Hasselblad 500 Classic
The 500 Classic is one of the more lightly documented Hasselblad variants, and most of what survives comes from a single account. According to SkipCohenUniversity, it came out of a marketing push - a "marketing battle with Sweden, which we won" - and was the first kit configuration to bundle an 80mm lens, a 500CM body, and an A-12 magazine. Selling it as a complete kit brought the price down to just under $2,000. The same source says the 500 Classic was displayed at a 1992 trade show booth. That was Hasselblad's last before the company moved to the larger 20x30 island format.
One 1993 unit listed by an Italian seller (Vendo&Compro) itemizes its components with Hasselblad part numbers: a "10022 500C Camera Body," a "20029 Zeiss Planar CF 1/2.8 80 mm," and a "30074 Film Magazine A12." These two sources disagree. SkipCohenUniversity says the kit used a 500CM body, while the Vendo&Compro listing shows a 500C body. The record doesn't settle it, so treat the exact body variant with caution.
Manuel Photo describes the 500 Classic as a fully manual, mechanically operated camera built for purists who want total control over every aspect of the shot. It lists solid construction, an intuitive interface, and ergonomic handling. It was also noted for compatibility with a wide range of Hasselblad lenses. The same page offers a free PDF manual download.
Beyond that, the record is thin. No full specifications (shutter speeds, film format details, weight, dimensions) have been documented, and no period reviews of the 500 Classic specifically have surfaced. The name is confirmed across at least five sources, and at least one professional photographer used a 500 Classic on assignment for AD Spain in Lisbon, but independent technical documentation is scarce. If you own one and have the manual or original packaging, the archive could use it.
**Known specs:**
- Kit: 80mm lens, body (500CM per one source; 500C per a 1993 unit listing), A-12 magazine
- Original kit price: just under $2,000
- Fully manual, mechanical operation
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