Using Flash with the Hasselblad

[caption id=“attachment_259” align=“alignnone” width=“791”] Kelly Photobombs (2015). Hasselblad 503CXi[/caption]

Carrying around a Hasselblad and flash unit makes for a cumbersome kit.

[caption id=“attachment_260” align=“alignnone” width=“644”] Hasselblad 503CXi with D-Flash 40[/caption]

See what I mean? It’s a monster. Shooting handheld with a big camera in natural indoor light makes for a nearly impossible situation. Using a flash dramatically reduces the number of blown shots and with medium format film the higher the hit rate the better.

While the rig is bulky, it’s also dead simple to use. The Hasselblad 503CXi offers TTL metering when used with the D-Flash 40 so the whole thing ends up being sort of a giant point-and-shoot. I just set the shutter speed to ¹⁄₆₀ and the aperture to f/8, focus and shoot.

[caption id=“attachment_261” align=“alignnone” width=“800”] Dad-splaining (2015). Hasselblad 503CXi with D-Flash 40[/caption]