Hasselblad 500 C/M Medium Format Camera [Best Deals]

Hasselblad 500 C/M Medium Format Camera With 80mm f2.8 lens and film back

HASSELBLAD 500 SERIES

The revolutionary 500C, one of the most iconic cameras in the history of photography, was the first model in the Hasselblad 500 series of cameras. The 500 series cameras, which have been refined over the course of the company's history, are considered to be the best examples of Victor Hasselblad's V System.

500C

In 1953, multiple prototypes of the Hasselblad 500C were being developed, and it wasn't until 1957 that the finished product was introduced. In place of the 1000F's focal plane shutter design, the 500C utilized a leaf shutter design, and it came equipped with a variety of Carl Zeiss lenses that were of exceptionally high quality.

500C PROTOTYPES, 1953

The 500C was a technological marvel that even in this day and age is considered a timeless classic. The use of electronic flash was compatible with the camera's leaf shutter design, which meant that flash synchronization could be achieved at any shutter speed. Because of an automatic aperture stop-down, it was also able to focus while the aperture was wide open.

SYSTEM CAMERA DESIGN

The construction of the 500C was very straightforward, and the fact that the shutter was housed within the lens rather than the body of the camera made it possible to utilize interchangeable viewfinders, film magazines, and lenses.

BREAKDOWN OF THE 500C, TAKEN FROM THE ORIGINAL BROCHURE ORIGINAL PRODUCTION OF THE 500C BROCHURE
Between the years 1957 and 1970, approximately 76,700 different 500C bodies were manufactured.

500°F ALOFT IN SPACE

After astronaut Walter Schirra took the 500C with him on the Mercury rocket in 1962, it became the first camera to properly document space. This gave the 500C its true claim to fame and propelled it to the forefront of photography.

WALTER SCHIRRA AND THE HASSELBLAD 500C'S HISTORY, AS REPRODUCED BY A HASSELBLAD

The Hasselblad 500 cameras were used throughout the latter half of the 20th century to record a significant amount of historical moments. The list of iconic Hasselblad images is never-ending; it includes photographs of The Beatles crossing Abbey Road, iconic portraits of Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones, and numerous photographs of Hollywood stars from the golden age, such as Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, and James Dean.

HASSELBLAD 500C as the camera

The 501C/M was manufactured in a variety of colors during its production run.

EL CAMERAS

The new 500EL camera was introduced in 1965 as an innovative design that featured an electric motor that was built into the body of the camera. Victor's goal was to create a radio-controlled camera specifically for photographing birds, but many people were skeptical about the viability of this innovative design. This particular model of camera was one of the ones that were taken to the moon in 1968. The 500EL was much more than just a motor that was attached to a 500C camera; it made use of accessories from the 500 series as well. 1971 saw the introduction of the modified 500EL/M, which featured interchangeable focusing screens. After that came the 500ELX in 1984, the 553ELX in 1988, and the 555ELD in 1998. All of these versions came after the original.