Used Hasselblad 500C/M with Carl Zeiss S-Planar 120mm f/5.6, A12 Back & Waist-Level Finder

Used Hasselblad 500C/M with Carl Zeiss S-Planar 120mm f/5.6, A12 Film Back, & Waist-Level Finder (Film-Tested)

The Hasselblad 500C/M is one of the defining medium-format cameras of the 20th century. Its mechanical construction, interchangeable components and distinctive 6×6 format made it a standard for generations of portrait, editorial, fine-art and studio photographers.

This example was manufactured in 1981 and is paired with a Carl Zeiss S-Planar 120mm f/5.6 lens in a Synchro-Compur leaf shutter. The included A12 film back was also manufactured in 1981, giving the camera and back a pleasing period consistency.

The S-Planar makes this a more specialized and less commonly encountered outfit than a standard 500C/M with an 80mm Planar. It was designed for excellent performance at closer working distances, with particular attention to fine detail, flatness of field and low distortion. Those qualities make it especially well suited to still life, artwork, product photography, copy work and other carefully composed subjects. Its 120mm focal length also provides a flattering, tighter perspective for portraiture.

Looking Glass exposed and processed a test roll to confirm that the camera, lens and film back are working together properly.

Why This Example Stands Out

• Classic Hasselblad 500C/M modular medium-format camera
• Camera body manufactured in 1981
• Same-year Hasselblad A12 film back
• Carl Zeiss S-Planar 120mm f/5.6 lens
• Hasselblad waist-level finder included
• Synchro-Compur leaf shutter
• Lens-mounted focusing arm included
• Film-tested by Looking Glass Photo
• Test negatives processed and inspected
• Red carrying bag included
• Covered by our 30-day used gear warranty

Condition and Testing

This camera is in good working order. Our staff completed a basic inspection, loaded the camera with 120 film, exposed a test roll and processed the negatives. The camera advanced and exposed the film properly, and the A12 back produced properly spaced frames during our test.

This testing confirms the camera’s operation during the test roll. It does not represent a recent factory service or complete mechanical overhaul, and it should not be interpreted as laboratory verification of every shutter speed.

Please review the photographs carefully. They show the exact camera, lens, film back and accessories being offered and are an important part of the condition description.

Important to Know

The 120mm f/5.6 S-Planar is a specialized lens rather than the standard 80mm lens most commonly associated with the 500C/M. It provides a tighter field of view, has a relatively modest f/5.6 maximum aperture and was designed with close-range precision in mind.

It can also be used successfully for portraits and more distant subjects, particularly when stopped down. Photographers looking for a more general-purpose configuration may eventually want to add an 80mm Planar or a wider Distagon, both of which are compatible with the 500C/M.

The camera has no built-in light meter and does not require batteries for normal mechanical operation. Exposure must be determined with a handheld meter, metered phone app or another external method.

The shutter is built into the lens rather than the camera body. Its leaf-shutter design allows electronic flash synchronization throughout the shutter-speed range.

Included

• Hasselblad 500C/M body, serial number RV1258974
• Carl Zeiss S-Planar 120mm f/5.6 lens, serial number 4786904
• Hasselblad A12 120 film back, serial number RV3199200
• Hasselblad waist-level finder
• Lens-mounted focusing arm
• Red carrying bag

Exact Item Details

• Camera model: Hasselblad 500C/M
• Camera serial number: RV1258974
• Camera production year: 1981
• Lens: Carl Zeiss S-Planar 120mm f/5.6
• Lens serial number: 4786904
• Shutter: Synchro-Compur leaf shutter
• Film-back serial number: RV3199200
• Film-back production year: 1981
• Image format: 6×6cm
• Film type: 120 film
• Operation: Fully mechanical
• Light meter: None

The Looking Glass Take

The 500C/M is the camera many photographers picture when they hear the name Hasselblad. Its appeal goes beyond reputation. The controls are direct, the square viewing experience encourages careful composition, and nearly every major component can be exchanged as the photographer’s needs change.

The S-Planar gives this particular outfit a more purposeful identity. Its longer focal length and close-range correction favor portraits, still life, reproduction and detailed studio work over casual, all-purpose use. That specialization will not suit every photographer, but it makes this kit considerably more interesting than another standard 80mm configuration.

The matching 1981 production years of the body and A12 back are also an appealing detail for a collector, while our successful film test gives a photographer greater confidence in putting the camera directly to use.

For someone who wants a classic 500C/M with a distinctive lens from the beginning, this is a compelling, film-tested entry into one of photography’s most enduring camera systems.