Swedish medium format camera manufacturer known for square 6x6cm frames and modular camera system.
Technical Details
The classic Hasselblad system is based on 120 roll film with a 6×6 cm negative format (56×56 mm usable area). The V-System cameras (500C, 500CM, 503CW) operate with central shutters in the lenses, offering shutter speeds from 1 to 1/500 second. The standard focal length is 80mm (equivalent to 50mm in 35mm format), and the lens range includes from 30mm fisheye to 500mm telephoto lenses. The film magazine holds 12 exposures and can be changed during shooting. Modern H-System cameras offer autofocus and digital backs with resolutions up to 100 megapixels.
History & Development
Victor Hasselblad developed the first HK-7 camera for the Swedish Air Force in 1941. In 1948, the 1600F was released as the brand's first civilian single-lens reflex camera. The breakthrough came in 1957 with the 500C, featuring interchangeable film magazines. NASA selected modified Hasselblad cameras for the Mercury program in 1962; the famous Apollo moon shots were taken with special 500EL models. In 2017, DJI acquired a majority stake in Hasselblad, and since then, the brand has increasingly focused on digital medium-format cameras.
Practical Use in Film
Hasselblad cameras are primarily used for still photography on film sets, not for actual film recording. Stanley Kubrick used Hasselblad lenses on modified cameras for the candlelight scenes in "Barry Lyndon" (1975). The high image quality and square format are particularly suitable for portraits of the main actors and atmospheric set images. Some directors use Hasselblad cameras for storyboard development and location scouting, as the 6×6 format dictates a different framing than the common 16:9 film aspect ratio.
Comparison & Alternatives
Main competitors in the professional medium-format segment are Mamiya, Pentax 67, and Fujifilm GFX. Hasselblad distinguishes itself through its modular V-System and NASA reputation. For film productions, Hasselblad competes with digital full-frame cameras like the Canon EOS R5 or Sony α7R IV, which deliver similar image quality for still photos at lower costs. However, the Hasselblad system offers larger sensors (44×33mm for the H-System) and traditionally better color reproduction, but only justifies the extra effort compared to smaller formats for high-end productions.