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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The Hasselblad ArcBody (1997) is a technical architectural camera within the Hasselblad V system. Where the FlexBody (1995) used standard V-system CF lenses and offered limited movements, the ArcBody takes a different approach: it employs a dedicated set of Rodenstock Apo-Grandagon large-image-circle lenses designed specifically for the camera, and provides a more complete set of view-camera movements - rise, fall, tilt, and shift - suited to professional architectural photography.
Reference
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.
View profile →C41
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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Before you buy used
About this camera
Hasselblad's purpose-built architectural camera - V-system film backs, Rodenstock wide-angle optics, and full view-camera movements for serious architectural work.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 120 / 220 film (6x6 cm) |
| Mount (rear) | Hasselblad V bayonet (A12/A16/A24 backs) |
| Mount (front) | Proprietary ArcBody mount (Rodenstock Apo-Grandagon lenses) |
| Year introduced | 1997 |
| Rise / fall | ~22mm vertical shift |
| Shift | ~22mm horizontal shift |
| Tilt | ~8 degrees |
| Lenses available | Rodenstock Apo-Grandagon 35mm f/4.5, 45mm f/4.5, 75mm f/4.5 |
| Focusing | Ground glass (via film back or dedicated screen) |
| Shutter | In lens (Copal leaf shutter) |
| Meter | None built-in |
| Battery | None required |
Hasselblad developed the ArcBody in the years following the FlexBody as a more capable and purpose-built response to professional architectural photographers' demands. The FlexBody demonstrated the market for movements within the V system, but its reliance on retrofocus CF lenses limited the degree of movement available before vignetting occurred - CF wide-angle lenses were designed for the standard 6x6 image circle, not for movements.
To solve this, Hasselblad partnered with Rodenstock - the German optics manufacturer known for large-format lenses - to develop a dedicated set of Apo-Grandagon lenses with image circles significantly larger than those required for unshifted 6x6. The Rodenstock Apo-Grandagon design is a highly corrected rectilinear wide-angle formula intended for technical camera use; adapting it to the ArcBody gave the camera optics equivalent in quality to a high-end 4x5 technical camera but in a faster-handling medium-format package.
The ArcBody was introduced in 1997 and produced until Hasselblad discontinued it as the V system was phased out in favour of the H system and digital capture. It remained a niche but respected tool in professional architectural photography until post-processing tools advanced to the point where digital correction became an acceptable substitute for in-camera movements in most workflows.
The ArcBody represents the apex of Hasselblad's engagement with view-camera technique within the V system. It solves the fundamental problem of architectural photography: cameras held level to avoid converging verticals cut off the top of a building, while cameras tilted upward introduce converging parallels. Rise shift allows the camera to remain perfectly level on a tripod while the lens standard is raised to include the full building height, maintaining vertical parallelism throughout.
For exterior architectural photography on medium format, the ArcBody - loaded with a 35mm or 45mm Apo-Grandagon - provided a combination of rectilinear correction, movement latitude, and negative size that was otherwise only achievable with a 4x5 view camera. The 6x6 medium format negative offered significantly more resolution and tonal range than 35mm while being faster and lighter in the field than large format.
The Rodenstock Apo-Grandagon lenses are optically excellent by any standard. The Apo prefix indicates apochromatic correction - minimised chromatic aberration across the spectrum - appropriate for fine-grain colour film work where colour fringing at high-contrast edges would be visible in large prints.
The ArcBody uses three dedicated Rodenstock Apo-Grandagon lenses with a proprietary front mount:
Each lens incorporates a Copal central-leaf shutter synchronised at all speeds. Filter threads vary by lens; confirm before purchase.
Compatible rear accessories are all standard V-system film backs: A12, A16, A24, A220, Polaroid backs. A dedicated ground-glass focusing back or the use of an A12 with dark slide removed is required for focusing and composition.
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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