Hasselblad 500 EL

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The 500 EL was introduced by Hasselblad in 1965—essentially a 500 C with a permanently-integrated motor drive in the baseplate of the camera. Because the 500 C lacks an instant-return mirror, this automated winding was a helpful feature in quick-moving shooting situations.

The 500 EL was famously adapted by NASA for the Apollo moon program (although the moonwalk cameras omitted the reflex viewing of the stock model). A number of 500 EL's remain abandoned on the lunar surface.

The EL was succeeded in 1971 by the 500 EL/M.

Links

• Hasselblad 500 EL profiled at Karen Nakamura's Photoethnography.com
• Hasselblad 500 EL manual at Mike Butkus' OrphanCameras.com
• Hasselblad Space Cameras at Hasselblad.com

Modified 500 EL used on Apollo 14 moonwalk image by GregF422 (Image rights)