The Hasselblad camera - history

Photography expeditions in search of rare birds in his native Sweden started Victor Hasselblad's quest to invent an ideal camera. At the time, in the 1920s and 30s, cameras capable of making detailed images on film were cumbersome.

Experiments with a Graflex camera produced a book on migratory birds in 1933, an event which established Hasselblad's reputation as an expert pioneering bird photographer. When World War II engulfed Europe, the Swedish Air Force commissioned Victor to produce cameras for aerial reconnaissance. The resulting modular HK aerial cameras were revolutionary but the pragmatic Swede wanted to make a civilian camera.

In New York in October 1948, Hasselblad and his chief engineer and designer Einar Cronholm, presented the world's first 6X6cm single lens reflex camera with interchangeable lenses, film magazines and viewfinders. The first 1600F camera was hailed as a 'timeless beauty' and the Hasselblad legend was born.

Ten years later, the classic Hasselblad 500C with leaf shuttered Compur lenses was launched and since, the 500 series, including the 500CM, 501C, 503CX, 503CXi, 500 Classic and 500CW have all retained the original 1600F modular concept with improvements to light baffling, shutter release and light meter accessory viewfinders. An electric motorised version of the 500 was launched in 1965 as the Hasselblad 500EL with updated models such as the 500 ELM, ELX and ELD gradually being introduced.

The 1954 Hasselblad Supreme Wide Angle camera was fitted with a specially designed Carl Zeiss Biogon f/4.5 38mm non distorting lens for architectural photography. The 903SWC and 905SWC are modern versions of this camera.

A new range of Hasselblad 2000 series focal plane shuttered slrs was launched in 1977. The 2000FCM, 2000FCW, 2003FCW were forerunners of the state-of-the-art 205TCC and FCC launched in 1991 and 1995. Later 201F and 203FE models evolved from the earlier cameras.

Hasselblad cameras have been used in every NASA manned space mission since 1962, capturing some of the finest and most fascinating photographs ever made. Thirty specially modified Hasselblad 203FE cameras were delivered to NASA in 1997.

The company also produced the FlexBody, emulating movements found on larger view cameras. It was followed by the ArcBody in 1997. Many accessories and lenses as well as special models for scientific, military, surveillance, aerial and mapping use make the Hasselblad the most comprehensive medium format system camera in the world with almost all accessories old and new compatible across the body range.

The 35mm Hasselblad X-Pan film camera was the result of a partnership with Fuji Film launched for panoramic format enthusiasts. The camera was discontinued in 2006 but used samples can still be found for sale. Hasselblad's main products today are its medium format HD digital cameras with high resolution CCD sensors and interchangeable lenses although it still produces a digital back for the Hasselblad V system (500 series) cameras.