Hasselblad EC (1971–1979)
The Hasselblad EC was a step forward and a last hurrah at the same time. Introduced in 1971, it was the first Hasselblad with a built-in motor drive. It was also the last model to carry the original 1948-era body design. It came before the more modern 2000FC, and the EC is described as the forerunner of that later camera.
The EC was based on the 500EL/M and shares that model's motorized foundation. It's a medium format SLR taking 120/220 film, with a leaf shutter offering speeds from 1s to 1/500s and flash sync at all speeds, the standard Hasselblad advantage. Power came from a 12V external battery, another first for the brand. The lens mount is simply listed as a Hasselblad bayonet. It's a big camera at 182 × 114 × 125 mm and 1.8 kg, with a waist-level finder as standard.
Documentation on this model is thinner than one might expect for a camera of this significance. Most of what's recorded comes from technical spec pages rather than period reviews or owner accounts. No original price has surfaced, and there's no record of contemporary reception, common issues, or current collectibility data. What's clear is its transitional role: the last of the old design, the first with an integrated motor, and the direct ancestor of the 2000FC.
Known specs:
- Medium format SLR, 120/220 film
- Built-in motor drive
- Leaf shutter, 1s to 1/500s, flash sync at all speeds
- 12V external battery
- Waist-level finder
- 182 × 114 × 125 mm, 1.8 kg
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