Hasselblad 500 C/M
Introduced in 1970 and in production until 1994 the Hasselblad 500 C/M was the Volvo 240 of the camera world. Like the 240 the Hasselblad is Swedish and “boxy but good”.
If a professional camera is defined by having a systems approach and options to adapt to the user’s needs, the 500 C/M may be the gold standard. The 500 C/M was the second of the V series. The design was based on maximizing customization. Start with the basics of a camera, a box. In this case they did not even try to make the body look like anything but a box. Want to modify your box? Fine how about a variety of focusing screen. (Interchangeable focusing screen were a key upgrade from the previous version the 500 C.) The basic focus is a waist level view finder but if you want a prism finder, no problem, pop off the basic one and select form several option of prism finders. Film advance/ shutter reset basic is a crank but you can upgrade that also. Lens came in a wide variety of focal lengths of excellent quality. Wait, where does the film go? In an interchangeable film back. Giving you the ability to swap film mid roll and have as many different films ready as you have film backs. There were even film back for instant film, 35mm, and later digital backs. All this before you start looking at optional add on-accessory like meters and straps.
Combine the rich ecosystem of the 500C/M with exceptional build and you can understand why the 500 C/M was loved by so many professional photographers, especially studio photographers. As well suited as it was to the studio, the size make it less than ideal for a walk around camera but the image quality compelled more than a few to carry it anyway. How far out of the studio, well NASA took it to space and even left a dozen or so on the moon. They were modified for NASA but customization is the point.
My Take:
This thing is a work of art. I may never take a photo with the 500 C/M that compares to the majesty of the camera alone. Just having one my shelf make people think I’m a better photographer than I am. It is the camera that people walking in to my space want to pick up and look at. It is art.
Mine came to me for the estate of an armature who clearly have great taste and a decent budget. Multiple lens, accessories and lots of film backs. But does not seem to have had much actual use. That can be and issue for some of the ones that were used professionally. They were work tool and some of them saw lots of use. This one seem to have been owned by someone that was better at buying gear that taking lots of photos (why does that sound familiar?). It all came to me as a pelican case of joy. Some of the film backs even had film in them. I hadn’t even finished unpacking the case before I grabbed one of the part rolls of film and took the test shots below in my garden.
Do you need a Hasselblad 500 C/M? - No. Do you want a Hasselblad 500 C/M. - Yes. For most of us this is overkill. Unless you doing studio work on film or going to the Moon, this is camera is a want not a need. So what? Film photography is a more of a want than a need. If you get the chance to shoot with the 500 C/M or one of the other V series, take it. Enjoy.
Lens: Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm f2.8
Film: Expired Kodak Portra 400NC