Red Hasselblads

[Bengt Magnusson]

Hey I have come across a few red Hasselblad 500 series cameras on ebay etc.
I am curious if these are actually rare or more valuable as compared to their black counterparts.
I've exhausted Google on finding out why they have red leatherette when the only one oficially released red was the 503 CW Ruby Red (to my knowledge).
If anyone knows whats up with these cameras or knows someone who does that would be awesome!

Heres a listing from Japan as an example:
https://www.ebay.com.sg/itm/373703152835

If the link is dead theres some photos of it below.
You might notice on the top side edges where it would normally say 500CW (on those series), it is instead covered by a cutout piece of leather.
Thanks!

PS this is my first time posting on this community so unsure of all posting practices

Photos:

 

[aoresteen]

Hasselblad did make some 500 series cameras with colored coverings. However most on eBay are recover jobs with kits from places like Camera Leather.

 

[Ai Print]

Dora Goodman does some very nice wood veneer work but Adrian Prada’s restoration work is just breathtaking. I feel like having him do a camera just so I can own such an amazing piece of art, check out his work on instagram under adrianprada.artworks, just insane vision and craftsmanship.

 

[removedacct1]

I'm pretty certain that is an aftermarket leatherette and not something Hasselblad did.

 

[mitrajoon]

I have a forest green (dark green?) 503CW with two matching backs. Completely original and drop dead gorgeous.

 

[mpirie]

I'm pretty certain that is an aftermarket leatherette and not something Hasselblad did.

Agree....if you look just below the finder on the first photo, there's a cutout for the model label in the covering.

Likely a covering kit that fits several models.

Mike

 

[benjiboy]

To me red,or for that matter coloured Hasselblads, are the height of bad taste.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I am holding out for blue skins to recover my Hasselblads, including the finger grips on the lenses

 

[MarkS]

Hasselblad offered (IIRC) red, yellow, and blue leatherette on their 500-series cameras, in the late '90s I think. They ran color ads in the trade press (PDN). I don't know why they did that... never saw one in the metal.

 

[Duceman]

I am holding out for blue skins to recover my Hasselblads, including the finger grips on the lenses

Hold out is over: http://www.cameraleather.com/CobaltWeave.html

 

[AnselMortensen]

There was a red Hassy on CL near me recently.
I want to like them, but I'd never own one...a bit too ostentatious for me.
That blue from cameraleather is beautiful, however....
Just curious...how would a custom color affect resale value?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Hold out is over: http://www.cameraleather.com/CobaltWeave.html

That is what I want or something like that.

 

[reddesert]

Red Hasselblads are faster, obviously.

 

[250swb]

It looks to me like it's simply been stuck on top of the original covering, but it looks kind of grippy, great for when you are using your Hasselblad in the bath.

 

[Philippe-Georges]

Hasselblad had a camera in Swedish blue and a Swedish yellow cross over it, just like their flag (Volvo did the same)...

 

[Slixtiesix]

Agree that this looks like an aftermarket leatherette. However, Hasselblad had some authentic red editions (for the 503CW and the 501CM), that are sought after as collectibles.
These are:
Hasselblad 501CM and 503CW "Ruby Red"
503CW "Gold Supreme" (with gilded chrome parts)
503 CW "60 Years Victor" Edition (add the collection of aluminium-barell Zeiss lenses issued at the same time for an authentic setup)

 

[Philippe-Georges]

There is a (licensed and with logo-) Ferrari red version of a Hasselblad, requiring an appropriate bank account...
But that red is somewhat different, more intensive, as the one shown here.