Difference between revisions of "Hasselblad 500 C/M"

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== Origins and name ==
 
== Origins and name ==
The '''Hasselblad''' 500C, known as the V-series, was introduced in 1957 by the [[Hasselblad|Victor Hasselblad Aktiebolag]], replacing the original [[focal plane shutter]]ed models 1600 and 1000, which, despite the novel concept, never got rid of the problems associated with the shutter. Realizing this, Hasselblad decided to start almost from scratch in order to make a more reliable model. A major decision for the company creating a completely new camera, only keeping the physical shape of the original, everything inside would be new. The major single inspiring factor was the new in-lens [[Compur]] shutter, based on Zeiss Ikon’s Contaflex experience, and the fact that Zeiss committed them selves to manufacture the new range of lens shuttered optics for the camera. The new design meant electronic [[flash sync#X_Sync|flash synchronization]] at all shutter speeds, and automatic aperture stop down, the latter two years before the first 35mm SLR, the Minolta SR-2. The design has influenced the new model name 500C. It reflects the fastest shutter speed and type of shutter, which already had been an established practice: a 1/500th. of a second and the Central lens shutter made by Compur.  
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The '''Hasselblad''' 500C was introduced in 1957 by the [[Hasselblad|Victor Hasselblad AB]], replacing the original [[focal plane shutter]] models 1600F and 1000F, which, despite the novel concept never got rid of the problems associated with the shutter. Realizing this, Hasselblad decided to start almost from scratch in order to make a more reliable model. It was a major decision for the company to create a completely new camera, only keeping the physical shape of the original, while everything inside would be new. The major single inspiring factor was the promising new [[Compur]] shutter,  
 +
based on Zeiss Ikon’s Contaflex experience, which would be an integral part of every interchangeable Hasselblad lens, and the fact that Zeiss committed them selves to manufacture the new range of lenses with shutter for the camera. The new design meant electronic [[flash sync#X_Sync|flash synchronization]] at all shutter speeds, and automatic aperture stop down, the latter one year before the first 35mm SLR, the Minolta SR-2. The new model name 500C reflects the fastest shutter speed and the shutter type, already an established practice: a 1/500th second and the Central lens shutter made by Compur.
  
The new camera was received with scepticism, both due to the shutter concept associated with less advanced 35mm SLR cameras, as opposed to those using focal plane shutters, and the limiting top speed of 1/500th. of a second. However the decision was proven to be a sound one. The original model stayed in production until 1970. It was replaced by the 500C/M (M for modified according to the factory), featuring an interchangeable focusing screen and an improved automatic back, the A-series film magazines.
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The new camera, the first in the long lasting V-series, comprising the 500, SWC, 2000 and 200 range of cameras, was received with scepticism. Both the lens shutter concept, associated with less advanced 35mm SLR cameras, and the moderate top speed of 1/500th. of a second. However, the decision was proven a sound one. The original model stayed in production until 1970. It was replaced by the 500C/M (M for modified according to the factory), featuring an interchangeable focusing screen and an improved automatic back, the A-series film magazines.
  
 
The  new Hasselblad camera has gained a reputation over the years for its robustness, mechanical accuracy and for having a wide range of high-quality lenses, making it the medium-format camera of choice for generations of professional photographers. Victor Hasselblad AB reinforced this reputation by making the most of the fact that their camera had been chosen by NASA for use in space, although not without modifications.
 
The  new Hasselblad camera has gained a reputation over the years for its robustness, mechanical accuracy and for having a wide range of high-quality lenses, making it the medium-format camera of choice for generations of professional photographers. Victor Hasselblad AB reinforced this reputation by making the most of the fact that their camera had been chosen by NASA for use in space, although not without modifications.

Revision as of 15:05, 13 May 2009


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Origins and name

The Hasselblad 500C was introduced in 1957 by the Victor Hasselblad AB, replacing the original focal plane shutter models 1600F and 1000F, which, despite the novel concept never got rid of the problems associated with the shutter. Realizing this, Hasselblad decided to start almost from scratch in order to make a more reliable model. It was a major decision for the company to create a completely new camera, only keeping the physical shape of the original, while everything inside would be new. The major single inspiring factor was the promising new Compur shutter, based on Zeiss Ikon’s Contaflex experience, which would be an integral part of every interchangeable Hasselblad lens, and the fact that Zeiss committed them selves to manufacture the new range of lenses with shutter for the camera. The new design meant electronic flash synchronization at all shutter speeds, and automatic aperture stop down, the latter one year before the first 35mm SLR, the Minolta SR-2. The new model name 500C reflects the fastest shutter speed and the shutter type, already an established practice: a 1/500th second and the Central lens shutter made by Compur.

The new camera, the first in the long lasting V-series, comprising the 500, SWC, 2000 and 200 range of cameras, was received with scepticism. Both the lens shutter concept, associated with less advanced 35mm SLR cameras, and the moderate top speed of 1/500th. of a second. However, the decision was proven a sound one. The original model stayed in production until 1970. It was replaced by the 500C/M (M for modified according to the factory), featuring an interchangeable focusing screen and an improved automatic back, the A-series film magazines.

The new Hasselblad camera has gained a reputation over the years for its robustness, mechanical accuracy and for having a wide range of high-quality lenses, making it the medium-format camera of choice for generations of professional photographers. Victor Hasselblad AB reinforced this reputation by making the most of the fact that their camera had been chosen by NASA for use in space, although not without modifications.

A modular system camera

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advertisement in National Geographic, november 1965

Following the design of the previous models, the Hasselblad Corporation designed the V-series to be completely modular: Not only the lenses but also the winding crank, viewfinder and film magazines are exchangeable during normal operation of the camera. With the introduction of the 500C/M, the focussing screens too were user-exchangeable.

Hasselblad Corporation put great effort to anticipate user errors related to the film-back: presence of the dark slide in the back prevents the shutter from being fired and allows removal of the back, whereas the back is locked to the body when the dark slide is removed. Also, colored indicators on the back and the body show the state of the shutter (cocked vs. released) and exposure (exposed vs. unexposed). This effort is in strong contrast with well known quirks of the Hasselblad V-series: the ease with which the shutter and body state dissociate upon removal of the lens. This can result in either (i) a released shutter and a body already in a mirror-down position or (ii) a cocked shutter and the mirror up. In either situation, re-inserting the lens can easily lead to irreversible damage. Over the years this has led to the introduction of a great variety of tools from many vendors addressing these issues.

Optics and shutter

--> Zeiss, speeds, e-number

Magazines and film

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a new A12 magazine and an older 12-shot magazine
with a hole to check the frame number

Upon introduction in 1957, the Hasselblad came with a 12-shot magazine for 120 film. A 16-shot magazine for 6×4.5 was also available. When loading the film, the photographer had to find the first frame by winding until the number "1" was visible through a hole in the back. Unlike many manufacturers, Hasselblad deemed it unnecessary to obscure this with a ruby window.

The introduction of "automatic" magazines (1970) meant the end of all this: when film is loaded, winding the camera will transport automatically to frame 1. Hence the name Automatic: A12. Other available magazines include a Polaroid back, a magazine for 220 and another for 70mm bulk film.

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A 12-shot magazine with dark slide (1) and the back of the 500C/M showing secondary shutter and mounting for film back (2). The magazine's inner life (3).

Finders

--> wlf, prism, metered prism

Links

Images

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