Hasselblad 500CM | Medium Format Film Camera

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Hasselblad 500CM | Medium Format Film Camera

Price: $4,218

Condition:Good

Average

Very Good

Will look nice with additional cosmetic wear (i.e. spots, worn down metal, small scratches, etc.)

Product variants

Beginner Friendly Support

We're here to answer all your questions

60 Day Easy Returns

If you don't fall in-love, send it back.

Fully Restored

This iconic camera is ready for adventure

📷 Fully Restored, Ready for Adventure

All of our Cute Cameras have been fully tested and restored so they work as if you were buying them back in 1979.

We include the lens and battery** so you can start making nostalgic memories as soon as you take it out of the box. Just add the film :)

**Non-USA Customers: Due to shipping restrictions we are unable to include the batteries for your Cute Camera. However, they can be easily picked up at most drug/grocery stores or ordered online.

🚚 Fast Shipping, Easy Returns

We can't wait for you to start shooting film on your new camera. Most of our items ship in 1-2 business days and get to your door FAST.

We want you to love everything about your new camera. From its vintage design to its perfect imperfections. But if you don't, we make returns as easy as possible.

If you are not feeling your Cute Camera, just send it back within 60 days and we will take care of the rest.
Return policy

❤️ Cute Camera Support

Need help choosing a camera? New to film photography?

Don’t worry, we’re here to guide you! Whether it’s your first roll of film or your 50th, our friendly team is just a message away to answer your questions and help you get started with confidence.

Reach out anytime. We are here for you!

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🛠️ How We Grade Our Cameras

No two cameras are identical, every camera is unique, has its own story and is truly a piece of history. We do our best to group them into three cosmetic categories so you can choose the one that's best for you.

VERY GOOD:

A "very good" body will have minimal signs of wear and tear. Examples include slight impurities like worn leather or metal, signs of age on the bottom plate, and dull marks.

GOOD:

A “good” body will also look nice but have some additional potential cosmetic wear such as spots with discoloration, worn down metal or small scratches somewhere on the body.

AVERAGE:

An “average” body will be a more severe case of cosmetic wear like more extreme discoloration or worn down metal, exterior or interior black specs, deeper scratches, or lines in the eye prism.

Hasselblad 500CM Description

The Hasselblad 500C/M has helped generations of photographers build a camera around their vision, and we’ve lovingly restored this one so its iconic square-frame magic can become part of yours.

Imagine holding a piece of history in your hands, but one that's still perfectly suited for modern-day photography. The Hasselblad 500CM features a modular design, allowing you to customize it with interchangeable lenses, viewfinders, and film backs. With its Carl Zeiss 80mm f/2.8 lens, this camera delivers sharp, vibrant images with a beautiful depth of field that is perfect for everything from portraits to landscapes.

Why You'll Love It:

6x6 Medium Format Masterpiece: Capture dreamy, square format images that will make your portfolio stand out.
Iconic Zeiss Optics: The legendary Carl Zeiss 80mm f/2.8 lens offers superb sharpness and vibrant colors.
Fully Modular Design: Customization is endless—swap lenses, film backs, and viewfinders to suit your style.
Waist-Level Viewfinder: Embrace the joy of composing your shots from a different perspective.
Built to Last: This all-metal beauty is an investment that will keep delivering amazing images for years to come.

You most certainly will savor every shot with the Hasselblad 500CM. The feeling of advancing the film, hearing the solid click of the shutter, and watching your vision come to life. With this camera, the Hasselblad 500CM will bring a timeless, cinematic quality to your images.

ℹ️ Hasselblad 500C/M Specifications and FAQs

Your camera field guide

Hasselblad 500C/M Camera Passport

Quick camera specification guide and FAQs

Hasselblad 500C/M Specifications

The Essentials

Film: 120 film; interchangeable backs may support 220
Negative format: 6×6 square
Exposures per roll: 12 exposures with a standard A12 120 back
Camera type: Modular medium-format single-lens reflex (SLR)
Introduced: 1970
Lens: Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm f/2.8
Lens system: Hasselblad V system
Focus: Manual focus on waist-level screen
Exposure: Fully manual
Shutter: Leaf shutter in each lens; typically 1 second to 1/500 plus Bulb
Meter & power: No built-in meter; use a handheld meter or metered prism; No battery required
Flash: PC sync; leaf shutters synchronize electronic flash at all speeds

Hasselblad 500C/M Price and Condition

Every grade is restored and fully functional; the difference is cosmetic condition.

Average

Most economic

The most visible cosmetic wear and the most lived-in vintage character.

$3,931.00 Sold out

Good

Balanced pick

A balanced amount of cosmetic wear for shoppers weighing looks and character.

$4,218.00

Very Good

Cleanest look

The lightest cosmetic wear for the cleanest available finish.

$4,791.00

Included: restored camera listed lens and film back, where shown beginner-friendly support 60-day easy returns

Hasselblad 500C/M FAQs

Clear answers to the questions camera shoppers ask most.

Is the Hasselblad 500C/M good for someone new to medium format?

It can suit a careful beginner, but its modular parts and operating sequence deserve attention. Once learned, the square frame and waist-level view are wonderfully direct. Cute Camera Co. is here when first-roll questions appear.

What film does the Hasselblad 500C/M use?

120 film; interchangeable backs may support 220. It makes 6×6 square negatives and provides 12 exposures with a standard A12 120 back. It is called 120 film—not “120mm”—and the backing paper means the roll is loaded and unloaded differently from 35mm.

Does the Hasselblad 500C/M need a battery?

No. The 500C/M and its standard leaf-shutter lenses are mechanical; only optional accessories such as metered prisms need power.

How do focus and exposure work on the Hasselblad 500C/M?

Manual focus on waist-level screen; fully manual. Plan to use a handheld meter or a reliable phone-meter app.

Does the Hasselblad 500C/M lens zoom or change?

The included 80mm f/2.8 is a prime. Hasselblad V-system lenses, backs, finders, and focusing screens are interchangeable when compatible.

How many photos will I get from a roll?

12 exposures with a standard A12 120 back. The larger negative is the whole point, but it also makes each frame feel more deliberate than 35mm.

Can I use flash with the Hasselblad 500C/M?

PC sync; leaf shutters synchronize electronic flash at all speeds. A leaf shutter can synchronize across its timed speeds; focal-plane shutters must stay at or below their stated sync speed.

What is the Hasselblad 500C/M best for?

It is especially beautiful for portraits, fashion, landscapes, square storytelling, and a fully modular classic system. The larger negative can hold exceptional detail, gentle tonal transitions, and a distinctive sense of depth.

Why must the Hasselblad body and lens both be cocked before changing lenses?

The body and lens mechanisms must stay synchronized. Advancing the camera cocks both; removing or attaching an uncocked lens can jam the system, so make lens changes only when everything is cocked.

Why does restoration matter with a Hasselblad 500C/M?

Medium-format cameras rely on precise shutter timing, film spacing, focus alignment, backs, bellows or seals, and controls that may have aged quietly for decades. Restoration gives you a dependable foundation before you commit an irreplaceable moment to one of the roll’s limited frames.