Hasselblad 500 EL/M

Pieter12 · Dec 28, 2019

First, I really don't need this camera, but...
Recently I have come across a couple of 500 EL/M's for very reasonable prices. Is there a catch? Bugabears to know about? I gather you can get an inexpensive adapter to run the motor with an available lithium battery, so the antiquated battery technology shouldn't be a problem. Something else?

Pieter12 · Dec 29, 2019

OK. No response from anyone in this forum. I did hear on another forum that no-one repairs them: essentially a cheap but great, heavy (and large) camera that will become a doorstop if anything goes wrong. Can anyone second this?

Kino · Dec 30, 2019

Wish I could help you. I had a pair of EL/M's pass through my hands on a trade some time ago. They seemed a very basic but capable camera, but I didn't hang onto them for long as I wasn't concentrating on MF at the time and didn't want to start outfitting another system.

Even then I seem to remember checking into it and they were hard to get serviced; another reason I didn't hang onto them for long...

btaylor · Dec 30, 2019

I bought one as a backup to my regular 500 c/m because it was so cheap I couldn’t pass it up. I bought one of those 9 volt battery adapters and it works just fine. Back in the day they were significantly more expensive than the manual drive cameras. If it fails it isn’t worth fixing at this point. It certainly is a cheap way to get into the Hasselblad system nowadays.

etn · Dec 30, 2019

The motorized Hasselblads are indeed cheaper than the "normal" ones, for some obscure reason. The catch with those models is that they require a special battery which, of course, is not available. Many adapters exist for various battery sizes, though.

Nokton48 · Dec 30, 2019

Don't even think about using the original Nicad battery, I use a 9V Adapter (which David Odess told me will NEVER damage the camera).
If it checks out OK all should be good.

I dropped mine!! and Hasselblad USA repaired it as new.

eli griggs · Dec 30, 2019

Though larger than a CM, etc, these good camera, and though I recently confided to a friend, that I do no like them, I have to admit recent Youtube reviews have reminded me of how useful they can be, so yes, I would dearly like to have one, myself, as a backup, if doe no other reason than, all said, it is a quality Hasselblad, that is a tad faster than a manual 500 series body.

Go for this classic, put it to use and use the fridge as a doorstop instead!

IMO.

Sirius Glass · Dec 30, 2019

etn said:
The motorized Hasselblads are indeed cheaper than the "normal" ones, for some obscure reason. The catch with those models is that they require a special battery which, of course, is not available. Many adapters exist for various battery sizes, though.

Since 70mm film is no longer easily available, there is no reason to have a motor drive film advance and the extra weight.

Pieter12 · Dec 30, 2019

Sirius Glass said:
Since 70mm film is no longer easily available, there is no reason to have a motor drive film advance and the extra weight.

One one hand I could get a functioning Hasselblad body in excellent condition for less than $200. On the other, I'm afraid of getting hooked and hemorrhaging money to feed the Hasselblad habit.

Sirius Glass · Dec 30, 2019

Pieter12 said:
One one hand I could get a functioning Hasselblad body in excellent condition for less than $200. On the other, I'm afraid of getting hooked and hemorrhaging money to feed the Hasselblad habit.

The choice is up to you. You could start with a 500 EL/M and later up grade to a 503 CX [my favorite] or other newer body.

Nokton48 · Dec 30, 2019

Sirius Glass said:
Since 70mm film is no longer easily available, there is no reason to have a motor drive film advance and the extra weight.

This is fresh, cheap, and easily available..............

400s Rollei 70mm by Nokton48, on Flickr

400s 70mm Supergrain Blad 30 Distagon 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

400s 70mm Supergrain Blad 100 Planar 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Hasselblad ELM 70mm by Nokton48, on Flickr

Pieter12 · Dec 30, 2019

Sirius Glass said:
The choice is up to you. You could start with a 500 EL/M and later up grade to a 503 CX [my favorite] or other newer body.

Please don't do this to me. Now I see the 503 CX has the acute-matte screen (worth close to $400 alone) the prices I see from a quick search on *bay don't look terrible with an 80mm lens and metering finder & back. I really don't need another camera, I really don't need another medium format SLR (to myself--repeat as necessary until the urge goes away.)

Kodachromeguy · Dec 31, 2019

Pieter12 said:
Please don't do this to me. Now I see the 503 CX has the acute-matte screen (worth close to $400 alone) the prices I see from a quick search on *bay don't look terrible with an 80mm lens and metering finder & back. I really don't need another camera, I really don't need another medium format SLR (to myself--repeat as necessary until the urge goes away.)

No, fighting the urge will cause frustration and GAS for some other photographic item. Go for the 503CX. Remember, they are not made any more and are a repairable mechanical device. Beware: check that the Acute Matte screen really in in the body. You can tell yourself that this will be the first and last purchase of 2020.

Sirius Glass · Dec 31, 2019

Pieter12 said:
Please don't do this to me. Now I see the 503 CX has the acute-matte screen (worth close to $400 alone) the prices I see from a quick search on *bay don't look

Resist the GAS Force futile it is. Must one give in! -- Yoda Star Wars CCCLXXXVIII

Our job is to enable posters to continually buy equipment.

Arklatexian · Jan 1, 2020

Kodachromeguy said:
No, fighting the urge will cause frustration and GAS for some other photographic item. Go for the 503CX. Remember, they are not made any more and are a repairable mechanical device. Beware: check that the Acute Matte screen really in in the body. You can tell yourself that this will be the first and last purchase of 2020.

Kodachromeguy, you could phrase that differently. You could use a phrase that I have used on myself when wanting to buy a piece of photographic equipment. I simply say: "Get thee behind me, Devil, AND PUSH". Works every time........Regards!

John Galt · Jan 1, 2020

I have an ELX I picked up at an estate auction about 4 or 5 yrs ago for $150 for a backup to my original 500 c. It came with it's original box, an A12 magazine and a 60mm Zeiss Distagon. It was in like new condition. I converted it to two 9V batteries. I put a couple rolls of film through it. Worked flawlessly. I almost sold it when I got a 500 CM a couple years ago. Glad I did not, now I am motivated to put it to use.

BTW, that 60mm Distagon was made in 1959 and other than the focus ring is a little stiff, is amazing. I use it more than the 80mm.

ELXs and ELMs are still cheap, it's a good way to get started with Hasslebad V system.

bdial · Jan 1, 2020

I have a 553 ELX that I bought a few years ago on a whim from a close-out sale of a shop near here. It's become my primary Hasselblad body. I like that there is no interruption for winding with minimal black out of the view finder. Which, for me, makes it easier to concentrate on the subject and explore different angles or views.
One nice feature of the 553 is that it uses standard AA's, but as many people have noted, the 9v conversions for the older bodies work fine.
There is a fairly substantial weight and size penalty over the non-motorized V series cameras, but it's maybe not so noticeable if you aren't making a direct comparison. I more or less compensate by using a WLF on the EL most of the time instead of a prism.

Slixtiesix · Jan 1, 2020

I like the motorized bodies a lot. It can be very convenient in some situations when you want to shoot continuously, think of portrait sessions or event photography, weddings and so on. The 500 ELM has just the drawback that it was still basically the first of its kind with only minor modifications compared to the 500 EL. Later models benefitted from the evolution of the system and had reinforced mirror mechanism and other improvements. This is not to say the 500 ELM was a bad camera, but they are also very old now. The basic functions of the camera however have never changed until the line ended with the 555 ELD.

Sirius Glass · Jan 1, 2020

The instant return mirror is nice.

Hasselblad 500 EL/M

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