C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
View profileMedium Format SLR
Hasselblad 501CM1994
- Mount
- Hasselblad V (bayonet)
- Years
- 1994–2013
- Weight
- 1450 g
- Shutter
- 1s – 1/500s
- Meter
- none
The Hasselblad 501CM (1994) is a stripped-down variant of the 500C/M line, designed for photographers who want full V-system compatibility without the winder-drive socket present on the 503CX and 503CW. By removing the winder coupling, Hasselblad shaved weight and mechanical complexity from the body, producing a pure, fully mechanical 6×6 SLR aimed at studio and portrait work where motor-drive speed is unnecessary. The 501CM ships with the Acute-Matte D focusing screen as standard — Hasselblad's bright micro-lens-array screen that significantly improves image brightness and split-prism effectiveness compared to the plain ground glass of the original 500C.
Reference
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ISO 400
C41
Kodak Portra 160
Kodak Portra 160 is a professional C-41 color negative film with fine grain, soft contrast, and natural color.
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Kodak Ektar 100
Kodak Ektar 100 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
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Before you buy used
- **Acute-Matte D screen** — confirm the correct screen is installed; earlier V bodies may have mismatched screens if swapped by previous owners. The Acute-Matte D is noticeably brighter than the plain ground glass.
- **Shutter in lenses** — as with all V bodies, shutter timing lives in the lens, not the body; test each lens at all speeds. CF and CFi lenses are more reliable than early C lenses.
- **No winder socket** — verify the body is indeed a 501CM (no winder socket on the base plate) vs. a 503CX (has socket). Both are desirable but for different users.
- **Mirror damper** — the foam mirror damper in older V bodies degrades; a deflated damper allows mirror bounce, causing image blur at certain shutter speeds.
- **Film back seals** — standard V-system concern; check for light leaks at the back margins.
- **Pricing vs. 503CW** — 501CM bodies often sell for less than 503CW equivalents; the primary trade-off is winder capability, not image quality.
About this camera
The pared-back V-system body — the 501CM omits the winder coupling of the 503CX to deliver a lighter, cleaner mechanical 6×6 with the Acute-Matte D screen as standard.