You are currently not logged in – Login or register | Current Site:

Hasselblad 500C — Bang, Zoom, Straight to the Moon!
written by larslau 刊登於 六月 02, 2009 , 14 comments (13 votes)

Image from shooterslab

Introduced in 1957 by Victor Hasselblad AB, the 500C was the camera that really established Hasselblad as one of the front runners of professional medium format photography. The quality of this new camera was so outstanding that NASA chose it for their first human space flight (the camera used was actually a slightly modified 500C.)

The camera is completely modular, i.e. everything is interchangeable, the lens, the viewfinder, the film magazine — and you can change them while you shoot! This really comes in handy when you loaded the camera with 100 iso film and are suddenly in a dark basement bar: Just take off the magazine and put on another one with faster film, and finish the first roll another time.

But this camera is more than just a piece of fantastic engineering art. It really has soul. Looking down the dirty viewfinder of this bulky camera, you’ll suddenly find yourself in slowly moving world of the past. You’ll feel like you are looking at the world through a cloud of cigarette smoke, and that sensuality in pure form is dripping down the walls just behind the narrow depth of field of the focus screen. If you put on a yellow filter (which I often do) the effect will multiply, and the world on the other side of that Carl Zeiss lens will seem like a mystical fairytale told by Wong Kar-wai.

It is my hope that I have been able to show a glimpse of the magic of this camera, which is my all time favorite. Below you’ll find some of the pictures I’ve taken with the 500C.

Please login or register to use this feature. So far 13 persons liked this article.

14 comments

  • lomodirk
    by lomodirk
    8 months ago

    OH YEAH!!! Hasselblad is a nice "toy", gets you a total different angle of photography. Great review, great gallery (lots of EIR), well done Lars :)

  • breakphreak
    by breakphreak
    8 months ago

    Okay, yeah, best lomocamera ever :))) I can see those colors many times, truly. Or in short, Thanks :)

  • tommynorth
    by tommynorth
    8 months ago

    my all time favourite camera and i cant even afford one

  • vicuna
    by vicuna
    8 months ago

    what a camera! And your EIR shots are stunning... great review Lars! :)

  • anarchy
    by anarchy
    8 months ago

    Awesome!!! =))))

  • rater
    by rater
    8 months ago

    I want one!

  • larslau
    by larslau
    8 months ago

    Thanks for all the nice comments. Not all the 'Through The Viewfinder' shots made the cut to the final review, but come check them out here: http://www.lomograph(…)elblad-500c

  • dogma
    by dogma
    8 months ago

    Fantastic camera!

  • stouf
    by stouf
    8 months ago

    Hooo !!! This camera is my dream... And your gallery is incredible !!! Camera review of the century !

  • lomographics
    by lomographics
    8 months ago

    love the gallery

  • eyecon
    by eyecon
    8 months ago

    A great cam - but really not that cheap to get.....I love the gallery!

  • larslau
    by larslau
    8 months ago

    @eyecon: I saw someone selling two Hasselblad 500C/M including lenses for €150 each half a year ago... It seems that used camera prices are dropping like crazy these days (:

  • lomollete
    by lomollete
    8 months ago

    Wicked cool photos

  • akillerbluesky
    by akillerbluesky
    6 months ago

    good review. i own a 500c/m. its the best camera in my collection.

Opinion is free and discussion is encouraged on lomography.com, however, neither the content nor the ideas expressed in the comments are supported by or representative of the Lomographic Society International.

Most recent galleries in all sections

Most recent user submissions in all sections

This week's most popular entries

Most recent entries in Cameras

Most recent entries in all other sections

Ongoing competitions

What events are up next?

Most popular tags in Cameras show all tags

120 35mm 35mm camera autofocus B&W black and white camera camera review of the week diana Diana F+ Diana+ doubles ethermoon Fisheye 2 flash Fuji fun half frame Holga instant instax LC-A LC-A+ lomo Lomography macro manual medium format Olympus olympus panoramic philippines pinhole plastic Polaroid rangefinder review russian Russian scootiepye slr SLR smena square staff TLR toy camera underwater vintage vivitar

All sections

Lomography Online Shop

Whether you're interested in cameras like the Lomo LC-A, Lomo Lubitel 166+, Diana or Holga; have a penchant for films and quirky flashes or simply want to find out more about what analogue photography has to offer, our online Shop has something for you. From medium format to 35mm, packages deals to Russian cameras you may be surprised what we have in store. Shift your perspective with our selection of film; panoramic and Lomographic cameras; lenses and accessories. Why not get a little nostalgic with a pinhole camera or one of our Polaroid-style instant products. Not forgetting our analogue lifestyle range of fashion, bags, clips, frames, albums and books – there’s a lot to discover in our online Shop.