good images for me, go-slow photography but it has kept me stimulated and creative and happy since I bought the thing in 1966. Too old to change my ways now, and too many other places to spend my pension money and hard-earned invested savings on. Like travel in Asia. The way to go!

All this now written, I think you made the right choice in the Mamiya. I've used both in my time, the 'blade are beaut beasts but far too expensive and for me, the ergonomics don't seem to work. All the pros say the Zeiss lenses for the Hasselblad are the closest thing to heaven on earth, but what I've seen of images from the Mamiya looked to me to be just as good.

An important if overlooked point, I think, is that even if bought used those two cameras and the lenses for both cost an arm and a leg - yes, we are now back to the money thing. Not so important if you were a pro or a commercial photographer in the now-largely vanished film era, but critical stuff for us amateurs on ordinary budgets. In my time I was regarded as quite exotic for owning a Rollei TLR, most of my friends made do with Mamiya TLRs and one or two lenses.

As far as the pros go, interesting in a way that those I know in the business now use an older Nikon or Canon with two zoom lenses and a macro lens. 24 MP seems the top limit and a select few are still working with now-ancient 12 MP and 16 M gear. And that's it. Which says something...

Best, DANN
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Andrew replied:

Comment posted: 01/08/2024

I can't say I have many regrets after making the final call. I am very lucky I could try both for a time.

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Simon Foale on Hasselblad SWC vs. Mamiya 7 with 43mm lens – A Personal Wide-Angle Medium Format Showdown

Comment posted: 01/08/2024

Interesting article and I like the letterbox shot. I used to marvel at the Hasselblad SWC camera back in the pre-digitcal era but could never even dream of actually owning one. But when I did have enough money I went for a Mamiya 6, and never once regretted it. A few years ago I reviewed the Mamiya 6's 150mm lens on this site: https://www.35mmc.com/19/08/2020/5-frames-with-the-mamiya-6-150mm-f4-5-lens-and-fuji-provia-by-simon-foale/ - it is an under-appreciated optic in my opinion (and sells for a bargain second hand now). I would be surprised if the 150 for the Mamiya 7 was not at least as good (the old Photodo lab tests indicated that it's a whisker sharper, but that wouldn't be detectable in normal photography). I get that the longer lenses are a bit harder to use on a rangefinder system, but I never had a problem with my 150. I don't own a Mamiya 7 so I'm only offering this observation by way of a proxy comparison. I have probably used the Mamiya 6's 50mm the most, and it is phenomenal. I've had my Mamiya 6 system for over 20 years now and still love it. I recently decided to step up to a 6x9 system and bought a couple of Fuji GL690 cameras and the Fujinon 100mm and 65mm lenses - they are also sensational, albeit a bit bigger and heavier than the Mamiya 6. https://www.35mmc.com/13/04/2023/fujica-gl690-with-fujinon-s-100mm-f3-5-fujinon-sw-65mm-f5-6-by-simon-foale/
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Gary Smith on Hasselblad SWC vs. Mamiya 7 with 43mm lens – A Personal Wide-Angle Medium Format Showdown

Comment posted: 01/08/2024

I think the 80 on my Mamiya 645 is a good lens, my beef with the 645 is weight and focus. On the other hand, the folding Perkeo II is light and shoots 6 x 6 (rather than 6 x 4.5) and relies on zone focus. I doubt that I'd get along with either your Mamiya or Hasselblad. I took out my Canon FTb yesterday with a new-to-me zoom lens and decided that too was heavy (after shooting it with the 50). I suspect I've been spoiled by mirrorless digitals.
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Mr Lewis Day on Hasselblad SWC vs. Mamiya 7 with 43mm lens – A Personal Wide-Angle Medium Format Showdown

Comment posted: 01/08/2024

An interesting article, I have shot both and kept the 903SWC. I just seemed so much better made and optically the 38mm biogon is the best lens that I have ever used. I've never had an issue focusing it either.
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Andrew replied:

Comment posted: 01/08/2024

Focusing is fine at a distance but a pain close or even medium.

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Jens Kotlenga replied:

Comment posted: 01/08/2024

I'm with you on this one. I usually shoot at f8 or f11 and have never had any out-of-focus issues - unless I was careless enough to actually forget to set the focus ;-( If focus is really a critical issue there is always the option of investing in the ground glass back that Hasselblad offered. I was luck enough to get my copy of the SWC complete with this accessory, but I have never felt the need to actually use it. In the end the choice of a camera is always a very personal one. Andrew, I'm sure, did the right thing in going for the Mamiya while I am a happy owner of the SWC to complement my 503CX.

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Daniel Castelli on Hasselblad SWC vs. Mamiya 7 with 43mm lens – A Personal Wide-Angle Medium Format Showdown

Comment posted: 07/08/2024

The only ‘Blad” I ever wanted was the SWC. My photo dept. had one and I used it to make symmetrical architecture details for high end commercial real estate brokers. It was such a specialized camera, almost totally useless for general photography, but fun nevertheless.
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David Golby on Hasselblad SWC vs. Mamiya 7 with 43mm lens – A Personal Wide-Angle Medium Format Showdown

Comment posted: 10/08/2024

I owned a SWC for over 20 years and used it as a pro for both architectural and press work ... I don't remember getting anything out of focus in the whole of that time. The biogon was probably the finest lens ever made during the pre-digital age and never let me down. Iv'e also owned many different cameras over a career spanning 50 years from large format Sinars and medium format Mamiya RB 67, Mamiya 6, all will many lenses for each and used properly for the purpose for which they were designed they all performed as expected. Most problems originate from the person behind the camera and not the equipment itself.
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