Help identify Hasselblad?!

Tkeabs

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• Oct 26, 2018

• #1

Hi all, new to the forum! I’d be grateful for any assistance in identifying this Hasselblad Camera variant I picked up along with some other manual bodies.

See attached photos - it’s almost like a 553ELX but it has a different battery door not unlike the specialist NASA cameras. It is black but some panels have a Matte-black solid panel in place of what would normally be leather.

It looks similar to the Space Shuttle ELS model, takes AA batteries and the serial number starts RH so 1982? Anyone out there with any serial number info for the space models able to comment? Or maybe a prototype?

Thanks in advance!

 

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Sirius Glass

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• Oct 26, 2018

• #2

It was built in 1982 from the RH serial number.

Welcome to APUG Photrio!!

 

GLS

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• Oct 26, 2018

• #3

Yes could possibly be an ELS model. These were intended for use by NASA during space shuttle missions, and according to the Hasselblad Compendium "were modified 553 ELX cameras: the flash metering was removed, all lubricants are replaced with low friction materials, and the leather is replaced with thin metal plates."

 

jvo

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• Oct 27, 2018

• #4

first post, and about camera's from out of this world! welcome to photrio!

 

Theo Sulphate

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• Oct 27, 2018

• #5

The latch on that battery cover is the cat's meow; it's how Hasselblad should've designed it for the 553ELX originally.

 

OP

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Tkeabs

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• Oct 27, 2018

• #6

Thanks for the replies and the warm welcome! Yes, the battery door is a lot better than the normal one!

Do you think this could be a prototype of sorts? I bought it as part of a job lot of bodies and parts and the seller didn’t say anything out of the ordinary so I’ve no reason to believe it’s someone’s attempt at a copy/replica?

 

PhotoRoman

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• May 2, 2023

• #7

@Tkeabs I was wondering if you still own this camera? When I was researching about the 553 ELS cameras I found this post. Very interesting stuff.