5 Frames with Hasselblad 501c/Zeiss 80mm f/2.8 and Cinestill 400D – By Eric L. Woods

This will be a short one. I went to Cinestill’s website recently and the results were predictable. I glazed over and evidently ordered a mess of film. Included in this haul were a few rolls of Cinestill 400D since I had not tried it yet. Spoiler alert. I like it.

The camera and lens used are favorite of mine. One of the few cameras that are as good as everything I have heard about them.

But first a bit about the camera. Plenty has been written about this camera so I will spare you too much of my gushing praise. Acquired from a friend a few years ago this is actually the first film medium format camera I used. Had heard and read much about medium format film in general and this camera specifically. As always I was skeptical. But this may be one of the few things I have encountered in life that actually lived up to the hype. Many speak of it slowing them down and that is a certainty. Feel in hand and while using it are all pleasing experiences. Many praise the 80mm f/2.8 Zeiss lens and I wholeheartedly agree. And thus far my copy has been rock solid.

The first roll had a 100% hit rate and an image of my dearly departed Father on that roll is one of my favorite images I have ever captured of him.

I have since used it for occasions large and small. Like when I captured my Grandmother as one of the honorees at a family reunion a few years ago.

And called on it once again to help me cope when I traveled to upstate NY when my Grandmother passed away. Used it to capture photos of her home where so many of my early memories were formed. A coping mechanism. Analog therapy if you will.

Tagged along on family vacations.

While visiting family in NYC.

And I also use it just knocking about when I feel like killing a roll of film.

This post has to do with the latter.

If you have the opportunity to try one, I highly recommend you take it. If you have the opportunity to purchase one I say the same. That being said there are other excellent 6×6 120 film options out there also that cost considerably less.

I wanted to try out Cinestill 400D. I heard good things about it, I had tried the 35mm variant…

…and wanted to give the 120 strength a try. I ran the roll through the camera walking around a local town. Nothing Earth-shattering. Captured what I saw. All 12 came out. Here are my favorite 5.

Well. That about wraps things up. I will likely not unseat my favorite color films, like Lomography 400 or Kodak Gold 200, but I will definitely be adding it to the rotation.

I appreciate having this opportunity to share my experiences with this film.

Eric L. Woods

I shoot a variety of new and old digital and film cameras. Industrial Engineer by education, IT is my vocation, and I really enjoy using, testing, and writing about cameras. All three of the latter are very therapeutic exercises for me. If you are so inclined my blog address is ewoodsphoto.com and I can be found on twitter and Instagram. All the best to you.

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