How many V-series cameras did Hasselblad make?

[Brian Hirschfeld]

Continuing the research for my economically themed camera article, does anyone have any ideas (rough or exact) of how many V-series cameras Hasselblad produced? i.e all non H-series and Xpan cameras? I don't even know how to begin to calculate a number like this, but knowing the wealth of information on this forum, I feel like someone might know... Thanks!

Best,
BH

[Rob C]

Continuing the research for my economically themed camera article, does anyone have any ideas (rough or exact) of how many V-series cameras Hasselblad produced? i.e all non H-series and Xpan cameras? I don't even know how to begin to calculate a number like this, but knowing the wealth of information on this forum, I feel like someone might know... Thanks!

Best,
BH

Well, I had a 500C and a 500CM, Peter Gowland had at least one 500C, David Bailey had one as well, so that's four you can start with!

;-)

Rob C

[Theodoros]

Continuing the research for my economically themed camera article, does anyone have any ideas (rough or exact) of how many V-series cameras Hasselblad produced? i.e all non H-series and Xpan cameras? I don't even know how to begin to calculate a number like this, but knowing the wealth of information on this forum, I feel like someone might know... Thanks!

Best,
BH

I know that the first model, was a (cloth curtain) focal plane shutter model and was called the 1000… (if I remember well), I think the kiev 88/88cm is a replica of that model (that's why the finders are usable on most H-V bodies)… They then replaced it with the first 500 which was the first to work with leaf shutter lenses to overcome the low shutter sync (I think it was 1/30sec) of the first model… I also think that the naming was related to the top shutter speed available (1/1000 for the focal plane, 1/500 for the leaf shutter models). I have listed an Arax 88cm and all its accessories inc.  2 Carl Zeiss Jena lenses in LN condition in the Sales forum, that was the Kiev 88cm much improved and the best version from all, even better than the Harblei 88cm special edition… Never used it although I bought it new.

EDIT: Actually, I just looked it up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasselblad and it says here that there was a Hassy 1600F before the 1000, there is also some history references which can be handy to the O/P enquiry.

[JV]

There's 12 sitting on the surface of the Moon...

[Steve Hendrix]

Continuing the research for my economically themed camera article, does anyone have any ideas (rough or exact) of how many V-series cameras Hasselblad produced? i.e all non H-series and Xpan cameras? I don't even know how to begin to calculate a number like this, but knowing the wealth of information on this forum, I feel like someone might know... Thanks!

Best,
BH

I don't know, but I do know that, from the beginning, they have always sold more Hasselblad's to amateur/non-professional users than professional users.


Steve Hendrix
Capture Integration

[Rob C]

I don't know, but I do know that, from the beginning, they have always sold more Hasselblad's to amateur/non-professional users than professional users.


Steve Hendrix
Capture Integration

That really surprises me. I had fondly imagined that the interest in the relatively ultra-expensive boxes - other than Leica - was a fairly recent phenomenon. Back in the late 50s I remember telling a guy in a works camera club that I'd love a 'blad, and his riposte was that were I to turn up at his club with one, I'd be laughed straight out the door again. I wasn't a member...

Oh - add Parks to the list of owners - how could I forget him or Watson, for that matter, or Demarchelier - oh dear, they were all in it together!

No, really, no need to go to the Moon - let the Chinese collect those!

;-)

Rob C

[SZRitter]

Have you tried emailing Hasselblad? Seems like that is a number their marketing department would be more than happy to give out.

[ErikKaffehr]

Hi,

My guess would be roughly 1/2 - 1 million.

Best regards
Erik

Continuing the research for my economically themed camera article, does anyone have any ideas (rough or exact) of how many V-series cameras Hasselblad produced? i.e all non H-series and Xpan cameras? I don't even know how to begin to calculate a number like this, but knowing the wealth of information on this forum, I feel like someone might know... Thanks!

Best,
BH

[dag.bb]

I didn't go as far as adding the different models up, but here is a good swedish source. The author seems to have access to the original Hasseblad registers. Just run it through google translate.

http://www.fotopaw.se/texter/hbhist.htm

Btw, if you are interested in the recent history of Hasseblad with an economic angle, I highly recommend this presentation, from Christian Sandström, who has an PhD on the subject (!).

http://www.slideshare.net/Christiansandstrom/hasselblad-from-the-moon-to-surviving-disruptive-innovation

He also has presentations on several other camera companies (Contax, Mamiya), but his sources (internal documents, interviews with key people) are clearly better regarding Hasselblad.

His PhD is also available on his homepage:

http://www.christiansandstrom.org

I haven't had a look at it yet, but seems very interesting...!

[JV]

Here is one fact related to the Hasselblad V that I did not know:

The biggest SLR lens made to date is the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T*. It weighs 564lb/256kg and has a focal length of 1700mm. It is designed specifically for use with a Hasselblad 6×6 medium format camera, and was custom-build for an anonymous customer who had a particular interest in wildlife photography.

Source:
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/06/16/21-photography-facts-you-probably-never-knew/

[Brian Hirschfeld]

Here is one fact related to the Hasselblad V that I did not know:

The biggest SLR lens made to date is the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T*. It weighs 564lb/256kg and has a focal length of 1700mm. It is designed specifically for use with a Hasselblad 6×6 medium format camera, and was custom-build for an anonymous customer who had a particular interest in wildlife photography.

Source:
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/06/16/21-photography-facts-you-probably-never-knew/

Thank you for the responses, I'll check it all out tomorrow, looks like some great info.

The 1700mm f/4 was built for a member of one of the middle eastern royal families, I believe it was someone at the top of the Qatar royal family. I know that for stabilization it was affixed to a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon like this one:http://www.cars-data.com/en/pictures-mercedes-benz-g-class-cabriolet-2000/1518/7

All the best,
BH

[Graham Welland]

http://www.filmsnotdead.com/2012/02/06/the-worlds-largest-telephoto-lens/

If you have to ask the price ....

Regarding the V cameras, I'd wager that as a percentage of those made more are still in circulation than will ever be the case for current generation digital cameras.

[Douglas Fairbank]

I say on my website that the cameras will probably outlive us, it's no joke. I still service items for customers that were made in the 1950s.
I did enjoy reading the article http://www.slideshare.net/Christiansandstrom/hasselblad-from-the-moon-to-surviving-disruptive-innovation
I can't vouch for it's accuracy but I do recognise many of the events. I worked with the Dixel machines and wanted to get further involved with the other digital products, sadly for me other members of staff where chosen for that path. Had history taken a different turn Hasselblad could have changed the direction of digital photography. The influence of individual personalities has been underplayed in my opinion and the article stops at the point where Hasselblad have a second chance to contribute to the direction of modern photography. It would be very interesting to hear the next instalment.

[Chris Livsey]

There's 12 sitting on the surface of the Moon...

One of which is still running an experiment:-

 "I left my Hasselblad camera there with the lens pointing up at the zenith, the idea being someday someone would come back and find out how much deterioration solar cosmic radiation had on the glass."

Apollo 17 Commander Eugene Cernan

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/9728289/Apollo-17-commander-left-camera-on-moon-40-years-ago.html

The legendary reliability is a myth though:

Only one was brought back to Earth because it blocked while making a film and NASA sent it to Hasseblad so that they could find the reason for the failure.
http://www.clubhasselblad.com/hasselblad-and-nasa

Obviously didn't take "the tool" !!

[Craig Lamson]

A good selection of Apollo photos, after all this was what those cameras were made for...

http://www.apolloarchive.com/apollo_gallery.html

And if you really want to see what went on, including complete voice transcripts from the missions...

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/frame.html

The astronauts took many panoramic sequences while on the moon.  Many have been assembled here:

http://moonpans.com/missions.htm

[Rob C]

Reading the story of the decline and fall doesn't inspire future confidence at all.

I suppose that the MFD price is simply too high to sustain when there are many options that fit the market niches just as well at fractions of the price. The cost of a decent car all wrapped around the value of a camera and back isn't the equation that the Hasselblad film cameras represented in their day: I know because I had both at the time. It's a nonsense today, and that doesn't depend on whether or not you can afford it, it's a basic question of value: just as a well-cooked ten-quid steak isn't going to taste better if sold for fifty quid and cooked by the same chef - you just pay more for something of finite possible value...

It'll come to an end quite soon, I expect, as most things that are out of balance do.

Rob C

[Rod.Klukas]

The 1000F and 1600F do indeed indicate the fastest shutter speed with focal plane shutter.  And the 500 series was a leaf shutter setup to balance flash for fill outdoors.
Ansel Adams used both the early F models and a 500 in the Late 1950's and 1960's.
Lots of them around though.
Rod

[eronald]

The 1000F and 1600F do indeed indicate the fastest shutter speed with focal plane shutter.  And the 500 series was a leaf shutter setup to balance flash for fill outdoors.
Ansel Adams used both the early F models and a 500 in the Late 1950's and 1960's.
Lots of them around though.
Rod

Some chinese firm will end up making a decent cheap CFV type 6x6 back in a few years or so when the electronics price has fallen. That will resuscitate all of them.

Edmund

[uaiomex]

After Hasselblad fully stopped supporting the V system, I'm afraid the whole world V arsenal will deteriorate at a much faster rate.
If they're going to do it, they better get to the drawing board now 
Eduardo

Some chinese firm will end up making a decent cheap CFV type 6x6 back in a few years or so when the electronics price has fallen. That will resuscitate all of them.

Edmund

[ahotflash]

try this:
http://www.hasselbladhistorical.eu/
Q.G. de Bakker: if anyone knows he will
>d david y