Hasselblad 503 CX
6x6 cm SLR (1988-1992)
HASSELBLAD 503 CX (about $1,200 used (cubical body only, 610 g), or about $2,500 used as shown with 80mm f/2.8 CF lens, A12 back and waist-level finder (1,510 g). bigger. I got mine at this link directly to them at eBay (see How to Win at eBay).
This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.
January 2016, April 2023 Hasselblad Zeiss Contax Mamiya LEICA Nikon Canon All Reviews
Why fixed lenses take better pictures
The main reason to get the 503 CX over the earlier 500 C or 500 C/M is because it's the first Hasselblad to come with the Acute-Matte screen, which is day and night brighter and better than every screen that came before. It's nearly impossible to see well enough to focus the older cmeras, while the new screen in the 503 CX lets us see and focus. It's also a new enough camera that it probably won't require service to work well, while older cameras are probably going to need an overhaul.
The star on my body (★ 503 CX) means it was originally sold in Japan. The Japanese importer had Hasselblad do that to help them combat the gray market; it's the same camera everywhere.
Sample Images
Top Sample Images Intro Compatibility Specifications
Performance Compared Usage Recommendations More
Oil Can & Map Display, Route 66 Museum, 2:51 P.M. 1993 Zeiss Planar T✻ 80mm f/2.8 CF with no filter, 1992 Hasselblad 503 CX with 1985 PME metered prism, Kodak T-Max 100 in 1993 A12 magazine, f/16 for 5 seconds. More technical details. bigger.
Rail Road Crossing Sign, 3:32 P.M. 1993 Zeiss Planar T✻ 80mm f/2.8 CF with B60 Hoya Orange filter, focus distance set halfway between 1.7 meters and 6 feet, 1992 Hasselblad 503 CX with 1985 PME metered prism, Kodak T-Max 100 in 1993 A12 magazine, f/11 at 1/30 (EV 12). More technical details. bigger.
Earth Shadow Rises over Barstow, 5:23 P.M. 1993 Zeiss Planar T✻ 80mm f/2.8 CF with B60 Hasselblad CR 1,5 warming filter, focus set to the left side of the infinity loop, 1992 Hasselblad 503 CX with 1985 PME metered prism, Fuji Velvia in 1996 Hasselblad E24 magazine, f/11 at 1/4 (EV 9). More technical details. bigger.
Cyan Sidewalk, Route 66, Daggett, 9:46 A.M. 1993 Zeiss Planar T✻ 80mm f/2.8 CF, no filter because I wanted a clean, cool cyan, 1992 Hasselblad 503 CX with 1985 PME metered prism, Fuji Velvia in 1996 Hasselblad E24 magazine, f/22 at 1/30. More technical details. bigger.
Motel Henning, Route 66, 11:55 A.M.1993 Zeiss Planar T✻ 80mm f/2.8 CF with B+W B60 Deep Red 091 (29) filter, 11½ foot focus distance,1992 Hasselblad 503 CX with 1985 PME metered prism reading EV 9 when set to ASA 25 and f/2.4 to approximate EI 20 with an f/2.8 lens, Kodak T-Max 100 in 1993 A12 magazine, f/16 at 1/2 second. More technical details. bigger.
Amboy Post Office at Dusk, Route 66, 5:48 P.M. 1993 Zeiss Planar T✻ 80mm f/2.8 CF with Hasselblad B60 CR 1,5 warming filter, 200 foot focus distance, 1992 Hasselblad 503 CX with 1985 PME metered prism, Fuji Velvia in 1996 Hasselblad E24 magazine, f/8 at 2½ minutes. More technical details. bigger.
Roy's Sign by Starlight, Route 66, 5:22 ~ 5:55 P.M. 1993 Zeiss Planar T✻ 80mm f/2.8 CF with Hasselblad B60 CR 1,5 warming filter, 50 foot focus distance, 1992 Hasselblad 503 CX with 1985 PME metered prism, Fuji Velvia in 1996 Hasselblad E24 magazine, f/5.6 at 3 minutes and 33 seconds. bigger.
Willys Jeep, Bottle Tree Farm, Route 66, 10:35 A.M. 1993 Zeiss Planar T✻ 80mm f/2.8 CF set to 1.25 meters as seen on ground glass with Hasselblad B60 Proxar 0.5 (actual subject distance 503mm), Hasselblad B60 CR 1,5 warming filter, 1992 Hasselblad 503 CX with 1985 PME metered prism reading 12⅙, Fuji Velvia in 1996 Hasselblad E24 magazine, f/22 at 1/8. (Gossen Luna Pro SBC said EV 12½ at ISO 40 and the meter app in my iPhone said 12⅓, both at ISO 40 to compensate for the CR1.5 filter not on the stand-alone meters). More technical details, including a photo of the setup for this photo. bigger.
Metal Sculpture at the Bottle Tree House, Route 66, 10:49 A.M.1993 Zeiss Planar T✻ 80mm f/2.8 CF with Heliopan B60 Yellow filter, 1.19 meter focus distance,1992 Hasselblad 503 CX with 1985 PME metered prism reading EV 11/12, Kodak T-Max 100 in 1993 A12 magazine, f/9.5 at 1/30. (My Gossen Luna Pro SBC and iPhone light meter app both agree at EI 50.) bigger.
Brick Wall Outside Route 66 Museum, 3:06 P.M. 1987 Zeiss Sonnar T✻ 150mm f/4 CF with B60 Heliopan Yellow filter, 10 meters focus distance, 1992 Hasselblad 503 CX with 1985 PME metered prism, Kodak T-Max 100 in 1993 A12 magazine, f/13.5 at 1/125 (EV 14/15). More technical details. bigger.
Texas Route 66 Sign with Skull, 4:14 P.M. 1987 Zeiss Sonnar T✻ 150mm f/4 CF, no filter, 7.2 foot focus distance, 1992 Hasselblad 503 CX with 1985 PME metered prism that says EV 8, Kodak T-Max 100 in 1993 A12 magazine, f/22 for 3 seconds to add ½ stop for reciprocity failure. More technical details. bigger.
Post and Weeds in Last Light, 5:07 P.M. 1987 Zeiss Sonnar T✻ 150mm f/4 CF with B60 Heliopan Yellow filter, 4.2 meters focus distance, 1992 Hasselblad 503 CX with 1985 PME metered prism, Kodak T-Max 100 in 1993 A12 magazine, PME reads EV 11, f/32 at 1/2. More technical details. bigger.
Cadillac with Yellow Eyes, Route 66, 7:19 A.M. 1987 Zeiss Sonnar T✻ 150mm f/4 CF with B60 Hasselblad CR 1,5 warming filter, 3.5 meters focus distance, 1992 Hasselblad 503 CX with 1985 PME metered prism reading EV 10/11, Fuji Velvia in 1996 Hasselblad E24 magazine, 1/8 second at f/13. More technical details. bigger.
Weathered Wagon Wheel, Route 66, 7:34 A.M. 1987 Zeiss Sonnar T✻ 150mm f/4 CF with no filter, 3.5 meter focus distance, 1992 Hasselblad 503 CX with 1985 PME metered prism which read EV 13, Kodak T-Max 100 in 1993 A12 magazine, f/16 at 1/30. More technical details. bigger.
Weathered Wood Door and Window, Daggett, Route 66, 9:32 A.M. 1987 Zeiss Sonnar T✻ 150mm f/4 CF with Heliopan B60 Yellow filter, 1992 Hasselblad 503 CX with 1985 PME metered prism which read EV 14, Kodak T-Max 100 in 1993 A12 magazine, f/8 at 1/250. More technical details. bigger.
Two Wheels on an Old Abandoned Trailer, Route 66, 4:00 P.M. 1987 Zeiss Sonnar T✻ 150mm f/4 CF with Heliopan B60 Yellow filter, 1992 Hasselblad 503 CX with 1985 PME metered prism, Kodak T-Max 100 in 1993 A12 magazine, f/9.5 at 1/125. More technical details. bigger.
Slag Mountain, Route 66, 4:05 P.M. 1987 Zeiss Sonnar T✻ 150mm f/4 CF with Heliopan B60 Yellow filter, 10 meter focus distance, 1992 Hasselblad 503 CX with 1985 PME metered prism, Kodak T-Max 100 in 1993 A12 magazine, f/16 at 1/30. More technical details. bigger.
Decaying Truck Tire and Wheel, Route 66, 4:21 P.M. 1987 Zeiss Sonnar T✻ 150mm f/4 CF with B60 Hasselblad CR 1,5 warming filter, 3.4 meters focus distance, 1992 Hasselblad 503 CX with 1985 PME metered prism reading EV 12/13, Fuji Velvia in 1996 Hasselblad E24 magazine, f/13 at 1/30. More technical details. bigger.
Gas Station Doors at Sunset, Route 66, 5:06 P.M. 1987 Zeiss Sonnar T✻ 150mm f/4 CF with B60 Hasselblad CR 1,5 warming filter, 10 meters focus distance, 1992 Hasselblad 503 CX with 1985 PME metered prism reading EV 10, Fuji Velvia in 1996 Hasselblad E24 magazine, f/11 at 1/8. More technical details. bigger.
Gas Pump at the Bottle Tree Farm, Route 66, 10:24 A.M. 1987 Zeiss Sonnar T✻ 150mm f/4 CF with Hasselblad B60 CR 1,5 warming filter, 1992 Hasselblad 503 CX with 1985 PME metered prism reading EV 13⅚, Fuji Velvia in 1996 Hasselblad E24 magazine, f/11 at 1/125 (EV 14; my Gossen Luna Pro SBC said EV 12⅚ at ISO 40 and the meter app in my iPhone said 13, both at ISO 40 to compensate for the CR1.5 filter not on the stand-alone meters). More technical details. bigger.
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Price, USA
April 2023
About $1,200 used (cubical body only), or about $2,500 used with 80mm f/2.8 CF lens, A12 back and waist-level finder, if you know How to Win at eBay.
Jan 2016
About $500 used (cubical body only), or about $1,300 used with 80mm f/2.8 CF lens, A12 back and waist-level finder, if you know How to Win at eBay.
As shown without lens but with A12 back and waist-level finder: about $800 .
This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Canon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, store demo or used camera. I use the stores I do because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new camera before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken Rockwell.
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