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.
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slr-medium-format
The Hasselblad 503CX (1988–1994) is a 6×6 medium-format modular SLR and the direct successor to the 500C/M. It occupies a precise position in the V-system lineage: retaining the fully mechanical, battery-free core of all V-system cameras while adding one significant new capability — TTL off-the-film (OTF) flash metering via the dedicated Hasselblad D-Flash system and compatible Metz or Vivitar flash units.
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Recommended film stocks for the — format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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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 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
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About this camera
The 503CX is the pivotal mid-generation V-system body — the first Hasselblad to add TTL OTF flash metering while retaining full mechanical independence — bridging the original 500CM and the refined 503CW.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 6×6 cm on 120 roll film |
| Mount | Hasselblad V-system bayonet |
| Years | 1988–1994 |
| Shutter | Leaf (in lens): 1s – 1/500s + B |
| Flash sync | Full sync at all speeds to 1/500s |
| TTL Flash | OTF TTL via D-Flash system (first V-body with this) |
| Meter | None (body); metered finder optional |
| Focus | Manual, ground glass (Acute-Matte) |
| Viewfinder | Interchangeable (WLF standard) |
| Battery | None required for body |
Hasselblad introduced the 503CX as a direct replacement for the 500C/M, which had been produced since 1970. The primary addition was TTL OTF flash capability — a feature demanded by professional studio and wedding photographers who had embraced dedicated TTL flash systems on 35mm cameras and wanted equivalent functionality in their medium-format workflow.
The Acute-Matte screen, introduced on the 503CX, significantly improved focus accuracy and screen brightness over the older ground glass. This screen type — a micro-lens array texture — became the standard specification across the V-system lineup and remains highly regarded by film photographers today.
Production of the 503CX continued until 1994, when it was replaced by the 503CW. The CW added a winder coupling port — a feature absent on the CX — to support the Winder CW motorised film advance. The 503CX can be identified by the absence of this coupling socket on the right side of the body.
The 503CX sits at the centre of the V-system's working lifetime. Bodies from this generation are abundant enough to be practically priced relative to earlier or later models, carry the improved Acute-Matte screen, and accept the full range of CF, CFi, and CFE lenses. For photographers who do not require a winder, the 503CX is functionally equivalent to the more expensive 503CW.
TTL flash capability made the 503CX the preferred choice for wedding and event photographers in the late 1980s and early 1990s — a period when medium-format film was the uncontested standard for professional portrait work. Many bodies remain in excellent condition because they were working tools maintained under service contracts.
Full compatibility with all Hasselblad V-system lenses: original C (older), CF, CFi, CFE, and T* variants. Core lenses: Planar 80/2.8 CF (standard), Distagon 50/4 CF (wide), Sonnar 150/4 CF (portrait), Sonnar 250/5.6 CF (telephoto). Film backs: A12 (12 exp / 6×6), A16 (16 exp / 6×4.5), A24 (24 exp / 6×6), 70mm backs. Finders: WLF (standard), 45° prism, 90° prism, PME-series metered prisms. Winder: not compatible (503CW required for winder use).
BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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