New to Hasselblad: 553ELX. Q's: lenses, flash etc.

Keep in mind the focal length relationship between 35mm and 6X6 formats. If you are satisfied with the portrait results you get with a 35mm lens on your DSLR (or 50mm lens if your DSLR is full-frame), then you'll be happy with the 80 on your Hasselblad. Otherwise, I think most MF portrait photographers opt for the 150 or 180 for the reduced distortion when filling the frame with the subject.

Only CFE ("E" = electronic) lenses communicate with the camera body, flash, etc. With each generation (CB, CF, CFi, CFE), lenses were updated cosmetically, ergonomically, and paint and baffle changes were introduced to reduce flare (increase contrast and apparent sharpness). However, at "normal" viewing distance, I doubt that you could tell which print was from which lens, if a lens shade/hood were used.

"Only CFE ("E" = electronic) lenses communicate with the camera body, flash, etc"

That's not correct.
All the contacts in lenses with an "E" in the type name do is transmit aperture information to the metering system in 200-series camera bodies. And that's of no use at all when using a 553 ELX.

The 5553, like all other 500-series cameras, needs lenses with a leaf, or "C"entral shutter inside. So all lenses with a "C" in the type name (C, CF, CFi, CFE, CB) are compatible.
And the leaf shutter in all of these lenses offers full flash synchronisation, at all shutter speeds.

The C lenses are the oldest. Though the optics in them are all very, very good (most of them have remained unchanged, so they perform as well as even the latest CFi/CFE lenses), they are rather old now, and the shutter in these lenses in particular may not be as 'fresh' as it should be anymore.

The CF lenses have better ergonomics. And they offer an option to switch off the shutter, so the "F"ocal plane shutter in 2000- and 200-series cameras can be used without losing the direct return mirror (you can use C lenses on focal plane shutter Hasselblads too, but the lens shutter will remained closed until the camera is wound and the shutter recocked, SO no instant return viewing). That option put the "F" in CF.

The CFi and CFE lenses have "i"mproved ergonomics still. The difference between the two is that the CFE have the "E"lectronic Databus contacts mentioned before.

The CB lenses were meant as a cheaper entry level line. There only were three (though in some places four) CB lenses. The "B" stands for "B"udget, or "B"asic. There is no "F" in the name, so no option to switch the shutter off.
The 60 mm CB is of the same optical formula as the C, CF and CFi versions of this lens. It is a great lens.
The 80 mm CB lens is slightly less good than the other 80 mm lenses. But still not bad at all, i guess.
The third CB lens, the 160 mm, is distinctly less good than the other Hasselblad lenses. Zeiss told us that we didn't really need lenses that were as good as the other Hasselblad lenses, so it was quite o.k. that this new lens wasn't. Make of that what you will. I know what i would say to that... ;-)
There must have been a fourth CB lens, a CB version of the CF 120 mm Makro-Planar. But it was never listed, and though no official record of it exists, these lenses certainly do. But they are very, very rare.

The CFi (and CFE) lenses were given a smoother focussing mount, a better flash terminal, and a slight improvement in the internal stray light reduction measures.

But in short: you can use all of them on the 553 ELX. The results will be equally good, no matter what type.
For portraits, lenses from 120 to 250 mm are all equally usable (even the softer 160 mm CB lens, if you like a softer look). The shorter ones (120 and 150 mm) are great for "head & shoulders", the longer lenses (180 and 250 mm) are great for "face shots".
You will need a short extension tube with all of these lenses though. Without them, you can not get close enough for anything else but a rather wide "head and shoulders".

My first lens was 120mm Macro for my 553ELX. I find it very versatile and well worth the money. The second lens I purchased was the 60mm lens because it match the 35mm lens (in 35mm land). That too was a great purchase. It wasn't too wide that it didn't distort people's faces in the corner and was wide enough to cover what I needed.

I'll probably pick up a 80mm sometime because I like the idea it has a f/2.8 aperture.

One thing, you'll find the 553ELX very heavy. Seriously, if you're going to walk around with the camera I'd get a 501 or 503 instead. I carried (lugged) my 553ELX in Yosemite and Kuaui. It was heavy but the photos that came back were worth it. I ended up purchasing a 500 c/m as a backup but now its become the camera to use when walking around. However, having a motor is really nice, especially not having to take your eye away from the viewfinder to wind the camera after an exposure.

Good luck and enjoy your new camera!

Nathan

The proper question is which flashes are compatible with the TTL flash metering system of the 553ELX as opposed to which lenses are compatible.

"All the contacts in lenses with an "E" in the type name do is transmit aperture information to the metering system in 200-series camera bodies."

Q.G. is correct, as usual. ;-)

Here's a little more info about the lens differences from Hasselblad publication 93888:

"In the CFE and CFi lenses the inner barrels and mechanical parts are coated with a recently developed material, which reduces the veiling glare to an absolute minimum.

"In the CF, CFE, CFi and CB lenses the built-in shutters are matched in diameter to each lens for greatest accuracy and efficiency at all shutter speeds and apertures."

Thanks for all your quick replies so far. I am glad to read that I can use CF and CB lenses as well, and still achieve TTL flash; the CFE ones seems to be a bit more rare and quite a bit more expensive.

I am not exactly surprisen to hear the 553 is heavy, apart from the seller claiming "this is no weight". Maybe he is used to operating heavy machinery, or just keen on getting my D2Hs (or getting rid of the 553) ;)

To Taras: So what flashes should I use? I am under the impression that I need a somewhat expensive Hasselblad adapter in the 300 dollar range?

A 80mm would be nice, but maybe I'd be better off with a 150mm and a 60mm. I guess I will make all kinds of mistakes now, just as I did when first starting out with 35mm/SLR.

I use a Sunpak 422 with the Hasselblad module if that helps.

Just to add, the Sunpak module is about $100 +/- (not sure nowadays) but you can use the hulking Sunpak flashes, like the ones with the bare bulb, or you can get use one like mine 422D (very old) or the "newer" one that's a 433D (not sure what their latest incarnation is though).

Apart from Sunpak units with the correct Sunpak TTL adapter, you can use Metz flash units that are compatible with the Metz SCA 300 system, but will then need the SCA 390 adapter as well.
Or the Hasselblad ProFlash 4045, which is a Metz 45 CT 4 unit with the proper adapter already built in. Or the Hasselblad D40 unit, which is a version of the Sunpak 120 unit, also with an TTL adapter already built-in.
(Or even the 'Hasselblad' Macro Flash unit, wich is a Metz built twin head, lens mount macro flash unit, also with the TTL adapter already built in.)

The Metz 45 CT 4 or 45 CL 4 'hammerhead' units are great, and rather easy to get for a very reasonable price.
The SCA 390 adapter you need to have TTL-metering with Metz units is bit expensive. But still, i would say this combination (Metz 45 CT 4 + SCA 390) is perhaps the best choice.

Oh, and...
Apart from one, single Bron unit that once was available, there are no studio flash generator packs that allow TTL OTF flash metering.
Only the poratble units mentioned do.

P.P.S.

You can of course use any other flash unit that has a cable to connect it to the lens' PC flash socket too. Whether they are fully manual units, or units that offer auto modes making use of a sensor built-in the flash unit itself. But then without TTL OTF metering, of course.

@ Q.G.

Thanks for letting me now how rare the 120 CB lens is. It seems this lens was only sold in Asia.

I bought one in as new condition a couple of years ago from Carl Zeiss in Germany. It appears they were cleaning out the closets where samples of each lens they manufactured were kept.

To me it performs exactly like a 120CFi of course without the F mode. I use this lens quite often.

I forgot about that Bron unit that allowed TTL flash with the Hasselblad. Wow, we're old to remember those things.

Thanks for the suggestions on flashes!

My Hasselblad just arrived. I think it will be an intersting ride. The camera looks great, its age taken into consideration. I am not sure it was such a good deal though, but noone seemed to want to buy my D2Hs anyway.

What digital backs could be used, with a good performance/price ratio? And what brands? Hassy, PhaseOne and Leaf. Others? I can't find shops for anything but PhaseOne backs.

Again thanks for the detailed replies I have had so far. I think I will get a Metz 45CL-4 with the adapter.