Hasselblad 500 EL

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Hasselblad 500 EL image by Lary Leal (Image rights)

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 side of the camera body contains the motor drive setting when replaces the manual winder. The settings include O for normal operation, A for continuous mode, AS for continuous mirror up mode. The S is for mirror prerelease and SR is for prerelease with the mirror up.

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)