5 Frames/A Year With My Hasselblad SWC/M – By John A. Bennett

By John Bennett

After four years of shooting with my Hasselblad 500C/M, I wanted to try a SWC, the Super Wide Hasselblad used by photographers like Lee Friedlander.

The first difference I noticed comparing the 500C/M and the SWC/M was that the latter makes almost NO sound when the shutter button is pressed. On the other hand, the 500C/M emits a very audible “THWAPPP!In fact, the SWC/M is so silent, at first I didn’t think it was working. One very close-up selfie resulted when I turned the camera around to check. The SWC/M is solely a distance-focusing camera, so with no mirror to slap, there’s just the faintest “click” at the moment of exposure.

And with no focusing screen or mirror — hence no need for a modular camera body — the SWC/M  feels much smaller. It’s basically a Hasselblad A12 film back and a f4.5 38mm Carl Zeiss lens. Because of its size, I imagined that the SWC would become my “everyday” camera, and that I’d take it with me everywhere. That hasn’t exactly happened.

It is not pocketable, like my Olympus 35RC or Leica iiic, and even though the SWC can work as a “point & shoot,” the winding mechanism makes rapid on-the-go photos challenging. Although smaller than the 500C/M, it still weighs more than my Nikon F2, which has a well-earned reputation for “heft.”

The SWC/M excels in the same situations as my 500C/M where there is time to carefully compose. It fits easily into a small camera bag, like my Domke F-6. I also hang it from a neck strap when I’m out walking. As a result, many present and former Hasselblad owners have stopped me to talk about the camera.

This photo was taken in Antelope, Oregon on a short road trip from our home in Portland to Bend.

Antelope came to the attention of the world in the early 1980s when the Bhagwan Rajneesh and his followers descended on the town and surrounding area.  (Check out “Wild Wild Country” on Netflix.) The Rajneeshees are long gone and the Bhagwan is dead, but many of the fantastic old buildings survived. It was raining the day we passed through, so I kept hopping in & out of the car, grabbing photos while my wife, Darby, drove slowly through town.

Like many natural places, Smith Rock was hard to capture, but this photo illustrates the WIDE in the camera’s name.
The 38mm lens being so close to the surface of the film makes it possible.

The SWC’s 6 X 6 negatives can make detailed prints in the darkroom. This one is from a photo of the water tower in Council Crest Park. At 1037 feet above sea level, it’s the highest point in Portland, Oregon
The SWC is an easy choice for landscapes and architectural photos, but it can also serve as a portrait camera. Just don’t be afraid to get in close! This is Carey, a local shopkeeper.

While the SWC/M hasn’t turned out to be my “everyday carry,” it has allowed me to take photos that I wouldn’t have made with any other camera.

Two things I’ve learned about using it in the first year: Buy a SWC-specific hood to avoid lens flare, and when you think you are close enough, take another step or two forward. It won’t hurt.

Something that works for me with all Hasselblad 500-series cameras: Once your film is loaded, remove the dark slide, and cover the slot with a piece of black tape.  That way, you don’ t have to keep pulling the slide out –and replacing it– after every shot. At the end of the roll, remove that tape, and re-insert the slide to unload your film. Just don’t lose it in the meantime.

All of the photographs here were made with a 1982 Hasselblad SWC/M, Kodak Tri-X film, developed in my basement using Ilford chemicals, and scanned with an Epson flatbed.

The prints were completed in the darkroom at Portland Community College, with help from my instructor, Mike Riches, who has been teaching film photography at the school for over 30 years.

More of my SWC photos here.

My full Flickr account.

And Instagram, of course. 

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About The Author

By John Bennett
I live in Portland, Oregon, where we are fortunate to have a number of great camera stores and a thriving darkroom scene.
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Comments

Jeroen van Weert on 5 Frames/A Year With My Hasselblad SWC/M – By John A. Bennett

Comment posted: 13/07/2022

I am the proud owner of a 501/cm for almost 20 years and finally could fulfill my dream of buying a SWC a couple of weeks ago to replace the heavy weight 40mm lens. I am very happy with the SWC but I don't understand why you should tape of the slot for the slide. I never needed to do that and the first rolls of the SWC don't indicates that I should.
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John Bennett replied:

Comment posted: 13/07/2022

Glad you got your SWC, Jeroen! Great camera. I tape the slot because it speeds up the shooting process for me, and prevents any light leaks that might happen. I have three A12 backs. One of them needs new seals. I am lazy. Tape over the slot works. I use low-adhesive black masking tape...and I get 3 or 4 rolls out of a single piece. I use the same tape on my Holgas.

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Anindya K Maity on 5 Frames/A Year With My Hasselblad SWC/M – By John A. Bennett

Comment posted: 08/07/2022

Lovely photos. I have a question. What is the equivalent of 38mm in 35mm format?
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John Bennett replied:

Comment posted: 08/07/2022

Thank you, Anindya! The 38mm lens on the SWC is equivalent to a 21mm lens on a 35mm camera.

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Nick on 5 Frames/A Year With My Hasselblad SWC/M – By John A. Bennett

Comment posted: 06/07/2022

Great article and photos. I particularly like the shot of Smith Rock - what a captivating landscape!

The SWC is certainly a peculiar beast. One of the few genuinely unique cameras out there and also one of the longest running model lines that I'm aware of (1954 - 2009 with minimal changes!).

It's massively compromised in order to allow for the Biogon (literally a camera built around a lens), but oh what a lens! One of the all time classic bits of glass, of any focal length on any format.

Interesting comment regarding the need for a lens hood. I don't use a hood on my SWC/M (C T*) and have always been pleasantly surprised at how resistant it is to flare.
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John Bennett replied:

Comment posted: 06/07/2022

Thank you, Nick. Much appreciated. Yes, the lens hood works for me. I sought one out after the first roll. It has helped my photos. May not be for everyone!

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Arthur Gottschalk on 5 Frames/A Year With My Hasselblad SWC/M – By John A. Bennett

Comment posted: 05/07/2022

Best camera ever made. Perfect lens, basic mechanism, small size and easy to use. Black tape over the dark slide slot also helps.
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John Bennett replied:

Comment posted: 05/07/2022

The lens is amazing, isn't it?

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Shawn Granton on 5 Frames/A Year With My Hasselblad SWC/M – By John A. Bennett

Comment posted: 05/07/2022

Nice photos, John! Will I be seeing this camera in person on Saturday? ;-0

Oh yeah, from Wikipedia:
"Council Crest Park at 1,073 feet (327 m) is often quoted as the highest point in Portland; however, the highest point in Portland is on a section of NW Skyline Blvd just north of Willamette Stone Heritage site."
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John Bennett replied:

Comment posted: 05/07/2022

I figured you'd know if Wikipedia was off-base! (Shawn leads history-related bicycle rides here in Portland, as well as having authored The Zinester's Guide to Portland.) Yes, l look forward to seeing you on the Bikes & Film Cameras Club ride Saturday. I'll have the SWC with me, along with something 35mm.

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Christian Schroeder on 5 Frames/A Year With My Hasselblad SWC/M – By John A. Bennett

Comment posted: 05/07/2022

Hi John! Great work, really pleasant photographs! I absolutely love them for being so wide. – The 6x6 format has become my favorite in the last few years, so I have been thinking about the SWC a lot. I am already a happy owner of the Hasselblad ArcBody system, which allows me to take wide images on 120 film, too – with a 45mm or even a 35mm lens. As this system is capable of perspective correction, it suits architectural subjects very well. However, the camera is rather cumbersome to use as it is more like a view camera for medium format – not a bit as point-and-shooty as your SWC.
My favorite shot is the first one, well composed with the road sign and trees framing the house!
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John Bennett replied:

Comment posted: 05/07/2022

Thank you, Christian. I am only vaguely familiar with the ArcBody. Looks fascinating, though.

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sonny rosenberg on 5 Frames/A Year With My Hasselblad SWC/M – By John A. Bennett

Comment posted: 05/07/2022

Great article and beautiful photos! They have me wanting an SWC/M, but I think that will have to wait for some time. Stunning work!
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thorsten on 5 Frames/A Year With My Hasselblad SWC/M – By John A. Bennett

Comment posted: 05/07/2022

Well done, John. Disregarding my about 30 cameras, now I want an SWC/M, too!
;))
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John Bennett replied:

Comment posted: 05/07/2022

Thank you, Thorsten. They're great cameras...and even with 30 others, you really need an SWC!

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