The Golden Hassy

A Collector

OK, besides the Apollo Hasselblad 500 ‘EL DATA CAMERA HEDC’. I would think this is the ultimate Hassy wetdream. Of course,…Leica guys take the cake when it comes to collecting. A Leica 0-Series, was described as “one of the major rarities in camera history”,… Leica produced approximately 25 of the 0-Series cameras to test the market in 1923 before the release of the Leica A in 1925. One of these examples set a new world record in May 2012, when it sold at Westlicht Auction house in England for €2,100,000. Uhhh,…OK. Somebody asked me if it “took good pictures”. Well, I don’t know. But it certainly takes expensive images. Maybe we can get digital guys to stop complaining about the cost of film. 😉

50th Anniversary

A Hasselblad 503CW Gold Supreme 50th Anniversary Camera, 1988, Gold / Red, serial no. 19EU14973, with Carl Zeiss Planar CF f/2.8 80mm lens, gold, serial no. 217519472, body, shutter working, lens, complete with presentation box, paper work and outer box. For auction at Flints Auctions Ltd in Thatcham, UK. You still have time. Until May 21, 2020. (auction end) Consider it your “Shelter in Place” present to yourself. Although I suspect a few spouses will have something to say about that.

The ‘Cat’s Meow’

Gold plated or not, the Hasselblad 503CW was a professional 6×6 medium format film camera. As a step up from the base 500 Series models, the 503 series cameras incorporate a well implemented real time TTL-OTF (Through The Lens -Off The Film) flash metering sensor, designed to make life easier for wedding and portrait photographers using on camera flash on location; A user simply needs to set the film ISO on the 503 body and connect a compatible flash. Introduced in 1996, the 503CW was the final model in the series of 6×6 SLRs from Hasselblad which originated from the 1957 Hasselblad 500 C. It is a fully mechanical camera, and is compatible with with C, CF, CB, CFI, CFE lenses. The system is leaf shutter based with the shutter in the lens.

The 503CW was the first Hasselblad to feature a new Gliding Mirror System that does not vignette the viewfinder image when using longer focal length lenses (100mm or longer) in the way earlier models do. But Hassy didn’t go crazy. It enjoys all the same features of the the 501C including Hasselblads legendary all metal construction and robust all mechanical design. And with it’s chromed trim, the 503CW has that unmistakable classic Hasselblad look.

A Deal Could Be Had

Actually, I’ve seen Red and Maroon ones for sale before. anywhere from $3800 to $9000. However, without the original box, case, paperwork, and all that poo poo stuff. I say,…go for it! Well, if you’re a Hassy aficionado, it would be cool to have. But do you really need a red Hassy? Well,….if you’re a Hassy nut,….YES! It’s at least as important as a Star Trek poster signed by Captain Kirk. Or you may just want to get a plain old 503CW.  😁

Flints Auctions Ltd