Hasselblad 500C Cut Away
The Hasselblad 500C Cut Away is a non-functional demonstration version of the 500C medium format SLR, with sections of the body and mechanism machined away to expose the internal workings. These pieces were produced for dealer showrooms, training schools and factory display use rather than for photography, which makes them scarce collector items rather than user cameras.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for 500C Cut Away examples have ranged from around £950 to £2,200, with the small sample of saleroom results giving a midpoint near £1,600 as of 2026. Because these are wholesale auction hammer figures rather than retail, dealer asking prices for the same piece typically sit higher, and condition of the exposed mechanism, completeness of the cut-away lens and the presence of original display mounting all move the value materially.
Sales History
Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.
Prices updated: June 2021
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Jun 2021 | EUR 2,200 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 38 (Lot AI_38_39465) Title: Hasselblad 500C Cut-Away model
Description:
very early and rare cut-away model in working condition, special serial number with additional C, with Planar 2.8/80mm no.5048481, magazine A12 no.CU38218, excellent condition Estimate: EUR 1,600 - EUR 1,800 |
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| Jun 2008 | EUR 950 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 13 (Lot AI_13_17014) Title: Hasselblad 500C 'Cut-Away'
Description:
very early and rare cut-model in working condition, with Planar 2.8/80mm no.5048481, magazine A12 no.CU38218 Estimate: EUR 1,400 - EUR 1,800 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Hasselblad 500C Cut Away worth today?
Recorded UK auction hammer prices sit between roughly £950 and £2,200, so a typical example is worth somewhere in the middle of that range depending on completeness and display condition.
How much does a Hasselblad 500C Cut Away sell for at auction?
The two tracked UK hammer results sells for £950 (2008) and £2,200 (2021), indicating a firming price trend but a thin market with limited comparables.
Is a Cut Away 500C a usable camera?
No. It is a sectioned display model with the body and often the lens machined open to show the mechanism, so its value is as a collector or shop-display piece rather than as a working camera.
Why does the Cut Away command a premium over a standard 500C?
Production numbers were tiny compared with the working 500C, and most were retained by dealers or training centres, so scarcity rather than photographic utility drives the price.