Hasselblad 503CXi (1994–1996)
The Hasselblad 503CXi is a medium format SLR in the long-running V-series line. It is essentially a refinement of the 503CX. Hasselblad's own material describes it as "basically the same camera" as the 503CX but improved "on certain points for easier handling and better performance." The most notable change was an upgraded winding crank that allows the Winder CW to be used - the primary reason the model exists. It shoots 6×6 cm frames on 120 and 220 roll film and takes interchangeable Hasselblad V-system lenses via bayonet mount. It has the usual V-series modularity, so the lens, film magazine, viewfinder and focusing screen can all be swapped. Shutter speeds run from 1 second to 1/500th. The in-lens leaf shutter gives flash sync at every speed, which was a key selling point for studio work.
Production dates are given as 1994-1996, though at least one source claims a 1997 release. The original price was around $3,000. The 503CXi also added TTL/OTF flash metering, and it accepts user-interchangeable focusing screens. It's a manual-focus, mechanically straightforward body. KEH notes it's "built upon the strengths of the 500C" and offers "straightforward, dependable mechanical operation." Chrome and black body finishes were both offered.
Surviving documentation is thin on finer specs. No weight, dimensions or detailed metering range are readily recorded. It is a professional-grade camera, and one enthusiast's account describes buying a 503CXi with a Zeiss Planar 80mm f/2.8 as a first film camera. The body is also known to have been used with the Distagon 40mm f/4 CF FLE lens. It was discontinued and has since become a collectible, with current asking prices occasionally reaching the €2,800 range for body-plus-back bundles.
Known specs
- Medium format SLR, 6×6 cm frame on 120/220 roll film
- Hasselblad V-system bayonet lens mount
- Leaf shutter, 1s to 1/500s, flash sync at all speeds
- TTL/OTF flash metering
- Upgraded winding crank for Winder CW compatibility
- Interchangeable lenses, magazines, viewfinders, focusing screens
- Chrome or black body finish
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