Hasselblad 500C/M with Carl Zeiss 60mm F/3.5 Lens (USED)

Hasselblad 500C/M with Carl Zeiss 60mm F/3.5 Lens (USED)

Introduced in 1970 as an update to the original 500C, the Hasselblad 500C/M quickly became a staple in the toolkit of commercial photographers, fashion shooters, and even NASA astronauts. Its defining feature is its modular design, which allows users to swap out film backs, viewfinders, and lenses—giving unmatched creative control.

Key features include:

• 6x6cm medium format frame size for stunning resolution and tonality.

• Interchangeable waist-level and prism finders for versatile shooting angles.

• Removable film backs, allowing photographers to switch film types mid-roll.

• A fully mechanical leaf shutter system built into the lens, enabling flash sync at all shutter speeds (up to 1/500s).

The 500C/M is prized not just for its reliability, but also for the experience it offers—a tactile, deliberate approach to photography that slows you down and sharpens your eye.

The Carl Zeiss Distagon 60mm f/3.5: Wide, But Not Too Wide

While many reach for the classic 80mm Planar when shooting with a Hasselblad, the Zeiss Distagon 60mm f/3.5 offers something a little different. With a focal length roughly equivalent to 35mm in full-frame terms, this lens occupies the sweet spot between wide and standard—making it an ideal choice for environmental portraits, landscapes, street scenes, and editorial work.

Key Specifications:

• Focal Length: 60mm (approx. 35mm full-frame equivalent)

• Maximum Aperture: f/3.5

• Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.6m (about 2 feet)

• Lens Construction: Known for classic Zeiss sharpness, contrast, and micro-contrast.

• T Coating*: Reduces flare and increases color fidelity, especially in challenging lighting.

The 60mm Distagon lens renders with excellent edge-to-edge sharpness, while still giving that signature Zeiss "pop" to subjects. Its slightly wider field of view allows you to include more environmental context in your frame, without introducing the distortion seen in more extreme wide-angle lenses.

A Timeless Pairing

Together, the Hasselblad 500C/M and 60mm f/3.5 lens form a combination that is both technically capable and artistically expressive. Whether you're shooting on Kodak Portra, Ilford HP5, or Cinestill, the results speak for themselves: detailed, vibrant, and undeniably medium format.

This setup excels in a variety of shooting scenarios:

• Travel and Landscape Photography: The 60mm captures sweeping vistas with rich detail.

• Portraiture: A unique perspective that includes more of your subject’s environment.

• Street and Documentary Work: A discreet, deliberate approach that rewards patience and composition.