If "quality" is your main concern, and if by "gallery size" you mean say
16x20 or larger prints, I think you should be looking at 6x7 systems.
Unless you're planning to make square prints Hasselblad is really a 645
system (i.e. the smallest of the three "normal" MF sizes) because of the
crop needed to get to rectangular prints. In the 6x7 size there's Mamiya
RB/RZ which are excellent but both are massive heavy cameras intended more
for the studio than the street, then there's one of the discontinued Bronica
models, I forget which one but it's discontinued so I'd forget it because of
potential parts problems, and Pentax 67/67II which is what I'd recommend for
your intended uses - great lenses, closer to what you're used to since the
camera is an overgrown 35mm camera, and very low prices to assemble a
system.

"OnSafari" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello All.

I am considering a venture in to Medium Format. I currently own a
Nikon D100, F100 and N80. There are a few reasons that I want to try
out MF, but the top reason is the overall quality of the image. I am
looking to shoot artsy black & white street scenes and portraits with
the intent of blowing them up to gallery size.

That said, I am considering my options. Hasselblad has a phenominal
reputation and I have been considering purchasing a used 500CM kit
which has a waist-level finder, 80mm lens, 220 and a Polaroid back. I
thought this was a great starting point. I do realize the added
expense in the future of purchasing additional Hasselblad lenses. My
main concern is quality over cost.

I also considered a Mamiya 645AF, but am leaning towards the
Hasselblad.

Any suggestions that you can provide me would be greatly appreciated.

Once again the main uses for this camera would be studio portraits,
fine art images, street scenes and to a lesser degree landscapes.

I would appreciate and emails. You can send these to my email address
at: and respond to the group as well.

Thank you in advance,

Chris Jett
www.chrisjett.com
~Stay In Focus~