And take it a step further – once we have the necessary accessories, we can effectively transform the system into an entirely new camera to fit any situation. It allows us to carry a selection of film magazines preloaded with different stocks to achieve different looks for a landscape shoot, for example. This is amazingly useful in practical application. Likewise, a 500 C will accept the latest and greatest CFi lenses to roll out of Oberkochen. The newest 503 CW with digital back could be matched to an ancient silver chrome C lens. And compatibility is exceptional, if not universal. Extension tubes in numerous lengths allow us to focus far closer than the minimum focus distance if the situation requires.Įvery single component of the camera can be stripped out and replaced with something else to suit our needs. I would recommend picking up the spirit level and never removing it from the camera again. The lefthand side of the camera features an accessory rail which allows us to mount many of these add-ons. But over the decades Hasselblad has manufactured dozens of different variants of these parts, meaning the photographer can easily balance choice and price to suit his or her needs.Īn army of accessories complete the package. Its core is comprised of a body, viewfinder, focusing screen, film back, winding handle and lens. And when I say modular, I’m not talking about a few lenses and the odd viewing screen. Unlimited creative potential – The V System And when held for the first time, it gives the impression of being an ingot of Swedish-made excellence. Their sleek bodies appear to be one single hewn chunk of metal, despite the modularity of the system.
As with other classic camera designs, Hasselblad V series cameras manage to be both functional and extremely beautiful at the same time. And shine it did, especially the beautiful chrome-plated version. With the reliability issues largely behind it, the V system was ready to shine. It was not until the 500 C came to market in 1957 that Hasselblad managed to deliver a mass-produced machine which combined a modular system and great image quality with tank-like construction. Beginning with the 1600 F of 1948, a Swedish-made machine which used Kodak, Zeiss and Schneider lenses, Hasselblad began to gain traction amongst photographers looking for great image quality in a package that was positively minuscule compared to the large format cameras of the day.īut these early Hasselblad cameras were blighted by the unreliability of delicate shutter mechanisms. Valuing adaptability, Hasselblad’s camera system was created with the ability to take multiple lenses and accessories right from the start.
He had already created a camera system which the Swedish military used for aerial photography during the 1940s, and noticing a lack of civilian professional medium format system cameras on the market, Victor took matters into his own hands. Just don’t expect it to come cheap.Īs the story goes, photography enthusiast Victor Hasselblad was not satisfied with the options available to him to take photos of his beloved flowers. If you have a unique style and haven’t yet been able to achieve it with your current setup, the chances high are that the Hasselblad V Series can help you get there. With more than fifty accessories available, and an ability to mix and match to create a truly bespoke machine, the Hasselblad allows each user to create a photography platform perfectly suited to their style and their desired methodology.
The ace-in-the-hole which separates the V Series from its rivals is its status as a system camera.
Why pay the extra money for a Hasselblad? Bare-bones Russian cameras cost pennies on the dollar (or ruble?) and aren’t as bare-bones as people like to imply. Likewise, the Mamiya 6 provides a square negative in a more compact form factor. Rivals like the Pentax 67 offer a larger negative and superlative lenses. The question is whether or not the Hasselblad is worth that premium today. In part because of this illustrious lineage, Hasselblad’s cameras command a premium price compared with similar medium format machines. As comfortable in the hands of elite fashion photographers as it is with astronauts on the lunar surface, it’s a time-tested legend. With capability enabling it to span the globe and beyond, the Hasselblad 500 series is a special series of camera.