Hasselblad 501CM User manual

The great wall, China. Photo: Chen Chang Fen

The 501CM’s characteristics
make it the perfect choice
both for hand-held photo-
graphy and as a studio camera.
Thanks to the innovative
GMS (Gliding Mirror System),
it produces a full viewfinder
image with virtually all
Hasselblad lenses.
It is an easy camera to
focus. The focusing screen is
large and bright – 54x54 mm
– and features a microprism
and split-image rangefinder. In
addition precise focusing is
facilitated by an interchange-
able 4.5x magnifier in the
folding focusing hood.
The 501CM is a basic but
versatile camera that can be
seen either as an entry-level
model or as an additional body
to the normal outfit. The robust
aluminium alloy body is cast
in one piece making it a tough
contender in the hard world
of daily professional use.
Photo:John Mason
The Hasselblad 501CM is a lightweight, compact,
first-rate camera, available as a separate camera
body, or as a complete kit, equipped with the Zeiss
Planar CFE 2.8/80 mm lens. The camera kit offers
an ideal opportunity for those photographers wishing
to enter the Hasselblad system. The separate camera
body is a useful item for committed Hasselblad
photographers requiring an additional camera body.

Hasselblad – a symbol for quality
The name Hasselblad is synonymous with reliability, design and image
quality.
Reliability is a result of the highest mechanical and optical precision,
designed and produced by skilled craftsmen with help from the latest in
modern production techniques.
The design is modular; all the elements of the system are exchangeable.
Therefore virtually all Hasselblad lenses, film magazines and other acces-
sories, even older models, are compatible with the latest developments.
Hasselblad is the most comprehensive medium format system with over
300 items; and constantly developing.
Brilliant image quality results from the most demanding criteria con-
cerning mechanics and lenses. Hasselblad and Zeiss represent the quality
connection; the camera is a perfect combination of mechanical and optical
design. Extreme film flatness produced by Hasselblad film magazines and
the stunning optical quality guaranteed by the unsurpassed Zeiss lenses
result in razor-sharp quality across the entire film area.
The Medium Format: 6x6 cm
The 6x6 cm medium format produces an image that is 3.5 times larger
than 35 mm, thereby providing the opportunity to reshape the format. The
original size is large enough for direct visual assessment, something that is
much appreciated by art directors and picture editors alike. Due to the
square format the camera never has to be turned on its side – any necessary
reshaping can take place when the picture is used.
14 top quality lenses from Zeiss
The 501CM grants you access to 14 different lenses, from 30 to 500 mm
in focal length. They are all made by Zeiss, the world’s leading optics
manufacturer. Thanks to the Zeiss T* anti-reflex coating, Zeiss lenses
produce unbeatable image contrast and colour saturation. The Hasselblad
system also offers converters of the same high optical quality 1.4x, 2x
Converter XE and the PC-Mutar for perspective control.
A selection of viewfinders
There are several types of viewfinders in the Hasselblad range, affording
various viewing angles. You can choose between focusing hoods, reflex or
prism viewfinders both with or without metering. The meter prism view-
finders PME45 and PME90 for example features TTL spot metering,
centre-weighted TTL integral metering as well as incident light metering
via a dome sensor.
Interchangeable film magazines
Interchangeable film magazines allow for rapid reloading of film, change
of film type or format. There are magazines for 120, 220, and 70 mm per-
forated film. Film or format can be changed whenever you choose without
losing a single frame. Exposure and composition can be tested immediately
with the Polaroid magazine. For those considering the possibilities of digital
photography Hasselblad is the right choice. Today eleven leading manufac-
turers produce digital backs to fit Hasselblad cameras. No other medium format system offers a greater range of
accessories than the Hasselblad system, making it the most
versatile system on the market.
Thanks to the innovative GMS (Gliding Mirror System), the 501CM
produces a full image in the viewfinder with virtually all lenses.
All CFi/CFE/CF and CB lenses can be used with the 501CM.
The Hasselblad system also offers converters of the same high opti-
cal quality as the lenses.

The Hasselblad 501CM is a mechanical,
medium-format, single-lens reflex cam-
era. It is part of the Hasselblad system
which covers interchangeable lenses,
viewfinders, film magazines and a host of
other accessories. As a kit the 501CM is
equipped with a Planar CFE 2.8/80 mm
lens and an A12 magazine with slide
holder as standard.
CAMERA BODY
One-piece, cast aluminium alloy shell
with 3/8" and 1/4" socket threads and
tripod plate for rapid mounting with
the Hasselblad tripod quick-coupling
accessory.
FILM FORMAT
6x6 cm (21/4x21/4") or 6x4.5 cm
(21/4x15/8") with appropriate magazines.
6x4.5 cm (21/4x15/8") or 6x3 cm
(21/4x11/5") with format mask.
FILM CHOICES
120 and 220 rollfilm, 70 mm perforated
film and Polaroid film with accessory
magazines.
FILM ADVANCE
Simultaneous manual shutter winding
and film advance.
LENSES
Interchangeable Carl Zeiss CFi/CFE/CF
and CB lenses with focal lengths of 30,
40, 50, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 160, 180,
250, 350 and 500 mm. Converter 2XE,
PC-Mutar 1.4X Shift Converter and
Teleconverter 1.4XE.
SHUTTER
Between-lens shutter with speeds from
1 s to 1/500 s and B.
FLASH SYNCHRONIZATION
The between-lens shutter provides flash
synchronization at all shutter speeds.
EXPOSURE METERING
Meter Prism Viewfinders available as
accessories.
VIEWFINDER
Fitted with GMS, Gliding Mirror System,
which provides a full image in the
viewfinder with virtually all lenses.
Interchangeable focusing screens for
different applications. Folding focusing
hood with 4.5x magnifier that can be
exchanged for: reflex viewfinders,
magnifying hood, prism viewfinders
(45° and 90° viewing angles) either with
or without built-in light meter.
SYSTEM COMPATIBILITY
All CFi/CFE/CF and CB lenses. All
magazines, viewfinders and most other
accessories.
DIMENSIONS
With focusing hood, Planar CFE
2.8/80 mm, film magazine A12:
length 180 mm (7"), width 114 mm
(4.5"), height 110 mm (4.3")
WEIGHT
With focusing hood, Planar CFE
2.8/80 mm, film magazine A12:
1565 g (3 lb 7 oz)
Camera body only: 590 g (1 lb 5 oz)
CAMERA FINISH
Chrome or black, supplied with focusing
hood, carrying strap and front and rear
protective covers.
Technical specifications 501CM
We reserve the right to make changes without notice.
Code 93974. © Victor Hasselblad AB. 01 02. Staff photographer Jens Karlsson. Production Krammer & Co. Print Billes. Sweden
Victor Hasselblad AB
Box 220, SE - 401 23 Göteborg, Sweden
Tel. [phone] Fax [phone]
www.hasselblad.com